Linebacker Paul Dawson Silences Critics at TCU's Pro Day

TCU linebacker Paul Dawson can ease up a little after a strenuous pre-draft process. 

Forget about his poor effort at the NFL combine.

OK, his performance can't be completely forgotten, but the talented linebacker made sure it didn't leave a bad taste in the mouths of NFL decision-makers. 

Perhaps no player disappointed more than Dawson in Indianapolis, but his pro-day performance helped ease concerns about his overall speed and athleticism. 

When a player forces a team to reevaluate the tape due to his workout, it can be a good or bad thing. 

Dawson's official 4.93-second 40-yard dash at the combine had scouts going back to the tape. As one of the most instinctive linebackers in the nation, the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year played much faster than he timed. 

The linebacker's poor track speed only added to growing concerns during the evaluation process. 

Scouts weren't enamored with Dawson's attitude either. 

"He's an early round player without any question, but you don't have to dig around very deep or very long to realize that his personal character is going to be a major issue for some teams." an anonymous scout told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "My grade will be two rounds later than just the talent grade. It has to be factored in."

The Dallas native responded in a draft diary, via USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero: 

"

Now I'm reading that I've got 'character concerns.' My sophomore year when I got there, I failed one drug test for Adderall, and I got a prescription for it a couple months later. I never failed another drug test, never got in any trouble, never suspended. I was tardy a lot. I'd probably be a couple minutes late to that meeting or a weight-room session. But everybody loved me. I got along with everybody—all the coaches, all the offensive coaches. We made jokes throughout the facility all day. On Saturdays, they knew that I was going to go big, do my thing.

When I see stuff like my team doesn't like me, that's hurtful. I guarantee if you call Coach P right now, the only thing he'd say is I'm a knucklehead. But he would also say that everybody should coach a guy like Paul Dawson—a dude who has a lot of potential, who has the drive, who has the capability to go far and is very eager.

"

This is the narrative that's been written about one of the country's top defenders in 2014:  a potential attitude problem with poor speed. 

Dawson responded then, and he lashed out on social media after his poor combine workout:  

What Dawson failed to mention, though, his time was among the four worst of any linebacker in attendance. 

Clearly, these are football players and not track stars, but other linebackers didn't have any problems breaking the 4.9-second threshold. 

These were enough concerns that Dawson, who was previously viewed as a potential first-round pick, was no longer considered in the mix to be selected during the opening frame.

But improvements at the pro day helped the linebacker's overall perception. 

First, Dawson improved upon his broad jump by three inches, per TCU Rivals' Matt Jennings: 

More importantly, the linebacker shaved a full tenth of a second off his 40-yard dash time, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Charean Williams: 

Those times would have placed Dawson alongside Miami's Denzel Perryman, USC's Hayes Pullard and Georgia's Ramik Wilson. All are comparable and could be selected as early as the second round. 

What's forgotten in all of this is the NFL combine experience can be an absolutely grueling process. It's rarely discussed, while players are lauded or destroyed based on one day's performance. 

Prospects sometimes only get a few hours of sleep over a multi-day period, yet the NFL is asking them to operate at pique performance once they're on the field. It's done intentionally to see how the young men hold up to the rigors of a stressful situation. 

Some excel. Others, like Dawson, do not. It's not always an accurate portrayal of a person or as a player. 

Even with everything the All-American linebacker faced this offseason, it's easy to still love his overall game when TCU games are viewed. 

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly reminded everyone that pre-draft workouts are only part of the process, and Dawson's overall play can't be overlooked: 

Dawson is still the same player that accumulated 136 total tackles and 20 tackles for loss as a senior. 

Those on-the-field skills translated during his pro day workout, too.  

NFL.com's draft czar Gil Brandt, via FSSouthwest's Make Lane, noted Dawson performed extremely well during positional drills after improving upon his combine marks: 

After the workout, the St. Louis Rams were eager to talk with Dawson, according to Williams: 

At this point in time, teams meet with nearly every prospect as they do their due diligence.

The Rams' interest is surprising, though, with James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree and the recently-signed Akeem Ayers already on the roster. Although, Laurinaitis will turn 30 years old next year, and he's owed $6.425 million in 2016, according to spotrac.com. Dawson could potentially provide insurance at middle linebacker. 

The New Orleans Saints also reportedly met with Dawson. 

This meeting, which again, in grand scheme doesn't mean much of anything, makes more sense given New Orleans recently parted ways with inside linebacker Curtis Lofton. The Saints own the 13th and 31st picks in the 2015 draft, the latter of which was acquired in the trade of Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.

Despite the improved effort Friday in Forth Worth, Dawson will remain a divisive prospect.

Those who liked his game before will point toward this workout as an improvement and a rationalization as to why he should remain a highly-regarded prospect.

On the flip side, even Dawson's detractors will acknowledge today's workout, but lingering concerns about his personality remain. 

Whatever the case may be, a 4.93-second 40-yard dash will no longer be the starting point of the Paul Dawson conversation. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @brentsobleski.