Bretsky
02-18-2007, 11:20 AM
QB Quinn needs strong showing at combine
Insider
McShay
By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
Archive
Personnel departments and coaching staffs across the league are gearing up for the 2007 scouting combine, which officially kicks off next Wednesday (Feb. 21). I will provide a more detailed breakdown of each position/group early next week. For now, here's an early look at some prospects with the most on the line at this year's combine:
Five seniors with most at stake
1. Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn
Quinn lost his final two games (USC and LSU) as Notre Dame's starting quarterback, and he opted not to participate in the Senior Bowl due to a "minor knee injury". LSU QB JaMarcus Russell has overtaken Quinn on many NFL draft boards in the meantime. Quinn will only make matters worse if he opts out of combine drills next week.
2. Michigan CB Leon Hall
Hall's lack of recovery speed was exposed versus Ohio State WR Ted Ginn Jr. and during Senior Bowl week. Clocking a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range at the combine could re-establish Hall as the top cornerback prospect in the 2007 class.
3. Purdue DE/OLB Anthony Spencer
Spencer's draft stock skyrocketed during a 2006 campaign that saw him record 26.5 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks. If he runs as well as expected during agility drills inside the RCA Dome, Spencer can land a spot late in the first round.
4. Cal CB Daymeion Hughes
Hughes notched eight interceptions as a senior and was the most impressive cover corner at the Senior Bowl before a hamstring injury forced him to call it quits midway through the practice week. Now Hughes' goal at the combine is to prove the injury is behind him by clocking a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range.
5. Georgia DE/OLB Quentin Moses
Moses' stock is freefalling due to a disappointing senior season, followed by an underwhelming showing at the Senior Bowl. The only way to stop the bleeding is to wow NFL scouts and coaches in attendance at next week's combine. In order to regain a spot late in the first round, Moses needs to run the 40 in the 4.6-second range and also show fluid hips when working out as a linebacker in position drills.
Five juniors with most at stake
1. USC WR Dwayne Jarrett
Jarrett is a big receiver with exceptional hands. The biggest knock from a scouting perspective is his lack of deep speed, and if Jarrett can run in the low 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash it should land him a spot in the middle of the first round. However, anything higher than a 4.59 could jeopardize his first-round standing in this year's deep crop of wide receiver talent.
2. Florida State OLB Lawrence Timmons
Timmons had a productive junior season as a first-year, full-time starter. But in all reality, his freakish physical tools are the reason he's considered a better pro prospect than other more heralded college linebackers such as Penn State's Paul Posluszny. Timmons needs to back up the hype with a strong showing on the bench press, in the 40-yard dash and during all other agility/position drills.
3. South Carolina WR Sidney Rice
Rice's combine quest is similar to Jarrett's, except Jarrett is bigger and was more productive at the collegiate level. Rice is currently a mid-to-late first-round prospect but his draft stock could fluctuate 15 or so spots depending on his combine times.
4. Florida DE/OLB Jarvis Moss
Moss displayed flashes of explosive pass-rush potential while at Florida, but his first-round potential hinges on postseason workouts. The 6-foot-5, 256-pounder needs to runs well and show enough hip fluidity during linebacker drills to draw mid-to-late first-round consideration as a rush-end in a 4-3 or a rush-linebacker in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL.
5. Miami-FL TE Greg Olsen
Olsen is doing battle with Arizona State's Zach Miller for the first tight end taken in the draft. Miller had the more productive collegiate career, but Olsen needs to prove he's the better pro prospect by running crisper routes, catching the ball more consistently and clocking better times in speed/agility drills at the upcoming combine.
Five "sleepers" with most at stake
1. Hampton OLB Justin Durant
Durant isn't a great run defender at this point, but he is an excellent athlete with the tools for NFL teams to mold. A powerful open-field tackler, Durant possesses the burst to pursue the run from sideline-to-sideline, the agility to hold up in man-to-man coverage and the top-end speed to get downfield quickly covering kicks. If placed in the proper system -- ideally an undersized Tampa 2-like scheme -- and given the proper coaching, Durant will be a Day 2 steal.
2. Lane WR Jacoby Jones
Though he needs to get stronger and add some weight, Jones has the frame (6-2, 191), speed and athletic ability to develop into a decent No. 2 or quality No. 3 receiver in the NFL. It doesn't hurt that he is a dangerous return man who should contribute on special teams, either. Running the 40 in the low 4.4-second range could do wonders for Jones' already ascending draft stock.
3. Brown OLB Zak DeOssie
DeOssie is not as instinctive as his father, Steve, who played in the NFL until he was 35. He also lacks explosive strength. However, his blend of size, top-end speed and tenacity should turn heads at the ucombine. If he works out as well as expected, DeOssie will become a coveted early Day 2 pick.
4. New Hampshire WR David Ball
There is little doubt that his numbers at New Hampshire were inflated by the weaker level of competition he faced. However, those numbers are still tough to overlook, especially since one of the records he shattered was Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's 50 touchdown receptions. He has the strong hands and route-running skills to emerge as a productive sub-package possession receiver in the NFL. But in order to solidify a spot in the late rounds of the draft, Ball must exceed low expectations during his timing and skill drills at the combine.
5. Whitworth TE Michael Allan
Allan is the first D-III prospect invited to the scouting combine since WR Ryan Hoag in 2003. Although Allan lacks ideal strength and is a marginal-at-best in-line blocker, there's a lot to like about his blend of size, hands and top-end speed. The 6-foot-6, 252-pound tight end prospect could land a late-round spot in the draft if he times out as well as expected in the 40-yard dash and agility drills.
The following is an updated look at the top 32 NFL draft prospects in the 2007 class, which includes eligible underclassmen:
Scouts Inc.'s Top 32
RANK NAME POS CLASS SCHOOL PREV
1. Calvin Johnson WR JR Georgia Tech 1
2. Joe Thomas OT SR Wisconsin 4
3. JaMarcus Russell QB JR LSU 3
4. Alan Branch DT JR Michigan 5
5. Adrian Peterson RB JR Oklahoma 7
6. Brady Quinn QB SR Notre Dame 2
7. Gaines Adams DE SR Clemson 6
8. Jamaal Anderson DE JR Arkansas 8
9. LaRon Landry S SR LSU 10
10. Amobi Okoye DT SR Louisville 15
11. Levi Brown OT SR Penn State 22
12. Ted Ginn Jr. WR JR Ohio State 14
13. Dwayne Jarrett WR JR USC 12
14. Adam Carriker DE SR Nebraska 20
15. Lawrence Timmons OLB JR Florida State 18
16. Leon Hall CB SR Michigan 9
17. Reggie Nelson S JR Florida 13
18. Marshawn Lynch RB JR Cal 11
19. Dwayne Bowe WR SR LSU 32
20. Darrelle Revis CB JR Pittsburgh 19
21. Charles Johnson DE JR Georgia 17
22. Aaron Ross CB SR Texas NR
23. Patrick Willis OLB SR Mississippi NR
24. Ryan Kalil C SR USC NR
25. Sidney Rice WR JR S. Carolina 24
26. Jarvis Moss DE JR Florida 23
27. Ben Grubbs G SR Auburn NR
28. Anthony Spencer DE/LB SR Purdue NR
29. Daymeion Hughes CB SR Cal 25
30. Greg Olsen TE JR Miami-FL 27
31. Robert Meachem WR JR Tennessee 28
32. Zach Miller TE JR Arizona State 31
Insider
McShay
By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
Archive
Personnel departments and coaching staffs across the league are gearing up for the 2007 scouting combine, which officially kicks off next Wednesday (Feb. 21). I will provide a more detailed breakdown of each position/group early next week. For now, here's an early look at some prospects with the most on the line at this year's combine:
Five seniors with most at stake
1. Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn
Quinn lost his final two games (USC and LSU) as Notre Dame's starting quarterback, and he opted not to participate in the Senior Bowl due to a "minor knee injury". LSU QB JaMarcus Russell has overtaken Quinn on many NFL draft boards in the meantime. Quinn will only make matters worse if he opts out of combine drills next week.
2. Michigan CB Leon Hall
Hall's lack of recovery speed was exposed versus Ohio State WR Ted Ginn Jr. and during Senior Bowl week. Clocking a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range at the combine could re-establish Hall as the top cornerback prospect in the 2007 class.
3. Purdue DE/OLB Anthony Spencer
Spencer's draft stock skyrocketed during a 2006 campaign that saw him record 26.5 tackles for loss, including 10.5 sacks. If he runs as well as expected during agility drills inside the RCA Dome, Spencer can land a spot late in the first round.
4. Cal CB Daymeion Hughes
Hughes notched eight interceptions as a senior and was the most impressive cover corner at the Senior Bowl before a hamstring injury forced him to call it quits midway through the practice week. Now Hughes' goal at the combine is to prove the injury is behind him by clocking a 40-yard dash time in the 4.4-second range.
5. Georgia DE/OLB Quentin Moses
Moses' stock is freefalling due to a disappointing senior season, followed by an underwhelming showing at the Senior Bowl. The only way to stop the bleeding is to wow NFL scouts and coaches in attendance at next week's combine. In order to regain a spot late in the first round, Moses needs to run the 40 in the 4.6-second range and also show fluid hips when working out as a linebacker in position drills.
Five juniors with most at stake
1. USC WR Dwayne Jarrett
Jarrett is a big receiver with exceptional hands. The biggest knock from a scouting perspective is his lack of deep speed, and if Jarrett can run in the low 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash it should land him a spot in the middle of the first round. However, anything higher than a 4.59 could jeopardize his first-round standing in this year's deep crop of wide receiver talent.
2. Florida State OLB Lawrence Timmons
Timmons had a productive junior season as a first-year, full-time starter. But in all reality, his freakish physical tools are the reason he's considered a better pro prospect than other more heralded college linebackers such as Penn State's Paul Posluszny. Timmons needs to back up the hype with a strong showing on the bench press, in the 40-yard dash and during all other agility/position drills.
3. South Carolina WR Sidney Rice
Rice's combine quest is similar to Jarrett's, except Jarrett is bigger and was more productive at the collegiate level. Rice is currently a mid-to-late first-round prospect but his draft stock could fluctuate 15 or so spots depending on his combine times.
4. Florida DE/OLB Jarvis Moss
Moss displayed flashes of explosive pass-rush potential while at Florida, but his first-round potential hinges on postseason workouts. The 6-foot-5, 256-pounder needs to runs well and show enough hip fluidity during linebacker drills to draw mid-to-late first-round consideration as a rush-end in a 4-3 or a rush-linebacker in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL.
5. Miami-FL TE Greg Olsen
Olsen is doing battle with Arizona State's Zach Miller for the first tight end taken in the draft. Miller had the more productive collegiate career, but Olsen needs to prove he's the better pro prospect by running crisper routes, catching the ball more consistently and clocking better times in speed/agility drills at the upcoming combine.
Five "sleepers" with most at stake
1. Hampton OLB Justin Durant
Durant isn't a great run defender at this point, but he is an excellent athlete with the tools for NFL teams to mold. A powerful open-field tackler, Durant possesses the burst to pursue the run from sideline-to-sideline, the agility to hold up in man-to-man coverage and the top-end speed to get downfield quickly covering kicks. If placed in the proper system -- ideally an undersized Tampa 2-like scheme -- and given the proper coaching, Durant will be a Day 2 steal.
2. Lane WR Jacoby Jones
Though he needs to get stronger and add some weight, Jones has the frame (6-2, 191), speed and athletic ability to develop into a decent No. 2 or quality No. 3 receiver in the NFL. It doesn't hurt that he is a dangerous return man who should contribute on special teams, either. Running the 40 in the low 4.4-second range could do wonders for Jones' already ascending draft stock.
3. Brown OLB Zak DeOssie
DeOssie is not as instinctive as his father, Steve, who played in the NFL until he was 35. He also lacks explosive strength. However, his blend of size, top-end speed and tenacity should turn heads at the ucombine. If he works out as well as expected, DeOssie will become a coveted early Day 2 pick.
4. New Hampshire WR David Ball
There is little doubt that his numbers at New Hampshire were inflated by the weaker level of competition he faced. However, those numbers are still tough to overlook, especially since one of the records he shattered was Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's 50 touchdown receptions. He has the strong hands and route-running skills to emerge as a productive sub-package possession receiver in the NFL. But in order to solidify a spot in the late rounds of the draft, Ball must exceed low expectations during his timing and skill drills at the combine.
5. Whitworth TE Michael Allan
Allan is the first D-III prospect invited to the scouting combine since WR Ryan Hoag in 2003. Although Allan lacks ideal strength and is a marginal-at-best in-line blocker, there's a lot to like about his blend of size, hands and top-end speed. The 6-foot-6, 252-pound tight end prospect could land a late-round spot in the draft if he times out as well as expected in the 40-yard dash and agility drills.
The following is an updated look at the top 32 NFL draft prospects in the 2007 class, which includes eligible underclassmen:
Scouts Inc.'s Top 32
RANK NAME POS CLASS SCHOOL PREV
1. Calvin Johnson WR JR Georgia Tech 1
2. Joe Thomas OT SR Wisconsin 4
3. JaMarcus Russell QB JR LSU 3
4. Alan Branch DT JR Michigan 5
5. Adrian Peterson RB JR Oklahoma 7
6. Brady Quinn QB SR Notre Dame 2
7. Gaines Adams DE SR Clemson 6
8. Jamaal Anderson DE JR Arkansas 8
9. LaRon Landry S SR LSU 10
10. Amobi Okoye DT SR Louisville 15
11. Levi Brown OT SR Penn State 22
12. Ted Ginn Jr. WR JR Ohio State 14
13. Dwayne Jarrett WR JR USC 12
14. Adam Carriker DE SR Nebraska 20
15. Lawrence Timmons OLB JR Florida State 18
16. Leon Hall CB SR Michigan 9
17. Reggie Nelson S JR Florida 13
18. Marshawn Lynch RB JR Cal 11
19. Dwayne Bowe WR SR LSU 32
20. Darrelle Revis CB JR Pittsburgh 19
21. Charles Johnson DE JR Georgia 17
22. Aaron Ross CB SR Texas NR
23. Patrick Willis OLB SR Mississippi NR
24. Ryan Kalil C SR USC NR
25. Sidney Rice WR JR S. Carolina 24
26. Jarvis Moss DE JR Florida 23
27. Ben Grubbs G SR Auburn NR
28. Anthony Spencer DE/LB SR Purdue NR
29. Daymeion Hughes CB SR Cal 25
30. Greg Olsen TE JR Miami-FL 27
31. Robert Meachem WR JR Tennessee 28
32. Zach Miller TE JR Arizona State 31