NFL scouting combine
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The itinerary
Depending on their positions, the players stay for spans of four days. The first groups to arrive are kickers, punters, offensive linemen and tight ends. The last players to arrive, the defensive backs, debut Saturday.
The days are regimented and long, with lots of standing around and waiting. A typical first day includes orientation and a trip to the hospital for examinations and X-rays. As does every day, the first day also includes individual interviews with team representatives.
On the second day, players are weighed and measured -- including arm length and hand span -- meet with reporters and take the Wonderlic intelligence test. The psychological tests and interviews continue on the third day.
The fourth day is the combine as most people think of it: workouts. Before they pack their bags and head home, players are timed and tested in position drills, the 40-yard dash, bench press, broad jump, three-cone drill, 20- and 60-yard shuttle runs, and vertical leap.
Top producers
USC will have 12 prospects at this year’s combine, more than any other school. Two years ago, the Trojans and Ohio State tied for the lead with 14. But since 2000, the most invitees have come from two traditional powers in Florida.
*--* Rk School No. 1. Florida State 73 2. Miami 71 3. Tennessee 70 4. Ohio State 67 5. USC 61 5. Florida 61 *--*
Note: UCLA is tied for 37th with Boston College at 30.
Source: NFLDraftScout.com.
Class of 2006
It’s important to be invited to the combine, but just going doesn’t guarantee a player will be drafted. In USC’s stellar class of 2006, four of the 14 Trojans who participated in the combine were not selected in the seven rounds of the draft. However, all ended up in training camps -- the four undrafted players signed free-agent contracts -- and were listed on an NFL roster or practice squad last season. USC’s 2006 invitees (selection number is overall pick; FA-free agent):
*--* Player P Team, No. Reggie Bush RB New Orleans, 2 Matt Leinart QB Arizona, 10 Winston -- -- Justice OT Phila., 39 Taitusi Lutui OG Arizona, 41 LenDale -- --- White RB Tennessee, 45 Frostee -- -- Rucker DE Cincinnati, 91 Dominique -- -- Byrd TE St. Louis, 93 Darnell Bing S Oakland, 101 David -- --- Kirtman FB Seattle, 163 Fred Matua OG Detroit, 217 Tom Malone P San Fran., FA Scott Ware S Phila., FA Justin Wyatt CB Arizona, FA John Walker CB Houston, FA *--*
Sweet 16
USC and UCLA combined to send 16 players to this year’s combine. They are:
From USC: OT Sam Baker, QB John David Booty, TE Fred Davis, DT Sedrick Ellis, DE Lawrence Jackson, OG Chilo Rachal, OT Drew Radovich, LB Keith Rivers, C Matt Spanos, CB Terrell Thomas, RB Chauncey Washington, LB Thomas Williams.
From UCLA: WR Brandon Breazell, DE Bruce Davis, S Christopher Horton, S Dennis Keyes.
Rising stock
All but one of the USC and UCLA invitees are seniors. The only exception is Rachal, a junior.
For the vast majority of these players, staying in school boosted their draft stock. Trojans Coach Pete Carroll said that definitely applies to Ellis, Davis, Jackson and Thomas.
“If any one of those guys had come out early, they wouldn’t have been nearly the status that they are,” Carroll said. “So now it’s going to be worth millions and millions of dollars to them.”
Well, it might be worth millions to Ellis, Davis and Jackson. All are projected to be first-round selections. Many experts think Thomas will be selected in the second or third round. Ellis was once considered a major step down as a replacement to Mike Patterson, a first-round pick of Philadelphia in 2005. Now, Ellis could be one of the first five players chosen.
“He’s playing every bit as well as Mike ever played,” Carroll said.
Draft expert Mike Mayock, an NFL Network commentator, said Ellis further improved his standing with strong performances practicing for and playing in the Senior Bowl.
“I don’t think there’s any way we’d be talking about him as a top-10 pick had he come out last year,” Mayock said. “The difference in dollars between, pick a number, the No. 6 pick in the draft and the No. 20 pick, is millions and millions. I think he made a very smart move coming back.”
Combine curiosities
Here are three questions that may be answered based on the performances at this year’s combine:
Could this be the first time in more than a decade that a quarterback isn’t among the first 20 players drafted? Should Miami hold on to the top pick and take, say, a defensive lineman, that could pave the way for a big slide for quarterbacks. The two top quarterback prospects are Matt Ryan of Boston College and Brian Brohm of Louisville. The last time at least 20 picks went by without a quarterback being selected was 1997, when San Francisco chose Jim Druckenmiller 26th.
The value of great pass rushers was underscored by the performance of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Will that only intensify the focus on Virginia defensive end Chris Long, a potential overall No. 1 pick and the son of former Raiders great Howie Long?
Arkansas’ Darren McFadden might be the best running back in the draft, but how will his stock be affected by his off-the-field conduct? He has been involved in a couple of scrapes, including one in the last two months outside a piano bar in Little Rock. Oh to be a fly on the wall during his team interviews.
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