2013 NFL Combine News/Rumors Thread

[Chopper0080]

Thought this would be handy for the next couple days.

Jarvis Jones will not workout at the combine. Disappointing for me, but great opportunity for Dion Jordan and Barkevious MIngo.

Also per draftinsider.net (great read), a significant number of teams are ranking Jonathan Cooper above Chance Warmack at OG. Mel Kiper has been beating this drum for awhile now, but here it is reiterated by one of the better guys in the business. Link: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6780. The meat and potates "He’s much better blocking in motion compared to Warmack and a natural fit for a zone blocking scheme. Teams have referred to Copper as “special” and they feel in time he can add weight, which will only improve his run blocking. I was told Copper was told to purposely keep his weight down at North Carolina and would have no problem carrying additional bulk.."

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Either one would be a wonderful improvement over what we have. We really need a player of their caliber on our interior line. I like either guy, so am in favor of trading back up to 10 spots. Don't see that happening though, unless it just pops up at last minute when we are on the clock.

 

[WildBB]

Thought this would be handy for the next couple days.

Jarvis Jones will not workout at the combine. Disappointing for me, but great opportunity for Dion Jordan and Barkevious MIngo.

Also per draftinsider.net (great read), a significant number of teams are ranking Jonathan Cooper above Chance Warmack at OG. Mel Kiper has been beating this drum for awhile now, but here it is reiterated by one of the better guys in the business. Link: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6780. The meat and potates "He’s much better blocking in motion compared to Warmack and a natural fit for a zone blocking scheme. Teams have referred to Copper as “special” and they feel in time he can add weight, which will only improve his run blocking. I was told Copper was told to purposely keep his weight down at North Carolina and would have no problem carrying additional bulk.."

Trade down...

 

[Chopper0080]

Trade down...

Depends on what you need, what you are willing to risk and fi anyone will give up what you want for it. In this draft, you might be lucky to get a 3rd rounder to move back 7 or 8 spots.

 

[WildBB]

Depends on what you need, what you are willing to risk and fi anyone will give up what you want for it. In this draft, you might be lucky to get a 3rd rounder to move back 7 or 8 spots.

Or 3 to 5 spots. We got many needs. And you'll still get a top player if you have some flexibility...which we should.

 

[ARZCardinals]

NFL Combine

=worth - LESS

if a guy can't play on Saturday's with pads on why do you care what they do in t-shirts and shorts.

Looks like tarzan plays like jane - must be important to you

 

[GuernseyCard]

NFL Combine

=worth - LESS

if a guy can't play on Saturday's with pads on why do you care what they do in t-shirts and shorts.

Looks like tarzan plays like jane - must be important to you

Worthless!
Then why do they do it, pray tell?

 

[WildBB]

NFL Combine

=worth - LESS

if a guy can't play on Saturday's with pads on why do you care what they do in t-shirts and shorts.

Looks like tarzan plays like jane - must be important to you

BUT, all these guys invited HAVE proven they can play on Saturday. That's why they're invited.

You have to evaluate different aspects of players and the combine helps determine some factors. Not all obviously.

 

[WildBB]

Well this could be good news for us with our 2nd Rd. pick.

How would you like Warmack and Barrett Jones in the first two rounds?

Okafor is just a super solid player too.

On the other hand, the stock of Texas DE Alex Okafor and Alabama C/G Barrett Jones may be slipping. No one is questioning Okafor’s college productivity; he also has an unquestioned motor and is as technically proficient as any DE to come out in a while, however, he lacks that quick-twitch explosion off the snap and as a result could drop into the middle of the second round. Same story for Alabama’s Jones, arguably the most versatile lineman in the country who played LT, OG and C on the Tide’s recent national championship winning teams, but may lack the overall strength to be considered a late-first round pick

 

[AzStevenCal]

Worthless!
Then why do they do it, pray tell?

The NFL has a lot of money and the rich are famous for just throwing it away for no reason.

Steve

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Also per draftinsider.net (great read), a significant number of teams are ranking Jonathan Cooper above Chance Warmack at OG. Mel Kiper has been beating this drum for awhile now, but here it is reiterated by one of the better guys in the business. Link: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6780. The meat and potates "He’s much better blocking in motion compared to Warmack and a natural fit for a zone blocking scheme. Teams have referred to Copper as “special” and they feel in time he can add weight, which will only improve his run blocking. I was told Copper was told to purposely keep his weight down at North Carolina and would have no problem carrying additional bulk.."

I heard two ex-GM's, Pioli and Tannenbaum, say today that the two most talented players in the draft are Joeckle and Warmack.

 

[cardpa]

It's all a disguise so they can administer the Wonderlic test. That's the real reason for the combines. Those who don't attend are afraid they will flunk it.

 

[JeffGollin]

Worthless!
Then why do they do it, pray tell?

The Combine is necessary but is by no means an end-all.

On the plus side, it measures every player at the same time and standard and eliminates "fudging the measurables" by agents and schools. It fills in holes in a player's body of work. The interview process adds to the human aspect of the evaluation of the player.

But what the Combine does not measure is the willingness to hit or absorb a hit stepping up into the pocket. Nor can it determine how a player will perform going full-speed with live bullets flying.

To quote Steve Keim: "It's one piece of the puzzle."

But a necessary one.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Combine is necessary but is by no means an end-all.

On the plus side, it measures every player at the same time and standard and eliminates "fudging the measurables" by agents and schools. It fills in holes in a player's body of work. The interview process adds to the human aspect of the evaluation of the player.

But what the Combine does not measure is the willingness to hit or absorb a hit stepping up into the pocket. Nor can it determine how a player will perform going full-speed with live bullets flying.

To quote Steve Keim: "It's one piece of the puzzle."

But a necessary one.

You're preaching to the choir. I haven't seen anyone claim that the Combine is THE tool. However, someone keeps asserting that it has zero value. GuernseyCard's point is valid, if it's truly worthless why would they continue to invest so much time and money in it every year.

Steve

 

[Chopper0080]

The Combine is necessary but is by no means an end-all.

On the plus side, it measures every player at the same time and standard and eliminates "fudging the measurables" by agents and schools. It fills in holes in a player's body of work. The interview process adds to the human aspect of the evaluation of the player.

But what the Combine does not measure is the willingness to hit or absorb a hit stepping up into the pocket. Nor can it determine how a player will perform going full-speed with live bullets flying.

To quote Steve Keim: "It's one piece of the puzzle."

But a necessary one.

Yes. You have to take the combine for what it is and that is an athletic measuring stick. It gives you accurate measurables and puts all the players on the same field running the same drills. It shouldn't make a huge difference on the top 45 players who will be drafted, but it can allow you to shift some of those players around and identify good athletes who could be mid to late round picks but weren't top performers in college for one reason or the other.

 

[JeffGollin]

Yes. You have to take the combine for what it is and that is an athletic measuring stick. It gives you accurate measurables and puts all the players on the same field running the same drills. It shouldn't make a huge difference on the top 45 players who will be drafted, but it can allow you to shift some of those players around and identify good athletes who could be mid to late round picks but weren't top performers in college for one reason or the other.

My favorite use of the Combine is to "look for accidents." i.e. the Try Hard, lunchpail MLB who runs a 4.6 instead of 4.8 or weighs in at 260 instead of 230.

Or the "possession" receiver thought to run a 4.58 who goes out and runs a 4.45.

Or conversely the 6-4 wideout said to run a 4.44 who turns out to be 6-2 and can't break 4.56.

 

[WildBB]

10 Yrd. split times

Lane Johnson 1.61
Terron Armstead 1.64
Justin Pugh 1.67
Kyle Long 1.68
Jeff Baca 1.68
Brian Schwenke 1.68
Tanner Hawkinson 1.69
Vinston Painter 1.69
Eric Fisher 1.70
Hugh Thornton 1.71
David Quessenberry 1.72
Garrett Gilkey 1.72
Jonathan Cooper 1.73
Earl Watford 1.73
Menelik Watson 1.80
Travis Bond 1.80
Luke Joeckel 1.82
Chance Warmack 1.83
DJ Fluker 1.83
Eric Herman 1.84
Jason Weaver 1.85
Travis Frederick 1.85
TJ Johnson 1.87
Braxston Cave 1.87
Mark Jackson 1.88
Oday Aboushi 1.89
Larry Warford 1.92

40 Yrds and 10 Yrd. splits

<>(11:40 AM): Lane Johnson runs a second staright 4.75, but beats Terron Armstead's top OL split with a 1.61 clocking over the first ten yards.

(11:30 AM): Somewhat disappointing times for FSU OT Menelik Watson, who had been expected to run under 5-flat, but inside looked flabby and not very explosive as he clocked a 5.25 with a 1.80 split.
<>
(11:27 AM): Disappointing times for top OGs Chance Warmack and Larry Warford. Warmack, who some rank as the best player in the draft period, had a 40-time of 5.55 with a 1.85 10-yard split, while Warford ran a 5.53

(11:25 AM): More nice 40 times from Justin Pugh (5.10), David Quessenberry (5.06) and Brian Schwenke (5.00). Pugh also had a very quick 1.67 (currently second best among OL) 10-yards split.
<>
(11:20 AM): Good time by Kyle Long who gets under 4.95 for the 40 with a second best among the OL 10-yard split of 1.68.

(11:15 AM): Disappointing run by Luke Joeckel who had an unofficial time of 5.22 with a slowish 1.82 10-yard split. Lane Johnson did ot disappoint with a 4.75 40 time with a quick 1.69 10-yard split.
<>
(11:00AM): Second - and bigger - group of OL finally starting their 40s.

(9:40 AM): Wisconsin C Trvis Frederick runs better in his second 40 cutting a tenth from 5.60 to 5.50, but thta's still a very slow time for a player ranked #1 at any position. His 10-yard split, at 1.85, was a tad more competitve. Good looking beard though!

(9:25 AM): Just a quick note; remember that the times crrently been reported are unofficila hand-timed times. The official electronic times are often .05-.10 slower. Nice job by the NFL Network to include the 10-yard splits which many NFL teams consider to be more important for the OL.

<>(9:20 AM): Really nice 40-time by OT Eric Fisher of 5.07 with a 1.70 10-yard split. Also a nice 40-time of 5.13 by UNC OG Jonathan Cooper with a better 10yard split of 1.73. Not as good for Alabama G/T DJ Fluker who only ran a 5.35 with a slow 1.91 opening split.
<>
(9:15 AM): Some nice early Jeff Baca, Alvin Bailey and David Bahktiari all under 5.10, with UCLA's Jeff Baca posting a very quick 10-yard split of 1.74.

(9:05 AM): Virginia's Oday Aboushi gets it underway with an unofficial 5.44 time, while Terron Armstead posts a remarkable 4.65. Now remember that's an unoffial hand-timed time, but that's a record for the OL..

 

[PitchShifter]

It's all very much smoke & mirrors at this time of year, but here's a couple more rumours:

According the DraftInsiders blog that Chopper brought up in the Original post:

- It should come as no surprise to anyone but the Arizona Cardinals have told people the plan is to come away with a starting offensive tackle from the first two rounds of April’s draft.

Source: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6794

And Stchamp, formerly of the Football Futures forum, is hinting at preliminary talks between the Cards and another team involving a trade for QB. You can follow the hints on his Twitter account. His info comes from a friend who works within the team, so he can have interesting insights from time to time.
(Stchamp your inbox is full so if linking your twitter is an issue, PM me).

https://twitter.com/stchamp98

 

[MWOOD92]

It's all very much smoke & mirrors at this time of year, but here's a couple more rumours:

According the DraftInsiders blog that Chopper brought up in the Original post:

Source: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6794

And Stchamp, formerly of the Football Futures forum, is hinting at preliminary talks between the Cards and another team involving a trade for QB. You can follow the hints on his Twitter account. His info comes from a friend who works within the team, so he can have interesting insights from time to time.
(Stchamp your inbox is full so if linking your twitter is an issue, PM me).

https://twitter.com/stchamp98

Unless this OT is named Luke Joeckel, I don't want to see any tackles taken in the first 2 rounds.

 

[Mitch]

It's all very much smoke & mirrors at this time of year, but here's a couple more rumours:

According the DraftInsiders blog that Chopper brought up in the Original post:

Source: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6794

And Stchamp, formerly of the Football Futures forum, is hinting at preliminary talks between the Cards and another team involving a trade for QB. You can follow the hints on his Twitter account. His info comes from a friend who works within the team, so he can have interesting insights from time to time.
(Stchamp your inbox is full so if linking your twitter is an issue, PM me).

https://twitter.com/stchamp98

This is interesting because when BA talked about a possible QB behind door #2 he included saying that he and his staff would be evaluating other team's backup QBs and possible trade options.

NFC East Backup QBs:

NY---David Carr (UFA)---nope
PHI---Nick Foles---yup
WAS---Kirk Cousins---yup
DAL---Kyle Orton---wouldn't think so---wondered for a minute if the Cowboys could be thinking about trading Tony Romo, but that wouldn't seem likely at all, unless Jerry Jones wants to draft fellow Razorback Tyler Wilson and start him from day one.

NFC Central

MIN---Joe Webb---he actually has the arm, but doesn't seem like a fit
GB---Graham Harrell---nope
DET---Shaun Hill---12 year vet, wouldn't seem like trade bait
CHI---Jason Campbell---but he's a UFA.

NFC South

ATL---John Parker Wilson---nope
CAR---Jimmy Clausen---yup---TM advised there and may have liked him
NO---Chase Daniel---UFA
TB---Dan Orlovsky---worked under TM in Indy, but has been a backup for 7 years

Any guesses? Anyone?

 

[WildBB]

This is interesting because when BA talked about a possible QB behind door #2 he included saying that he and his staff would be evaluating other team's backup QBs and possible trade options.

NFC East Backup QBs:

NY---David Carr (UFA)---nope
PHI---Nick Foles---yup
WAS---Kirk Cousins---yup
DAL---Kyle Orton---wouldn't think so---wondered for a minute if the Cowboys could be thinking about trading Tony Romo, but that wouldn't seem likely at all, unless Jerry Jones wants to draft fellow Razorback Tyler Wilson and start him from day one.

NFC Central

MIN---Joe Webb---he actually has the arm, but doesn't seem like a fit
GB---Graham Harrell---nope
DET---Shaun Hill---12 year vet, wouldn't seem like trade bait
CHI---Jason Campbell---but he's a UFA.

NFC South

ATL---John Parker Wilson---nope
CAR---Jimmy Clausen---yup---TM advised there and may have liked him
NO---Chase Daniel---UFA
TB---Dan Orlovsky---worked under TM in Indy, but has been a backup for 7 years

Any guesses? Anyone?

Cousins would be the only one I'd have any interest in out of these.

My guess' are the obvious one's that have been mentioned, either Weeden or Sanchez with a 4-5th Rd pick and maybe a conditional one the following yr. depending on starts.