PDA

View Full Version : Pro Day Workouts



WARHORSE
03-30-2008, 11:09 PM
Updated: March 25, 2008

Darren McFadden has has assuaged character concerns.


The bench number is disappointing, especially as the average reps for backs at the combine this year was 21 and several people recently witnessed McFadden put up 20 reps. However, scouts really couldn't care less because upper-body strength doesn't have a substantial impact on a running back's ability and 13 isn't an atrocious number. The short shuttle time, on the other hand, is jaw-dropping. In fact, the second-fastest short shuttle time we've seen thus far is Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall's 4.18 at the combine.




As expected, 6-foot-1, 211-pound McFadden also looked strong during an extensive position drill workout. Perhaps more importantly, we talked to four scouts and not one of them has an ounce of concern about McFadden's character. This is a good sign, as it comes after teams have done their due diligence in investigating his off-the-field incidents. One of the scouts we spoke with went as far as to say McFadden has elite football character, meaning he is a tough player and an excellent teammate.
Speculation about his draft projection remains the same, however. Several NFL insiders indicated that, barring a trade, McFadden is expected to go No. 4 overall to the Oakland Raiders or No. 6 to the New York Jets. After hearing that, it came as little surprise to see Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum leaving the field and having a lengthy discussion with McFadden.
On hand to witness the workouts of McFadden, Felix Jones (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12154) and the 15 other Arkansas prospects were more than 50 coaches and scouts from 26 of the 32 teams. Head coaches often avoid public workouts and hang around to work out a player individually, and the only visible head coach at the workout Tuesday was Chicago's Lovie Smith.
As a side note, 6-4, 222-pound WR Marcus Monk (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11557) ran a 4.45 40-yard dash, according to my stopwatch, after clocking in at 4.63 at the combine last month. Monk didn't get much love in the Arkansas system and played in just seven games last year because of knee problems, but he has the skills to succeed at the NFL level, and the quicker time should give his draft stock a boost.
As for Jones, he went through position drills but didn't do any of the running, which is understandable given his outstanding times (4.47 40, 4.19 short shuttle, 6.90 three-cone drill) at the combine. He dropped one pass today but looked very good otherwise.

Penn State Nittany Lions (March 18)
Lost in the commotion surrounding Boston College QB Matt Ryan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11586) and Virginia DE Chris Long (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11845) was the outstanding performance turned in by Penn State LB Dan Connor (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12170). The 6-3⅝, 231-pound senior was sent home early from last month's combine after being diagnosed with the flu, making his on-campus workout that much more important. Fully recovered and seemingly unfazed by the additional pressure, Connor exceeded expectations from beginning to end.
For starters, he clocked a pair of 40-yard dashes in the high 4.6-second range (4.67, 4.69); only seven of the 26 linebackers who ran at the combine recorded faster times. Connor also notched above-average results in the vertical jump (35 inches), broad jump (9-foot-7), short shuttle (4.27), three-cone (6.75) and bench press (21 reps). The career tackles leader at "Linebacker U" also displayed outstanding instincts and quick feet throughout his position drills. Although the workout makes up only a small portion of a player’s final evaluation, it's safe to say teams considering Connor in the bottom part of the first round walked away from his on-campus workout pleased.


Tennessee State Tigers (March 21)
Nearly half of the 32 NFL teams were represented, including at least a half-dozen defensive backs coaches, when CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=11772&draftyear=2008) worked out at Tennessee State. The small-school product continued his exceptional postseason when he notched a 37.5-inch vertical jump, a 10-11 broad jump, a 4.14 short shuttle and a 6.63 three-cone drill. Rodgers-Cromartie asked whether he could run another 40-yard dash, but scouts said that would be unnecessary after he blazed a 4.33 at last month's combine. Needless to say, he did nothing to damage his standing as one of the top three defensive backs in this year's class.


Vanderbilt Commodores (March 21)
There were 25 NFL teams on hand to witness Vanderbilt's pro day, the biggest crowd since QB Jay Cutler (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7760) was on his way to becoming the 11th overall pick two years ago. Coincidentally, Cutler also participated in this session, throwing passes to middle-round wide receiver prospect Earl Bennett (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12153). But the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback was obviously not the draw.
The majority of coaches and scouts were on hand to evaluate OT Chris Williams (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11840), who is likely to become the second Commodore drafted in the first round in three years. Williams once again displayed quick feet and solid balance throughout his position drills, but he elected to stand on his numbers from the combine. Linebackers Jonathan Goff (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11839), a middle-round prospect, and Curtis Gatewood (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12186), a late-round prospect, participated in the position drills and vertical jump but kept their remaining workout times from the combine. Goff measured 35.5 inches in the leap, Gatewood 30.


Stanford Cardinal (March 21)
The WR tandem of Mark Bradford (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11755) and Evan Moore (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11757) worked out for NFL scouts and coaches from more than 20 teams last week. Moore (6-6, 233), a late-round H-back prospect, had a solid showing with a best of 4.65 seconds in the 40 and 19 reps on the bench press. Bradford stole the show, however, as the 6-1 215-pounder improved his combine results in the 40 (4.49), vertical jump (41), short shuttle (4.25) and three-cone drill (6.95). Bradford's durability remains an obvious concern, but for teams in search of receiver depth, his production when healthy and outstanding overall workout results will be tough to ignore in the Rounds 4-5 range.


Central Florida Knights (March 20)
RB Kevin Smith (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12242) drew a huge crowd as the headliner, and the nation's leading rusher in 2007 did not disappoint. Checking in at 6-1 and 216 pounds, Smith ran a pair of 40s in the high 4.4-second range and notched a 33.5-inch vertical jump. His performance on the bench press (15 reps) was a bit disappointing but was overshadowed by an outstanding position-specific workout in which Smith impressed scouts with his fluid hips and soft hands. Smith projects as an early second-day draft selection.


Texas Longhorns (March 19)
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that certainly was the case at Texas' pro day, which drew 75 staffers representing all 32 NFL teams. Several prospects did well, but the performances of WR Limas Sweed (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11774) and RB Jamaal Charles (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12204) stood out.
After running a 4.55 40-yard dash and jumping 35 inches vertically at the combine last month, Sweed posted a 4.50 in the 40 in Austin and added 2.5 inches to his vertical. In addition, he ran a 4.33 short shuttle and a 7.14 three-cone drill as well as catching the ball well in position drills.
Charles didn't drop a pass the entire workout and looked explosive after the catch. He didn't do any of the running or jumping but didn't really have to after he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and had a strong overall combine last month. It's also worth pointing out that TE Jermichael Finley (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12210) improved his 40 time from the combine (4.85) by posting a time of 4.66. That's a substantial jump, so scouts should go back to the film to evaluate his ability to stretch the field.


Florida State Seminoles (March 19)
DT Andre Fluellen (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11508) made the most of his opportunity to make an impression on the NFL brass. The 6-1 294-pounder turned in an adequate 40-yard time (5.1) and recorded a 28-inch vertical jump. More importantly, he looked fantastic in position workouts. An elbow injury slowed Fluellen last year and caused his stock to drop, but now that he's healthy, scouts are starting to look at him as an underrated prospect who could turn into one of the best overall values in this year's draft.
Interestingly enough, one of the defensive tackles who projects as an earlier-round pick than Fluellen is college teammate Letroy Guion (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12216). The 307-pounder ran the 40 in 5.20 and posted a 30-inch vertical. Although he didn't look as good as Fluellen in position workouts, Guion didn't flop, either.


Notre Dame Fighting Irish (March 19)
Scouts were eager to see how well TE John Carlson (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11929) would run at Notre Dame's pro day after he turned in a 4.88 40-yard time at the combine last month. Carlson came through with some damage control by improving his time to 4.72, but that's just not enough to make him the No. 1 tight end prospect some had thought he would be. Purdue's Dustin Keller (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11686) and USC's Fred Davis (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11742) are left to compete for that spot.
DL Trevor Laws (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11934) and OC John Sullivan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11930) stood by their combine numbers, and though neither was particularly impressive, both are considered better football players than athletes so their decision not to participate isn't much of a surprise.

pipes
03-30-2008, 11:53 PM
Updated: March 25, 2008

Darren McFadden has has assuaged character concerns.


The bench number is disappointing, especially as the average reps for backs at the combine this year was 21 and several people recently witnessed McFadden put up 20 reps. However, scouts really couldn't care less because upper-body strength doesn't have a substantial impact on a running back's ability and 13 isn't an atrocious number. The short shuttle time, on the other hand, is jaw-dropping. In fact, the second-fastest short shuttle time we've seen thus far is Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall's 4.18 at the combine.




As expected, 6-foot-1, 211-pound McFadden also looked strong during an extensive position drill workout. Perhaps more importantly, we talked to four scouts and not one of them has an ounce of concern about McFadden's character. This is a good sign, as it comes after teams have done their due diligence in investigating his off-the-field incidents. One of the scouts we spoke with went as far as to say McFadden has elite football character, meaning he is a tough player and an excellent teammate.
Speculation about his draft projection remains the same, however. Several NFL insiders indicated that, barring a trade, McFadden is expected to go No. 4 overall to the Oakland Raiders or No. 6 to the New York Jets. After hearing that, it came as little surprise to see Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum leaving the field and having a lengthy discussion with McFadden.
On hand to witness the workouts of McFadden, Felix Jones (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=12154) and the 15 other Arkansas prospects were more than 50 coaches and scouts from 26 of the 32 teams. Head coaches often avoid public workouts and hang around to work out a player individually, and the only visible head coach at the workout Tuesday was Chicago's Lovie Smith.
As a side note, 6-4, 222-pound WR Marcus Monk (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&id=11557) ran a 4.45 40-yard dash, according to my stopwatch, after clocking in at 4.63 at the combine last month. Monk didn't get much love in the Arkansas system and played in just seven games last year because of knee problems, but he has the skills to succeed at the NFL level, and the quicker time should give his draft stock a boost.
As for Jones, he went through position drills but didn't do any of the running, which is understandable given his outstanding times (4.47 40, 4.19 short shuttle, 6.90 three-cone drill) at the combine. He dropped one pass today but looked very good otherwise.

.

Teams would have to be reconsidering their draft boards about McFadden, right? :confused:

Granted, he was an electric college back who did a lot of things not good, but flat out great.

However, all I hear OVER AND OVER AND OVER is how weak his lower body is and how he goes down way too easy due to his lack of power in his legs....

And now he shows that his upper body is NOT strong either. :confused:

How could a team like that?

Especially when there's a guy like Mendenhall, who didn't put up the consistant stats like DMF, but is just a tad slower and is built like a brick shi-ot house both on his upper and lower body.

He could be in for a draft day slide.......or I could just be talking out of my butt-crack and he'll still be a top-5 pick. :salute:


p.s. Monk had to have really helped his stock!!

Tned
03-31-2008, 12:19 AM
Teams would have to be reconsidering their draft boards about McFadden, right? :confused:

Granted, he was an electric college back who did a lot of things not good, but flat out great.

However, all I hear OVER AND OVER AND OVER is how weak his lower body is and how he goes down way too easy due to his lack of power in his legs....

And now he shows that his upper body is NOT strong either. :confused:

How could a team like that?

Especially when there's a guy like Mendenhall, who didn't put up the consistant stats like DMF, but is just a tad slower and is built like a brick shi-ot house both on his upper and lower body.

He could be in for a draft day slide.......or I could just be talking out of my butt-crack and he'll still be a top-5 pick. :salute:


p.s. Monk had to have really helped his stock!!

Check out this article I just posted, and it outlines some of the reasons he isn't going to slide. http://broncosforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12263

The message board world and even some reporters might speculate on the negatives (you have to work hard to find them, but people are), but the scouts and personnel people seem to know the real deal when they see it.