2012 NFL Draft Prospects

[DKphin]

[h=2]Pead, TE Robinson impress at Cincinnati Pro Day[/h]Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead elected not to run the 40-yard dash again at Cincinnati's Pro Day Friday due to the fact that he'd already clocked an impressive time a week previous at the 2012 Scouting Combine but that didn't stop him from helping his cause, according to a source on hand for the workout.
Pead, who earned MVP honors in the Senior Bowl, was clocked at 4.25 seconds in the short-shuttle and 6.86 in the three-cone drill. Pead's times in these drills, designed to show burst and change-of-direction ability, were nearly a tenth faster than his times recorded in Indianapolis (4.32, 6.95) and would have ranked among the better times of all running backs tested there. According to the source, Pead also fared well catching passes out of the backfield and when fielding punts.

Pead currently ranks as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 5 running back prospect of the 2012 draft.

While Pead was certainly the biggest name of Cincinnati's prospects, the player who helped his cause the most was 6-4, 264 pound tight end Adrien Robinson, who was clocked at 4.51 and 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Only Oklahoma's James Hanna (4.49) recorded a faster time in the event at the Combine than Robinson's 4.51. Demonstrating that he's an all-around athlete, Robinson also recorded a 39.5" vertical jump and a 11'3" broad jump -- each of which would have led all of the tight ends invited to the Combine this year. Robinson was not as impressive in the short-shuttle (4.37 seconds) and three-cone drill (7.11 seconds), putting up times that would have placed him in the middle of the Combine pack this year.

Read entire article:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35073129

 

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[h=1]Clemson looks to continue tradition of high-round D-linemen[/h] By Len Pasquarelli | NFLDraftScout.com

Clemson's Brandon Thompson may be selected towards the bottom of the draft's first round. (Getty Images)

In each of the past five drafts, Clemson has had at least one defensive lineman selected, including four players in the first two rounds, and the streak won't end this year, despite pretty uneven results so far by the former Tigers' stars.
End Andre Branch and tackle Brandon Thompson both are highly regarded prospects, each of whom scored some points at the combine, and they can be perceived as players on the rise.
Part of what makes both attractive is their shared versatility, a quality NFL scouts clearly have not overlooked.
"The way the game is played now, with people jumping in and out of [multiple] fronts, it's a big plus for them," said one NFC area scout whose territory includes the ACC.
Branch, who had 17 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2011, is a hybrid-type edge defender, who might be able to play end in a 4-3 or some 3-4 outside rush linebacker. Timed at 4.70, Branch looks to have great upfield burst, and his 77 tackles last season indicate he is also active versus the run.
He could go off the board in the first round.
Maybe more surprising is Thompson, a player who some teams said might still squeeze into the very bottom of the first round.
The second round is more realistic, but Thompson seems to be growing on people. The key for the 314-pound Thompson, who had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl but did not run in Indianapolis, is that a few clubs, like New England, feel he can play the pure "five-technique" end spot in a 3-4, and perhaps slide inside to tackle to log some 4-3 snaps.
Thompson had only 4.5 sacks in his college career, but scouts contend there is some pass-rush potential there, and that Thompson isn't just a nose tackle-type player.

Read entire article:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...s-to-continue-tradition-of-highround-dlinemen

 

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OT John Cullen Utah 6-4 305

 

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[h=2]Scouts identify 5 underrated Combine performers[/h]Now that we've had a few days to fully digest the information overload that is the annual Scouting Combine, there are a few players who haven't received enough attention for strong efforts, according to my conversations with league personnel.

Every Combine conversation I've had with scouts has started with the obvious workout warriors -- Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, Georgia Tech wideout Stephen Hill, Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson and other, similarly well-publicized athletes. Considering their spectacular performances, it isn't surprising to see their stocks get a bump.

According to scouts. there are plenty of others flying under the national radar whose workouts helped solidify their grades. These are five who were mentioned multiple times.

ILB Tank Carder, TCU: Much like Boston College's Luke Kuechly, Carder has been type-cast as an instinctive, high-motor defender throughout his career but the two-time defending Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year proved to be a much better all-around athlete at the Combine than anyone expected. The 6-2, 236 pound Carder clocked in a sub 4.70 time in the 40-yard dash (4.69 seconds officially) and demonstrated his agility in the three-cone (6.89) and short-shuttle drills (4.18) that some teams place a great deal of value in when scouting linebackers.

Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35089976

 

[DKphin]

[h=2]Wise to be wary of these workout warriors[/h]You've heard it all before... Every team in the league has at one time or another answered a question about workout results from the Combine with something along the lines of, "We don't draft players based on the Combine. What happens on the field is most important."


Because what happens on the field is most important when determining how a prospect is likely to play at the next level, I'm highlighting five prospects whose film doesn't jive with the size, strength, speed or overall athleticism they showed at the Combine.

Call these players "workout warriors." Refer to it as "manufactured speed." Characterize it as "weight room strength that doesn't translate onto the field." Call it whatever you like. Just don't get too caught up on these prospects rising up charts despite posting some of the more impressive workouts of the 2012 Scouting Combine.

OLB Zach Brown, North Carolina: Well known in the scouting community for his jaw-dropping athleticism, it came as no surprise that Brown proved one of the fastest pound-for-pound athletes tested this year at the Combine. While he clocked in at 4.50 "officially" at the Combine and in the mid 4.4s from others sitting in the stands, don't let his timed speed fool you. Brown doesn't locate the football as quickly as most teams would like and is a passive "chase" linebacker who consistently runs around blocks rather than fighting through them. More than one scout has compared Brown's "instincts" to that of former No. 4 overall pick Aaron Curry. That's no compliment.

Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35035596

 

[DKphin]

Since we are using multiple fronts::idk: I have singled out McClellin because he would be the I would prefer because of his versatility.

Ranking the draft’s top 3-4 pass rushers

ICONMcClellin is a favorite of the NFP.

4. Shea McClellin: Boise State (6-3, 258)
McClellin is a productive pass rusher with a big motor; good skill set and can get after the QB in a number of ways. Looks like a starter at the next level who could end up playing just about any linebacker spot in a 34 front.

Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ranking-the-drafts-top-34-pass-rushers.html

 

[DKphin]

[h=2]Charles 4.7-4-88 in 40 at windy UGA pro day[/h]Georgia tight end Orson Charles ran two pedestrian 40 times at his Pro Day in Athens on Monday, but the 4.7-to-4.88 clockings in his shimmery gold track shoes won't be evaluated as "official times" because of wind gusts between 20-30 mph. Teams often adjust their individual 40 recordings based on the surface, environment (indoor/outdoor) and general weather conditions.
Charles, NFLDraftScout.com's third-ranked tight end, plays fast with good quickness off the snap and top-end speed for the position. His height and shorter arms are considered his greatest detriment, but his ceiling might be greater than top-ranked tight end Dwayne Allen (4.89 40 at the Combine) and Coby Fleener of Stanford, who didn't run in Indianapolis because of a high ankle sprain.
Charles' strength won't be a question either -- he pumped up 35 reps of 225 at the Scouting Combine.
Cornerback Brandon Boykin did 16 bench-press reps on Monday but won't run until his personal pro day on April 9. Boykin has return skills and plays bigger than his 5-9, 182-pound frame. Scouts trust his speed won't be an issue, but he's coming off an injury at the Senior Bowl.

Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35100961

 

[DKphin]

[h=2]GT's Hill rising fast, has scouts retracing steps[/h]The man who might have sent scouts scrambling to the videotape following the end of the combine earlier this week is Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, regarded as among the so-called big winners from the Indy sessions.

Hill caught only 49 balls in three seasons in coach Paul Johnson's run-heavy triple-option offense, yet averaged 25.5 yards per reception, and clocked a blistering 4.36 40 at the combine, with a vertical jump of 39 1/2 inches.
Scouts are already dialing up former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Terance Mathis, the offensive coordinator at Savannah State and a guy who has worked diligently with Hill on route-running, for his take on the wideout.
And people are calling sprint coach Loren Seagraves, who also drew a Falcons paycheck and worked on explosive speed with Hill, and who has a ton of league contacts, for Hill insights.
"Raw in a lot of ways, but some of the stuff he does just makes your jaw drop," Mathis told The Sports Xchange. "There's so much to work with."

Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35063186

 

[DKphin]

Busy day on pro day sked ... The pro day schedule really starts to pick up later today with on-campus workouts scheduled at Auburn, Arkansas and Georgia Tech among other schools, while Alabama, Southern Cal and Wisconsin headline an even busier day on Wednesday. Here is the full pro day schedule as well as the latest pro day results including a disappointing day yesterday for Georgia TE Orson Charles.

Read more:http://www.gbnreport.com/

 

[DKphin]

[h=2]CB Jackson, DT Meatoga impress at Hawaii Pro Day[/h]More than a dozen former Warriors participated in Hawaii's Pro Day workout watched by personnel from 26 NFL teams in Carson, Calif. on Monday. The school moved its annual workout to California in recent years to make it easier for more scouts to attend.

Ironically enough, arguably the the top-rated prospect at the event wasn't even a member of the Hawaii football team.

Cal-Poly cornerback Asa Jackson was allowed to participate and rewarded scouts with his performance. Jackson, who fully participated in the Scouting Combine, shaved five hundredths of a second off of his 40-yard dash (4.44) from the time he posted in Indianapolis (4.49) and added three inches to his vertical jump (34.5"-37.5"). According to a source on the scene, Jackson also demonstrated very good mobility and burst during positional drills. Jackson is currently rated as the No. 25 cornerback in the 2012 draft by NFLDraftScout.com. He is amongst a strong group of so-called second and third tier prospects that make up arguably the deepest position in the draft.

Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35107573

 

[DKphin]

DE/LB Brett Roy Nevada 6-4 280

 

[DKphin]

Is Josh Robinson a top-tier corner prospect?

The 2012 NFL Combine saw Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson not only turn some heads with his elite 4.33 40 time. But he also was one of the top performers in the short shuttle, three-cone and both the broad and vertical jumps. Therefore, anytime you get an elite athlete at the position who puts up the type of numbers that Robinson did, it causes talent evaluators to go back and put on the tape.

Therefore, here are my thoughts on Robinson after watching him on tape post Combine…

Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Is-Josh-Robinson-a-toptier-corner-prospect.html

 

[DKphin]

I would take a flier on this guy, say from the 5th on, but the bust factor is high. He really screwed himself running a 5.09/40 at the combine. Combine that with his attitude and I would say he is more likely to fail than to succeed.

The Curious Case of Vontaze Burfict
The Good: The first thing that stands out from Vontaze is his reaction time to a play; especially with the way his body is built. As mentioned before, being able to leap over an offensive line at the exact same time the ball is snapped is something that only future Hall-of-Famers like Troy Polamalu do. Apart from that, Vontaze’s speed is another deadly attribute to his linebacker repertoire.( nothing like contradicting yourself in the first paragraph) Combine both of these skills, and you have a linebacker ready for the NFL.

Pass defense: Vontaze is known for making big hits, especially on receivers and tight ends. We all know that big hits is only a small portion of the game, but Burfict has a keen sense as the where the ball will end up going, which allows him enough time to attack throws in front of him and separate the man from the ball.
Run Defense: Perhaps the mostbeloved part of Burfict’s game is his ability to stop the run. His agility and quickness to the ball makes him a threat to the running back every time he touches the ball. In order to get to the speedy running back, Burfict usually avoids lineman blocks in space with quickness, strong hands, and even a dip move, though he lines up seven yards off the line to see them coming. Lastly, because of Burfict's body type, he is strong enough to anchor down against any lineman blocks, giving him an advantage in stopping runners that tend to follow their lineman.
Tackling: Tackling tends to be a small issue with most linebackers cominginto the NFL. Either they rely too much on big hits or they have trouble fulliy grabbing an opponent, this weakness is very common place, however still easy to fix. This can be said of many, except Vontaze Burfict. As one the most explosive tacklers in college football, Vontaze has the NFL smarts to play low in order stop halfbacks in their tracks and then blast them like a downhill missile, which is what forces the turnovers. This is where speed helps Vontaze’s game as well. He is fast enough to get from sideline to sideline and still be able to wrap around the ball carrier for the tackle.

The Bad: "So what you’re saying is that Vontaze is perfect in every way, shape, or form?" No! There are reasons as to why Vontaze will no be drafted in the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] round, let alone the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP], and here they are:
The Combine: Burflict seemed to have had the Monday blues in this year;s Combine as he greatly underwhelmed himself and others in Indianapolis. Vontaze lethargically participated in every drill, and put up some of the worst Linebacker numbers from any player. Burflict ran the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] slowest forty time (5.09) and played sloppy in almost all of his drills.Not to mention he gained weight. One scout even said, "I wouldn’t even touch him." To have a scout say he wouldn't even touch a player in the draft afer a Combine is certainly a bit eye opening. Vontaze better have a good pro day, or he is looking at Day 3 draft selection.

NOTE: Vontaze was the only linebacker to top 5 seconds in the forty-yard dash

Discipline: No matter how hard you try, there is no way you'll be able to find any other player as badly disciplined on the field as Vontaze Burfict. Come every draft there are always players questioned about their attitude towards the game, but rarely does that affect a their draft stock. That is not the case of Vontaze. His mis-behavior and undisciplined brutality on the field has cost his team multiple personal foul penalties, and sadly, throughout 3 years in college, that never changed. His own coach once benched him because he received too many personal foul penalties. The only reason he was never benched for multiple games was because he was the only inside linebacker ASU had that was explosive. In the NFL, he will most likely be on every referee’s radar; probably even more than Ndamukong Suh and Cortland Finnegan.
So would any team want to come into training camp knowing that there is a ticking time bomb on the defense that needs weeks of attitude readjustment? Who knows. But one thing is certain, Vontaze Burfict is a rare talent and has the capability of becoming an elite linebacker in the NFL. Many covet his physical toughness, but all deny his mental instability. This is the curious case of Vontaze Burfict.
[video=youtube;5cdocwxM0w8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cdocwxM0w8[/video]

Read more:http://www.thephinsider.com/2012/3/7/2847876/the-curious-case-of-vontaze-burfict

 

[DKphin]

[h=1]Knee not ready, Richardson to work out after 'Bama's pro day[/h]ATLANTA -- Tailback Trent Richardson, the consensus top-rated running back and the No. 6 overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, will not participate in drills at Alabama's pro day Wednesday, agent Jimmy Sexton confirmed to The Sports Xchange.

Scouts must wait a few more weeks to see post-scope Richardson. (Getty Images)

It was believed by most that Richardson, who underwent minor knee surgery in the offseason and was unable to work at the combine in Indianapolis, would not be fully rehabilitated from the knee surgery in time for the campus workout. Some scouts, however, held out hope that Richardson might be ready for the audition. That will not be the case, though, and Richardson will work out for scouts in about three weeks, Sexton said.

Read more:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...dy-richardson-to-work-out-after-bamas-pro-day

 

[DKphin]

Greg Childs lights up track at Arkansas Pro Day On a day full of interesting results from Pro Days scattered across the country (from UCLA to Illinois to Georgia Tech), it was the workout in Fayetteville, Arkansas that had scouts buzzing Tuesday night. That's because Arkansas wideout Greg Childs stole the spotlight demonstrating much greater explosiveness in measureable and positional drills from what he showed les than two weeks ago at the Scouting Combine. In doing so Childs helped to prove that perhaps he's regained the explosiveness that made him a star in the SEC before partially injuring the patella tendon in his right knee in 2010 and reinjuring the knee last year. The 6-3, 212 pound Childs had enjoyed a quietly solid workout at the Combine (where he weighed in seven pounds heavier), including running the 40-yard at 4.55 seconds and posting a 36.5" vertical jump. On Tuesday, Childs was clocked at 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash and also improved his vertical jump significantly, posting a 41.5" vertical that would have tied Stanford's Chris Owusu for third among all receivers tested in Indianapolis this year. "It was just mainly showing everybody that I was healthy again; showing everybody I was 100 percent," Childs told reporters following the workout. "I came out here and I had some scouts tell me, 'You look 100 percent. You look as explosive as ever.'" The league source I spoke to Tuesday night couldn't have agreed more. Read more:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35124492