Draft season technically kicks off when the all-star games come around (or when your favorite team is eliminated from playoff contention), but it kicks into high gear with the start of the NFL Scouting Combine. As the week progresses, we will take a look at players who may have made positive or negative impressions on teams by the end of each day. On Tuesday, offensive linemen, running backs, and special teamers were measured. We will run through each position group from day two of weigh-ins and discuss players who stood out in one way or another during measurements. Because of a scheduling change that has moved position drills to evenings, the daily stock reports will post one day after the actual events.
OFFENSIVE LINE
STOCK UP:
There were a handful of Offensive Tackles whose arm length measured above the 34-inch expectation for pass protectors on the edge, including Trey Adams from Washington, who is one of the better tackle prospects in the draft. Several prospects were measured with arms longer than 35 inches, including the two studs from Georgia, Andrew Thomas (36 1/8 inches) and Andrew Wilson (35 ½ inches), Matt Peart from Connecticut (36 5/8 inches), Tyre Phillips from Mississippi State (35 1/8 inches), and Alex Taylor from South Carolina State (36 1/8 inches, at 6'8 3/8" tall). The most impressive specimen of the day must have been Louisville's Mekhi Becton, who stood 6'7 3/8", weighed 364 pounds, and had 35 /58-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands.
Cesar Ruiz, from Michigan, is an athletic Center in a poor class for interior offensive lineman. He measured well yesterday at 6'2 3/4", 307 pounds, with 33 1/8-inch arms and 11-inch hands.
STOCK DOWN:
There were no big losers yesterday, but a few prospects who were praised for their versatility and may have been considered at both Tackle and Guard failed to measure up in arm length. John Molchon, from Boise State, had 31 1/8-inch arms, Calvin Throckmorton, from Oregon, had 32 1/1-inch arms, and Ball State's Danny Pinter had 31 7/8-inch arms. All three are likely to be viewed primarily as interior linemen.
RUNNING BACK
STOCK UP:
Jonathan Taylor, from Wisconsin, is expected to run a very fast 40-yard dash this week. Combining that speed with a weight of 226 pounds will get him a lot of hype through the week.
FSU's Cam Akers is another speedy back who weighed in well yesterday. At 217 pounds, he's more likely to be viewed as an every-down back, than as a back who would be used mostly on 3rd downs.
UCLA RB Joshua Kelly continued his momentum from a great Senior Bowl showing by measuring up at a sturdy 5'10 1/2" and 212 pounds.
STOCK DOWN:
Like the offensive line group, none of the Running Backs made a strong negative impression at weigh-ins. The modest negative observations relate mostly to prospects who did not quite meet expectations.
J.K. Dobbins, from Ohio State, is a prospect who scouts were excited to get a look at. His stock took a hit when he measured in at 209 pounds, 10 pounds below his listed playing weight.
Patrick Taylor, from Memphis, looked more like a Wide Receiver, measuring in at 6"1 1/2" and 217 pounds. That is not ideal for a downhill, between-the-tackles runner.
SPECIAL TEAMS
STOCK DOWN: It's tough for a Kicker, Punter, or Long Snapper to help or hurt his stock much, but I get nervous with Punters who have tiny hands. Assuming that Punters will get more work during games that feature ugly weather, the combination of small hands, a wet ball, and the velocity of a long snap inspire me to imagine a parade of muffed snaps, both on punts and while holding for place kicks. South Carolina's Joseph Charlton (8 1/2 inches) and Sterling Hofrichter (8 5/8 inches) had the smallest hands of the position group.
STOCK UP:
As much as I fear small hands on a punter, it was a plus to see Michael Turk, the Punter from Arizona State, measured with 9 7/8-inch hands.
Those are my impressions from Tuesday at the Combine. See you tomorrow for some quick analysis of measurements for Defensive Linemen and Linebackers!