Watch hoops, drink beer at CSU’s Viketoberfest
February 23, 2015David Griffin’s team building and the Rihanna effect: While We’re Waiting…
February 24, 2015The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine came to a close after the defensive backs took to the field for their on-field drills. The cornerbacks and safeties were the last groups to show their skills. Defensive backs are becoming more important because of the pass happy game of the NFL. Teams will be looking to add young defensive backs to defend against the league’s various high-octane passing attacks. Here are my observations while watching the defensive backs on the last day of the 2015 Scouting Combine.
2015 NFL Scouting Combine Observations:
First Day (OL/TE) | Second Day (QB/WR/RB) | Third Day (DL/LB) | Fourth Day (CB/S)
Defensive Backs
- The cornerback cropis a good group, but I believe last year’s class was better and deeper at the top.
- This year’s class does not have a lot of big, long corners as there has been in the last few years. The Seahawks started the trend of teams looking for the big corners.
- The corners as a whole did not run very fast. Only 12 players ran under or at 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
- The most impressive cornerback at the Combine was Trae Waynes of Michigan State, who a lot of experts have as the top corner in the draft. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all the corners at 4.31 seconds and tied for fourth of all corners in the bench press with 19 reps. He was smooth in drills and showing his agility and change of direction.
- Ronald Darby of Florida State helped himself a lot with his athletic testing and position drills. Amongst the cornerbacks, he ran the second fastest 40-yard dash at 4.38 seconds, tied for second in the vertical jump at 41.5 inches and was seventh in the broad jump at 129 inches. He looked good backpedaling and with his footwork in the position drills.
- The freak of the defensive backs group was Byron Jones of Connecticut. He had the best broad jump ever at the Combine with 147 inches and second best vertical jump of all the athletes at the Combine this year with a 44.5-inch jump.
- Doran Grant of Ohio State also helped himself on Monday. He ran the third fastest 40-yard dash of all the corners at 4.44 seconds and lifted the second most bench press reps of all the corners with 21 reps. In every position drill, he looked smooth with solid footwork.
- The controversial Josh Shaw of USC had an excellent day. He tied with Grant with a 4.44 second 40-yard dash, first of the corners in bench press with 26 reps, and third of the corners in the broad jump at 130 inches.
- Troy Hill of Oregon did not blow away anyone in the athletic testing, but his footwork and change of direction in the position drills were very good.
- Jalen Collins of LSU looked like a smooth athlete, running a 4.48 second 40-yard dash. He will compete to be one of the first cornerbacks taken in the draft.
- Senquez Golson of Mississippi helped his stock by running a 4.46 second 40-yard dash. He was very productive in college, so this time will help.
- Marcus Peters of Washington and PJ Williams of Florida State are two of the top corners available. They did not blow away anyone in the athletic testing, but they looked good in the position drills.
- Quinten Rollins of Miami (Ohio) was solid in athletic testing, helping his stock. He was very productive last season and has a lot potential to be a good corner in the NFL.
- The safety position is a very weak group in this year’s draft class.
- There is one standout safety (Landon Collins) with a lot of unknowns after him.
- Landon Collins of Alabama ran well for a safety at 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash. His footwork and performance in the position drills was very good, too.
- Justin Cox of Mississippi State tested very well in the athletic testing for a safety. Amongst the safeties, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.36 seconds, tied for third in the vertical jump at 38 inches, and was first in the broad jump with a 129-inch jump.
- Damarious Randall of Arizona State ran a 4.46 second 40-yard dash and jumped 38 inches in the vertical jump. Those are good numbers for a safety.
- The newly added gauntlet drill for defensive backs was a clear example of the old saying that defensive backs are receivers with bad hands. It was an ugly drill with most players dropping at least one catch.
- The defensive backs group, including corners and safeties, was not the most impressive group I have seen.
Here are the complete measurements from the final day of the NFL Scouting Combine.
4 Comments
It will be interesting to see what we do with Skrine because if we let him walk, then we need a CB2 (Pettine was pretty adamant that K.Williams was only an inside CB and Gilbert/Desir haven’t proven to be ready to start yet).
Given the struggles of rookie CBs in general last year though, the key word with any of these guys might be patience.
he may walk regardless of whether we “let him.” Be a shame to pay a 5’7″ guy who’s not a real #2 corner like an ok #1, but this may be the price of being a perennial loser with ongoing organizational chaos. And the guys even harder to replace – like Mack – might not be willing to stay at any price.
yeah, Skrine wasn’t great, but he could prove difficult to replace and we have the money. $6.5 million isn’t the end of the world but it does seem high for him
Ted Thompson lost his gamble at getting either House or Williams back for next season….now the Pack is spread very thin at C.B. ….I have faith Thompson will get someone who can play the position day one…..free agent? the draft? ….???..It will be an interesting draft day for the Pack!!