Football fans have much to be excited about as the world of college football collides with the NFL at the Combine. Although the structure of the Combine has its many critics, it provides an opportunity for most players to improve their stock in front of coaches and for others it is a chance to say, “No, your HDTV wasn’t playing tricks on you, I actually am this fast.”
There was a lengthy list of players that, needed to do well this week in Indianapolis. Some were able to rise to the challenge while others proved to be rather underwhelming. Below was my 5 “Need to Succeed” Combine Watch List players and how their performance this weekend affected their draft stock.
5. Joique Bell- DOWN Many people probably haven’t heard of Bell, in part because he attended Wayne State a small school with very little time on the big stage. But, an outstanding performance during the Senior Bowl brought this running back from a “who?” to a potential “who’s who” as we geared up for the Combine. Noted by some as the anticipated Draft day surprise Bell needed to run a solid 4.4 or 4.5 in order to hang with the big dogs. Bell’s 40 time was a 4.65 which is definitely disappointing in the world of running backs and he will be lucky to go in the 5th round.
4. Tony Pike- DOWN Pike is what most would call a “smart quarterback” he has the advantage of being able to read the defense, but he lacks the athletic edge and consistency that some of the other QBs bring to the table. In addition, at times he has been compared to Bledsoe for they way that he stands in the pocket like a statue in the pocket. His durability is questionable since he has an injured forearm that has been an issue the past couple of seasons. In the games that matter most, Pike’s high football IQ hasn’t been enough. In order to maintain the status of a top 5 QB Pike needed a strong showing. Pike joined the ranks of other QBs tweaking their delivery and his release has improved making it more NFL ready. However, he was still inconsistent with his passes, and his mechanics were spotty, in part due to the switch, but there was nothing outstanding about his performance. He might have done better waiting until he could improve his passes and sitting out with the most of the other QBs.
3. Jarrett Brown- UP Brown only played for one year at West Virginia since he was behind Pat White. There was no question that Brown was easily one of the most athletic QBs in this class, he ran a 40 time of 4.54, and has received quite a bit of praise about how effortlessly and confidently he throws the ball. But I worry about important tangibles that the Combine numbers don’t show, like his ability to read defense. Although, he performed well, he only has one year under his belt as a starter and several areas in which he can improve. I anticipate that he gets picked up in the 3rd.
2. Jahvid Best- UP Best’s season ending injury left major question marks for scouts. The severe concussion alone was enough to make people hesitate, but he also missed three games freshman year due to a hip injury, missed spring practice in 2009 due to injuries to his foot and ankle. Predicted as a late 1st early 2nd round pick, it was important that Best perform at a level that would make him a risk worth taking. Clocking times faster than the #1 rated RB CJ Spiller, helped Best maintain a good position and may go as the #2 RB this year. I predict that he ends up in SF as the #16 pick but fingers crossed that he doesn’t physically fall apart before we have seen the best of Best. No one wants another Greg Oden situation on their hands.
1. Toby Gerhart- UP Everyone anticipated a slow 40 time and questioned Gerhart’s explosiveness, but surprisingly he clocked a 4.5. That was not only impressive because it was faster than what we expected, but also because of his approach. During the clocking of his time, Gerhart began in a slightly bent position, while is RB counterparts began with 3 point stance aligning all of their muscles. This technique worked to his advantage because it shows what Gerhart really is, a football player, not a track star. And with an explosive launch that exhibits more football speed than track speed, that 4.5 looks even faster and Gerhart’s stock goes even higher.
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