The second day of the 2013 NFL Combine is in the books, leaving behind some interesting takeaways from the event. The offensive skill positions — quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs — stepped up to perform for NFL coaches and scouts with much to prove.
Here are my thoughts from the day:
- While studies prove that the 40-yard dash is seemingly the only relevant test at the NFL Combine, we all have a tendency to get too caught up in an athlete’s speed. This is especially so at the receiver position, and was evidenced by the hysteria sparked after West Virginia’s Tavon Austin and Texas’ Marquise Goodwin performed their tests. While both have amazing speed that could make them dangerous downfield threats in the passing game, the most important trait for this position is catching the ball. Austin fared well, but Goodwin was embarrassing during positional drills. He showed sub-par hands and poor route-running — both of which are far more pivotal to being successful in the NFL than pure speed. Speed will almost always get you a job in the NFL, however, and catching and route-running are two things that can be coached (which is why teams will always take a chance on a speedster). But a player’s stock shouldn’t get a boost on speed alone when he lacks the basic skills needed at the position.
- Knile Davis, the running back from Arkansas, had a phenomenal showing. At 227 pounds, he set the world on fire with a surprising 4.3-second 40-yard dash after already opening up some eyes with 31 reps in the bench press. Davis has a lot of question marks following him, including some severe injury history and fumbling problems. But his day at the Combine could make him a favorable risk in the early rounds of the draft.
- Auburn University’s Onterio McCalebb’s 40-yard dash was a thing of beauty, even if it proved not to be as fast as originally thought. Unfortunately, he does not project as a NFL running back. At 168 pounds and with a sprinter’s body, the Tiger is simply not built to be a successful ball-carrier. With his speed and some space in front of him, McCalebb can do some very special things with the football in his hands. A team will take a chance on him in the later rounds, intending to use him on special teams. There he could fare similarly to the Kansas City Chiefs’ Dexter McCluster or the Washington Redskins’ Brandon Banks, who weigh in at just 170 and 153 pounds respectively.
- For the most part, the running backs performed as I expected them to. I still see North Carolina’s Giovanni Bernard as the best back in this draft, but Alabama’s Eddie Lacy will probably go first.
- Top quarterback prospect out of West Virginia, Geno Smith, did a ton for himself with his throwing. While USC’s Matt Barkley chose to hold out for his Pro Day next month, Smith wowed onlookers with every pass. Afterward, the former Mountaineer went ahead and surprised some folks by running a top 40-yard dash among quarterbacks at 4.59 seconds. If there was any question about it before, Smith likely silenced any doubters that he would be the first quarterback off the board in April.
- Former Tennessee receiver Da’Rick Rogers killed it at the Combine. While a number of character concerns will make him a third-round option for most, the Tennessee Tech transfer posted top-five scores in the vertical (39.5 inches), the broad jump (132 inches), the cone drill (6.71 seconds), the 20-yard shuttle (4.06 seconds) and the 60-yard shuttle (11.31 seconds). He looked good in field workouts, showing good hands and running solid routes.
- Tyler Bray, the quarterback from Tennessee, had a nice day. He showed off the biggest arm among his peers, as expected, while standing tall and with poise in the pocket. He connected on huge throws down the field and deep outs with ease. He was not flawless however, and missed on a few… reminding us of the inconsistency that marred his career with the Volunteers. At 6-foot-6, 232 pounds, Bray boasts prototypical size for an NFL quarterback and he should go in the early rounds. His biggest blemish regards his maturity. He will need to impress in his interviews with prospective teams. So far, he’s accomplished just that, according to multiple sources (per draft expert Matt Miller).
Louis Musto is a contributor for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.