Sunday at the NFL Combine featured skill players working out and defensive backs talking to the media. Tyrann Mathieu said some things. Every safety is the best safety. Some of the performers Sunday were WINNERS (!) and others were LOSERS (!!).
2013 NFL Combine Sunday winners and losers
Wide receivers Tavon Austin and Marquise Goodwin are neither. Running ultra-fast 40-yard dash times is unsurprising. As the saying goes, “fast guys run fast.”
WINNERS
Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas
On Friday, Davis told the media he had “something to prove” at the combine. Point proven. At 227 pounds, Davis ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds with an even better 1.49 10-yard split. Davis is a workout warrior of the highest degree. His performance in Indianapolis should push his draft stock up. But teams should realize he has been injury-prone. Davis is the definition of boom or bust player.
John Madden
Say what now? How can a 76-year-old who hasn’t announced in a few years be a winner at the NFL Scouting Combine? The top European prospects in the draft, Margus Hunt of SMU and Bjoern Werner of Florida State, both admitted to learning football from playing Madden. Don’t be surprised if we see more and more foreign players become football stars, and the NFL has Madden to thank.
Josh Boyce, WR, TCU
As mentioned, everyone expected Austin and Goodwin to have great 40 times. But it was Boyce and his 4.38 that should raise interest. Because of his workout times, there will probably be a few more NFL scouts and coaches at the March 8 TCU pro day. What they’ll see is a good receiver with decent hands and body control at the sideline. Ryan Swope’s 4.34 40 time was another highlight of wide receiver timing drills.
Jerry Jones’ party bus
The Elegant Lady was everywhere in Indianapolis. As Saturday became Sunday, Jerry Jones’ party bus screamed through the streets of downtown Indy. Chances are whomever was on that monster was having a good time. As I walked back to my hotel after UFC 157 (yay, Rhonda?), the party bus was charging past Lucas Oil Stadium back toward downtown, where it was parked when the night began. More people in the NFL need an identifiable vehicle. A food truck for Andy Reid. OK, that’s all I’ve got. Make up your own in the comments.
LOSERS
Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah
It’s hard to declare Lotulelei a loser after it was revealed he has a heart condition, but it’s probable this will drop his placement in the draft. That’s the hard truth about the NFL Draft. If an injury is found at the combine, teams will take pause. Given the strength of the defensive tackle class, some teams may be more comfortable taking a player like Sharrif Floyd or Sheldon Richardson in the first round.
The quarterback class
While Geno Smith had good timing drills, no quarterback in Indianapolis had a star-making performance at the combine. Florida State’s EJ Manuel had some good moments in passing drills, as did Mike Glennon. But there wasn’t a big performance to push a quarterback up in the draft. NFL teams are probably thinking the same thing. Now it’s time to see what these guys do during pro days. If many of them continue with middling performances, all of those who declared this a down class for quarterbacks will be proven correct.
Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M
Moore only pushed 225 pounds in the bench press 12 times. He didn’t get injured. That’s no good. Moore’s tape shows hustle. Based on his workout numbers, it may be time to consider whether or not his hustle can make up for it in the NFL.
False reports
Hey, have you heard the one about Matt Barkley not slipping past the Arizona Cardinals and the seventh-overall pick? The Aristocrats!
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