2010 NFL Combine: A Brief Look

With the NFL Draft Combine coming up this week, most of the 329 invited players will be giving their all in several events used to judge how successful they can (reserving the “will” for attitude and worth ethic) be in the NFL.

During the NFL scouting combine, standard items like drug testing, body measurements, Cybex strength testing, bench presses, and dashes (10, 20, and 40 yards) will be paired with more esoteric options like the Wonderlic Intelligence Test and other psychological exams.

Officially the combine begins February 24, though the media access period of the combine doesn’t start until Thursday the 25th.  That day will involve offensive linemen, kickers, punters, long-snappers, and tight ends.

Friday will be the prime focus of the media, as it is when quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers will be the positions made available to the media.

On Saturday the major workouts will commence, with offensive lineman, tight ends, and specialists being the focus of the workouts while defensive front-seven players will be facing the media.

Saturday the offensive skill positions will be in the midst of their workouts while defensive backs face the cameras.

Monday and Tuesday the media portion of the Combine drops off, with front seven players working out on Monday and defensive backs Tuesday.

But who will stand to do the most moving when they step away from the Combine?  Most top ten players are fairly cemented in their status while later-round picks will tend to see only modest gains.

Instead, those looking to move around from the later stages of the first round to roughly the third will be looking to make an impact.  Moving up or down within these slots can have a strong effect on salary that will provide a nice carrot for those involved.

Among players looking to establish themselves, look for many eyes to be locked on Terrence Cody.  With only a handful of good nose tackle prospects in the draft, Cody is listed on most charts as No. 2 at the tackle prospect behind Tennessee’s Dan Williams. 

After a disastrous near 400 pound showing at the Senior Bowl, Cody will need to prove himself at the Combine if he wants any chance at the first round.  If he is in the same poor condition, a good workout by Cam Thomas could push him ahead of Cody as the safer bet while Cody slips to the deeper reaches of the second round.

Among other key figures, Jimmy Clausen figures to be limited following toe surgery, and will not participate in drills.  He won’t have to worry about Sam Bradford overtaking him by way of a strong Combine however, as he too will be medically unable to participate.

Other players looking to vault a round higher could include Boise State CB Kyle Wilson, whose stock as a corner is somewhat held back by playing WAC football.  If he can translate his tremendous speed and athleticism to the Combine, he could move from the fourth or fifth rated corner to second or third.

Teams missing out in the Clausen/Bradford sweepstakes could be very interested in watching what Bearcat Tony Pike and Central Michigan alum Dan LeFevour can do on the field. Both are big mobile quarterbacks who could land with a team looking for the next Joe Flacco.

With many teams looking for either the next Chris Johnson (C.J. Spiller, Javid Best) or a pile moving wide load (Jonathan Dwyer, Anthony Dixon, Toby Gerhart), 220 pound Ryan Matthews will have to prove his worth as a power back who gives up 15-20 pounds over the other downhill threats.  He missed seven games in his college career, but could shine with a great 40 time potential for his size and a very coachable attitude.

To list all the players for whom the Combine is important would be impossible; the Combine would begin before the piece ended.  However, those above mentioned names should garner extra attention in an interesting draft year where no one is sure who goes where.

Even the consensus number one prospect in Ndamukong Suh has another defensive tackle breathing hot down his neck in Gerald McCoy. 

The results of this Combine may not determine who will truly be the NFL stars of the future, but it will determine many of the draft's late risers (or fallers) as the last big chance for a player to show his worth before the draft commences on April 22.