NFL Combine 2012: 6 Prospects to Watch Closely in Drills

Sunday is going to be the most talked about day at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. It is the day that the top skill position players take to the field in order to prove that they belong in he conversation with the best players in the draft.

You will see some players disappoint, while others stand up against the pressure to excel, taking their game to the next level.

All 32 teams are going to have their top executives, both in the front office and on the field, attending. This gives these prospects a major vehicle to prove what they can do. You should pay attention to position-specific drills as they relate to these top prospects. After all, there is a reason that the NFL has come up with these drills as an assessment for performance moving forward.

This article is going to focus on six players you need to pay close attention to in drills come Sunday morning.

6. Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

Brandon Weeden cannot do anything about his age, he isn't from Cuba and able to forge birth records. Instead, the Oklahoma State product is going to have to impress scouts on Sunday if he wants to be considered the best second-tier quarterback prospect in the NFL Draft.

Weeden will have a chance to prove his worth.

He is going to have to show that he can excel in the three-, five- and seven-step drops. Oklahoma State ran more of a timing offense, so scouts don't have the tape on Weeden to see if he can excel in those situations.

What I am looking forward to in regards to Weeden is his technique and footwork in the pocket, especially when he goes through progressions and certain throws. If Weeden is able to show that he has good technique, puts the ball on target during drills and narrows down his arch throwing motion, you can expect a solid performance on Sunday.

5. Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State

Small school players really have an opportunity to prove that they belong with the big boys at the combine. It is one of their only opportunities to workout in front of all 32 teams show what they do best.

Robert Turbin might be one of the most interesting running back prospects in the draft. He isn't as big as some of the best backs on the board, but Turbin has exception field awareness and speed.

The off-tackle reaction skill drill is going to be extremely telling as to what running backs translates to the NFL It gauges a backs ability to react to the game speed in the NFL and show us whether he is able to cut back against faster defenders.

This is also an aspect of the game that Turbin seems to do well in. If he is able to excel in this drill, as I expect, you will hear a lot about the former Utah State running back tomorrow.

4. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Michael Floyd is going to be a first-round pick, that isn't really even in question. Where he goes in the first round is more up in the air. I currently have the former Notre Dame star as a top-10 pick, but most scouts don't have him anywhere near that high.

If he performs like I expect, you will see a lot of pundits drooling over the athletic receiver.

I want to see how he handles not only the 40-yard dash, but the 10-second split. This shows scouts if you are able to get off the line quick, create separation and become a consistent receiver on the outside. The gauntlet drill is another one to keep an eye on in regards to Floyd; he possesses soft hands so this shouldn't be much of an issue for him.

3. Doug Martin, RB, Boise State

Doug Martin already impressed in the weight room tonight, throwing up 28 reps in the bench press. We already knew that the former Boise State star had the ability to break it to the outside with that tremendous first gear. Some issues stood in regards to his strength, but this performance might simmer those worries a great deal.

What I want to see in regards to Martin is a solid 40 time, but also for him to show those soft hands that has become a strength of his over the course of the last season. If Martin is able to show these to things, he might cement his status as a late first-round pick.

2. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Many were surprised that Alshon Jeffery weighed in at 216 pounds. This showed that he has taken conditioning seriously this offseason, something that many people had questioned in the past.

I am not too happy about Jeffery turning down an opportunity to run at the combine. He still has a great amount to prove and saving that even for South Carolina's Pro Day really makes no sense to me.

What I want to see from Jeffery tomorrow is some solid hands in the gauntlet and an ability to run really nice tight routes. The gauntlet might be one of the most important drills in the combine, his performance will only be more magnified due to the decision not to run in Indianapolis.

1. Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Robert Griffin III couldn't have a higher draft stock than where he currently stands. No one is going to surpass Andrew Luck, so No. 2 overall isn't too shabby.

This leads a lot of people to believe that Griffin has nothing to gain and a lot to lose in Indianapolis. I just don't see it that way. His measurements of 6'2" and over 215 pounds answered many questions about Griffin's size.

Now he is going to have a chance to prove that he is mechanically sound, has the ability to complete every pass in the route tree and excel in the five-step drops that are so important in the NFL.

If this happens, there is no reason to believe that Griffin III won't go No. 2 overall after a team like the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins or Cleveland Browns trade up for him.

He still does have a lot to gain, mostly slotted money under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. I cannot wait to see his performance tomorrow.

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