At the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL coaches and talent executives are paraded out in front of the media to say mostly nothing. Every draft class looks good. Every free agent the team has is a good player. Thomas Dimitroff of the Atlanta Falcons has wacky hair.
What NFL teams were really saying at the NFL Combine
It was a hazy week in Indianapolis with several NFL coaches and talent executives putting down a heavy layer of smokescreen. But can we interpret any to find truths? Of course.
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It's lying season in the NFL, so there's generally nothing all that newsworthy that gets mentioned. For instance, Pittsburgh Steelers' general manager Kevin Colbert refused to take the bait when asked about the direction his team will go.
“We will never go into a draft saying we have to address (a specific) area,” Colbert said. “Because if we do, we are going to overevaluate a particular position and probably make a draft mistake.”
Well, that's no fun. Cleveland Browns' general manager Ray Farmer also refused to admit his direction. His denial was in regard to wide receiver, even though the Browns seem to have a glaring need at the position.
“I don’t want to tell anybody where I’m at, I guess is what I struggle with,” Farmer said. “If I tell you I want to draft a wide receiver in the first round, then guess what happens, somebody jumps in front of me and takes that guy. It’s better to leave everybody somewhat in the dark with how we go about what we go about or what our true needs are. Everybody makes their own evaluations or assumptions.”
Unlike Farmer and Colbert, not everyone left things in the dark. Through mouthfuls of smokescreen, a few of these high-level NFL staffers gave slight glimpses of what they may do in the 2015 NFL Draft. Here are the most interesting ones, translated.
Bruce Arians, head coach: "We need to have competition. We need to increase competition at those inside spots. I am pleased with the tackles, I think Bobby Massie can continue to improve as he did from last year to this year. I think we are set at tackle for a while. But the inside guys, yes, I want competition."
Translation: Jonathan Cooper, seventh overall pick in 2013, has not often been healthy or been able to get on the field. Cooper only played 189 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus, with Paul Fanaika and Ted Larsen getting most of the starts at guard. Competition could be A.J. Cann of South Carolina in the first round. Hobart’s Ali Marpet or Tennessee State’s Robert Myers could be good Day 3 selections.
Marvin Lewis, head coach: “I think each and every team every year wants to improve the pass rush. … We want to get better, we need to get better. Some of things we are doing we need to be more effective at. How we do it, when we do it, when we pressure and be more effective with pressures.
“Each and every year we come over here, this is a group in college football that the value of (pass rushers) continues to improve. The college game has changed such that way where you can get some guys. A lot of your tweener, hybrid-type players sometimes don’t quite fit our scheme.”
Translation: The Bengals could be looking to find a pass rusher in the draft. But what is their scheme? The Bengals have three ends on the roster 6’6 or taller with long arms and had success with 6’7 Michael Johnson. Their mold? If it’s a traditional 4-3 end, there’s not a lot of them. Arik Armstead is a possibility at No. 21, but that’s about it. Later in the draft, players like Preston Smith of Mississippi State, Corey Crawford of Clemson and Danielle Hunter of LSU fit the mold.
John Schneider, general manager: “Last year was a little unique because of all the quarterbacks that were involved. We were hoping somebody wanted to move back up to grab one of the quarterbacks. We were just concerned that something was going to happen in front of us. ... But No. 31 is better -- if anyone is out there listening.”
Translation: The Seahawks have a bunch of free agents and need to give money to Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. Seattle should be desperately trying to move off of pick No. 31 and get an extra pick or two this year. They’ve shown they can hit on middle- and late-round picks. The issue, of course, is if someone is willing to acquiesce.
Lovie Smith, head coach: “We’re going to look at if you have to be in the position (first overall pick), you’re always looking for the franchise quarterback. People want to talk about the quarterback. If you’re down there and you have an opportunity, you really have to look closely, which we’ll do.”
Translation: Don’t let Jameis Winston be a screw-up.
Mike Maccagnan, general manager: “I’d say at this point in time, it’s literally every position we’re trying to make more competitive. I’d say there are certain positions, if you look at our roster, based on injuries last year … cornerback would be a position we’d probably address, whether it’s the draft or pro free agency.”
Translation: Well, this one is sort of boring. Chances are the Jets won’t be taking a cornerback with the No. 6 pick, though. Picks Nos. 37 and 70 are a different story. There should be players like Florida State’s Ronald Darby, Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson and Stanford’s Alex Carter there at 37. At 70, think Senquez Golson of Ole Miss, Kevin White of TCU and Doran Grant of Ohio State.
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