Combine Info.... [Archive]

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 01:38 PM

B]Combine Notes - Running Backs[/B]

Friday, February 24, 2006 | 10:42 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis – 5-9 214

Lendale White, RB, USC – 6-0 238
-Will not run at the combine

Dontrell Moore, RB, New Mexico – 5-10 210
-Interviewed with Patriots

Jerrious Norwood, RB, Mississippi State – 5-11 210
-Believes he is an every down back but wants to improve his pass-protection

Leon Washington, RB, Florida State – 5-7 7/8 201
-Eager to prove he can stay healthy and be an every down back
-Interviewed with Broncos, Buccaneers, Falcons, Packers, Patriots

Combine Notes - Receivers

Friday, February 24, 2006 | 10:42 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Santonio Holmes, WR, Ohio State – 5-10 ½ 198
-Left school early to support his three children
-Will not run at the combine

Derek Hagan, WR, Arizona State – 6-2 208
-Has worked with Michael Johnson to improve his 40 time

Demetrius Williams, WR, Oregon – 6-1 197

Todd Watkins, WR, BYU – 6-2 ¾ 202

Mike Haas, WR, Oregon State – 6-0 ½ 208
-Believes he can play both in the slot and on the outside
-Believes he compares favorably to Ricky Proehl

Jonathan Orr, WR, Wisconsin – 6-2 198

Anthony Mix, WR, Auburn
-Interviewed with Steelers, Packers, Jets, Jaguars, Eagles, Dolphins, Redskins
-Doesn’t think he would be a successful tight end

Miles Austin, WR, Monmouth – 6-2 215
-21 strength reps
-Interviewed with Giants, Steelers, Rams

Hank Baskett, WR, New Mexico – 6-2 ¾ 224

Chris Denney, WR, Nebraska-Omaha
-Interviewed with Dolphins, Jets, 49ers, Lions, Bengals, Jaguars

Jeremy Bloom, WR, Colorado – 5-9 173
-Will catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger at his pro day

Travis Wilson, WR, Oklahoma – 6-2 214
-Interviewed with Patriots, Texans, Bears, Titans, Lions

Cory Rodgers, WR, Texas Christian – 5-11 190

Martin Nance, WR, Ohio State – 6-4 213

Skyler Green, WR, LSU – 5-9 192
-Believes he is a great receiver and return specialist
-Interviewed with Rams, Vikings, Bears, Dolphins, Patriots

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 01:47 PM

Combine Notes - Quarterbacks

Friday, February 24, 2006 | 10:40 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Matt Leinart, QB, USC
-Would be honored to play in New Orleans and be a part of the rebuilding process
-Would love to be reunited with OC Norm Chow in Tennessee
-Believes having played in a pro-style offense is an advantage for him

Vince Young, QB, Texas – 6-5 229
-Interviewed with Raiders, Rams
-Coaches have said nothing is wrong with his throwing motion
-Thinks he can run a pro style offense
-Wouldn’t mind playing for the Saints
-Would be special to play for the Titans

Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama – 6-2 ½ 205
-Interviewed with Dolphins, Colts, Broncos, Bills, Jets, Chiefs
Brad Smith, QB, Missouri – 6-2 213
-Wants to stay at quarterback

Charlie Whitehurst, QB, Clemson – 6-4.6 224
-Will not throw at the combine
-Interviewed with Cowboys, Chiefs

Kellen Clemens, QB, Oregon
-Will throw on Sunday
-Interviewed with Dolphins, Ravens

Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt – 6-3 226
-Will participate in all combine workouts

Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Toledo – 6-1 1/3 217

Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green
-Interviewed with Dolphins

Erik Meyer, QB, Eastern Washington – 6-1 210

Reggie McNeal, QB, Texas A&M
-Has been working on his drops since the season

Tavaris Jackson, QB, Alabama State – 6-2 226

Bruce Eugene, QB, Grambling – 6-0 260
-Believes he is a real good quarterback but doesn’t expect to be drafted

Michael Robinson, QB, Penn State – 6-1 226
-Would prefer to remain at quarterback
-Teams having mentioned the possibility of moving him to safety, receiver, or running back
-Will not throw at the combine but will catch passes

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 01:47 PM

Combine Notes - Running Backs

Thursday, February 23, 2006 | 10:14 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Reggie Bush, RB, USC - 5-10 7/8 201
-hand 9 3/4
-arm 30 1/4

Brian Calhoun, RB, Wisconsin - 5-9 1/2 202
-18 strength reps
-Interviewed with Patriots

Maurice Drew - 5-6 1/2 207
-18 strength reps
-Interviewed with Bengals, Browns, Seahawks, Steelers, Raiders, Jaguars, Patriots, Colts
-Will participate in all workouts at the combine
-Being looked at as a running back and return specialist

Joseph Addai, RB, LSU - 5-11 215
-18 strength reps
-Said he would be open to the idea of playing fullback and special teams if asked to

Jerome Harrison, RB, Washington State - 5-9 201
-Stated he will participate in all workouts at the combine

Andre Hall, RB, South Florida - 5-8 208
-Interviewed with Vikings, Panthers, Falcons, Chiefs, Dolphins, Broncos

Mike Bell, RB, Arizona - 6-0 221

Taurean Henderson, RB, Texas Tech - 5-9 204
-Is being talked about as a thrid down back but feels he is an every down back

Gilbert Harris, RB, Arizona - 6-1 5/8 235

Combine Notes - Offensive Tackles

Thursday, February 23, 2006 | 10:08 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

D'Brickashaw Ferguson, OT, Virginia - 6-6 312
-Will not workout at the combine

Daryn Colledge, OT, Boise State - 6-4.3 300
-21 strength reps
-Teams are looking at him a LT, G, and C
-Interviewed with Falcons, Bears, Vikings, Buccaneers, Panthers

Eric Winston, OT, 6-6 1/2 310
-Thinks he is a LT but feels he can play anywhere along the OL except for center.

Winston Justice, OT, USC
-Said he can play either tackle position
-Will not run the 40 due to a pulled hamstring but will participate in the rest of the workouts

Marcus McNeil, OT, Auburn - 6-7 1/2 336
-Interviewed with Jets, Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs, Dolphins
-Will participate in all combine workouts
-Feels he can play both LT and RT
-Missed the Hula Bowl due to the death of his grandmother

Jonathan Scott, OT, Texas - 6-6 3/4 315
-Interviewed with Packers, Bears, Bengals, Cowboys, Texans, Titans, Raiders, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Patriots, Browns

Dennis Roland, OT, Georgia - 6-9 5/8

Charles Spencer, OT, Pittsburgh - 352 lbs

Jeromey Clary, OT, Kansas State
-24 strength reps

Terrance Pennington, OT, New Mexico
-28 strength reps

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 01:48 PM

Combine Notes - Guards

Thursday, February 23, 2006 | 10:07 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Will Montgomery, OG, Virginia Tech
-35 strength reps

Rob Sims, OG, Ohio State
-27 strength reps

Robin Meadow, OG, Washington
-29 strength reps

Taitusi Lutui, OG, USC - 6-3 334

Dan Stevenson, OG, Notre Dame - 6-5 1/8

Max Jean-Gilles, OG, Georgia - 355 lbs
-27 strength reps

Combine Notes - Centers

Thursday, February 23, 2006 | 10:06 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Nick Mangold, C, Ohio State - 6-3 1/2 300
-10 3/8in hands
-24 strength reps
-Scored 35 on the Wonderlic test
-Will participate in all combine workouts

Mike Degory, C, Florida - 6-5 1/2 305
-34in arms
-24 strength reps
-Being looked at to play both C and G
-Interviewed with Titans, Jets, Rams, Raiders, Buccaneers, Broncos

Ryan Cook, C, New Mexico - 6-6 5/8 328

Chris Chester, C, Oklahoma
-27 strength reps

Donovan Raiola, C, Wisconsin - 6-2 300

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 02:05 PM

Take it for what it is worth regarding Vince Young...

VINCE IS STOOPID?

A league source tells us that there's a rumor making the rounds at the combine that Texas quarterback Vince Young scored a miserably horrible six on the Wonderlic test.

A six! That's bad. It's beyond bad. In fact, it's the lowest score that we can ever remember hearing anyone getting.

All incoming NFL players take a 50-question version of the Wonderlic, with a 12-minute window within which to finish it.

We found 15 sample Wonderlic questions on ESPN.com's page 2, including such brain-benders as selecting the ninth month of the year from among five possible choices. We'd like to think that most people of average intelligence could get at least six of the 15 sample questions right.

Getting a total of only six out of a total of 50 questions of that same kind is pa-freakin'-thetic. For a guy who's going to be called upon to read defenses and call audibles and work through a progression of receivers against NFL-caliber opposition, it's downright scary.

The source tells us that he hasn't seen the result in writing yet, but that he's "99 percent" certain that Young's score was six.

Said the source, who knows a thing or two about evaluating college players:

"I predict he'll fall all the way out of the first round."

That's a bold statement, and we're not saying that we agree with it -- primarily because our guess is that there's someone almost dumb enough to get a six on the Wonderlic, who'll overlook Young's low score along with any other concerns that might come to light over the next two months.

CrossBones

02-25-2006, 02:11 PM

Vince Young (6), meet Neil Smith (4). :eek:

I'm not sure what it really mean but really that is incredibily poor. I mean it tells me he has little or no common sense.

On the other hand it didn't seem to hurt Neil Smith. He knew how to get to the QB and that's all he had to know.

Vince Young, on the other hand, is a quarterback and it takes intelligence and common sense. A "6" on the Wonderlic test? Wow...that's not cool.

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 02:35 PM

Here is a story on Ngata (we met with him)...

Ngata fights through tragedy
By Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
February 25, 2006

Open about their desire to address the team's 30th-ranked rush defense, it's a definite possibility the Browns may search for help early in the upcoming draft.

A good step in the positive direction could be Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (pronounced NAH-tah) - that is, if he's still available when the Browns pick at No. 12. Ngata, a 6-foot-4, 338-pound junior from Salt Lake City, Utah, is largely considered the top defensive tackle in the draft and could fill a need for many teams picking early in Round 1.

The self-proclaimed "run-stopper" models himself after Steelers Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton and has the ability to equal and perhaps even surpass Hampton's success if his full potential is reached.

While he said he prefers playing in a 4-3, as he did at Oregon, he said he's accustomed to being double-teamed and is being looked at heavily in the NFL as a nose tackle.

Ngata was born in Los Angeles and moved to Utah when he was young. He passed up the opportunity to go to a bigger-name program to stay near his family on the West Coast.

He entered the starting lineup just five games into his freshman season of 2002 and was a first-team Freshman All-American. The following season, he suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire year. He said he didn't regain full strength until about halfway through the '04 campaign, during which he played in all 11 games.

During his junior '05 season, he marked 61 tackles (9 for loss), 3 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovered fumble, 2 blocked kicks and a safety.

The big man isn't much of a sack artist but knows how to play his role as a plug in the middle.

"I'm not bad at pass rushing," Ngata said. "I have a lot of upside at rushing the passer. I'm quick, but I need to work on balancing the way rush the passer because I sometimes miss tackles."

The mild-mannered 22-year-old was gentle as can be when talking to the media Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine, but said he takes on a different personality when he gets on the field.

"I change my personality a lot," he said. "I love contact. I envision the game a lot and just think about hitting the guy across from me."

Unfortunately, Ngata's story isn't limited to his potential on the football field.

His father, Solomone, was killed in a trucking accident in Dec. 2002. Then, just a few weeks ago, Ngata's mother, Olga, passed away after a long bout with diabetes.

"I'm happy that she's finally somewhere where she's happy and comfortable and has no body problems," Ngata said.

Ngata said part of his decision to leave college early was to help finance his mother's treatment. Now that she has passed, he said he has a family - four siblings - to help support.

Ngata, a devout Mormon, has relied on his faith to carry him through his difficult time.

"It comforts me when my parents passed away that I'd be able to see them again," he said. "It's been tough. I just use it as motivation. My dad and mom are finally getting to see me play together.

"Football is something my parents wanted me to do. Playing football is something I love and they love watching me play."

But despite the tragedy, Ngata seemed to be taking everything in stride, thanks largely to his faith. He seemed ready and excited to play in the NFL - a dream he has had since he began playing football when he was 8.

As of Saturday at the combine, Ngata had meetings with the Giants, Raiders, Bengals and Rams. He said he believes he will meet with the Browns before he leaves Indianapolis.

Plunkett16

02-25-2006, 02:50 PM

Raiders' Al Davis Missing From Scouting Combine
Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:17 pm by SteveRobWhatever | Comments (0)

Source: Nancy Gay, San Francisco Chronicle [ This year, the Raiders' owner has been conspicuously absent from the proceedings. Workouts begin today, and anyone watching the nonstop coverage on the NFL Network won't get the obligatory candid shots of Davis on the lookout for the next Fabian Washington. For now, he is in Alameda, leaving the scouting to his scouting department. And watching the workouts on television like a regular guy. Davis, 76, has had a leg problem and has been using a walker to aid his mobility since last year. That has prompted NFL types to speculate on the state of his health and why he isn't here. "Al may still go back to Indy for a day or two,'' Raiders chief executive Amy Trask said. "Right now, he's working out and strengthening his leg."

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 03:00 PM

This is from 09.30.2005 on the Wonderlic combined scores of each team...

How the Pro Teams Scored

Here is a look at average scores on the Wonderlic, a standardized intelligence test, for players on the National Football League’s 32 teams.Av erages are for players currently on each team’s roster and for which scores are available—generally, drafted players who entered the league in the past seven years:

TEAM (RECORD) AVERAGE WONDERLIC
COMMENT

1. St. Louis Rams (2-1) 24.6

Coach Mike Martz’s intricate offense takes brains: Average Wonderlic for offensive players is a 27, just below the average for chemists.Some wide receivers have to learn four positions.

2. Oakland Raiders (0-3) 23.3

Surprise: Not known for scholarship, the Super Bowl runners-up for the 2002 season have a rookie crop that averages 26.But the offense is tied for league lead in penalties—and the team has yet to win a game.

3. Tennessee Titans (1-2) 23.2

To play defensive end for the Tennessee Titans, you’d better be pushing Mensa levels—their average score is 33. Intelligence, says GM Floyd Reese, “is something we look at harder every year.”

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) 23.2

Team’s linebackers have a heady average of 30, and guards averaged 34. Overall offensive line score of 29.6 may explain why running back Carnell Williams leads the NFL in rushing.

5. San Diego Chargers (1-2) 23

Rookie defensive end Luis Castillo from Northwestern (32) has started three games.

6. Dallas Cowboys (2-1) 22.8

May have the smartest collection of QBs ever assembled—Drew Bledsoe (37), Drew Henson (42) and Tony Romo (37).Pla yers with numbers like those are “in the mental elite,” says Wonderlic executive Michael Callans.

7. Chicago Bears (1-2) 22.6

Forty players from the young Bears showed up in our Wonderlic dragnet, edging out the Cardinals and Colts (38 each).Brains are concentrated on defense, which hasn't given up a rushing touchdown this season.

8. Carolina Panthers (1-2) 22.1

Tackle Jordan Gross (40) may be the brainiest starter in the NFL.

9. San Francisco 49ers (1-2) 21.7

Quarterback Alex Smith, the team’s first-round pick, scored 40, but team says Wonderlic scores are used only in “rare cases” when all other factors are equal.

9. N.Y. Jets (1-2) 21.7

Heading the other way? The Jets’ first seven draft picks in 2005 were just below average, totaling a 20.8 Wonderlic.

11. Cleveland Browns (1-2) 21.6

Tied for league lead in Stanford graduates.T op draft pick, wide receiver Braylon Edwards from Michigan, scored a 27.

11. New England Patriots (2-1) 21.6

Despite his team’s intelligent reputation, coach Bill Belichick doesn’t always favor high scorers.Our sample was relatively small—29 players—but nine of 13 starters had below-average Wonderlics.

11. Buffalo Bills (1-2) 21.6

Football intelligence? Stingiest defense in the NFL this season has only a 21 average.For mer Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman (31) has thrown only one interception so far.

14. Baltimore Ravens (0-2) 21.5

Defense’s Roderick Green has the lowest score in our sample, a 3, which his agent attributes to a learning disability.“ P eople should respect his football talents,” says James Selser.

14. Minnesota Vikings (1-2) 21.5

According to Wonderlic scores, quarterback Daunte Culpepper tested out at an average 21.His agent would not confirm the mark, calling it “a confidential thing.”

16. Seattle Seahawks (2-1) 21.3

Smart is relative: Seattle was one of the least-penalized teams in the NFL in 2004.Defensiv e starters average 22—just above the national average across professions.

16. Detroit Lions (1-1) 21.3

The Lions had what could be the highest-scoring draft, test-wise, in NFL history.The first five players it picked had a 28.4 average.

18. Denver Broncos (2-1) 21.2

Denver’s secret revealed: Seven of the 10 top-scoring Broncos in our sample are offensive linemen.W ithout them, the Broncos would have ranked 25th.The team’s running backs average less than 17.

19. Miami Dolphins (2-1) 21.1

New coach Nick Saban’s comes from LSU, where the meanWonderlic for NFL hopefuls is below average (18.4). This year’s draft picks averaged 20.3, also below average. But Donnie Jones (29)may be the the NFL’s smartest punter.

19. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) 21.1

Sensational quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scored a 25, nowhere near the top among QBs.Still, he has the NFL’s highest passer rating.“Ben has an unbelievable memory,” says his agent.

19. Atlanta Falcons (2-1) 21.1

General manager Rich McKay is a Princeton graduate, but this year’s draft class had a 19 average.F alcons’ overall score is close to that for police officers.

22. Indianapolis Colts (3-0) 20.8

High and low: While Colts offense is famously complicated, team’s surprisingly effective defense is not.Ov erall defense scored 19, and the first three defenders drafted this year averaged 16.

23. N.Y. Giants (2-1) 20.4

Eli Manning (39) leads our sample of starting NFL QBs.Giants also give prospects a two-hour psychological test.

24. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) 20.1

QB Donovan McNabb had a below-average Wonderlic but runs the league’s most potent offense.T eam’s top testtakers? The backfield: Outside linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties average 27.

25. Houston Texans (0-2) 20

Quarterback David Carr (24) leads the league’s least productive offense. In our sample, no Houston offensive player scored higher than 26.

25. New Orleans Saints (1-2) 20

Mental mistakes? The Saints’ offense led the NFL in 2004 penalty yards.T his year, too, it’s leading the league in total penalties.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) 19.8

Go figure: Offensive line is the smartest unit on the team, but quarterback Byron Leftwich has been sacked 11 times.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) 19.8

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (26) leads the NFL in passing touchdowns, but team’s defense is the wild card.Two middle linebackers both scored a 12 on test.

29.Washington Redskins (2-0) 19.6

Agent Todd France says the team wasn’t concerned that his client, top 2005 pick Carlos Rogers, scored 14.The agent says he helps his clients prep for Wonderlic by giving sample questions.“Y ou don't want any surprises.”

30. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) 19.3

Skewed sample? The Chiefs had the fewest players show up in our sample—23 in all—in part because it fields so many veterans.Rookie linebacker Boomer Grigsby has defense’s top Wonderlic (34) but doesn’t start.

31. Arizona Cardinals (0-3) 19.2

Birds of a feather: This 0-3 franchise hasn’t made it to the playoffs since 1998.T eam’s big crop of rookies averages just below a 19 Wonderlic.

32. Green Bay Packers (0-3) 19.1

Winless Packers have nine players with scores below 14. The team declined to comment.Interesting fact: According to E.F. Wonderlic Co., the lowest average score for any occupation is “packer,” with a 14.69.

Methodology: Wonderlic scores were drawn from published reports, Web sites and NFL insiders and spot-checked with agents, scouting experts and teams. Sample includes 1,021 NFL players, about 60% of the league. Most undrafted college players and veterans who took the test before 1999 are not included. Some players’ scores are an average ofmultiple tests. The Wonderlic has a margin of error of +/- 1.5 points and a standard deviation of 7.12 points.

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 04:13 PM

More on Ngata...

Who is Haloti Ngata?

soon, the whole world will know

by Bitonti
last updated: 01/10/06

Pronounced NA-TA

Etuini Haloti Moala Ngata – 6’5, 338 pound Defensive Tackle - US born Tongan – Salt Lake City, Utah. 40-time: 4.85 (est), Power Clean: 385, Bench Press: 485, Squat: 585.

Ngata emerged as one of the top10 prep recruits in the nation as a senior at Highland High School. He is considered to be the biggest prospect in Oregon football’s recruiting history - Big not only in stature but in significance. As a Duck, Ngata has been touted by onlookers as the next to follow recent defensive tackle draft picks Junior Savaii and Igor Olshansky to the NFL.

Those freakish workout numbers no doubt have caused drools from league scouts. What’s even more interesting is that Ngata isn’t just a workout-warrior; in an interview with the Register-Guard this season Ngata’s defensive line coach Steve Greatwood calls him the most intelligent athlete he’s ever coached. Greatwood goes on to say that he has the potential to be the greatest player to ever come from the school. There are even some dreamers who believe Ngata could make waves as a Heisman-trophy candidate if marketed correctly and given novelty carries out of the backfield. (i.e. Orlando Pace, Charles Woodson).

Through all this fanfare the question remains: who is Haloti Ngata?

As one might expect from a young man brought up in community of transplanted Polynesians (where Tonga and Samoa's teams compete at a world-class level), Haloti played the game of rugby in high school (after football and wrestling seasons). Highly recruited for the USA Men's Under-19 squad, Ngata carried his HS team to the National Rugby Championship, where he was tossed out in the final game for unnecessary roughness. Ngata could have been a star on the national team and even internationally the potential was there, but he shunned these advances for the more lucrative opportunities that pro football could provide. Not a surprising choice but also not one without meaning in the framework of his choice this spring when NFL opportunity will beckon.

Looking at his high school recruitment process, Ngata was at first committed to attend Nebraska, however broke that recruitment after his family demanded release for a possible Mormon mission. Despite this turn of events, Ngata has no current plans for a 2-year mission, as he broke another commitment to BYU to finally join Oregon.

While at Oregon, Ngata missed the 2003 season with a torn ACL suffered on punt coverage. This occurred so far downfield that OC coaches have never found the injury on game film. While once scary, these ACL procedures have become commonplace, and is the only real blight on his profile as a draftable prospect. For what it is worth, after rehab Ngata stated that believes his injured knee to be stronger than his uninjured knee – a statement he proved on the field in 2004.

Last year Ngata was productive and an overall bright spot for the Ducks’ disappointing 2004 – their first year without a bowl appearance since 1996. He had 46 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks. Some significant stats are not recorded for public view, such as Ngata’s double-teams occupied and quarterbacks hurried.

This season Ngata was Oregon's first consensus All-American for 43 years, had 61 stops, 9 for loss and 3 sacks. His career blocked kicks total 7.

Although suffering a tough cut block against Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl which took him out of the game, Ngata's MRI only showed a bone bruise and a sprain, and declared for the NFL Draft shortly thereafter. He has been playing inspired football all year through various injuries and if he can retain that inspiration will be an asset at the next level. A draft advisory panel suggested that the latest Ngata would be drafted is the late second round.

As true fans of the NFL draft know, every year the “planet theory” comes into play – this theory, postulated by George Young and endorsed by Bill Parcells is as follows: there are only so many big, fat men _on the planet Earth_ who can move with agility, quickness and speed, and when a team gets a chance to take one in the draft, they will leap at that chance.

Similar to Dewayne Robertson out of Kentucky in 2003, Ngata is very young, blessed with rare physical attributes and somewhat limited productivity due playing on a relatively suspect defense and the double and even triple team matchups forced upon him weekly. Also similar to Dewayne Robertson, Ngata has the size/speed ratio that makes him a physical freak, able to take one offensive lineman in each hand and push them both back toward the QB.

Who is Haloti Ngata?

Haloti Ngata is a man that is under radar now, but has the real potential to find himself a top-10 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Angry Pope

02-25-2006, 07:41 PM

I heard also that Kingdon said we will strengthen the offensive line and look for a fullback to complement Crockett. We will also use the power running game to set up the pass with Collins at QB. He said that we will be looking for a big strong fullback that can wear down defenses. This is what I was told and didn't actually hear it myself.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 09:51 AM

Notes......

Indianapolis… You Are There!

2/26/2006

The football world converged on Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine this weekend, and among the gaggle of reporters were both Aaron Schatz and Michael David Smith. Please allow us to empty our little spiral notebooks in true Peter King style. Or, perhaps, Larry King style. (”You won’t see a better-conditioned athlete than Missouri State punter Jonathan Scifres … I know movies, and Ultraviolet is a sure Oscar contender … Watch out for those Kansas City Royals this year…”)1

(Aaron’s note: Mike had to leave early, but I’m still here, so we’ll start with Mike’s notes and I’ll be filling mine in throughout the day.)

Michael David Smith’s notes

– The fans like to talk about 40 times, but the most important part of the combine is the opportunity to give every prospect a physical exam, and the second most important part is the one-on-one interview. The Houston Texans don’t know exactly how fast Reggie Bush can run 40 yards right now, but they do know if he has any health problems, and they know if he seems like the kind of guy they want to have in their locker room. That alone makes the combine worthwhile.

– I think the most surprising thing I heard anyone say in Indianapolis took place during a conversation with Peter King about Brett Favre. “I don’t have his number,” King said. I knew Favre had become an increasingly private person, but when King (who is perceived as closer to Favre than any other member of the media) can’t get in touch with him, Favre has really withdrawn.

– Tom Coughlin said running backs are in rapid decline by age 30. When I pointed out that his own Tiki Barber is about to turn 31, Coughlin said, “He doesn’t know that. He thinks he’s 25.”

– Jay Cutler was impressive in dealing with the media, and impressive by doing everything asked of him during the workouts. And his 23 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press must have opened some eyes – a quarterback doesn’t have to have the kind of upper-body strength, but it does indicate that he spends a lot of time in the weight room, and coaches will love that.

– Matt Leinart was adamant that he wouldn’t mind playing in New Orleans. “If I were to go to the Saints it would be an honor,” he said.

– Vince Young, asked what NFL coaches had said to him about his throwing motion, replied, “There’s nothing really wrong with it. It’s the media that’s been talking about it.”

– Nick Saban was obviously annoyed with all the questions about Ricky Williams and his fourth positive drug test. Saban called Williams one of the five best players he has ever coached in terms of his attitude at practice and his work ethic. What I want to know is, if a habitual marijuana smoker can have such a great attitude and work ethic, why does the NFL suspend players who test positive?

– The Green Bay Packers made it as clear as could be that they’ll take the best player available with the fifth overall pick. Both general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy used the phrase “best player available” multiple times in their press conferences. Even though the team used its first-round pick on quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Thompson and McCarthy said they will consider taking a quarterback. I asked McCarthy why he preferred Alex Smith to Rodgers when he was San Francisco’s offensive coordinator last year and the 49ers took Smith first overall, and he said he thought Rodgers was more polished but Smith had great potential. Neither Thompson nor McCarthy would speculate about whether Favre will retire. Thompson added that the team is negotiating with Ahman Green, but he didn’t sound enthusiastic about it. I think he expects Green to be elsewhere next year.

– One player who clearly understands what NFL teams want of him: LSU’s Skyler Green. He said he was willing to play running back, third-down back, slot receiver, kickoff returner, punt returner, or whatever it took to make a team.

– Jeff Fisher said that if Matt Leinart becomes a Tennessee Titan, the offense he’ll run is the same as the one he ran in college under Norm Chow, now the Titans’ offensive coordinator. “We’ve installed coach Chow’s system. That’s our offense,” Fisher said.

– Mike Holmgren has long been an influential member of the league’s competition committee. He has just resigned from it. I have no idea if his anger over the officiating in the Super Bowl has anything to do with it, but that’s one logical inference.

– I knew Lendale White was big, but I didn’t know how big. White said he weighed 253 pounds on the day of the Rose Bowl, but he’s down to 238 now. When asked why he was so big in early January, he said, “Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

– Jeff Foster, executive director of National Football Scouting, which runs the combine for the league, said the combine’s contract with Indianapolis expires after next year, and he sounded like he’d love to find a warmer climate for the event. (It used to take place in Tempe, Ariz.)

– Penn State quarterback Michael Robinson doesn’t like the idea of moving to a new position. “I’ve had teams talk to me about safety,” he said. “I haven’t tackled anybody in six or seven years.”

– The NFL’s PR people did a good job of making the players available to the media. Big-name players like Leinart, Bush and Young were given spots at a podium for the crush of reporters, while the lesser-name players were seated at tables where a few home-town reporters could talk to them. But there was one exception: Marcus Vick, the Virginia Tech quarterback whose problems both on the field and off the field are a major story, was moved to a small table even though dozens of members of the media wanted to talk to him. The league obviously didn’t want Vick to be a big story coming out of Indianapolis.

– DeAngelo Hall was one of the handful of current players in town. Hall, who recently won the NFL’s Fastest Man competition, said that when he was coming out of Virginia Tech, he ran a 4.31-second 40 at the combine.

– When I asked Detroit coach Rod Marinelli why the Lions put the franchise tag on left tackle Jeff Backus, Marinelli said it was a no-brainer because Backus is “a tremendous football player.” Marinelli, who previously served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive line coach, said size wasn’t important to him when evaluating a defensive lineman, an interesting comment for a guy who just took over the team with the huge Shaun Rogers and Dan Wilkinson plugging the middle of the defense. Marinelli said the most important trait for a defensive lineman is hand speed.

– Reggie Bush had the best line of the combine, answering the question of what he would like about playing in Texas with, “no state tax.”

cont'd...

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 09:52 AM

cont'd...

Aaron Schatz’s notes

– I disagree. I thought the best line of the combine belonged to Jeremy Bloom, when a reporter asked him if he was going to be comfortable with contract clauses that restricted him from skiing or other off-season activities. Bloom’s response: “I think Kellen Winslow took care of that for me.”

– As for Nick Saban, I thought he was going to go Hulk around the fifth or sixth Ricky Williams question. “Don’t ask about Ricky … you won’t like me when you ask about Ricky…”

– It would be easy to ignore the fact that these prospects are even in the building because there is so much concern and talk about the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Every coach or general manager who gets up to the podium should just save us all some time by starting their press conference with the following: “I don’t know if there’s been progress on the CBA, we all want it to get done, we’ve got two plans for free agency depending on what happens, and I don’t know if a college quarterback with an unorthodox throwing motion has to change his style in order to be a successful quarterback in the National Football League. Do you have any non-CBA, non-Vince Young questions?”

– One of the many ramifications if there is no CBA and we enter that “2006 by different rules, 2007 uncapped” scenario: it will be even harder than usual for teams at the top of the draft to negotiate contracts with the highest draft picks, since they can only pro-rate bonuses over four years.

– Part of my goal in coming here was to make connections with people I could use for quotes in future stories. The problem is, I have a terrible memory for names and faces. To give an example, when I walked into the Convention Center on the first day I wandered into was a large seminar for agents being held by Players Inc. On a bench in the hallway outside was a somewhat familiar-looking guy talking on his cell phone. I know this guy, I thought, who is he? Of course, he gave me a look like, “Why are you staring at me?” and so I walked away. Five minutes later it finally hit me why I thought I knew this guy. It was Drew Rosenhaus.

– My favorite event on the Players Inc. seminar schedule: a 15-minute presentation on the Arena Football salary rules.

– I would like to thank the folks who voted for Mike Sando as “local writer who deserves more attention.” I introduced myself to him yesterday and we ended up hanging out for a couple hours in between scribbling notes on random coach statements. He is definitely a reporter in the stats-friendly FO camp. He has game logs for Seattle games that even have some of the elements we’re tracking with the game charting project, and he’s very comfortable using this data in his articles. I gave him one of the extra copies of PFP 2005 that I brought with me. Just another reason to hit Seattle on the next book tour. He was also nice enough to introduce me to John Clayton — Sando actually was Clayton’s replacement when Clayton went to ESPN.

– Most interesting answer I’ve heard from a prospect, when a reporter asked wide receiver Mike Hass of Oregon State which NFL player’s career he wanted to emulate, he said “Ricky Proehl.” Not the answer you would expect from a 22-year-old kid.

– Nearly every question for new Vikings coach Brad Childress was about Daunte Culpepper, but near the end someone asked about running backs and Childress said, “well, we’ve got a depth problem there, we’ve only got two right now.” Michael Bennett and Moe Williams are both free agents but it sounds like they’re writing off Onterrio Smith at this point. Someone did ask specifically about Onterrio later and Childress mentioned that they are not allowed to talk to him until May 1.

– I did get up to Gary Kubiak after his press conference and told him that we had named our player projection system after him, at which point he looked at me like I had three heads.

– The city of Indianapolis wanted to charge the NFL an absurd amount of money for Internet connections so we’re all going off dial-up. It’s like living in the Stone Age.

– All of the prospects are walking around in these grey sweatshirts with their position and number on the front, name and number on the back. Will Carroll referred to this as fashion from the Bill Belichick Collection.

– Most of these guys majored in stuff like “sports management” or whatever, but defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo of Stanford stayed in school four years and has a degree in electrical engineering. Impressive

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 10:20 AM

On Mario...

'Remarkable athlete'

If they stay put at No. 5, the Packers' most intriguing possibility would be North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, who is considered the top defensive prospect in the draft, just ahead of Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk.

The 6-foot-7, 295-pound Williams, who only turned 21 Jan. 31, was a three-year starter for the Wolfpack before forgoing his senior year to enter the draft. He had 56 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and five sacks in 13 starts as a freshman in 2003; 57 tackles, 15 TFLs and six sacks in earning first-team All-ACC honors as a sophomore in '04; and 62 tackles, 24 TFLs and 14 sacks in 12 games last year, again earning first-team all-ACC recognition.

Strong against the run and pass, Williams' technique lacks polish, but he has the large upside - impressive physical tools and natural athleticism to fit Thompson's "impact player" mold.

"He does. He does," Thompson said. "He had some up-and-down games this year, as most people do, but he's a tremendously talented kid. He looks like what you draw up. You want him to get off the bus first."

Added McCarthy: "He is a remarkable athlete. (With) his size, he looks to have everything. He looks to be a special player in this league."

Williams met with reporters Saturday at the Indiana Convention Center, and afterward said it would be "great" if he went to Green Bay. According to a league source, the Packers were set to use one of their 60 allotted 15-minute interviews on Williams on Saturday night.

"I've thought a lot about playing there. I would love that," said Williams, adding that his childhood hero was Packers defensive end Reggie White. "I really think it's where I'm going to end up."

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 10:23 AM

Some on Lewis...

Tight end gem: Marcedes Lewis (6-6, 261) spurned basketball scholarship offers from Cincinnati, UConn, Arizona and Cal to play tight end at UCLA.

"If I had to compare myself to anyone. it would be a little mixture between Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs) and Antonio Gates (Chargers)," he said. "Just because of our background with basketball. I'm able to position myself in the air to catch balls that other tight ends maybe couldn't. I'm long and I can run. I'm pretty athletic."

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 10:26 AM

Ngata.....

Early bird: Oregon junior Haloti Ngata (6-4, 338) is the No. 1-ranked defensive tackle because of his size, strength and mobility.

"I'm quick and I have a lot of power up front," he said. "But I have to continue working on my balance."

Ngata's decision to leave school was partly financial. He wants to take care of his mother, who has diabetes and kidney problems.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 11:28 AM

Receivers - 40 Times

Sunday, February 26, 2006 | 9:56 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Note: These times are unofficial at the moment

Damarious Bilbo 4.74
Will Blackmon 4.58
Jeremy Bloom 4.49, 4.50
Jovon Bouknight 4.74
Jason Carter 4.62
Marques Colston 4.43
Chris Denney 4.70
Skyler Green 4.50
Derek Hagan 4.45
Marques Haggans 4.62, 4.63
Chris Hannon 4.49, 4.43
Mike Hass 4.61, 4.62
Ed Hinkel 4.50, 4.51
Chad Jackson 4.37, 4.29
Adam Jennings 4.49
Greg Jennings 4.41
Greg Lee 4.62
Brandon Marshall 4.50
Anthony Mix 4.45
Sinorice Moss 4.34
Martin Nance 4.58
Ben Obomanu 4.41
jonathan Orr 4.49
Willie Reed 4.41
Cory Rodgers 4.66
Clinton Solomon 4.62
Maurice Stovall 4.58
Delanie Walker 4.58
Todd Watkins 4.41
Jeff Webb 4.37
Brandon Williams 4.49
Travis Wilson 4.48

Quarterbacks/Running Backs

Sunday, February 26, 2006 | 9:18 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Note: These numbers are unofficial at the moment.

Ingle Martin 4.69
Jay Cutler 4.86, 4.75
Brett Basanez 4.76, 4.79
Brodie Croyle 4.87, 4.95
Bruce Eugene 5.08
Bruce Gradkowski 4.62, 4.63
Darrell Hackney 4.87
Tarvaris Jackson 4.70, 4.69
Omar Jacobs 4.83
Barrick Nealy 4.66, 4.62
Reggie Mcneal 4.41, 4.37
Drew Olsen 5.13, 5.06
Paul Pinegar 5.12, 5.13
Quinton Porter 4.70, 4.74
D.J. shockley 4.58, 4.54
Brad Smith 4.54, 4.49
Kent Smith 4.74, 4.58
Marcus Vick 4.54, 4.49
Charlie whitehurst 4.75, 4.73
Erik Meyer 4.66

RB Group 4

Jerrius Norwood 4.40
Leon Washington 4.42
Wendell Mathis 451
Derrick Ross 4.52
Cory Ross 4.53

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 11:29 AM

Combine Notes - Defensive Line

Sunday, February 26, 2006 | 12:36 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville – 5-11 257

Stanley McClover, DE, Auburn – 6-4 ½ 262
-Interviewed with Jaguars, Panthers, Dolphins

Mike Kudla, DE, Ohio State – 6-2 265
-Interviewed with Browns

Darryl Tapp, DE, Virginia Tech – 6-1 252

Kamerion Wimbley, DE, Florida State – 6-3 ¾ 248

Mario Williams, DE, N.C. State – 6-7 295
-Interviewed with Rams, Texans, Panthers

Parys Haralson, DE, Tennessee – 6-1 253
-Interviewed with Vikings, Texans, Colts
-Feels he can play DE or OLB

Javon Nanton, DE, Miami – 6-3 250

Barry Cofield, DE, Northwestern – 6-4 304
-Interviewed with Bengals

Chris Gocong, DE, Cal-Poly – 6-2 263
-Feels he can play DE or OLB

Ray Edwards, DE, Purdue – 6-5 ½ 273
-Interviewed with Bengals

Victor Adeyanju, DE, Indiana – 6-4 274
-Interviewed with Jets

Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon – 6-4 338
-Interviewed with Bills, Rams, Bengals, Raiders, Giants

Orien Harris, DT, Miami – 6-2 301

Babatunde Oshinowo, DT, Stanford – 6-0 304
Interviewed with Panthers, Jaguars, Steelers

Jesse Mahelona, DT, Tennessee – 6-0 ½ 310
-Interviewed with Broncos, Bengals, Browns, Falcons

Johnny Jolly, DT, Texas A&M
-Will not workout at the combine
-Interviewed with Panthers, Texans, Broncos, Eagles

Montavious Stanley, DT, Louisville – 6-0 313
-Will not workout at the combine due to a torn pectoral muscle
-Interviewed with Falcons, 49ers, Ravens

Jonathan Lewis, DT, Virginia – 6-1 309
-Interviewed with Eagles, Bengals, Panthers, Cardinals

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 11:31 AM

Combine Notes - Receivers/Tight Ends

Sunday, February 26, 2006 | 12:35 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Maurice Stovall, WR, Notre Dame – 6-4 217
-Will participate in all combine workouts
-Interviewed with Patriots

Brandon Williams, WR, Wisconsin – 5-9 ¾ 180

Chad Jackson, WR, Florida – 6-0 213
-Interviewed with Titans, Packers, Broncos

Sinorice Moss, WR, Miami – 5-8 185
Interviewed with Bears

Anthony Fasano, TE, Notre Dame – 6-4 259
-Will not run at the combine due to a hamstring injury

Dominique Byrd, TE, USC 6-2 ½ 255
-Interviewed with Broncos, Vikings

T.J. Williams, TE, N.C. State – 6-2 1/3 269
-Interviewed with Buccaneers, Jets, Lions

Vernon Davis, TE, Maryland – 6-3 ¾ 254
-Interviewed with Chargers, Jaguars, Redskins, Lions, Chiefs,

Garrett Mills, TE/FB, Tulsa – 6-1 241
-Interviewed with Eagles

Leonard Pope, TE, Georgia – 6-7 258
-Interviewed with Jaguars, Redskins, Eagles

Daniel Fells, TE, Cal-Davis – 6-3 259

Jeff King, TE, Virginia Tech – 6-5 ½ 246
-Will participate in all combine workouts
-Hopes to play special teams in the NFL
-Interviewed with Seahawks, Jaguars, Eagles

Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA – 6-6 261

Joel Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado – 6-5 3/5 255

Tony Scheffler, TE, Western Michigan – 6-5 3/8 254

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 11:33 AM

TE

Tony Scheffler/TE/Western Michigan
-He measured in at 6'6 3/8/254 pounds
-He believes his height and great hands will help his stock. But his speed is the thing that will distinguish him against the rest of the field.
-He said he will do a full workout here.
-He said his basket ball experience has helped him with how he uses his body on the football field.

Jeff King/TE/Virginia-Polytech
-Measured 6'5 1/2/246 pounds
-Met with the Jaguars, Eagles, and Seahawks Friday night
-He played on all the special teams in college except kickoff coverage and is hopefull that will give him an edge since right ends are often counted on to contribute on special teams at the pro level

Joe Kloppenstein/TE/Colorado
-Measured 6'5 6/8/255
-will do a full workout
-Wants to get a little heavier.
-Blocking will probably be the biggest adjustment, he said.
Played guard, quarterback, linebacker, and split end in high school.
want to run his 40 in the 4.6 area

Charles David/TE/Purdue
-Checked in at 6'5 3/8 and 263
-Will do the enitre workout.
-Says playing a year of basketball at Purdue helped hi lateral movement.
-Liked basketball better growing up.
-Said he needs to work on his blocking, which he wasn't asked to do much of at Purdue.
-Likes the game of Falcon's TE Alge Crumpler.
-Expects to run a 40 in the low 4.7s or high 4.6s

Mercedes Lewis/TE/UCLA
-Checked in at 6-6/261
-Will do a full workout.
-Likes to think of himself as a mix of Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.
-Played basketball too as a freshman in college and was offered a basketball scholarship first.
-Says he received about eight basketball scholarships, the biggest being from Connecticut and Arizona, and a lot more football scholarships.
-Has to fight the perception that a former basketball player can't block well.
-Says the "unknown" is the biggest challenge of the predraft process.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 11:35 AM

WR

Maurice Stovall/WR/Notre Dame
-6'4/217
Met with the Patriots on Friday. Feels he would be a great fit since they ran the same offense under Charlie Wesis at Notre Dame.
-Will do everything here but the bench press.

Jason Avant/WR/Michigan
-he said he saw more double coverage in 2005.
-He grew up a Bears and White Sox fan.
-He played cornerback and safety in high school.
-He's friends with Patriots S Rodney Harrison.
-Is deeply religious. Calls May 4, 2003 the best day of his life, when "God saved me with the Holy Spirit, and I've been running for him ever since.
-The biggest game of his career was in his freshman year when he didn't pay a snap and found him quietly on the bech while the rest of the team and fans were cheerig loudly. Said that day he became a Michigan man, not Jason Avant.
-Was grounded for five months for bad grades and not allowed to leave the house.
-Graduated from Michigan on Dec. 18, 2005.
-Feels especially good on the fade route.

Sinorice Moss/WR/Miami
5'8/185
-He said he talks to his brother Santana every day and while they are competitive, they are very close. They've discussed how great it would be to play on the same team at the same position.
-He feels his size works to his advantage as a punt returner.
-As a receiver, he said his size isn't an issue. His speed and heart will provide challenges for cornerbacks.
-he said that he feels the Bears have shown good interest in him, and he felt very comfortable with them.
-Teams are talking to him primarily as a receiver, not a returner.

Chad Jackson/WR/Florida
6'0/213
-Will do everything here.
-He knows because the receiver class isn't strong this season, working out at the combine could really help his draft status.
-He has talked to the Packers, Broncos, and Titans so far here.

Skyler Green/WR/LSU
5-9/1/2 and 192
-Toughest part of the Combine is keeping up with the pace. He doesn't want to be late for anything or leave anyone with a bad impression.
-NFL returner he admires the most is KR/PR Dante Hall of the Chiefs.
-He feels he is a very easygoing person, yet very competitive and hopes that will make a good impression on people here.
Whane asked what teams have shown interest, he immediately said the Patriots. Then he added the Dolphins, Bears, Vikings, and Rams have also shown good interest.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 12:10 PM

Some of the players we interviewed...

Mario Williams – DE – NC State
Nagota Haloti – DT – Oregon
David Thomas - TE – Texas
Dominique Byrd – TE –USC
Vince Young, QB, Texas
Erik Meyer, QB, Eastern Washington
Marcus McNeill, OL, Auburn
Jonathan Scott, OL, Texas
Maurice Drew, RB, UCLA

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 03:37 PM

Some new info on Young...

COMBINE OFFICIAL SCREWED UP VINCE'S WONDERLIC

A league source tells us that Texas quarterback Vince Young indeed scored a six on the Wonderlic test on Saturday -- but that the guy who graded the test screwed the thing up when totaling the number of right answers.

Combine officials, we're told, have re-scored the Young's test and the test of all other players who took it in his group. NFL teams will get the official Wonderlic results for all players later in the week.

On Saturday, there was widespread chatter at the combine that Young got only six out of 50 questions right on the standard test used by the NFL to gauge player intelligence. The Nashville Tennessean corroborated the reports of the low score in its Sunday edition.

Whether the actual number was 6 or 50 or something in between remains to be seen.

It's a major embarrassment, in our view, for the folks who put on the combine. Because it's inevitable that this information will get out (indeed, Pro Football Weekly got their mitts on the full Wonderlic results from the 2005 combine), it's critical that the folks charged with grading the tests get it right.

It's even more important that the scores are right before the information is leaked.

We have a feeling that this one could get interesting. Stay tuned.

POSTED 2:07 p.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 3:11 p.m. EST, February 26, 2006

COMBINE OFFICIALS RE-CHECKING YOUNG'S TEST?

There's talk around Indy that the combine folks are taking a closer look at the score of six generated by Texas quarterback Vince Young on the Wonderlic test.

They're supposedly checking to see whether Young's incomprehensibly low marks might be the result of errors made by Young in answering the questions.

But if this is true, isn't answering the questions properly part of getting the answers right? And understanding how to take the test and answer the questions is a big part of what a seasoned agent can teach the guy.

Even if the combine folk find that there was some sort of a problem with Young's answers, and that he actually got more than six right, we're not quite sure what will happen. We've never heard of this kind of thing before. Then again, we've never heard of such a high-profile quarterback generating such a bad result.

CrossBones

02-26-2006, 03:48 PM

I know you heard this already AP...but....

Vince young needs to play for NE* --- he's already getting the calls! :)

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 03:53 PM

QB

Omar Jacobs/QB/Bowling Green
-6'3 7/8/232
He had a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm and is scheduled for a routine MRI, but noted he hasn't had any problems with it.
-He hasn't talked to any teams yet as he just got in Thursday evening.

Erik Meyer/QB/Eastern Washington
-6'1/210
-He feels his best skills are his mobility and ability to throw on the run.
-He's been working out in Florida working on his long ball in preparation for the Combine.
-He has talked to the Falcons, Lions, Raiders, Rams, and Vikings so far.

Brodie Croyle/QB/Alabama
-6024 and 205 pounds
-He makes pride in taking care of the ball, thinks he has shown people that he doesn't force things and give up many turnovers.
-The toughest part of the combine for him has been the non-stop pace.
-He has met with Chiefs, Jets, Bills, and Broncos so far. Is scheduled to meet with the Dolphins tonight (last night). Said he thinks the Chiefs system would be a very easy transition for him.
-He says he's a quarterback who is going to make plays and get wins for you.

Mike Hass/WR/Oregon St
-6-0/208
-Described himself as a good route runner and a reliable target.
-When asked what pro receiver he would remind people of when they saw him, he said Ricky Proehl, saying he has admired the length of his career and how he plays.
-He said he is comfortable both in the slot and as a wideout.
-He has talked to a lot of teams, but isn't sensing that one is more interested than the other.

Jay Cutler/QB/Vanderbilt
-6-3/226
He's a bit desappointed that the other top quarterbacks aren't working out. When asked if he was concerned that he could hurt his stock by performing here, he said no, and added with a smile, "It's just throwing."
-Thinks based on what he's hearing, the NFL is looking for more pocket passers than mobile Quarterbacks.
-Said he's been working on his footwork. Also said he doesn't really like the "gunslinger" label because he thinks the chances he does take aren't reckless.

Matt Leinart/QB/USC
-Doing medicals and interviews only here. No workouts at all. Feels he has showcased his talent over the past three years and doesn't think Sunday would show what he do like his Pro Day will with his own receivers.
-Said he has fielded some questions about being born cross-eyed, and the surgery to correct it as a child.
-Said he's been a winner his whole career, referred to himself as a "Tom Broday type" of quarterback.
-Says Carson Palmer has been tremendous offering hm advice about this whole process and chatted with both Peyton and Eli Manning at the Senior Bowl.

DeAngelo Williams/RB/Memphis
-5'9/214. What's interesting is he measured a half inch taller since the Senior Bowl.
-He said one of his favorite players growing up was Ricky Williams.
-He said the hardest thing at the combine so far is that he had to get up at 5:30 am this morning to get his medical test done. During the medical evaulation, Williams said he was asked about an old high school injury (stress fracture-foot). Tests taken here were negative.
-He said he won't run here but will at his pro day.

Leon Washington/RB/Florida State
-5-7 7/8 and 201
-He said his goal was to reach 5-8
-Hope guys like Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders help alleviate teams' fears bout short running backs.
-He's training in New Jersey
-Went to former NFL S LeRoy Butler's camp when Washington was growing up.
-he has scored five different ways in college, starting with a fumble recovery in the end zone his freshman year.
-He said teams are talking to him about being a kick returner and third-down back, although he'd like to be a full-time back.
-Has talked with New England, Green Bay, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Denver, among others.

Jeriours Norwood/RB/Mississippi State
-5-11, 210
-He hunts and fishes, with turkey huting being his favorite.
-He learned about the quicker pace of coaching and practices at the Senior Bowl.
-Scouts told him he improved his draft stock at the Senior Bowl.
He said his pass protection needs work.
-He has talked with many teams, including the Vikings and Patriots.

Rupert

02-26-2006, 04:59 PM

Some pretty fast QB's out there today.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 05:22 PM

It appears Young scored six twice....

Mark Curnutte, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, reports there was word around the NFL Combine that Texas QB Vince Young scored a six on his Wonderlic test and scored another six on his second attempt at the test.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 05:26 PM

More interviews....

During his NFL Combine interview, Oklahoma DB Chijioke Onyenegecha said he met with the Oakland Raiders at the Combine.

During his NFL Combine interview, Oklahoma DB Chijioke Onyenegecha said he weighed 216 pounds at the Combine. He could not remember his height. He said his size, strength and speed are his greatest assets. In college he played a lot of cover 4, cover 3, cover 2, zone blitz 3 and a little bit of man defense.

During his NFL Combine interview, Michigan DT Gabe Watson said he met with the Oakland Raiders at the Combine.

CrossBones

02-26-2006, 05:28 PM

It appears Young scored six twice....You have to be kidding! :eek:

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 05:34 PM

This is supposedly a take from a scout....

If the rumor that Vince Young got a 6 on the Wonderlic is accurate, it doesn't mean that he can't read or that he's more stupid than a table or anything like that. What it means is either a) he can miss details when taking direction, or b) he doesn't process unfamiliar printed information very quickly.

It isn't that the questions on the Wonderlic are hard - the 50th question on all the versions I've seen is essentially a pre-algebraic word problem. It's the time that is the issue. When Jim says that the average score is a 20, that's not a 40% success rate on answering the questions, that's more likely a 80+% answer rate on 20-24 questions.

So for an NFL quarterback prospect, what's the REAL meaning of a poor Wonderlic score? Most likely it means that the prospect won't have the skills to rapidly process new information on the field cognitively. His ceiling is determined solely by feel. He won't be able to come in and immediately learn the 500+ pages of a new NFL offense by holding the clipboard or studying it on the sidelines; he'll have to get behind the wheel and take enough reps to push it down into instinct. A complicated offense with new wrinkles in it each game will probably be tough to pick up, so an OC will have to build their offense around whatever the prospect is capable of. New coaching staffs mean new ways of doing things, so it means that the prospect is going to need scheme stability moreso than a smarter prospect.

For Young, that would mean that he is going to need a team that is willing to give him the keys immediately, will stick by him during the learning process, and most importantly give his coaching staff 5-6 years of job security to let him get real good at running it. If he is nurtured in those ways, he can probably learn enough about being an NFL quarterback to adjust his approach as his skills get older. He's still only going to last as long as the athleticism is there. If he changes teams or coaching staffs often, a 6 Wonderlic quarterback will never get enough of an NFL scheme down to the point where it's instinctual.

Tennessee is likely the absolute best place in the NFL to maximize Vince Young's chances for professional success. New Orleans would kill him as a potential star.

Angry Pope

02-26-2006, 05:52 PM

A few more notes from Aaron Schatz...

– Yes, I can confirm that Vince Young scored a 6 on the Wonderlic. And yes, people are talking about him falling down the draft board. What you have to understand is that once upon a time, guys would come into the combine in all kinds of shape, some good, some bad. Now, almost all of these prospects pay to go to predraft performance camps where they get into terrific shape, practice interviewing skills so that they can impress teams, and take tons of practice Wonderlic tests. So the problem is less that Vince Young scored a 6 on the Wonderlic, and more that Vince Young apparently didn’t care enough about the combine to prepare for the Wonderlic so he would have at least scored, I don’t know, 15 or something. Which is bad, but not as bad as a 6. What does this say about his work ethic and prima donna syndrome. I’ve also had it pointed out to me that Vince Young is associated with some, shall we say, unpleasant elements of the Houston community. (Do the names Timmy and Jimmy ring a bell for anyone?)

– I must resist the urge to ask D’Quell Jackson if he feels a rivalry with D’Brickashaw Ferguson. D’Quell was one of the losers in the media interview game; they have two podiums on opposite ends of the room, and he had to go at the same time as A.J. Hawk. Everyone congregated on the other side of the room. The only guy I saw who had it worse was D.J. Shockley who had to go at the same time that Matt Leinart was on the other side of the room. Shockley had a good sense of humor about it, though.

– Does anyone know if there’s a consensus number one pick for 2007? Right now we’re thinking the lowest category in the projection system will be called “The Quest for Quinn.”

– This thing just dies on Sunday. Unlike the last two days, there aren’t any coaches or GMs coming in here to talk to us, just players, linebackers and defensive backs today. And not only does the combine die down, but the Indianapolis Convention Center does the strangest cross-scheduling I could possibly imagine. Literally right next to the NFL combine — with all the people from both events congregating together in the hallway — is a huge elementary school cheerleading competition. So walking around are all these eight-year-old girls plastered with makeup and their moms, mixed in with colossal defensive linemen in grey sweatshirts, assistant coaches, and random members of the media. One guy said to me, “You know, this would be a lot more useful if these girls were about ten years older, then we could see which of these college kids could keep their hands off the ladies.”

– Also, the annoying autograph hunters are still here. I hate those people. They’re just going to turn around and sell this stuff on eBay. I half expected one of them to pull a set of skis out of a bag and hand them to Jeremy Bloom to autograph.

– This is really odd, but they give you this list of all the kids invited to the combine with position group, sweatshirt number, name, and university. And they give the full name of the university, so you’ve got Vince Young from “Texas-Austin” and Jason Pociask from “Wisconsin-Madison” and Kevin Boothe from “Cornell-NY.” First of all, I didn’t expect to find an offensive lineman from Cornell here, and second, what other Cornell is there? By the way, Marcus Vick apparently went to “Virginia Polytechnic Institute” so if the NFL doesn’t work out, perhaps he has a career in laptop repair or help desk administration.

– The only school that isn’t listed with its full name? It just says “Ohio St” with no “The.”

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 09:29 AM

Young scores a 16...

Feb. 27, 2006, 12:34AM

False score gives Young wrong kind of buzz
UT QB's disputed Wonderlic grade talk of the combine

By JOHN MCCLAIN

INDIANAPOLIS - Like his performance in the Rose Bowl, quarterback Vince Young rallied from a huge deficit to pull out a personal victory that might have earned him millions of dollars.

On Saturday, a rumor that Young had scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test sent shock waves through the combine. No coach, scout or general manager surveyed could produce an example of a starting quarterback with a single-digit Wonderlic score.

The test — 50 multiple-choice, non-football questions in 12 minutes — is a barometer that teams use to gauge a prospect's ability to learn.

On Sunday, the combine said the test score of 6 that was being reported by some media outlets was false.

"I've been told it was inaccurate by a source good enough for me to quote it," Texans general manager Charley Casserly said Sunday afternoon.

Young took the test again and scored 16. According to Young's agent, Major Adams, the Sunday test was administered by Jeff Foster, executive director of National Scouting Combine.

"The combine officials assured us that score (6) was false and that the accurate score will be known when the combine results are given to each team," Adams said.

Wonderlic scores are supposed to be confidential and are never confirmed publicly by the NFL. Because they are included in combine results given to teams after the combine, scores leak out.

"The number really doesn't mean anything to us because we go through a process of four or five other ways to evaluate it," Casserly said. "The number's insignificant to us in the end. It's the other areas that we put more weight on."

Prospects can take the Wonderlic tests as many times as they want.

"I heard about the 6," Tennessee general manager Floyd Reese said Sunday morning. "I heard the test was improperly given, and I heard they're going to try and correct it.

"It could be improperly given because of time. It could be improperly given because when you correct it, there are like six or seven different tests. If you correct Test A with a correct sheet for Test C, it's not going to come out very well."

Rose-tinted glasses

Many executives believe the Wonderlic test is culturally biased, which is the reason they administer other tests they believe more accurately test a player's intelligence.

"I've seen players test in single digits and play 10 years, and I've seen some guys test in the 30s that couldn't walk across the street," said Reese, who has been in the NFL since 1975.

Before the combine, many prospects get help to prepare for the test. They take the tests almost every day to get ready for the combine. Young is expected to take the test again before the Longhorns' pro day March 22.

Scores for quarterbacks in the past five drafts vary, according to nfldraftscout.com. For instance, Michael Vick scored a 20, David Carr had a 24 and Eli Manning came in with a 39.

"The Wonderlic is just a red flag," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "Before the draft, everybody will sit down with Vince and find out if he can process information. The test has been the standard for decades, but it's only one part of the evaluation process. It's just a first step. There'll be a lot of other tests he'll undergo."

Sean Jones, a member of Oakland's personnel department, put little stock in Young's Wonderlic score.

"All I need to know about Vince Young is that he came up with one of the greatest performances ever in the Rose Bowl," Jones said. "In the fourth quarter, I saw (USC coach) Pete Carroll throw every kind of blitz at Vince. I saw Vince read the blitz and beat the blitz.

"I don't care what his Wonderlic score is. The only score I care about is 41-38."

Defensive tackle Rodrique Wright, Young's teammate at UT, came to the QB's defense.

"I think Vince's decision-making will be missed even more than his athleticism," Wright said about the Longhorns. "We knew all along that Vince was a great athlete who could run and throw, but the biggest improvement he made from his freshman year through his junior year was in the decision-making process.

"You don't lead a team to a national championship if you can't make good decisions."

Interview goes well

While Young's Wonderlic tests created a huge controversy, he was busy interviewing with different teams, including the Texans.

"I thought the interview went well," Young said. "I thought coach (Gary) Kubiak was cool.

"They asked me a lot of questions about offense. At the end, they asked me why I thought I'd be good for the team. I basically told them that I'm a high-character guy that wants to win. I said it's important to be a leader.

"I told them I wanted a chance to lead them to a Super Bowl win."

Kubiak was impressed with Young, too.

"We had a great interview with him," Kubiak said. "I wanted him to tell me why football's important to him. I wanted to talk to him about his leadership qualities. We talked a lot about offense.

"I was very, very impressed with the kid. But I was impressed with Reggie Bush, too."

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 09:33 AM

Combine Notes - Linebackers

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 1:22 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State - 6-1 248
-24 strength reps

Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP - 6-3 239
-Would like to play in a 3-4

Jon Alston, LB, Stanford - 6-0 1/2 223
-Believes he can play LB or S

A.J. Nicholson, LB, Florida State - 6-0 254
-Believes off the field problems will hurt him on draft day

D'Qwell Jackson, LB, Maryland - 6-0 1/2 230
-Met with 12 teams
-Believes he can play MLB or OLB

Kevin Simon, LB, Tennessee
-Interviewed with Panthers, Eagles, Broncos, Dolphins
-Feels he can play all LB positions

Abdul Hodge, LB, Iowa
-Will not lift at the combine but will do everything else
-Interviewed with Vikings

Demeco Ryans, LB, Alabama - 6-1 1/2 236

Anthony Schlegel, LB, Ohio State - 6-0 1/2 250
-Interviewed with Saints, Chargers

Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State - 6-2 1/2 256
-Will workout at his pro day

Gerris Wilkinson, LB, Georgia Tech
-Interviewed with Eagles, Bengals, Cowboys, Chargers, Falcons

Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State - 5-11 3/4 231
-Interviewed with Vikings, Buccaneers
-Feels he can play in both the 3-4 and 4-3

Chad Greenway, LB, Iowa 6-2 1/2 242
-Interviewed with Giants, Cardinals, Rams, Steelers, Bills
-16 strength reps

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 09:35 AM

Combine Notes - Defensive Backs

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 1:21 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Devin Hester, CB, Miami - 5-11 186
-Interviewed with Bengals, Patriots, Browns
-Believes versatility will help him

Chijioke Onyenegecha, CB, Oklahoma
-Interviewed with Panthers, Bengals, Raiders

Dee Webb, CB, Florida - 5-10 183
-Will participate in all workouts except the bench press

Anwar Phillips, CB, Penn State - 5-11 193
-Interviewed with 49ers, Redskins, Vikings

Alan Zemaitis, CB, Penn State - 6-1 195
-Will not run at the combine

Ashton Youboty, CB, Ohio State - 6-1 189

Antonio Cromartie, CB, Florida State - 6-2 1/2 208
-Will participate in all combine workouts

Kelly Jennings, CB, Miami - 5-11 178
-Interviewed with Cowboys, Cardinals, Bills, Falcons, Eagles
-Will not lift at the combine due to strained pectoral muscle

Richard Marshall, CB, Fresno State - 5-11 189
-Interviewed with Dolphins

Jimmy Williams, CB, Virginia Tech - 6-2 213
-Believes he is the best DB in the draft

Calvin Lowry, S, Penn State - 5-11 200
-Believes he can play either safety position
-Interviewed with Jaguars, Vikings

Jason Allen, CB/S, Tennessee - 6-0 7/8 210
-Believes he is a CB who can play FS

Michael Huff, S, Texas
-Some teams want him to play corner

Greg Blue, S, Georgia - 6-2 216
-Interviewed with Bengals
-One team asked him about moving to linebacker

Pat Watkins, S, Florida State - 6-4 211

Darnell Bing, S, USC - 6-2 227
-Will participate in all drills except the 40

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 09:38 AM

QB, RB, WR - Shuttle/Cone

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 4:48 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Short Shuttle

Travis Lulay 4.07
Bruce Gradkowski 4.16
Ingle Martin 4.17
Brett Basanez 4.22
Brodie Croyle 4.25
Marcus Vick 4.08
Quinton Porter 4.10
Charlie Whitehurst 4.11
Erik Meyer 4.12
D.J. Shockley 4.17

Jerome Harrison 4.07
Brian Calhoun 4.20
Mike Bell 4.21
David Kirtman 4.31
Wali Lundy 4.36
Wendell Mathis 4.22
Jerrious Norwood 4.25
Terrence whitehead 4.27
Dontrell Moore 4.32
Leon Washington 4.37

Chad Jackson 3.97
Jovon Bouknight 4.03
Derek Hagan 4.07
Ed Hinkel 4.10
Mike Hass 4.14
Miles Austin 4.14
Travis wilson 3.99
Brandon williams 4.07
Demetrius Williams 4.08
Martin Nance 4.08
Adam Jennings 4.12

Long shuttle

Wali Lundy 11.27
Maurice Drew 11.39
Mike Bell 11.48
Gilbert Harris 11.72
Wendell Mathis 11.27
Jerrious Norwood 11.52
Derrick Ross 11.59
Leon Washington 11.62

Ed Hinkel 11.10
Chad Jackson 11.19
Marques Colston 11.27
Miles Austin 11.30
Devin 11.38
Greg Jenning 11.13
Adam Jennings 11.37

Three Cone

Brett Basanez 6.75
Travis Lulay 6.94
Jay Cutler 7.10
Bruce Gradkowski 7.12
INgle Martin 7.13
Quinton Porter 6.76
Erik Meyer 6.83
Reggie McNeal 6.96
Brad Smith 7.00
Charlie Whitehurst 7.00

Jerome Harrison 6.77
Wali Lundy 6.99
Gilbert Harris 7.00
Taurean Harrison 7.01
Brian Calhoun 7.05
Jerrious Norwood 6.81
Wendell Mathis 6.93
Leon Washington 6.94
Derrick Ross 7.00
Dontrell Moore 7.10
Terrence Whitehead 7.21

Will Blackmon 6.67
Chad Jackson 6.73
Hank Baskett 6.79
David Anderson 6.88
Jason Carter 6.89
Greg Jennings 6.68
Travis Wilson 6.70
Greg Lee 6.80
Jeff Webb 6.81
Maurice Stovall 6.81

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 09:42 AM

Tight End - 40 Times

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 9:16 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Here are some of the tight end 40 times from this morning. * indicates an official time. The others are unofficial at the moment.

Vernon Davis 4.38*
Tony Scheffler 4.54*
Joe Klopfenstein 4.62*
Leonard Pope 4.62*
Garrett Mills 4.64*
David Thomas 4.67*
Daniel Fells 4.95, 4.99
Matt Henshaw 4.74, 4.75
Marcedes Lewis 4.79

*Official

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 10:22 AM

Here is Schweigert talking about this years Combine...

Talkin' Combine with Stu

February 27, 2006

FS Stuart Schweigert has chalked up 139 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 10 passes defensed in two seasons with the Raiders.

All eyes, ears, measuring sticks and stopwatches have been turned to Indianapolis for the better part of the past week where well over 300 NFL Draft eligible prospects have gathered at the League's Annual Scouting Combine. The Combine is the second to last opportunity for professional football's hopefuls to impress scouts, coaches and general managers, with their respective university's "pro day" or their individual workout being the last.

The drills, testing and timing are still fresh in the mind of a recent Raiders draft choice. Third-year free safety Stuart Schweigert says he enjoyed every aspect of the Combine. "I honestly enjoyed all of it, I do well when the pressure is on," Schweigert said. "I did every single thing. All of it was equally important."

The prospects are put through a rigorous series of drills including the 40-yard dash, long jump, vertical jump, bench press, and various agility and position-specific drills. They also undergo a comprehensive physical exam, interviews with team representatives and the media, as well as the Wonderlic written test.

According to Schweigert, the Combine is a tremendous opportunity to impress the people from around the NFL and improve your Draft status. "You have the opportunity to get in front of all of the general managers, all of the head coaches, all of the owners and have the opportunity to show them what you can do," Schweigert said. "If you can perform under those conditions, and show other people that you can perform under pressure like that, I think that converts into how you are going to play in the games."

The Combine is just part of the process these NFL hopefuls are put and put themselves through. Since finishing their collegiate careers, some played in all-star games such as the Senior Bowl. Many enrolled at private workout facilities or have enlisted professional trainers for Combine and Pro Day preparation.

Schweigert credits one such facility in Arizona for getting him ready for the Combine and helping him achieve third round status as a Raiders draft choice. "I was there all the way up until the Combine. It was six days a week, twice a day," Schweigert recalled. "They get you cut up and they get you strong. My 40 time was great, I felt great, my vertical was great, my broad jump was the best I had ever done, my bench press was great."

According to Schweigert, his preparation and Combine performance allowed him to focus on position-specific football skills for Purdue's Pro Day. "I did so well at the Combine and I did what I wanted to do, I focused on the football part of it and got back on my footwork and did all that stuff," Schweigert said. "When the coaches came to Purdue to work us out, I just did position-specific stuff. They have you do different backpeddling drills, breaking on balls, catching deep balls and different position-specific drills."

Third-year free safety Stuart Schweigert believes his exhaustive preparation and strong Combine performance helped him become the Raiders 3rd round draft pick in 2004.

When it comes to NFL football, nothing is guaranteed, everything is earned. Everyone seeking to hear their name called from the podium at the Draft in New York knows they could rise up the board or slip spots or even rounds. Even after the productive college career, the Bowl games, the all-star games, the Combine, Pro Day and individual workout, they know their future depends on the needs of just 32 teams.

When Draft Weekend finally came, Schweigert said that it was the longest day of his life. He had a brief interview with Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback and assistant coach Willie Brown at the Combine and had no idea that he would be taken by the Raiders.

"There is no way to prepare for it. Everybody thinks they're going to go early. We had a party with all of my friends and family. I was talking to my agent. The day drags on and on," Schweigert recalled. "It's a tremendous feeling but it is a very long day."

With everything that's at stake for these NFL prospects, preparation and performance go a long way in securing Draft status. Those two things also serve to lay the foundation for a long and prosperous career as a professional football player.

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 01:38 PM

Defensive Line - 40 Times Part II

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 12:03 PM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Note: These times are unofficial at the moment.

Mathias Kiwanuka 4.74, 4.73
Mike Kudla 4.75, 4.76
Ryan Lacasse 4.58, 4.66
Manny Lawson 4.41, 4.45
Jeremy Mincey 4.74,4.75
John McCargo 5.12, 5.20
Javon Nanton 4.89, 4.91
Stanley McClover 4.73
Haloti Ngata 5.20, 5.13
Rob Ninkovich 4.95, 4.99
Frostee Rucker 4.87,
Le Kevin Smith 5.01
Montavious Stanley 5.24
Darryl Tapp 4.87
Gabe Watson 5.29
Kyle Williams 5.12
Mario Williams 4.76
Kamerion Wimbley 4.63
Rodrique Wright 5.12
James Wyche 4.66
Babatunde Oshinowo 5.25

Defensive Line - 40 Times

Monday, February 27, 2006 | 9:57 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Note: These times are unofficial at the moment.

Victor Adeyanju 4.87
Mark Anderson 4.74, 4.68
Sir Henry Anderson 5.29, 5.24
Charles Bennett 4.75, 4.74
McKinley Boykin 5.06, 5.08
Manaia Brown 5.08, 5.12
Copeland Bryan 4.95, 4.91
Brodrick Bunkley 4.99, 4.95
Dusty Dvoracek 4.99, 5.05
Kader Drame 5.29
Elvis Dumervil 4.83, 4.87
Chris Gocong 4.75
Kedric Golston 4.94
Marcus Green 5.16, 5.25
Parys Haralson 4.84, 4.83
Jason Hatcher 4.91

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 02:34 PM

Defensive End Vertical Leaps

Mario Williams NC State 40½

Manny Lawson NC State 39½

Stanley McClover Auburn 39

Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 38½

Mike Kudla Ohio State 37

Tight End Vertical Leaps

Vernon Davis Maryland 42

Leonard Pope Georgia 37½

David Thomas Texas 37½

Marcedes Lewis UCLA 37

Joe Klopfenstein Colorado 36

Garrett Mills Tulsa 35½

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 05:52 PM

Event Player College Result

Group 7 -- tight ends

40-yard dash

Vernon Davis Maryland 4.38
Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 4.54
Joe Klopfenstein Colorado 4.62
Leonard Pope Georgia 4.62
Garrett Mills Tulsa 4.64
Owen Daniels Wisconsin 4.65
David Thomas Texas 4.67

Broad jump

Vernon Davis Maryland 10-foot-8
Marcedes Lewis UCLA 9-foot-10
Leonard Pope Georgia 9-foot-10
Jason Pociask Wisconsin 9-foot-7
Ton Scheffler W. Michigan 9-foot-7
Owen Daniels Wisconsin 9-foot-6
Quinnn Sypniewski Colorado 9-foot-6

Vertical jump

Vernon Davis Maryland 42
Leonard Pope Georgia 37½
David Thomas Texas 37½
Marcedes Lewis UCLA 37
Joe Klopfenstein Colorado 36
Garrett Mills Tulsa 35½

Three-cone

Garrett Mills Tulsa 6.81
Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 6.81
Owen Daniels W. Michigan 6.87
Anthony Fasano Notre Dame 6.94
Jeff King VA Tech 6.99
Vernon Davis Maryland 7.00

Short shuttle

Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 4.01
Garrett Mills Tulsa 4.05
Jeff King VA Tech 4.09
Owen Daniels Wisconsin 4.10
Vernon Davis Maryland 4.17

Long shuttle

Garrett Mills Tulsa 11.05
Tony Scheffler W. Michigan 11.41
Tim Day Oregon 11.43
Quinn Sypniewskir Colorado 11.44
Jeff King VA Tech 11.54

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 05:52 PM

Group 8 -- defensive linemen

40-yard dash

Mark Anderson Alabama 4.61
Charles Bennett Clemson 4.70
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 4.70
Elvis Dumervil Louisville 4.75
Charlton Keith Kansas 4.78
Parys Haralson Tennessee 4.80

Vertical jump

Mark Anderson Alabama 42
Ray Edwards Purdue 39
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 38½
Jason Hatcher Grambling 35½
Manaia Brown BYU 34½
Julian Jenkins Stanford 34½

Broad jump

Mark Anderson Alabama 10-foot-7
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 10-foot-3
Copeland Bryan Arizona 9-foot-9
Charles Bennett Clemson 9-foot-7
Parys Haralson Tennessee 9-foot-7
Ray Edwards Purdue 9-foot-6

Three-cone

Mark Anderson Alabama 6.95
Charlton Keith Kansas 7.03
Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 7.05
Copeland Bryan Arizona 7.11
Julian Jenkins Stanford 7.11

Short shuttle

Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 4.08
Mark Anderson Alabama 4.22
Julian Jenkins Stanford 4.23
Parys Haralson Tennessee 4.26
Copeland Bryan Arizona 4.30

Long shuttle

Chris Gocong Cal. Poly 11.35
Mark Anderson Alabama 11.75
Copeland Bryan Arizona 11.83
Charlton Keith Kansas 11.98
Charles Bennett Clemson 12.04

Group 9 -- defensive linemen

40-yard dash

Manny Lawson NC State 4.43
Ryan LaCasse Syracuse 4.54
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 4.61
James Wyche Syracuse 4.63
Mario Williams NC State 4.66

Vertical jump

Mario Williams NC State 40½
Manny Lawson NC State 39½
Stanley McClover Auburn 39
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 38½
Mike Kudla Ohio State 37

Broad jump

Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 10-foot-9
Manny Lawson NC State 10-foot-4
Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 10-foot
Mario Williams NC State 9-foot-10
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 9-foot-8
Jeremy Mincey Florida 9-foot-8

20-yard shuttle

Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 4.13
Manny Lawson NC State 4.18
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 4.18
Jeremy Mincey Florida 4.25
Ryan Lacasse Syracuse 4.30
Mario Williams NC State 4.36

60-yard shuttle

Manny Lawson NC State 11.08
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 11.33

Three-cone

Manny Lawson NC State 6.90
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 6.96
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St 6.97
Jeremy Mincey Florida 6.99
Mario Williams NC State 7.19

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 07:57 PM

Onyenegecha is from Richmond I believe....

Matt Maiocco, of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, reports the Oakland Raiders have interviewed Miami DB Marcus Maxey.

During his NFL Combine interview, Oklahoma DB Chijioke Onyenegecha said he met with the Oakland Raiders at the Combine.

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 08:15 PM

Event Player College Result

Group 4 -- running backs

40-yard dash

Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 4.40
Leon Washington Florida St. 4.42
Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 4.51
Derrick Ross Texas Tech 4.52
Cory Ross Nebraska 4.53

Three-cone

Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 6.81
Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 6.93
Leon Washington Florida St. 6.94
Derrick Ross Tarleton St. 7.00
Dontrell Moore New Mexico 7.10
Terrence Whitehead Oregon 7.21

Short shuttle

Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 4.22
Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 4.25
Terrence Whitehead Oregon 4.27
Dontrell Moore New Mexico 4.32
Leon Washington Florida St. 4.37

Long shuttle

Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 11.27
Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 11.52
Derrick Ross Tarleton St. 11.59
Leon Washington Florida St. 11.62

Broad jump

Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 10-foot-2
Deangelo Williams Memphis 10-foot-1
Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 9-foot-9
Dontrell Moore New Mexico 9-foot-8
Derrick Ross Tarleton St. 9-foot-4

Vertical jump

Jerious Norwood Mississippi St. 36½
Deangelo Williams Memphis 35½
Wendell Mathis Fresno St. 33
Leon Washington Florida St. 32½
Dontrell Moore New Mexico 32

Group 5 -- quarterbacks

40-yard dash

Bruce Gradkowski Toledo 4.59
Ingle Martin Furman 4.68
Tarvaris Jackson Alabama St. 4.75
Brett Basanez Northwestern 4.75
Jay Cutler Vanderbilt 4.77

Ball Speed

Peak MPH Catch MPH

Ingle Martin 61 59
Jay Cutler 60 59
Brodie Croyle 58 58
Tarvaris Jackson 57 58
Bruce Eugene 55 55

Three-cone

Brett Basanez Northwestern 6.75
Travis Lulay Montana St. 6.94
Jay Cutler Vanerbilt 7.10
Bruce Gradkowski Toledo 7.12
Ingle Martin Furman 7.13

Short shuttle

Travis Lulay Montana St. 4.07
Bruce Gradkowski Toledo 4.16
Ingle Martin Furman 4.17
Brett Basanez Northwestern 4.22
Brodie Croyle Alabama 4.25

Broad jump

Brett Basanez Northwestern 9-foot-6
Ingle Martin Furman 9-foot-3
Travis Lulay Montana St. 9-foot-3
Darrell Hackney Alabama-Birmingham 9-foot-2
Omar Jacobs Bowling Green 9-foot

Vertical jump

Brett Basanez Northwestern 9-foot-6
Ingle Martin Furman 9-foot-3
Travis Lulay Montana St. 9-foot-3
Darrell Hackney Alabama Bir. 9-foot-2
Omar Jacobs Bowling Green 9-foot

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 08:15 PM

Group 5 -- wide receivers

40-yard dash

Chad Jackson Florida 4.32
Devin Aromashodu Auburn 4.35
Derek Hagan Arizona St. 4.42
Skyler Green LSU 4.44
Will Blackmon Boston Col 4.46
Miles Austin Monmouth 4.47

Three-cone

Will Blackmon Boston Coll. 6.67
Chad Jackson Florida 6.73
Hank Baskett New Mexico 6.79
David Anderson Colorado St. 6.88
Jason carter Texas A&M 6.89

Short shuttle

Chad Jackson Florida 3.97
Jovon Bouknight Wyoming 4.03
Derek Hagan Arizona St. 4.07
Ed Hinkel Iowa 4.10
Mike Hass Oregon St. 4.14
Miles Austin Monmouth 4.14

Long shuttle

Ed Hinkel Iowa 11.10
Chad Jackson Florida 11.19
Marques Colston Hofstra 11.27
Miles Austin Monmouth 11.30
Devin Aromashodu Auburn 11.38

Broad jump

Will Blackmon Boston Coll. 11-foot-1
Derek Hagan Arizona St. 10-foot-4
Miles Austin Monmouth 10-foot-3
Marques Colston Hofstra 10-foot-3
Chris Hannon Tennessee 10-foot-2

Group 6 -- quarterbacks

40-yard dash

Reggie McNeal Texas A&M 4.35
Marcus Vick Va. Tech 4.42
Brad Smith Missouri 4.46
D.J. Shockley Georgia 4.56
Barrick Nealy Texas St. 4.57

Ball Speed Peak MPH Catch MPH

D.J. Shockley 56 10
Brad Smith 55 10
Drew Olson 54 10
Erik Meyer 52 13
Reggie McNeal 53 10

Vertical jump

Brad Smith Missouri 39½
D.J. Shockley Georgia 37½
Marcus Vick Va. Tech 36
Kent Smith Central Michigan 35
Quinton Porter Boston College 34½
Charlie Whitehurst Clemson 33

Angry Pope

02-27-2006, 08:16 PM

Broad jump

Brad Smith Missouri 10-foot-8
Kent Smith Central Michigan 10-foot-2
Reggie McNeal Texas A&M 10-foot-1
D.J. Shockley Georgia 10-foot-1
Marcus Vick Va. Tech 9-foot-9
Quinton Porter Boston College 9-foot-8

Three-cone

Quinton Porter Boston College 6.76
Erik Meyer Eastern Washington 6.83
Reggie McNeal Texas A&M 6.96
Brad Smith Missouri 7.00
Charlie Whitehurst Clemson 7.00

Short shuttle

Marcus Vick Virginia Tech 4.08
Quinton Porter Boston College 4.10
Charlie Whitehurst Clemson 4.11
Eric Meyer Eastern Washington 4.12
D.J. Shockley Georgia 4.17

Group 6 -- wide receivers

40-yard dash

Willie Reid Florida St. 4.34
Sinorice Moss Miami FL 4.38
Jeff Webb San Diego St 4.40
Todd Watkins BYU 4.40
Jonathon Orr Wisconsin 4.41
Adam Jennings W. Michigan 4.42
Ben Obomanu Auburn 4.45

Vertical jump

Ben Obomanu Auburn 38
Demetrius Williams Oregon 38
Adam Jennings Fresno St 37½
Willie Reid Florida State 37½
Brandon Marshall Central Florida 37
Greg Jennings Western Michigan 36½
Travis Wilson Oklahoma 36½
Delanie Walker Central Missouri State 36½

Broad jump

Demetrius Williams Oregon 10-foot-7
Jeff Webb San Diego State 10-foot-6
Maurice Stovall Notre Dame 10-foot-2
Brandon Marshall Central Florida 10-foot
Travis Wilson Oklahoma 10-foot
Richie Ross Nebraska-Kearney 10-foot

20-yard shuttle

Travis Wilson Oklahoma 3.99
Brandon Williams Wisconsin 4.07
Demetrius Williams Oregon 4.08
Martin Nance Miami (OH) 4.08
Adam Jennings Fresno State 4.12

60-yard shuttle

Greg Jennings Western Michigan 11.15
Adam Jennings Fresno State 11.37

Three-cone

Greg Jennings Western Michigan 6.68 Travis Wilson Oklahoma 6.70
Greg Lee Pittsburgh 6.80
Jeff Webb San Diego State 6.81
Maurice Stovall Notre Dame 6.81

Angry Pope

02-28-2006, 09:31 AM

TE, DL - Workout Results

Tuesday, February 28, 2006 | 12:34 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Broad Jump

Vernon Davis 10 ft 8 in
Marcedes Lewis 9 ft 10 in
Leonard Pope 9 ft 10 in
Jason Pociask 9 ft 7 in
Tony Scheffler 9 ft 7 in
Owen Daniels 9 ft 6 in
Quinn Sypniewski 9 ft 6 in

McKinley Boykin 9 ft 1 in
Manaia Brown 9 ft 3 in
Brodrick Bunkley 9 ft 5 in
Marcus Green 9 ft 0 in
Jason Hatcher 9 ft 5 in
Tommy Jackson 8 ft 8 in
Julian Jenkins 9 ft 2 in
Johnny Jolly 8 ft 7 in
Kamerion Wimbley 10 ft 9 in

Three Cone

Manny Lawson 6.90
Rob Ninkovich 6.96
Kamerion Wimbley 6.97
Jeremy Mincey 6.99
Mario Williams 7.19

Garrett Mills 6.81
Tony Scheffler 6.81
Owen Daniels 6.87
Anthony Fasano 6.94
Jeff King 6.99
Vernon Davis 7.00

Vertical

Vernon Davis 42
Leornard Pope 37 1/2
David Thomas 37 1/2
Marcedes Lewis 37
Joe Klopfenstein 36
Garrett Mills 35 1/2
Ray Edwards 39'
Chris Gocong 38 1/2
Jason Hatcher 35 1/2
Manaia Brown 35 1/2
Mario Williams 40
Manny Lawson 39 1/2
Stanley McClover 39
Kamerion Wimbley 38 1/2
Julian Jenkins 34 1/2
Mike Kudla 37
Mark Anderson 42

Short Shuttle

Garrett Mills 4.05
Jeff King 4.09
Owen Daniels 4.10
Vernon Davis 4.17

Mathias Kiwanuka 4.13
Manny Lawson 4.18
Ninkovich 4.18
Jeremy Mincey 4.25
Ryan Lacasse 4.30
Mario Williams 4.36
Mark Anderson 4.22
Julian Jenkins 4.23
Parys Haralson 4.26
Copeland Bryan 4.30

Long Shuttle

Garrett Mills 11.05
Tony Schefler 11.41
Tim Day 11.43
Quinn Sypniewski 11.45
Jeff King 11.54

Chris Gocong 11.35
Mark Anderson 11.75
Copeland Bryan 11.83
Charlton Keith 11.98
Charles Bennett 12.04
Manny Lawson 11.08
Rob Ninkovich 11.33

Angry Pope

02-28-2006, 09:32 AM

Linebacker - 40 Times

Tuesday, February 28, 2006 | 9:11 AM CST
Posted by Greg Benjamin

Here are some 40 times from the linebackers this morning. These times are unofficial at the moment.

A.J. Hawk 4.62
Chad Greenway 4.74
D'Qwell Jackson 4.78
Ernie Sims 4.50
Thomas Howard 4.42
Jon Alston 4.40
Brandon Johnson 4.44
Terna Nande 4.51
Leon Williams 4.54
James Anderson 4.58
Clint Ingram 4.58
A.J. Nicholson 4.87, 4.91

Angry Pope

02-28-2006, 11:32 AM

Here is an explanation of what does on at the Combine, what each individual test measures...I found it informative....

The NFL Scouting Combine

The beginnings of the combine took place in 1977, when the workouts were conducted by three separate scouting services National, Blesto and Quadra. The system was streamlined even further in 1984, when the workouts were moved to one site. The combine is an invite-only event, closed to all but invited players and NFL team officials.

There are several reasons why the combine has become such an important part of the draft process. Among them:

All 32 teams get to watch the prospects in an equal setting, under the same conditions.

Owners, general managers and coaches have the opportunity to see most everyone who will be drafted -- all in one place, within a four-day period. There will be plenty of flying around the country for individual workouts in the weeks to come, but the combine is "one-stop shopping."

The combine is another means of helping teams make good decisions, and the escalating cost of signing first-round draft picks makes the decision-making process all the more crucial. Teams spent a total of $160 million on signing bonuses for last year's first-round picks. They want to make sure they know what they're doing.

Players stay at a hotel within walking distance of the RCA Dome. After dinner on Thursday, they will get a brief orientation on how to conduct themselves in the coming weeks (after the draft, rookies will have a three-day seminar that expands on life in the NFL).

Here is a breakdown of the certain physical and mental tests the players will go through:

40 Yard Dash

Each and every prospect can be tested in the 40 yard dash, although each and every prospect can deny to be tested. The 40 yard dash is a test of speed, power, explosion, and a little bit of conditioning. Each prospect will be measured by the second and how long it takes you to complete a 40 yard sprint. The 40 yard dash will also be timed for 10 yard and 20 yard splits to test explosion.

The Drill: From a three-point stance, a player runs 40 yards as fast as he can. He is timed at three increments: 10, 20 and 40 yards. The 10-yard time is especially important for offensive and defensive linemen because they usually don't run farther than that during a play. Players get hand-held times (by scouts using stopwatches) and electronic times (recorded by a machine using a beam).

What it tests: Pure speed from Point A to Point B under ideal conditions (indoors, AstroTurf, no weather obstacles).

Bench Press

The bench press is the biggest test of upper body strength out there. It also will test conditioning. Each player must bench press 225 lbs. as many reps as they can. Quarterbacks and wide receivers are exempt from the test. The bench press is the most important for offensive and defensive linemen.

The Drill: The player lies on a weight bench and lifts a 225-pound barbell as many times as he can. He has to lower it to his chest each time to count as a legitimate repetition.

What it tests: Strength and conditioning.

Vertical Jump

The vertical jump isn’t really the most important test for football players. It is basically a test of explosion and power. Technique is huge here. Each player will be tested by a machine that will measure how high your fingers touch when going directly up in the air. The vertical jump is the most important for receivers and defensive backs.

The Drill: Years ago, players jumped up to touch a wall that was marked in blue chalk. Now, the player stands flat-footed and raises his arm straight up. His reach is measured from the ground to the tip of his fingers with a telescopic ruler. The pole is lowered to that height. The player then jumps straight up and hits as many plastic flags as he can. The flags, spaced half an inch apart, rotate when hit.

What it tests: Vertical leg explosion.

Broad Jump

The broad jump is similar to the vertical jump. Although the broad jump measures how far you jump not how high. Technique is also important here. It is also similar to the long jump in track and field, but here the player will not run, but rather jump from a standing position. The broad jump is the best test for lower body strength, explosion, and power. The broad jump is the most important for running backs, linemen, and linebackers.

The Drill: he player puts his toes on a line and leaps forward. Distance is measured from the line to where his heels land.

What it tests: Leg explosion, quickness and lateral burst

cont'd...

Angry Pope

02-28-2006, 11:33 AM

cont'd...

20 Yard Shuttle

The 20 yard shuttle is one of the most underrated tests at the combine. The 20 yard shuttle is a test of speed, explosion, and changing of directions. Technique is also important here. Each prospect will be timed by seconds in how fast they can go 5 yards to their left, then 10 back to the right, and finishing 5 yards to their left in one straight line.

The Drill: The player straddles a yard line and puts one hand down in a three-point stance. He can start by going either right or left. Let's say he starts at the 5, with the goal line to his right. He runs 5 yards to his right and touches the goal line with his right hand. He then runs 10 yards to his left and touches the 10-yard line with his left hand. He finishes by running back to the 5.

What it tests: Lateral quickness, coordination and change of direction.

60 Yard Shuttle or Long Shuttle

The 60 Yard Shuttle is the same thing as the 20 yard shuttle but instead of 5, 10, and 5, it is 10, 20, and 10. The 60 Yard Shuttle is the combine’s best test of conditioning.

The Drill: From a starting line, a player runs 5 yards and back, then 10 yards and back, then 15 yards and back. He must bend down and touch the line at each 5-, 10- and 15-yard interval, for a total of six touches.

What it tests: Speed, endurance and conditioning.

3 Cone Drill

The 3 Cone Drill is the newest addition to the NFL scouting combine, replacing the “4 Cone” or “Box” drill. The 3 cone drill is also a test of speed, explosion, and changing directions. Each prospect will be timed by seconds in how fast they can sprint ten yards, back, back again and around a third cone parallel to the 2nd.

The Drill: Three orange cones are placed on the field forming an "L." Cone 1 is at the end of the L, Cone 2 is at the corner of the L and Cone 3 is at the top of the L. There are 5 yards between each cone. The player starts by getting down in a three-point stance next to Cone 1. He runs to Cone 2, bends down and touches a line with his right hand. Then he turns and runs back to Cone 1, bends down and touches that line with his right hand. Then he runs back to Cone 2 and around the outside of it, weaves inside Cone 3 (as if he were running a figure eight), then cuts tightly around the outside of Cones 3 and 2 before finishing at Cone 1 in a full sprint.

What it tests: Speed, quickness, flexibility, change of direction, body control.

Position Specific Drills

Each prospect must go through football drills designed for their specific position. NFL coaches and scouts will follow each of the prospects, guiding them through the drills and watching their every move. The drills are somewhat overlooked since the workout numbers is what everyone seems to care about.

NFL Team Interviews

Each NFL team can chose up to 60 prospects at the combine to interview. The interviews are held at the hotel where the prospects stay and believe me questions can really, really vary.

The Wonderlic Test

The wonderlic test is similar to the I.Q. test everyone in the world knows of. Although the Wonderlic is definitely is not the same. The Wonderlic taken at the Combine takes 12 minutes and contains 50 questions. The test is also designed so most prospects do not finish in time. For more information on the Wonderlic Test go to http://www.wonderlic.com

The Measurements

Each prospect is measured with their height, weight, arm length, and hand length. Also running backs and linemen’s body fat percentage will be measured.

The Cybex Test

The Cybex Test isn’t the most important test prospects must go through. Although, injured and previously injured prospect’s results in the Cybex Test will get serious looks from coaches. The Cybex Test will test the flexibility and joint movement of each prospect. Each prospect will be hooked to a machine which will determine their results.

Injury Evaluation

Each prospect will go through X-rays and physicals to determine their current injuries and their injury histories. Injured prospects coming into the combine will get serious looks. Few prospects really come out of the combine with injuries they did not know they already had. Also each prospect will take a urine test to check for substances that are not allowed in the NFL.