I say this every year so let me reiterate that the combine is not about identifying the best football players. These workouts put a prospect's football skills in perspective by determining how he measures up to the speed and strength at the highest level. While some of the most talented players often perform exceptionally in drills, the workout freaks who excel in the measurables of running and leaping are by no means the most talented football players. The drills measure explosiveness that translates to football skill but does not indicate such skill.
I quote last year's report:
"Although many freaks will have little impact in the NFL Draft or at the next level, some freaks jump up draft boards and eventually cash in on their measurables because coaches and GMs fawn over their potential and gamble, lured by the promising ego trap that they can coach a freak into a star."
STEPHEN PAEA - DT - Oregon St. (6'1"/ 301)
I don’t care what else he did, Mr. Bench Press set the record with 49 reps of 225 pounds and made it look smooth and easy… mostly. I was not completely surprised by this performance as he put up 44 reps earlier on youtube.
VIRGIL GREEN - TE - Nevada (6’3”/ 249)
With the best vert in the draft at 42.5-inches and the third best broad jump at 10-feet-10-inches, Green is one of this class’ most explosive leapers. Among TEs, he ranked second in the 20-yard shuttle (11.63), third in the 40 (4.64), fourth in the 3-cone (6.90), and fifth in the bench press with 23 reps. By the measurables, he’s easily the most gifted at his position.
JULIO JONES - WR - Alabama (6’3”/ 200)
JULIO JONES - WR - Alabama (6’3”/ 200)
The consensus number two wideout inched closer to A.J. Green with a solid performance that’s spectacular when considering size and draft status. He basically levitated on the 11-foot-3-inch broad, the third best since 2003. Jones turned in Calvin Johnson-esque numbers with a 4.39 40 (seventh best overall) and a 38.5-inch vertical.
DONTAY MOCH - DL - Nevada (6’1”/ 248)
DONTAY MOCH - DL - Nevada (6’1”/ 248)
Moch is another Nevada guy who happens to be a great leaper but he made noise recording one of the fastest 40s ever for DL at 4.44 seconds. Only 15 participants of any position ran a faster 40. Even fewer people outjumped him. He had the second best overall vertical leap of 42-inches and tied for the ninth best broad jump of 10-feet-8-inches.
MARCELL DAREUS - DT - Alabama (6’3”/ 319)
Although Dareus is a potential top-10 pick, he is not a freak by numbers because he didn’t hit make the leader boards. Sometimes it’s about more than the measurables. Watch the video and you’ll see an impressive HWS (height-weight-speed) specimen. He’s nimble and he smacks the heck out of those bags.
VON MILLER LB - Texas A&M - (6’3”/ 246)
This year’s most-talked about pass-rushing linebacker, Miller backed up the chatter by dominating his position in nearly every category. His 11.15 60-yard shuttle set a position and was the 15th fastest overall. Among LBs, Miller ranked first in the broad jump (10’6”), first in the 3-cone (6.70), second in the 40 (4.53), third in the vert (37-inches), and third in the 20-yard shuttle (4.06). Ok, I know, that was the third guy about that size.
Freaks don’t come at every position every year so to decide between the guys who didn’t quite make the cut, here’s the toss-ups.
In the wake of Bruce Campbell and Trent Williams, who’s the freaker OL - Jason Kelce of Cincinnati or Nate Solder of Colorado?
(Parentheses denote rank among position)/ NR=new record
Freaks don’t come at every position every year so to decide between the guys who didn’t quite make the cut, here’s the toss-ups.
In the wake of Bruce Campbell and Trent Williams, who’s the freaker OL - Jason Kelce of Cincinnati or Nate Solder of Colorado?
| | HT | WT | 40-yd D | Vert | Broad | 3-Cone | 20-yd S |
| Jason Kelce | 6’3” | 280 | 4.93 (1) | 30.5" (t8) | 9’2” (t3) | 7.22 (1) | 4.14(NR) |
| Nate Solder | 6’8” | 319 | 5.05 (4) | 32" (t3) | 9’2” (t3) | 7.44 (t5) | 4.34 (2)
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By the measurables, Kelce had the best performance of any OL but he wasn’t mentioned at all. Solder has great size and is a bonafide prospect so his workout received significant pub. Essentially, Kelce needed more size and clout to garner some respect. Hypothetically, he is built like an out of shape Miller or Green so his numbers are only impressive for that position (if Miller of Green somehow slipped as far as Andre Smith in the man boob incident).
Who’s the freakier QB - Cam Newton (Auburn) or Jake Locker (Washington)?
| | HT | WT | 40-yd D | Vert | Broad | 3-Cone | 20-yd S |
| Cam Newton | 6’5” | 248 | 4.59 (t3) | 35" (t3) | 10’6” (1) | 6.92 (10) | 4.18 (t8) |
| Jake Locker | 6’3” | 231 | 4.59 (t3) | 35" (t3) | 10’ (t4) | 6.77 (1) | 4.12 (t3) |
Newton wins this flip because on top of matching Locker drill for drill, he’s bigger.
Who’s the quickest guy in the draft - Buster Skrine ( DB, Tennessee-Chattanooga) or Jeffrey Maehl (WR Oregon)?
| | HT | WT | 3-Cone | 20-yd S | 60-yd S | 40-yd D |
| Buster Skrine | 5’10” | 186 | 6.44 (2) | 3.90 (t2) | 10.75 (NR) | 4.48 |
| Jeffrey Maehl | 6’1” | 190 | 6.42 (NR) | 3.94 (4) | 10.88 (3) | 4.62 |
It’s unfortunate that it went unnoticed that each of these guys set a combine record and battled for the quickness crown. The edge goes to Skrine because he was very close to Maehl’s 3-cone record and he put up a significantly better 40 so I assume his 10-yard split was better.
That wraps up this year's report. Stay tuned for my Mock Draft to see which freaks crack the first round.
