Combine Preview: Offense | Page 2

MadDog49er · 2016-02-21T04:50:41-08:00

On of the best times of the year for draft junkies is about to hit us again. Less than a week until guys perform at the combine. This is a quick combine preview: QB- All QBs as of yesterday were scheduled to throw, which is unique. It will give a chance for viewers to compare the arm strength of the big three: Goff, Wentz, and Lynch, and compare them in size, and stature, as well as in interviews. Outside of interviews, this is not the best forum for Goff. He is going to look shorter and thinner than the other two, will run much slower and appear much less athletic. In throwing sessions, I don't think he will look as impressive on deep balls. He has to ace intermediate throws. Ultimately, scouts already know these things. He simply needs to blow teams away with his maturity and ability to explain how he reads defenses in interviews. Some of the lower graded QBs will be throwing all week to RBs, DBs and LBs, including Vernon Adams. Lynch and Wentz should run in the 4.65-4.75 range. The Big Ten trio of QBs will have a ton at stake. I predict the slide of Connor Cook will continue, not due to on-the-field performances (he should run well and post decent numbers overall), but because he is a knucklehead and wierdo. In the end, I think this week will drop him into the late third, early fourth rounds. Christian Hackenberg is going to face some tough questions in his fifteen minute interviews. One should be: Why weren't you very good the past two years? Just miserable in many games. He has a chance to shore up some of his draft stock, and could emerge as the fourth QB taken, as a second rounder. I wouldn't touch him. I have bald patches after scratching my head watching him play. Finally, Cardele Jones is a bit older than most (turns 24 early in the football year), has a child, and a ring as a national champion, but his game regressed last season. He will be asked why a lot. RB- Very interesting group. Since few of these players participated in the Senior Bowl and Shrine Game, and most are underclassmen, this gives a first shot to see these guys in a while. Expect Elliott to perform very well. Kenyan Drake will more than likely run the fastest forty. The biggest story is probably something we will never hear: the medical report. How is Booker recovering? Are there any long-term issues with Jordan Howard, who missed a bunch of games in 2015? How is Jonathan Williams in his recovery? The brightest spotlight may be on Derrick Henry, who really needs to prove that his 40 time is solid enough to be considered the number two back in this draft, but even more importantly, his cone and shuttle times, which most people expect he will struggle. Change of direction issues he must answer. Finally, who has the hands of gold in catching drills? The natural hands catchers and body catchers will be on display , and it will be easy to separate the two. Another chance for Kenneth Dixon to make a push to be the second RB taken in the draft, and I expect a big week for him in Indi. WR- Possibly the biggest position group of gigantic question marks is at WR, and we will begin to get some answers at Indi. So many variables could dramatically shake up this group. First, let's burn the track. Expect a number of official 40 times in the mid 4.3s. I will predict the gold medal goes to Kolby Listenbee of TCU, the Silver to Braxton Miller and the Bronze to Will Fuller. Corey Coleman will also be in the mix. However, someone always sneaks in the group to surprise. I have seen a combine prep video on Sterling Shepard, and he clocked somewhere in the 4.35-4.38 range. At Indi, that probably translates into a 4.40-4.43 time. Very solid.. On the flip side, Team Molasses may have some big names this year. Treadwell is expected to run in the 4.6s. His team hopes he is in the 4.5s. What if he runs in the 4.7s? Three of the bigger WRs may also struggle. Michael Thomas of OSU should run in the 4.5s, but watch out for Keyarris Garrett and De'Runnya Wilson to jockey for the fastest time between the two. Both guys are tall and long, and should run in the high 4.6s. Don't be surprised if either is closer to 4.75. Josh Doctson has a chance to impress as the guy to unseat Treadwell as the first WR taken. Looking forward to seeing him. Meanwhile, Bralon Addison has to be super fast or his stock will tank. The most fun competition of the week to me will be the cone times between Coleman and Miller. Look for both to be crazy fast, maybe breaking the combine record. Expect Coleman to be the big star of this week. His combo of 40 times, crazy vertical (expect a 42+"), and long jump, (11'+) to draw big oohs and ahs. But, how tall is he? Big, big question marks. TE- We all know this group is a mess this year, but it can salvage some sort of hope with strong performances. Hunter Henry is clearly the class of this class. He just needs to perform well and not be a knucklehead. His performance can sneak him into the first round for a TE-starved team. The big question is: Who is number two: Austin Hooper or Nick Vannett? Both figure to be third round picks. Vannett can build on a really solid Senior Bowl week. Expect the lower-tiered guys to make a fight to be the fourth TE taken. I really like Tyler Higbee and Jerell Adams and look forward to seeing them perform. East Carolina's Bryce WIlliams is also a very nice looking prospect, and can make a big leap this week. Higbee's health will be a question in his recovery. The hands-catching session will be gigantic for these guys. OL- We always have to finish with the best. The talk going into this week is the battle between Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley to see who gets drafted first, and this week will allow scouts to see the differences between the two stud LT prospects. In the end, I think this ends up being a scratch. Both are about the same height, weight, and should post similar numbers in the sessions. On my end, I like Stanley as the better pass protector, and Tunsil the better in the running game. The big noise of the week will be Jason Spriggs. He will be the king of this week. Expect a forty time from him in the 4.80 range, a huge vertical in the 35-37" range, and excellent long-jump and cone numbers. He will be the talk. A TE in an OT's body. One of big question marks to check this week is the athleticism of Jake Conklin, probably the only player that was able to slow DeForest Buckner down from destroying offenses all year. Conklin is considered to be unathletic by some, and a guy who might have to move to the right side. His team is hoping for him to run in the 4.9s, which would help a lot. Some of the other juniors with a ton at stake: Shon Coleman is a cancer survivor, and older than other guys here (he will be 26 during the season). Can he show enough to keep him in that second round conversation? If not, he could be a giant slider on draft weekend (maybe to the fourth round). Coleman is a very good RT prospect, with outstanding length, and a powerful punch. Germain Ifedi was an effective OT for Texas A&M, but many want to push him inside. I think he shows enough this week to keep him as a second round RT prospect. Finally, Jerald Hawkins of LSU came out early, and he needs a huge week because he should have gone back to school. For Stanford fans, Kyle Murphy was a very good college OL, but I thought he struggled during Senior Bowl week. He needs a strong rebound to pull up his draft stock. On the interior of the offensive line, we saw most of these guys during Senior Bowl week. Now is a chance to show off in timed events. Rees Odhiambo's medicals will be huge, and his movement skills this week will determine whether he stays on the outside or kicks inside. Nice looking prospect. Should be a fascinating week, for sure.

Feb 21, 2016 at 12:51 PM

#16

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by hightop:
Thanks MadDog-how do you see my Ugly Duckling pick Hogan showing in the Combine?

Just kind of an under-the-radar guy. Teams have to figure out who they like under their system. He will probably be a fifth or sixth rounder. I don't think his combine numbers will impress.

Feb 21, 2016 at 12:56 PM

#17

49erThrowback
Veteran
Posts: 1,194

Good discussion of the more interesting players and contests at the combine, MD. Can't wait to see your post on the defensive standouts. :)

Feb 21, 2016 at 12:57 PM

#18

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by strickac:
MD, what's your take on Demarcus Robinson?

I expect him to put on a show and we'll start throwing him in the Spence category. He not going early like Spence and many teams will remove him from their board, but you can't deny the talent. He's worth a flyer, IMo, especially in a vertical offense like Chip's.

Going to be a ton of teams where he is off their boards. He is a borderline draftee, in my opinion. His on the field play was mediocre this year, and then you add the suspensions. Tough to see a lot of interest for a guy that is in trouble a lot and doesn't produce big numbers.

I just see a lot of other guys who have better pro possibilities to be excited about Robinson, just to be honest with you.

Feb 21, 2016 at 1:09 PM

#19

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by Andra:
MD, great write up as always.
There are two guys that I'm really interested in their combine performance's Leonte Carroo WR from Rutgers and Joe Schobert OLB from Wisconsin. Both guys could go anywhere from the 2nd to the 6th round depending how they show out and interview. Any thoughts on either of them?

Carroo is a guy to watch. Very disappointed he was not able to compete during Senior Bowl week due to injury. He measured out shorter than expected, but has an NFL body, and produces. Four one hundred yard games out of eight played, and 10 TDs in those 8 games. Of course, his greatest hurdle is his past, He needs to answer to his domestic violence incident. For what I hear, he has done a solid job at owning up to that incident, and wanting to be better. Hard to tell the truth. Expect a really solid combine for him, and a second round selection.

Schobert flashed in some big games, especially against Alabama. However, the back end of the schedule made him look quite mediocre. Only .50 sacks total in his last 9 games, and four of those games he had one solo tackle. Counted five missed tackles in one mid-season game, which blew me away. I am not sure if he was playing hurt, but I saw two different players in 2015, one that was a stud, and one that looked like a mid-late rounder. Complicating matters further, I don't see him as a great athlete...and the all important "where do you play him"? He probably ends up with a very average combine, and a fourth-fifth round selection to a team who plays him as a 43 OLB.

Feb 21, 2016 at 1:17 PM

#20

Andra
Veteran
Posts: 2,997

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Originally posted by Andra:
MD, great write up as always.
There are two guys that I'm really interested in their combine performance's Leonte Carroo WR from Rutgers and Joe Schobert OLB from Wisconsin. Both guys could go anywhere from the 2nd to the 6th round depending how they show out and interview. Any thoughts on either of them?

Carroo is a guy to watch. Very disappointed he was not able to compete during Senior Bowl week due to injury. He measured out shorter than expected, but has an NFL body, and produces. Four one hundred yard games out of eight played, and 10 TDs in those 8 games. Of course, his greatest hurdle is his past, He needs to answer to his domestic violence incident. For what I hear, he has done a solid job at owning up to that incident, and wanting to be better. Hard to tell the truth. Expect a really solid combine for him, and a second round selection.

Schobert flashed in some big games, especially against Alabama. However, the back end of the schedule made him look quite mediocre. Only .50 sacks total in his last 9 games, and four of those games he had one solo tackle. Counted five missed tackles in one mid-season game, which blew me away. I am not sure if he was playing hurt, but I saw two different players in 2015, one that was a stud, and one that looked like a mid-late rounder. Complicating matters further, I don't see him as a great athlete...and the all important "where do you play him"? He probably ends up with a very average combine, and a fourth-fifth round selection to a team who plays him as a 43 OLB.

Thanks for the insight. I'm totally looking forward to the combine I love draft season.

Feb 21, 2016 at 2:11 PM

#21

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by Draftology:
What makes you think Goff won't look good on deep balls? As someone who watched almost every game in his career, his deep ball accuracy and touch is incredible. When he was a freshman Dilfer said Goff threw the best deep ball he'd seen from someone his age. His ability to throw the deep ball is unquestionably one of his biggest strengths.

Two main reasons:
1. He doesn't have the same arm strength to compete with Lynch and Wentz. Those guys have better hoses.

2. I completely disagree with Dilfer's assessment (please see note of one example of a charted game, his last as a college QB). Goff is spotty on deep throws. On one, he will throw a perfect pass, drop it right into a barrel. The next, he throws it two yards out of bounds. Consistency is my issue.

While these are not his strengths, in my view, he does some things better than Wentz and Lynch. He has better pocket awareness. Like many of the very talented NFL QBs, he feels when the pocket is collapsing, and wiggles out of trouble enough to avoid a sack, or buys enough time to complete a pass. He is the best of the three when throwing clean balls under pressure. He understands the game very well, and is a bright guy who seems to love football. My number two QB right now, but the gap between him and Wentz is very small.

Charted all throws of 25+ yards against Air Force:
1st quarter: 7:30 left- Clean pocket, pressure coming, wide open receiver, overthrew the ball. Would have been a TD.
1st quarter- 3:09 left- Clean pocket- wide open receiver, overthrew the ball. Would have been a 40+ yard gain.
1st quarter 0:10 left- Clean pocket- WR with one step, perfect dropped in pass- TD. Beautiful
2nd quarter- 12:30 left- Clean pocket- WR wide open- overthrew the pass- Would have been a 40+ yard completion
2nd quarter- 12:20 left- Clean pocket, Slight pressure, WR steps clear, overthrew and off his fingertips. No chance for WR.
2nd quarter- 7:54 left- Clean pocket- no pressure- WR with one step- slightly overthrown, great catch. Nice throw, although not perfect, better catch.

2nd quarter- 7:24 left- clean pocket, no pressure- WR with one step- perfect throw- TD
2nd quarter- 2:26 left- Clean pocket- slight pressure coming- WR with two steps- perfect pass for completion
2nd quarter- 0:45 left- Clean pocket- no pressure- receiver wide open- overthrew by a good three yards.
3rd quarter- 14:55 left- Roll left, no pressure- WR two step clear on deep sideline pattern- threw the ball out way out of bounds.Not close.
3rd quarter- 6:25 left- Pressure coming- WR two steps clear on deep fade route- ball slightly overthrown and receiver catches it out of bounds
3rd quarter- 5:16 left- Clean pocket- WR two steps clear, pass way overthrown
3rd quarter- 1:22 left- Pocket collapsing, hit as he threw- WR two steps clear, perfect pass.

Feb 22, 2016 at 6:09 AM

#22

socal9er42
Veteran
Posts: 4,623

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by kirkscrafford:
There are folks still thinking Treadwell is the Niner's guy, but he doesn't seem to impress you?

My number three WR after Coleman and Doctson. His play was really spotty this year for a guy considered a preseason top,10 lock and with a pretty solid quarterback throwing to him. Against some of the better defenses, he just didn't play like an elite guy. 80 yards against Alabama, matched up mostly with Cyrus Jones, who is at least 5 inches shorter; 42 yards against Florida; 58 against LSU; 22 against Mississippi St; 71 against Oklahoma St.

He is a great guy on a 9 route with the ball in the air, but his long speed is average at best, and he just doesn't blow me away with his routes underneath. NFL body, good blocker, and appears to be a good teammate.

I think he ends up running a really pedestrian 40 time at the combine, scrambles to regain footing at his Pro-Day, and eventually gets drafted in the 14-20 range.

Very good college WR, but there are a fair amount of better players in this draft. Especially with a team drafting at 7. Grade him substantially lower than Cooper and White from last year.

Thanks MD. I keep seeing mocks with the 9ers taking Treadwell, and I just don't see him being worth the #7 overall pick either. I think is will be very similar to Crabtree in many ways - he will flourish when paired with a true #1 receiver, but struggle if he is expected to be the Main Guy.

I hope we go elsewhere at #7.

Feb 22, 2016 at 1:44 PM

#23

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by socal9er42:
Thanks MD. I keep seeing mocks with the 9ers taking Treadwell, and I just don't see him being worth the #7 overall pick either. I think is will be very similar to Crabtree in many ways - he will flourish when paired with a true #1 receiver, but struggle if he is expected to be the Main Guy.

I hope we go elsewhere at #7.

I'd be very surprised if Treadwell cracks the top 10. Just too many good defenders on the board, two QBs for QB hungry teams, and a pair of very good LTs. Treadwell may end up closer to the back end of the first round than the front. Skipping the forty at the combine and rumors floating that his camp is hoping a time in the 4.5s is not good. It probably means he is running at best a 4.65 right now. That is what I believe is true at the moment.

Feb 22, 2016 at 2:22 PM

#24

9moon
Veteran
Posts: 22,259

two guys that I;m really having a hard time grading this year is FULLER & FULLER.. the WR, and the CB... and I'm talking about their plays all year and last year, prior to injury..

Feb 22, 2016 at 2:27 PM

#25

Mdizzle27
Veteran
Posts: 233

What are your thoughts on the WR class this year? I think it's much deeper than perceived by the media and experts. It may lack in true #1 types, but there are plenty of #2 or slot types it seems.

Feb 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM

#26

9moon
Veteran
Posts: 22,259

I pretty much have the same thought as you do @ dizzle..

aside Tread, the closest one I see bing a #1 target is the kid from TCU.. and as much as Coleman smells the endzone like no one in this draft, I just do not see him being a bonfide ONE!!

Feb 23, 2016 at 1:44 AM

#27

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by 9moon:
two guys that I;m really having a hard time grading this year is FULLER & FULLER.. the WR, and the CB... and I'm talking about their plays all year and last year, prior to injury..

Fuller saved Notre Dame's season a number of times with big plays at critical times. He will take the top end off a defense. He is not DeSean Jackson, as some like to compare, but big plays are big plays. He needs to bulk up. Really thin. I have him as my number five WR right now, after: Coleman, Doctson, Treadwell and Shepard.

As for Kendall Fuller, we will have to see how he is recovering at the combine. Very good college player, and has the height that many teams want. Will be watching his footwork a lot this week.

Feb 23, 2016 at 1:48 AM

#28

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Originally posted by Mdizzle27:
What are your thoughts on the WR class this year? I think it's much deeper than perceived by the media and experts. It may lack in true #1 types, but there are plenty of #2 or slot types it seems.

This is one of these drafts where the WR crop is super hard to evaluate. Every WR has some major question mark hanging over their heads, and who know who emerges as a star.

However, after this week, everyone will be onboard the Corey Coleman train after he posts his combine numbers, which will be awesome in comparison with others. His issue: height and a case of the occasional dropsies.

Feb 23, 2016 at 1:52 AM

#29

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

Really fun to watch Josh Doctson snatch footballs with his hands. Not Beckham level, but not that far behind. Completely natural. And, a huge catch radius.

[ Edited by MadDog49er on Feb 23, 2016 at 1:54 AM ]

Feb 23, 2016 at 2:26 AM

#30

MadDog49er
Hall of Fame
Posts: 19,400

One name is forgot to add is a small school sleeper named Temarrick Hemmingway from South Carolina St. Very good looking, athletic TE who should post solid number this week, and will kill the interviews. Outstanding student and great guy. We will be drafted in the 5-7 round area, bu a developmental, flex TE that has good hands, and can get down the field.