2009 NFL Scouting Combine: Who and What To Watch

Thanks to the NFL Network and the rise of internet blogs like this one, the NFL Scouting Combine has moved from being a gathering of scouts to an actual media event.  The only other time men running in shorts and t-shirts is dissecting this closely is during the Olympics and people who actually watch the scouting combine might even debate that. It just goes to show how the NFL has graduated from being a seasonal sport to a year round phenomenon (again thanks to NFL Network and the internet). 

Before we break down who and what to watch let's take a moment to remember what the Scouting Combine is and is not.  It is a part of the player evaluation process and will cause draft boards to be adjusted, but a great workout is not a guarantee of NFL success.  That may sound overly simplistic but many a team has been sucked in by the siren song of the workout warrior (Mike Mamula anyone).

Stars can be born during the combine, (see Chris Johnson in 2008) but they are the exception not the rule.  One can also make the argument the most important part of the combine is not the part we watch on NFL Network or the media sees during the player press conferences.  

The player interviews and physicals are every bit as important as the workouts themselves if not more so.   Lastly, no preview of the combine would be complete without saying it is a meat market.

Here are the stories to watch during the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine:

1. Are Nate Davis or Josh Freeman worth a late first or second round pick? 

Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez will most likely be sitting the combine out but Davis and Freeman do not have the same luxury.  Can Josh Freeman display the athleticism and arm strength of a young Daunte Culpepper and vault himself into the later stages of round one?  As for Nate Davis, he was a first round prospect prior to flaming out in the MAC Title game, now he needs a great workout just to be a day one consideration.

2. Which running back will have a breakout performance?

Knowshon Moreno and Beanie Wells may or may not workout, but if they don't LeSean McCoy may be the beneficiary.  McCoy is one of the few running backs capable of a fast 40 and looks to showcase his excellent all-around ability.  Donald Brown is another back hoping to showcase all-around skills and sneak into the first round. 

If you are looking for someone to light up the 40 you are likely out of luck this year (Wyoming's Devin Moore was not invited).  Other breakout possibilities are Javon Ringer and Marlon Lucky (although Lucky probably needs strong interviews in addition to a great workout).

3.  Will any of the top wide receivers workout?

Do not expect Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin or Jeremy Maclin to workout unless they expect to run great 40s (which means Crabtree is out).  In my opinion, Harvin needs to workout the most if he wants to be a top 20 pick.  One guy to watch is Darrius Heyward-Bey if he goes sub 4.4 at 6'3'' while doing well in the drills he could vault as high as the No. 2 wide receiver.   Another story to watch will be whether and how well Pat White performs in the receiver drills.

4. Which tight end is going to take the lead for the No. 2 ranking behind Brandon Pettigrew?

There is a logjam at the tight end position behind Brandon Pettigrew and unlike the quarterbacks, receivers and running backs all the players are expected to workout making the tight end position one of the most interesting to watch this week. 

Are Travis Beckum and Cornelius Ingram healthy and weigh anywhere near 245 lbs? 

Can Jared Cook flash the athleticism and receiving ability which was masked by poor QB play at South Carolina?  

Also hoping to show off their athleticism and sneak into day one are Shawn Nelson and James Casey.  I expect at least one of these players to have a Greg Olsen or Dustin Keller like workout and merit first round consideration with Cook and Nelson being the top candidates.

5. Will a leader emerge in the left tackle race?

Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe and Jason Smith need to know what is at stake here and elect to workout (Michael Oher will workout just like he did at the Senior Bowl).  A failure to workout would make me wonder about their competitiveness. 

Unlike skill guys they tackles don't face massive scrutiny on their 40 times but need to show the combination of athleticism, balance and power to play left tackle.  After hiding in Andre's shadow all season don't be surprised if the other Smith is the one who shines this week.

Based on the nature of the combine workout, Jason Smith would appear to have the best chance of elevating his stock.  The interview will be equally important for these guys (esp Oher and Andre Smith).  Some others to watch are Eben Britton, William Beatty and Jamon Meredith.

6. The Battle Royale at Center

I said this during the Senior Bowl and the same remains true at the combine.  This is the best class of centers in a long time and aside from Alex Mack establishing himself as the number 1 guy, the next four spots are still up for grabs with the difference being a selected as second or fourth round pick.  Antoine Caldwell, Max Unger, Jonathan Luigs and Eric Wood are all in position to make themselves a lot of money this week.

7. How will the defensive ends shake out  and which ones show the ability to convert to 3-4 outside linebackers?

This year is not a great year for prototype pass rushing defensive ends (6'4'' 270 lb), this does not mean it is not a great year for pass rushers, it just means it is a riskier class. Brian Orakpo, Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin lead the way and are battling for the top slot. 

Kansas City and Cleveland are both looking for pass rushers and pick in the top five meaning a lot of money is on the line.  Outside of these three, Paul Kruger and Larry English are trying to prove themselves to be first round worthy. Beyond the top five there are guys like Connor Barwin, Lawrence Sidbury, Robert Ayers and Michael Bennett who each possess the athleticism to make a name for themselves at the combine. 

Then there is the case of Michael Johnson.  The former top 10 projection is coming off of an uneven senior season and his stock is in serious decline with questions about drive and competitiveness.  He missed an opportunity to answer the skeptics by skipping the Senior Bowl and has put all of his marbles into his workouts. 

With his combination of size, speed and athleticism he needs to nail his combine workout and interviews.  It could mean the difference between being a mid/late first round pick or being a third rounder (think Quentin Moses).

8. Can James Laurinaitis stop his falling stock?

Like Paul Posluzsny (2007) and Dan Connor (2008) before him, James Laurinaitis finds his once sure-fire 1st round grade falling in the weeks leading up to the draft.  A sub-par senior season (by his standards) led to the questions about his athleticism and the combine has a way of exposing those flaws. 

Laurinaitis skipped the Senior Bowl to avoid being overanalyzed and may do the same here as well.  If he does skip the workouts, a couple of other linebackers to watch are Jason Phillips, Gerald McRath, Marcus Freeman, Nic Harris and a host of defensive ends hoping to prove they can be 3-4 outside linebackers.

9. Will some cornerbacks emerge beyond the top four?

Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis, DJ Moore and Alphonso Smith are at the top of most draft rankings at the cornerback position but beyond them it is a bit murky.   The candidates to fill the void are plentiful but who will they be? 

Can Macho Harris, Jairus Byrd and Sean Smith show the speed to turn and run with receivers? Will Darius Butler flash his excellent athleticism?

Can Coye Francies show he is strong enough and answer questions about his character?

Will Mike Mickens be able to show he is healthy? 

Can Asher Allen and Captain Munnerlyn justify their decisions to come out early? 

These questions will begin to be answered this weekend.

10. Who are some guys to lesser knowns to watch?

a. QB Jason Boltus, DIII Hartwick - He's no Joe Flacco but if he can show a live arm to go with his size and athleticism he could be a late round sleeper with a good workout.

b. RB Mike Goodson, Texas A&M - great talent coming off an up and down season with the Aggies.

c. WRs Jarrett Dillard, Rice and Austin Collie, BYU - neither of these guys will wow you in the 40 but can they showcase the intangibles to become solid possession receivers at the next level.

d. TE Davon Drew, East Carolina - An excellent athlete with raw skills.

e. T Gus Parrish, Kent State - One of the most athletic tackles in this year's draft.

f. DE/DT Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State - Coming off a huge senior season and one of the best 3-4 DE prospects in the draft.

g. LB Worrel Williams, California - Zach Follett got most of the pub at Cal but Williams is a better athlete and a candidate for workout warrior status.

h. CB Don Carey, Norfolk State - Tall corner looking to build on a great East West Shrine performance.

i. S Louis Delmas, Central Michigan - Ok he is not unheralded but this is a chance to see why the scouts are raving about the safety from Central Michigan.

j. S Emanuel Cook, South Carolina - The safety position is wide open and Cook hopes to showcase his above average athleticism for a big hitter.

Thanks to NFL Network fans and draftniks get to watch wall to wall coverage of the combine.  While the network's coverage is heavy on 40 times, draft expert Mike Mayock provides informative commentary while creating new adjectives (ex. "heavy legged waist bender"). '

If you are interested in watching drills other than the 40 yard dash, I recommend going the multimedia route with a laptop in front of the TV.  This allows you to take advantage of watching the drills on NFL.com (and their multiple cameras) while listening to Mayock and the 40 times.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for NFLDraft101.com.  He can be contacted at [e-mail].  Shameless promo: Join me at NFLDraft101.com for live coverage of the combine Feb 21-24.