2012 NFL Scouting Combine Notes: Group Seven - Defensive Line

Feb 27, 2012, 4:18 PM UTC

I missed a lot of the combine yesterday, so I wasn’t able to get you guys any notes. But I’m back watching today. Here are a few quick notes from the on-field drills this morning from group seven.

Melvin Ingram pretty much stole the show with the drills. He showed great feet in the bag drills. As Mike Mayock pointed out, he kept his eyes down looking at the bags to make sure he didn't trip up. In the NFL you have to be able to sense the trash at your feet and keep your eyes up. But other than that, Ingram did a great job moving laterally. He was asked to stay on after and take part in some 3-4 outside linebacker drills where he had to drop back and he looked comfortable doing so.
Michael Brockers and Fletcher Cox showed off their athletic ability. Brockers is 322lbs, while Cox is 298lbs, but both moved like there were 50lbs lighter.
Jamie Blatnick from Oklahoma State showed really nice footwork on the bag drills.

Jaye Howard from Florida impressed me. At 6'3", 301lbs, he had slightly stiff hips on the bags, but overall moved pretty well I thought. Has pretty good size to potentially play as a 3-4 defensive end or inside as a 4-3 defensive tackle.

Andre Branch from Clemson was one player who came off the radar to me. He looked very fluid in all the drills and looked a natural 3-4 outside linebacker. He was part of the group that took part in linebacker drills after the defensive line drills. Like Ingram, he looked pretty comfortable dropping back. Certainly helped himself today.

I felt that Quinton Coples struggled a little bit with stiff hips. But he's a long guy that typically do struggle with that sort of thing. I don't think he'll be picked by a 3-4 team. I see him as a 4-3 defensive end.

Loni Fangupo showed off his strength. The BYU prospect is 323lbs and interestingly took the extra time to show his strong punch on the punch and cut block drills. Most players try to get through it as quickly as possible, but Fangupo decided that he would show his punch rather than rush through it.

That’s it from me for now. I’ll be back later on today with more notes.

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