Article on 2004 Combine

[CJBestInAFC]

Found an article on a website that talked about the 2004 Combine.

COMBINE NOTES

By Allen Trieu

photo by Evan Kotecki

Here are some notes and numbers I picked up at the combine today, mostly from player interviews. More coming in the next few days. Sunday will be a big day as top prospect including Reggie Williams and Lee Evans will run 40s.

Chris Perry

Talked a lot about his versatility. Will not work out here and will instead workout at the pro day at Michigan. Has talked informally with the Giants, Bengals and Packers.

Michael Turner

Looked very built. Measured in at 5’10, 237. Has only met with one team and that was the Detroit Lions. Spoke at length about the perception of the MAC and how he was not heavily publicized as a senior. Also talked about how UNI was the only school to offer a scholarship out of high school.

Kevin Jones

Will not participate here because of advice from his agent.

Steven Jackson

Big Steve came in at 6'1 1/2, 241. He said he hopes to run mid-4.4s but won't run here.

Mewelde Moore

Measured at 5’10 ½, and 209. Made sure everyone knew that baseball was no longer an option. He also reiterated that his left hand was fine. Has been training at Cornerstone with Keith Bell. Will run 40 and do everything here except lift but will lift at his pro day. Has talked to four teams, Green Bay, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay.

Nick Leckey

Measured in at 6’2 1/2, 290 lbs, was interviewed by the Steelers.

Steelers have shown interest in Champ Bailey, but Detroit is considered the frontrunner for him.

Tony Pape

Very well spoken “media darling.” Measured in at 6’6, 322 and says he did 28 reps but only 26 got counted.

Lousaka Polite

Measured in at 5’11 ½, 246. Will run here and is aiming at 4.5s but says he’s been consistently in the low 4.6s. Looked impressive and is slowly becoming the top Fullback prospect.

Shawntae Spencer

Is not here but reports have him at 6’2, 178 with his forty time in the low 4.3s. Will run at Pittsburgh’s pro day.

Jeb Terry

Measured in at 6’5 ½, 313 did 27 reps on the bench.

Devard Darling

Will run 40 here. Did not get numbers on him.

Fred Russell

Measured in at 5’7, 195. Will do everything here. When asked about stats for his last year, he replied, “I don’t remember, Big Ten hits will make you forget a lot.”

Larry Fitzgerald

Very impressive interview. Was very well spoken and showed the character that has been well publicized. Measured at 6’2 ¾, 225 lbs. Also said he began the year at 210 and by the end of the season was playing at 230. Spoke at great length about being the Vikings ball boy and the possibility of being reunited with Dennis Green in Arizona. Will not work out here.

Reggie Williams

Looked very large. Measured in at 6’4, 231. Surprisingly will do all drills here and will run on Sunday.

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben measured in as expected, 6’5, 241.

Eli Manning

Manning came in at 6’4 ½, 222.

Jared Lorenzen

Measured in at 6’3, 280 but didn’t necessarily look any bigger than he did throughout the season.

Shawn Andrews

Admitted he was over 400 at one point. Down to 366 now but still looked a bit soft.

Stacy Andrews

Conversely, Stacy looked as big as his brother but was much more solid. He is a player who is really making some noise here and is moving up boards.

Jeff Smoker

Spoke a lot about the off-field issues. Measured at 6’3, 223. No forty here but will run at his pro day.

Cody Pickett

Looked very big. Measured at 6’3 ½, 233 lbs. About 15 lbs heavier than his playing weight. Both him and Reggie Williams seemed bigger than usual…something’s going on up in Washington! Pickett said he will do all tests and drills here.

Devery Henderson

Measured in at 5’11, 198. Will not run here but rather at his pro day on March 18. Said his fastest so far is 4.26.

Rashaun Woods

6’2, 202, nice to see him add a little bulk.

Roy Williams

Measured at 6’2 1/2, 212. A little shorter and a little lighter than expected.

Darius Watts

Measured 6’1, 188. Will not do anything here. Said he wants to work on strength a lot.

Philip Rivers

6’5, 229. Denver and San Diego have shown interest. Not doing anything here.

Derrick Hamilton

6’3, 196. Thinks he’ll mid-4.3s but won’t run here. Will do WR drills though. Talked at length about his versatility and ability to make people miss despite his height/wiry frame.

James Newson

Came in at 6’0, 213. I jokingly asked him if he could match his 99 speed rating in Madden. He said we’ll have to wait and see but the game doesn’t measure heart baby! Has been training with Charles Collins at Phenom Factor. Will run Sunday.

Quincy Wilson

5’9, 225 with some of the biggest calves I’ve ever seen. Talked a lot about the Miami game and how he did more than just the one big run in that game.

Matt Schaub

6’5 ¾, 243, a little taller than advertised. Will do everything here. Talked about his lack of being sacked this year and his quick release. Said he's been compared to Chad Pennington and Brad Johnson.

Rod Rutherford

6’1 ½, 240 - compared himself to McNair. Said he doesn’t mind being called Slash and will “do what he has to to get on the field,” but definitely likes being a QB.

Ernest Wilford

6’3 ½, 226, will do everything here. Looked like a TE, Baltimore and Cincinnati have talked to him about playing TE depending on his 40. Interviewed very well and had a pretty good sense of humor and take on the Frank Beamer slap to the helmet.

Best DB he’s faced: DeAngelo Hall

NFL WR he compares to best: Terrell Owens

How he will impress scouts: charm and good looks

[BengalszoneBilly]

Chris Perry

Talked a lot about his versatility. Will not work out here and will instead workout at the pro day at Michigan. Has talked informally with the Giants, Bengals and Packers.

Michael Turner

Looked very built. Measured in at 5’10, 237. Has only met with one team and that was the Detroit Lions. Spoke at length about the perception of the MAC and how he was not heavily publicized as a senior. Also talked about how UNI was the only school to offer a scholarship out of high school.

Kevin Jones

Will not participate here because of advice from his agent.

Steven Jackson

Big Steve came in at 6'1 1/2, 241. He said he hopes to run mid-4.4s but won't run here.

Tony Pape

Very well spoken “media darling.” Measured in at 6’6, 322 and says he did 28 reps but only 26 got counted.

Fred Russell

Measured in at 5’7, 195. Will do everything here. When asked about stats for his last year, he replied, “I don’t remember, Big Ten hits will make you forget a lot.”

Larry Fitzgerald

Very impressive interview. Was very well spoken and showed the character that has been well publicized. Measured at 6’2 ¾, 225 lbs. Also said he began the year at 210 and by the end of the season was playing at 230. Spoke at great length about being the Vikings ball boy and the possibility of being reunited with Dennis Green in Arizona. Will not work out here.

Darius Watts

Measured 6’1, 188. Will not do anything here. Said he wants to work on strength a lot.

Philip Rivers

6’5, 229. Denver and San Diego have shown interest. Not doing anything here.

Derrick Hamilton

6’3, 196. Thinks he’ll mid-4.3s but won’t run here. Will do WR drills though. Talked at length about his versatility and ability to make people miss despite his height/wiry frame.

James Newson

Came in at 6’0, 213. I jokingly asked him if he could match his 99 speed rating in Madden. He said we’ll have to wait and see but the game doesn’t measure heart baby! Has been training with Charles Collins at Phenom Factor. Will run Sunday.

Rod Rutherford

6’1 ½, 240 - compared himself to McNair. Said he doesn’t mind being called Slash and will “do what he has to to get on the field,” but definitely likes being a QB.

Ernest Wilford

6’3 ½, 226, will do everything here. Looked like a TE, Baltimore and Cincinnati have talked to him about playing TE depending on his 40. Interviewed very well and had a pretty good sense of humor and take on the Frank Beamer slap to the helmet.

Was this real interviews from the combine, or a comedy sketch from "Mad TV"? Completely whack. Why the hell show up just to do a verbal interview you could have phoned in!?!

[chrishcovga]

Currently NFL t.v. is doing a full coverage of these athletes and the combine. So far they are hyping guys like Rashaun Woods and Lee Evans from the wr corps.

Hyped as top 5 lineman were, Gallery,Andrews,Carey,Rogers,and Jake Grove. Still think Grove ends up a Bengal in round 2.

[Kirkendall]

I'm very suspect of having an offensive lineman in the 2nd round when our defense is in dire need of a complete overhaul.

[chrishcovga]

Hey , My ideal draft would be to land Wilfork at 17, and then possibly Marquise Hill De 6-7 295lbs, or Antwan Odom 6-5 275 lbs. in round 2. But most scouts see Odom going at the end or Round 1 to either the Packers, or the Seahawks. No later than the top of round 2.

It's looking more and more like these running backs and wide receivers are going to flood the top 15 picks... .Let's look at the guaranteed guys...

wr's... Mike Williams if he declares ....(undecided as of 2/22/04)

Roy Williams

Reggie Williams

Mike Clayton..

add in Kellen Winslow jr....and Rashaun Woods because of great workouts at combine...

Quarterbacks....

Eli Manning..

Ben Roethlesberger

and possibly a strong push for Phillip Rivers ..

the running backs...

Greg Jones...--rising really fast....already considered a 1st rounder..

Stephen Jackson ...

Kevin Jones...

Chris Perry... probably goes after the 22nd. pick.. but nothing is guaranteed....???

offensive lineman...

Robert Gallery, and Shawn Andrews...Andrews stock is on the rise again after losing 40 lbs. at the combine... Another 30 over the next 6 months(draft and training camp) and he's a starter by opening season..

That's a possibility that these 15 skill positions could dominate the first 15 picks because there is so much depth at linebacker,d-line and defensive back.

Like I've stated before....one of the Big three are going to fall to us.... Harris,, Wilfork,and Udeze... Udeze probably gone early,but never know because Houston and Atlanta could go Wide receiver as well..

[Kirkendall]

wr's... Mike Williams if he declares ....(undecided as of 2/22/04)

Yea, have you heard he's in the process of changing his mind. Heard that Pete Carrol has really put pressure on Williams to stay, and for my conservative views on the whole subject, I think Carrol is wrong on the issue.

[chrishcovga]

What I don't think that is fair is......Mike Williams is being told that just because this is a deep draft at wide receiver ,that should be the reason why he should stay another year or 2.

Most of these receivers are elite in athletic ability... however, Mike Williams is in a class somewhat above that. Most of these receivers don't have the speed that he has. As a matter of fact very few of the receivers at the combine( that did run ) ran under 4.5 and the only guy under 4.4 is nothing more than a return man,and late round pick. Lee Evans ran a 4.40, and he weighs 185 lbs. maybe a little more... Ben Watson the 255 lb. tight end ran under 4.5 today , so what does that say about Lee Evans' speed... ?

Roy ,and Reggie Williams have not run and will do that on their prospective pro day workouts.

Matt Mayock from NFL network, said yesterday" Mike Williams would fit in Between Mike Clayton and Reggie Williams." I doubt that... If they believe that next year M.Williams would be the overall top selection as a junior, what's stopping him from being that this year. He's faster than Fitzgerald. Hands are as good as Rashaun Woods. Taller and bigger than Roy Williams. And plays in a system where he is asked to go over the middle a lot besides stretch the field.

Personally: I would love to see him stay , so he could help USC get another championship without the " co" part. However... If he comes out...and there at 17... trade peter or Kelley washington in a heartbeat and draft the kid.

[Kirkendall]

What I don't think that is fair is......Mike Williams is being told that just because this is a deep draft at wide receiver ,that should be the reason why he should stay another year or 2.

Most of these receivers are elite in athletic ability... however, Mike Williams is in a class somewhat above that. Most of these receivers don't have the speed that he has. As a matter of fact very few of the receivers at the combine( that did run ) ran under 4.5 and the only guy under 4.4 is nothing more than a return man,and late round pick. Lee Evans ran a 4.40, and he weighs 185 lbs. maybe a little more... Ben Watson the 255 lb. tight end ran under 4.5 today , so what does that say about Lee Evans' speed... ?

Roy ,and Reggie Williams have not run and will do that on their prospective pro day workouts.

Matt Mayock from NFL network, said yesterday" Mike Williams would fit in Between Mike Clayton and Reggie Williams." I doubt that... If they believe that next year M.Williams would be the overall top selection as a junior, what's stopping him from being that this year. He's faster than Fitzgerald. Hands are as good as Rashaun Woods. Taller and bigger than Roy Williams. And plays in a system where he is asked to go over the middle a lot besides stretch the field.

Personally: I would love to see him stay , so he could help USC get another championship without the " co" part. However... If he comes out...and there at 17... trade peter or Kelley washington in a heartbeat and draft the kid.

Chris, I think you're right. But there are going to be owners that don't think a player coming out before the guidelines pre-Clarett deal and may reserve to someone else "more mature". I think his ability is higher than most of the WR coming out, if not all; but he could be the 3rd or 4th WR picked up because of the hesitation and even vendetta attitude the owners will show.

This will definately be interesting to see develop.