NFL Combine 2011: 20 Players Who Need To Step It Up This Week
There are millions of dollars to be made and lost at the NFL Scouting Combine. It's the first organized opportunity for draft prospects to boost their stock since the end of the college football season.
They'll have their height and weight measured, strength tested and speed timed—and then it will be endlessly dissected and compared to that of the other prospects.
But who could use a good combine the most? Some players enter the weekend with room to make up on prospects currently rated more highly. A great 40-yard dash time or an impressive rep total on the bench press can turn heads.
Here are 20 players that need to step it up at the combine to boost their draft stock.
20. Kenrick Ellis: Hampton, DT
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Kenrick Ellis has all the physical attributes that NFL scouts want in a defensive tackle. He has tremendous quickness and ideal size and strength.
But two things need to happen for Ellis to solidify himself in the third round of the draft and flirt with the second round.
First, he needs to show up with that ideal size. He's struggled with weight management in the past.
Secondly, he must prove to scouts that he has matured since his time at South Carolina in his interviews. Ellis earned a suspension and eventual dismissal from the team. If he can show that those days are a part of his past, he'll move up the draft board.
19. Greg Jones: Michigan State, LB
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Jones was a fabulously productive player in college. He has proven his ability to get from sideline to sideline for tackles and is an above-average pass rusher.
But scouts are concerned about his hip fluidity in pass coverage. Stiffness has caused struggles in man coverage. Linebackers are put through a pass drop and hip rotation drill that can serve as an opportunity for Jones to debunk the theories against him.
If he wants to challenge Oregon's Casey Matthews and North Carolina's Quan Sturdivant as the first inside linebacker taken in the draft, that drill will be crucial.
18. Benjamin Ijalana: Villanova, OT
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One of the biggest knocks on Benjamin Ijalana is his stamina. Lucky for him, that won't be on display from now until the draft. Teams will have to rely on film to garner their opinion on that.
Ijalana has surfaced from time to time in first round conversations. He is better as a pass blocker than as a run blocker. The focus at the combine is on pass blocking.
Ijalana has a great opportunity to make sure that he is one of the first places off the board in the second round.
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17. Torrey Smith: Maryland, WR
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Show up to the 40-yard dash and prove everyone right. That's the main goal for Torrey Smith. But he shouldn't be satisfied with just doing that.
Smith needs to prove that he is a natural pass catcher. His hands haven't been a concern, but he does have a habit of using his body to secure the ball.
Smith can use the gauntlet drill to do this. It involves continuous running, turning from side to side to catch five passes. It requires the receiver to use his hands to make a quick catch-and-release. If he plucks the balls out of the air, scouts will begin to believe in his hands.
16. Marvin Austin: North Carolina, DT
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Marvin Austin should be most concerned with the interview portion of the combine. He sat out two games last season due to coach's decision. His work ethic has come under fire as well—not only in practice but in games.
Austin needs to sit down with scouts and coaches and convince them that he takes that criticism seriously and has plans to prove it wrong. His physical tools aren't lacking. If his mental tools are better than advertised, he could rise.
15. Kyle Rudolph: Notre Dame, TE
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Kyle Rudolph is the highest rated tight end available thanks to his elite ball skills and toughness. He also boasts above-average speed and route-running.
Rudolph needs to show up and stand out. He's already considered the best tight end. Can he convince teams to pick him higher?
There is a very solid class of free-agent tight ends this season. Rudolph might be able to increase his value with the uncertainty of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
14. Rob Housler: Florida Atlantic, TE
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Rob Housler has the ball skills, speed and overall football skills that scouts and coaches want. But he really needs to show up at the Combine bulked up.
At 6'5" and 215 pounds, he's a slender tight end. If he can show up with more size but still run a good 40-yard dash, he will impress.
13. Jordan Todman: Connecticut, RB
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The Combine could be a big weekend for Jordan Todman. His strengths are speed and agility, two of the most forefront skills on display at the Combine.
His strength is in question; he'll want to get a good number of reps on the bench press. More importantly, he can stand out in the off-tackle reaction drill. He'll get a chance to show his burst and reaction speed.
With great lateral quickness and sharp footwork, Todman can get scouts thinking about things other than his questionable strength.
12. Ricky Stanzi: Iowa, QB
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Ricky Stanzi has the good size and a great throwing motion for an NFL quarterback. Although his accuracy is very solid on short and intermediate throws, Stanzi's lack of arm strength hinders his accuracy on deep passes.
Stanzi will have passing drills to show off his accuracy and strength on shorter passes. He'll get a chance to hit on some deep passes without a pass rush.
11. Kelvin Sheppard: LSU, LB
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Kelvin Sheppard had better have hit the weight room pretty hard since the Cotton Bowl. Strength is the biggest question about him. He has struggled to shed blockers at times. Once he gets his hands on the ball carrier, he is a sound tackler. But he struggles to free himself.
Sheppard needs to support theories about adequate speed and smooth lateral movement while improving the strength portion of his resume.
10. Drake Nevis: LSU, DT
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It's a fairly deep defensive tackle class. Drake Nevis is thought by some to be first-round talent, but is buried on draft boards behind other players. One of those is Oregon State's Stephen Paea.
Paea, however, will be limited at the combine due to an MCL injury suffered in Senior Bowl practices. Nevis must take advantage of being able to participate in more drills than Paea.
Despite being slightly undersized, Nevis is terrific against the run. He'll need to show improvement in his pass rush. Nevis should focus on running a solid arc in the rip and swim drills to prove he has the mobility to grow as a pass rusher.
9. Colin Kaepernick: Nevada, QB
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Colin Kaepernick will enjoy showing off his elite quarterback athleticism. His near 6'5" frame will also have coaches watching him closely. Speed and agility drills shouldn't be a problem.
But what will his footwork look like dropping from an under-center simulated position? Kaepernick needs to have done extensive work with three, five and seven-step drops to show that he can transition from the pistol offense run by Nevada.
His arm strength and accuracy will also be heavily scrutinized.
8. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State, RB
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Kendall Hunter is undersized at 5'7" and a smidge. But he has learned to use his low center of gravity to accentuate his power and balance. He showed the ability to break through arm tackles and move well side-to-side in college.
Posting a surprising 40-yard dash time could help Hunter immensely. He's not expected to be able to run away from speedy defenders in the open field.
Hunter should perform well in the bench press and the off-tackle reaction drill.
7. Cameron Heyward: Ohio State, DE/DT
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Cameron Heyward is a consistent pass rush move away from being an elite prospect. He is still first-round material and needs to prove it this weekend.
The bench press will be his only opportunity to strut his power. His initial burst and pop on a defender is jarring. What is more important for Heyward is to show good balance and quickness in the rip and swim drill.
He may end up as a coach and scout favorite in interviews as the son of former NFL-er Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.
6. Allen Bailey: Miami (Fla.), DE
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The Combine is where players like Allen Bailey can skyrocket their draft stock. He's an elite athlete with above-average speed. Bailey needs to go after every drill with all of his athleticism and let scouts drool over potential.
His instincts and football skills are all average. He has used athleticism to be successful in college, and coaches know that won't be enough in the pros. But if Bailey can show them enough that they're willing to coach him, he could end up in the first round.
5. Leonard Hankerson: Miami (Fla.), WR
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How many can't miss wide receiver prospects are there available? Two? A.J. Green and Julio Jones stand well above the rest of the class. Randall Cobb is gaining buzz as a running back in the NFL and Torrey Smith has questions about his hands.
Ball skills are questionable for Leonard Hankerson. But he started rebuking such criticism with his performance at Senior Bowl practices.
The gauntlet will be an interesting workout for Hankerson. If he can stay focused on all of the elements—running a fast, straight line and catching balls—he could impress and move up the wide receiver ranks.
4. Robert Quinn: North Carolina, DE
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After sitting out for a year due to suspension, Robert Quinn must be itching to get back in front of scouts and coaches. It will be interesting to see what drills he participates in. I could see him running reps with defensive ends and linebackers.
Although he played defensive end in college, he may be better suited as an outside linebacker in the NFL. He'll need to show fluidity in his hips in pass drops.
Quinn's athleticism and pass rush skills will be on full display. Rounding out his profile can push him into the Top Five of the draft.
3. Brandon Burton: Utah, CB
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The player that often creates the most buzz at the NFL Combine is the one who runs the fastest 40-yard dash. Brandon Burton will be in the mix for that.
Although he struggled at times in man-to-man coverage, Burton's speed could vault him into the top four of corners taken.
Burton could light up the shuttle runs as well.
2. Tyron Smith: USC, OT
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Tyron Smith gets to make his argument for being the best offensive tackle prospect available. Scouts want to see if he has put on any bulk since the end of the college season.
Even if he hasn't, Smith will get his opportunity to "wow" scouts in the kick slide drill. It requires linemen to kick back to a destination behind them as if they are taking on a pass rushing defensive end. Smith athleticism could have him excelling in this drill.
As long as he can stay low in his stance without bending forward while shooting back to the cone and delivering a strong punch to the runner, he'll get scouts' attention.
1. Cam Newton: Auburn, QB
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There are few players that have seen their draft stock increase as much as Cam Newton's over the past few months. Now, he can move even closer to being a No. 1 overall pick—as long as the demand is there.
Newton needs to ace the interview. With all the controversy surrounding his junior year at Auburn pertaining to pay-for-play allegations and admissions and denial by Newton that he was involved, the quarterback must be confident in his discussions with scouts and coaches.
Newton should blow the physical portion of the workout away. His three, five and seven-step drops will be watched very closely.
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