NFL Combine 2015: What to Watch for on Sunday

If defense wins championships, then all 32 NFL teams need to have eagle-eye focus at the NFL Scouting Combine during Sunday and Monday, as the upcoming days will be defense-centric.

The combine is a tool to help NFL teams identify the players they want or don’t want to be part of their organization. On Sunday, eyebrows will be raised and disappointed heads will shake.  

Whether your interest is geared more toward interviews, bench press, intelligence tests, drills or 40 times, we have you covered.

Here’s a look at what and who to watch for Sunday at the NFL combine.

Overview

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Several prospects have already helped make their case this weekend, with guys like wide receiver Kevin White, offensive lineman Ali Marpet and quarterback Jameis Winston showing NFL teams exactly what they wanted to see.

Each of the guys mentioned above had their own hurdles to overcome this weekend, and they did a great job rising to the occasion on the big stage.

So, who will follow in their footsteps Sunday?

Two arrival groups have already packed it in and gone home while two groups remain. Sunday’s field action is all about the defensive front seven, which includes linebackers and defensive linemen.

When it comes to interviews with team personnel, only the defensive backs remain to participate.

Interviews

According to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com, Indianapolis general manager Ryan Grigson believes the most important parts of the combine happen off the field—like during one-on-one interviews:

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The actual interview with the player we feel is incredibly important. It is where you find out how the player fits in so many ways from primarily a mental and character standpoint. Every year there is a guy who walks through the door that just brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm that is tangible and you make note of those types of strong interactions.

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The interview process is an excellent way for teams to discuss assignments, schemes and situational responsibilities with prospects, but it also gives execs a chance to really feel out a player’s character. This is critical for team chemistry and for understanding what makes a guy tick. Is he all about the money? Is he selfish? Can he be trusted to stay out of trouble?

These are all important questions teams will be hammering cornerback Marcus Peters with.

The big questions with Peters are character. He was booted from Washington in November following numerous transgressions. He was suspended one game for throwing his helmet and gloves after a personal foul for head-butting another player, and he had run-ins with the coaching staff that were apparently severe enough to lead to his dismissal.

It’s clear that interviews are going to make or break his worth for teams come April 30.

3-Cone Drill for Edge-Rushers

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When it comes to the timed tests for edge-rushers, the three-cone drill is probably the most critical drill because it requires all the skills needed to beat an offensive lineman around a tight corner.

The three-cone drill demands change of direction and quick movement—the traits the best defensive ends and outside linebackers possess.

In 2011, Bruce Irvin and Von Miller each ran the drill in 6.70 seconds, which happens to be among the best times recorded since 2006, and J.J. Watt posted a 6.88. Last year, Trent Murphy boosted his stock to the second round after posting 6.78 seconds in the drill.

Clemson's Vic Beasley is setting himself up to go pretty high in the 2015 draft. Coming into the combine, all of the major questions about him as an edge-rusher were related to size and strength. So far he has nailed that, posting 35 reps on the bench and measuring in at 6’3”, 246 pounds with 32.5-inch arms.

A stellar three-cone could propel his draft stock into the top half of the first round.

Key Tests for the Defensive Tackles

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

In order to get NFL scouts and coaches to salivate, the defensive linemen need to demonstrate an impressive lower-body burst. For this reason, the broad jump is a critical drill to watch with this group.

Defensive linemen's job is to clog space in the middle with power, but they also need to snap off their blockers to make tackles or use that burst in their legs to drive a blocker into the backfield.

The vertical is also meaningful: Their power is mostly driven from the lower body. They must able to compete and defeat 320-pound offensive linemen. If they’re not explosive in the lower regions and get pushed around, it will severely limit their effectiveness and overall value.

Last year, defensive tackle Aaron Donald was considered an undersized interior guy at 285 pounds, but he made up for it with explosiveness. His broad jump was 116 inches and his vertical jump was 32 inches.

By contrast, any guy nearing the 300-pound mark who jumps over 100 inches has done well for himself.

When it comes to the vertical jump, Le’Veon Bell is one of the more physically gifted running backs in the NFL and his vertical was half an inch less than Donald’s.

Keep a close eye on what Washington's Danny Shelton does in these categories. He is the front runner to be the first interior defender taken, and his numbers in the broad jump and vertical should factor in his selection.

Bench Press

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The bench-press portion of the combine is generally not that important for cornerbacks, but it really helps safeties display some upper-body strength, which is often required to show up in the box and take on many duties required for linebackers.

Although, a cornerback who demonstrates high marks in this category could help his cause substantially come draft day. Last year, Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert finished with the second-highest total of any cornerback (20 reps) and ended up being the first cornerback drafted (No. 8 overall).

Some of the top performers at the bench over the years have generally gone on to be productive pros. Safety Da’Norris Searcy benched 27 reps in 2011; safety Patrick Chung and cornerback Vontae Davis both put up 25 reps and have established themselves as quality starters in the NFL.

This year’s defensive back to watch in the bench press is CB P.J. Williams out of Florida State.

No cornerback in this draft is flawless, and you can put on tape of all of them getting beat. But Williams shows the fire and competitiveness in coverage that I look for and is willing to step in against the run with physicality.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports tweeted that receiver DeVante Parker mentioned Williams as the "toughest guy he’s faced."

Let’s see if that toughness translates to the bench press.

40-Yard Dash

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As obvious as it might sound, big, fast and quick edge-rushers tend to become the most productive ones at the next level.

It would appear NFL teams have figured that out. This is why the 40-yard dash can either help or hurt these prospects.

In July, Chase Goodbread of NFL.com reported that Kentucky edge-rusher Bud Dupree predicted he would "blow up" the combine when his time came:

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I definitely think I will blow the combine up. In the 40-yard dash, I probably can run a high 4.4 or a low 4.5. In the vertical jump, I can get a 41 or a 42, and in the broad jump, I know I can get 11 feet. I just have to keep working hard to match those numbers.

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Dupree measured in at an impressive 6’4”, 269 pounds. Let’s see if his prediction holds true. If so, he should become one of the first defensive players drafted April 30.

Florida edge-rusher Dante Fowler is a guy who really needs to have a big day on the field. His potential hinges almost exclusively on his physical ability. For this reason, he will need to show up big on the field if he’s going to be one of the first edge-rushers in this class.

If Fowler doesn’t time well in the 40-yard dash, he could dilute his most valuable asset, speed, which would likely hurt his draft value.

Ryan Riddle is a former NFL player who writes for Bleacher Report.