Players to watch at college pro days

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 10, 2010 10:19 AM CST in 2010 prospect watch

If you're not reading Rob Rang's draft blog over at CBS Sports, you're missing out on some real insight...and free of the aura of ridiculousness usually surrounding the ESPN draftniks. Anyway, this morning Rang takes a look at the upcoming schedule of college Pro Days and identifies key players who'll be on display and answering questions. What about some of the St. Louis Rams potential draft picks?

There's no bigger date on the pre-draft calendar than March 25, when Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford works out with the intention of solidifying his name in the conversation for first overall pick. The draft's other top QB, Notre Dame's spikey-haired Jimmy Clausen, works out on April 9 in South Bend. Ok, so about some other names of note...

TST readers may noticed plenty of conversation lately about the Rams need at tight end. One of the biggest names in the draft at that position, Arizona's Ron Gronkowski will fill in the gaps from his missed 2009 season on March 27.

Some of the draft's other quarterbacks will be looking to boost their draft stock in the coming weeks as well. Today, Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson will be looking to build on a strong combine performance. The biggest knock on Robinson, as I see it, is his accuracy, as in is he accurate enough down the field to find success in the NFL.

Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour is banking on his March 24 workout to rebuild his value after it took a hit from his decision not to throw at the Combine. Colt McCoy will throw with the other Texas prospects in Austin on March 31.

Another Texas player I'm interested in is DT Lamarr Houston, who is currently projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick. His 4.85 time in the 40 at the Combine was decidedly un-defensive tackle like.

USC also hold their Pro Day on March 31. Plenty of names to keep an eye on here, but I'm most anxious to see how DE Everson Griffen's draft stock fares after getting a boost at the Combine. Could Griffen be available for the Rams at #33?

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Wow, OK State's Cox banned from Pro Day for curfews

Coach Mike Gundy barred star CB Perrish Cox from the facilities, so no Pro Day for him.
That’s a pretty heavy penalty.

Here’s some quotes from his profile page at CBS:

Perrish Cox will not be allowed to participate in the OSU Pro Day for NFL scouts……..he was suspended Cox from playing in the Cotton Bowl for curfew violations on 2 seperate occasions while the Cowboys were preparing to play Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl.

Making matters worse, during his session with the media, Cox characterized the questions he received from NFL teams about his suspension from the Cowboys as being “harassed.” Cox’s term wasn’t a slip of the tongue; he repeated the word several times to describe his Q and A sessions with teams.

I bet those teams won’t harrass him with a paycheck.

Cox furthermore hurt his chances with clubs by coming in much slower than expected 4.5s to low 4.6s in the 40-yard dash

He’ll need to find another location if he is to work out for scouts prior to the draft. Considering his characterization of their questions, it is difficult to believe scouts will be willing to go out of their way to see him again

At this point, however, it is questionable if he’ll make the second or even third round. I’ve spoken to teams who have discussed removing him off their draft board entirely.
- Rob Rang, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com

That’s because he’s the second coming of Pac Man Jones. Sounds like Parrish only cost himself several million dollars….no big deal.

by CoachConnors on Mar 10, 2010 11:20 AM CST reply actions

Wow,

when I loaded up TST I could have sworn that was a picture of Warren Sapp.

Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.

- John Wayne

by Tackle Box on Mar 10, 2010 12:01 PM CST reply actions

Nebraska's (Suh's) Pro Day is March 11th.

But I guess no one cares because unless he can throw a football we’re not interested…

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Mar 10, 2010 1:45 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Do you know if he's going to do anything different?

I don’t mean improve on his Indy numbers, I mean new/different drills…that kind of thing.

by CoachConnors on Mar 10, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

If he improves those numbers at all...

…it’s mind boggling. But like I said, unless he can chuck a pigskin, it won’t matter.

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Mar 10, 2010 3:32 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

It'd be kind of fun to tuck a ball under his arm and point him at the end zone from 1 yard out

A la Refrigerator Perry

by CoachConnors on Mar 10, 2010 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

Who could stop him from 1 yard out?

I thought I read somewhere that he has lined up in the backfield.

Curious to me that we hear very little about Suh. McCoy makes the news every day. Is there some league wide sympathy for the Lions. They seem to want Suh really bad. And I guess the Rams are a league wide joke.

Apparently a lot of people think that all we need is Bradford and Marshall and we go to the playoffs. I didn’t realize the game was that simple. Some of these people are playing too much fantasy football. And enough about how we passed on Sanchez and Ryan and how they “led” the Falcons and Jets to the playoffs. The Falcons and the Jets were much better teams than the Rams and they were ready for the “franchise” QB. I can’t believe the Rams are even considering Bradford at this stage in the rebuilding process, especially with the quality of QB’s in next years draft. I hope Devaney is just blowing smoke.

by NewMerlin on Mar 10, 2010 6:55 PM CST up reply actions

Good post.

By the way, I can’t believe how little we mention that Ryan REGRESSED last season despite adding a HOF Tight End that’s still a top 3 guy and keeping the same staff around him.

If he slumps again, I’ll be even happier we got Chris Long because he seems to be rising.

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Mar 10, 2010 8:34 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, I watched the Jets quite a bit last season and they protected Sanchez from having to do too much

By running hard, and defending hard. They avoided putting the game in Sanchez’s hands and it allowed him to stay within himself and play safely and comfortably. And the Falcons…I think it was 2 years ago that an Atlanta RB lead the league in carries? Something like that.

I think the Rams, with a healthy O-line and a reasonable RB compliment to SJ39, could at least employ a rugged run game.

by CoachConnors on Mar 11, 2010 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

How about some 40 yard dashes replayed in slow motion for Suh!

by ramsrule on Mar 10, 2010 7:44 PM CST up reply actions

It generally takes young QBs three or four years

to settle in and start playing consistently. We’ll know more about these young QBs in another year or two.

That will also be true of whatever QB we draft, this year or next year. The longer we wait to draft them, the longer it will be before they are locked in and playing well.

by andyrose on Mar 10, 2010 9:59 PM CST reply actions

A real good O-line will shorten that time.

The O-line will determine a young QB’s success or failure. Almost any NFL QB will look great if given all kinds of time in the pocket. Hasn’t this lesson been learned over the years? How many times in the past has the worst team picked the best QB in the draft? No doubt one of the main reasons so many highly regarded QB’s bomb in the NFL. Carr comes to mind but I don’t think the Raiders QB can use that excuse. No wonder so many OT go high in the first round. After we pick up our QB in the first round next year I’d like to see us pick up a monster C, the second most important position on the O-line IMO.

by NewMerlin on Mar 10, 2010 11:12 PM CST up reply actions