List of who helped/hurt their cause in the NFL draft combine

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Sunday: Helping their cause

RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
This talented junior tailback quieted critics with a blazing 4.33 official time that was the best of the event thus far. He came in at 211 pounds and did a 33" vertical leap and a 10'8" broad jump in a fine overall performance.

RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Powerful junior tailback had a strong showing with a 4.44 time in the 40. He did 28 reps and posted a fine 36.5-inch vertical leap that probably guarantees a spot in the middle of the first round.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
This tough junior tailback had a very strong showing. He ran a 4.37 and 4.45 and did 26 reps of 225 pounds. He added a 33.5-inch vertical leap for good measure.

WR Devin Thomas, Michigan St.
This underclassman had a monster workout. He ran two low 4.3 times - including a 4.32 sprint. He is an explosive receiver at almost 6-2 and 215 pounds. On top of that, he also has kickoff return skills.

WR Dexter Jackson, Appalachian St
This small-college standout ran an impressive 4.27 ? hand-held, not electronic. He gets to top speed quickly, and has the hands to make big plays.

Sunday: Hurting their cause

RB Mike Hart, Michigan
This short tailback ran poorly with 4.67 and 4.69 times in the 40. His Michigan pro day will be critical to his draft status. He also had a subpar 28-inch vertical leap and added 23 reps in the lifting.

WR Mario Manningham, Michigan
This junior wideout failed to impress. He ran disappointing 4.59 and 4.6 times that may cost him a first-round grade. He also did only 16 reps and an average 32-inch vertical leap. He needs a strong showing at pro day as well.

WR Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma St
This big wideout may fall as much as any prospect after a surprisingly poor overall performance. He ran a poor 4.69 40 and managed only 14 reps in the bench press. He needs to regroup at his pro day.

WR Davone Bess, Hawaii
This short underclassman ran a poor 4.69 time and only did only 12 reps in the lifting. This makes his pro day critical. He will have to improve a great deal to earn even a middle-round grade.

RB Ryan Torain, Arizona St
This large tailback needed a strong sprint event, but he ran a subpar 4.64 time at 222 pounds. In addition, he mustered only 21 reps in the bench press.

Saturday: Helping their cause

TE Dustin Keller, Purdue
Keller is an athletic, smaller tight end who we had on our top 100 board prior to the Combine. He had a huge workout ? likely the most impressive showing on Day 1. He ran 4.53 and 4.54 times in the 40. He had an exceptional 38" vertical leap with a solid 26 reps @ 225 lbs. Keller displayed sure hands and the ability to adjust to the ball. Despite already being in our top 100, he could move up further following the Combine.

TE Brad Cottam, Tennessee
This huge prospect missed most of the 2007 season, but he continues to impress in the postseason. He came in at 6 feet 7 and 271 pounds, ran a fine 4.68 time and did 24 reps in the lifting.

OT Jake Long, Michigan
The top offensive lineman in this year's class solidified a top 5-10 selection. He came in at 6-7 and 313 pounds, and did a combine best (thus far) 37 reps @ 225 lbs. He ran a 5.17 and 5.27.

OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
Just like the first day of the Senior Bowl, this guy stood out on Day 1 in Indianapolis. He is a massive tackle who checked in at 6'6" and 315 lbs. He ran very good 5.07 and 5.18 times and looked nimble in the agility drills, though he did only 21 reps.

OL Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers
This college right tackle ran an impressive 4.99 40 with a good 10-yard split time. He was second among OL with 35 reps in the lifting and looked mobile in the agility drills. He certainly helped his draft status.

Saturday: Hurting their cause

TE John Carlson, Notre Dame
Carlson missed the Senior Bowl with an illness, and he may still be feeling the ill effects. He ran a disappointing 4.96 and 4.89 times at just under 6-5 and 251 lbs. He did only 20 reps, but did catch the ball well in the receiving drills.

TE Jermichael Finley, Texas
This young junior tight end checked in at 6-4 and 243 lbs. He ran a disappointing 4.82 time and managed only 20 reps, which will make his pro day at Texas critical to his final grade. He looked good in the vertical leap and receiving drills and has intriguing upside, but must run better for an early draft grade.

OT Pedro Sosa, Rutgers
Athletic smallish tackle ran a disappointing 5.5 forty time and did only 19 reps in the lifting which hurts his draft grade significantly.

OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
This massive left tackle is not the type of lineman to shine in athletic drills. He ran a poor 5.56 time at 332 pounds, and did 27 reps in the lifting. His agility drills were only adequate, which leaves questions about his readiness to play early as a pro. He may have cost himself a first-round grade.

OT Barry Richardson, Clemson
This large prospect checked in over 6-6 and 325 lbs. He ran a poor 5.47 time and struggled with the 225 bench press as well. He is a waist-bender who continues to fall down the charts.
 

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mike hart is a great example of a kid who isnt going to test well.
scouts will write him off.
he will slip a lot more than he should.

and he will be playing in the nfl for a long time and an absolute steal for the team that grabs him.
 

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mike hart is a great example of a kid who isnt going to test well.
scouts will write him off.
he will slip a lot more than he should.

and he will be playing in the nfl for a long time and an absolute steal for the team that grabs him.

I don't see it at all. There are a million slow guys who hold on to the rock out there. Nothing Mike Hart does impresses me. He ran behind an excellent line and that is why he looked as good as he did sometimes. He's a good kid and all but just doesn't have what it takes to make it in the NFL IMO.
 

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damn, manningham and bowman's times are suprising...

any idea what malcolm kelly ran? he's not a speed demon either but will get it done on sunday, best hands in the draft
 

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damn, manningham and bowman's times are suprising...

any idea what malcolm kelly ran? he's not a speed demon either but will get it done on sunday, best hands in the draft

I think Kelly has a quad strain and is sitting it out if I remember correctly.
 

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"Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly won't perform any of the drills at the combine because of a quadriceps injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl. He instead will wait until Oklahoma's Pro Day.

"I had a quad issue during the bowl game," said Kelly, who measured in at 6-foot-3 5/8. "Coming off that, I wasn't treating it right. We were thinking it was one thing when it really was another. I'm treating it the right way now, but I'll be full speed at the Pro Day. I was thinking it was a thigh bruise, but it was a quad strain.""
 

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thanks jake

i wonder if someone will take a stab at the kid from ecu in the first round after those workouts... wouldn't suprise me, especially if he has some ability returning kicks
 

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I don't see it at all. There are a million slow guys who hold on to the rock out there. Nothing Mike Hart does impresses me. He ran behind an excellent line and that is why he looked as good as he did sometimes. He's a good kid and all but just doesn't have what it takes to make it in the NFL IMO.

all the kid did was produce.
not sure how in the world you could say that nothing he does impresses you.

consistently gains yards.
never fumbles.
outstanding leader.
able to run inside and outside.
competed against the best rushing-defense conference in the country.
isnt afraid to take on blitzes.

so much of what makes this kid special cant be quantified in some tests at the rca dome.
 

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all the kid did was produce.
not sure how in the world you could say that nothing he does impresses you.

consistently gains yards.
never fumbles.
outstanding leader.
able to run inside and outside.
competed against the best rushing-defense conference in the country.
isnt afraid to take on blitzes.

so much of what makes this kid special cant be quantified in some tests at the rca dome.

If you can name me one RB in the NFL that runs that slow, you are a better man than me.

He had 4.67 and 4.69. That's Maurice Clarett type speed... Not good.
 

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Just a comparison... Joe Staley, an offensive lineman the Niners took in the 1st round last year out of Central Michigan, was clocked around 4.72 at times.
 

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emmitt smith's 40 time please?

4.71 at the combine but he was timed at 4.55-4.6 regularly before the draft. Also, Emmitt ran behind probably the most dominant run-blocking offensive line in the history of the game. He averaged like a yard less per carry when he left Dallas.

Emmitt was great at staying healthy but he wouldn't be the player people think of him as currently unless he was put behind a great line. Hart has a similar chance if he lucks out and gets the starting gig behind a once-a-decade line as well I suppose, but he wouldn't put up the stats of alot of other guys behind that line.
 

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Alex Brink crippled any chance of an NFL future with his combine performance. Slower 40 times than 3 or 4 lineman.
 

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Alex Brink crippled any chance of an NFL future with his combine performance. Slower 40 times than 3 or 4 lineman.

I think Brink will make a good NFL backup personally.
 

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4.71 at the combine but he was timed at 4.55-4.6 regularly before the draft. Also, Emmitt ran behind probably the most dominant run-blocking offensive line in the history of the game. He averaged like a yard less per carry when he left Dallas.

Emmitt was great at staying healthy but he wouldn't be the player people think of him as currently unless he was put behind a great line. Hart has a similar chance if he lucks out and gets the starting gig behind a once-a-decade line as well I suppose, but he wouldn't put up the stats of alot of other guys behind that line.

the bolded is the most important.

all the rest of your post, while certainly cogent, can be said for any running back in the draft.

one of the greatest backs of all time had the same rap on him coming out of college.

its amazing that nfl scouts still make the mistake of trusting a stopwatch instead of their own eyes during a live game or on film.

btw - emmitt smith averaged 1 yard less per carry because he was damn near 40 when he left dallas.

hart is 5 times the back that jonathan stewart is.

hes the second best back in the draft behind mcfadden. granted its a fairly precipitous drop from mcfadden to the next best back. but hart is a football player.

mcfadden
hart
mendenhall
then the rest
 
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Agree with Prodigy...Hart will be an excellent Pro for someone, you can't measure a man's desire and heart...
 

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the bolded is the most important.

all the rest of your post, while certainly cogent, can be said for any running back in the draft.

one of the greatest backs of all time had the same rap on him coming out of college.

its amazing that nfl scouts still make the mistake of trusting a stopwatch instead of their own eyes during a live game or on film.

btw - emmitt smith averaged 1 yard less per carry because he was damn near 40 when he left dallas.

hart is 5 times the back that jonathan stewart is.

hes the second best back in the draft behind mcfadden. granted its a fairly precipitous drop from mcfadden to the next best back. but hart is a football player.

mcfadden
hart
mendenhall
then the rest

Hart over Mendenhall? Mendenhall is a bruiser with excellent speed... How do you have Hart first?
 

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I don't think Terrell Davis ran very impressive times either.

I would rather have Mendenhall or Felix Jones over Hart.
 

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I hurt my chances....ran a 8.9 this year.

BUT, that is better than my 9.3 last year so I'm cautiously optimistic.
 

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Mike Hart is not a good NFL prospect. Too small. Too slow. He is at beat a backup and a 3rd down guy to catch some balls. If he goes in the first 2 rounds the team has made a mistake.

Mendenhall is a top 15 pick for sure, maybe top 10. He has breakaway speed and can run with power.
 

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