FanPost

NFL Combine: Winners and Losers

Rob Carr

Hello again, TST! I'm back! I covered the Combine for Music City Miracles and decided to share my recap with the good folks of TST. Here it is:

After a week of fun that featured 333 prospects that were in Indy at various points, it's time to break down the winners and losers of the largest job fair in sports. Chris Johnson's record was almost broken by multiple players. I'm going to break it down by offense and defense. Let's begin with the offense.

OFFENSE

Winners:

  • QB Matt Barkley USC - Barkley didn't participate in the drills due to injury but was good during his press conference. Reportedly he handled himself well in interviews, owning up to his mistakes.
  • RB Le'Veon Bell Michigan State - Bell needed to run a good 40 to prove that he isn't the next Ron Dayne and he did, running a 4.52 official. The lost weight helped his stock tremendously. The big concern I have is the workload he got in college.
  • WR DeAndre Hopkins Clemson - Hopkins might've been the most consistent overall WR. He flashed great hands during the drills, catching everything in his path. Hopkins also is a good route runner.
  • WR Justin Hunter Tennessee - Hunter proved that he's well beyond the 2011 knee injury that plagued him in 2012 by posting great numbers (4.41 40, 39.5" vertical, 11'4 broad). The size and speed have to be tempting for a lot of teams.
  • WR Robert Woods USC - Woods needed to prove that he's recovered from the ankle injury that nagged him in 2012. He did so by running a 4.51 and showing good hands.
  • G/C Johnathan Cooper UNC - Cooper left little doubt that he might challenge Chance Warmack for the title of top guard. He was very athletic and showed fluidity in his movements during the drills.
  • OL Kyle Long Oregon - Long is an athletic freak, which isn't surprising given his family history. He broke the 5.00 barrier with a 4.93 official. He looked very solid in the drills.

Losers:

  • RB Christine Michael Texas A&M - He had a great combine on the field wise but reportedly blew off several team interviews to sleep in. Yeah, that's not exactly great news on top of the issues he's had in college.
  • QB Mike Glennon NC State - This year's version of Kellen Moore, body type wise. Glennon also tanked his stock by doing poorly in the drills.
  • WR TJ Moe Missouri - A 4.74 40 is very embarrassing for a 5'11 slot receiver especially when offensive linemen are beating that time.
  • OL Oday Aboushi Virginia and C Braxston Caves ND - Both continued their terrible Senior Bowl form into the combine. Aboushi especially after getting abused repeatedly in Mobile.

DEFENSE

Winners:

  • DE Datone Jones UCLA - The hype from the Senior Bowl was worth it for the guy. He had a good 40 time given his 6'3 287 frame, clocking in at 4.8, I like his versatility to play either end or tackle without losing much.
  • DE/LB Cornelius Washington Georgia - The star of the combine. At 6'4 265, he put up an amazing 4.55 40 and 39" vertical. Also impressed during field drills. He needs to correct the tendency to look down, however.
  • DE Margus Hunt SMU - Hunt tested well as expected. He put up 38 reps on the bench, ran a 4.60 40 and a 34.5" vertical. The drills were pretty good as well. I do have some reservations about him however. He's raw and just might end up being a fabled workout wonder.
  • DE/LB Dion Jordan Oregon - Jordan was an athletic freak during the drills. He had loose hips, good recovery speed coming in and out of breaks, and quick feet. The explosion off the line is very evident. I was impressed with how athletic he was even after packing on 20 pounds. Has the frame to add more if necessary.
  • OLB Jamie Collins Southern Miss - Collins is a freak. He almost broke vertical jump stand with a 41.5". The broad jump was a even more impressive 11'7. He fits what the Titans look for as he had solid production all 4 years in college.
  • ILB Jon Bostic Florida - Coming into the combine, the word on Bostic was that he needed to add weight, he did it. Bostic showed the weight wasn't a problem by running a 4.5 He looked the part during the drills.
  • CB Darius Slay Miss State - Johnthan Banks who? Slay looked liked the better prospect of the two Bulldogs. He a ran 4.39 and showed good hip turns and quick feet during the drills.
  • CB Jamar Taylor Boise State - Taylor was another Senior Bowl invitee who had a good week in Mobile that helped himself in Indy. He ran the fourth fastest 40 with a 4.39. Taylor was very athletic and had good instincts during the drills.

Losers:

  • DE Sam Montgomery LSU - Montgomery lands here thanks to a subpar workout and openly admitting that he took plays off last year to everyone. Julius Peppers he is not. He rapidly sunk his stock.
  • LB Damontre Moore Texas A&M - Speaking of guys who tanked their stocks fast, Moore was the poster boy. He put up a measly 12 bench reps and ran a 4.95 while hurting himself running. Team interviews reportedly didn't go well, either.
  • LB Manti Te'o Notre Dame - The most talked about prospect this year had a horrible workout. He looked slow and stiff in drills. Te'o had the courage to blame the media for his poor effort. It's a load of crap since he's not obligated to respond to media requests just like the other 300 people aren't.
  • S Tony Jefferson Oklahoma - Jefferson is tanking his stock. He ran poorly and didn't fare well in interviews either. OU coaches and players have trashed his poor work ethic. It's been a long offseason.