2011 Scouting Combine Preview: Who and What To Watch

With Cam Newton's decision to fully participate in the 2011 Scouting Combine, the Tim Tebow mantle has been officially passed to Newton (remember the wall-to-wall coverage of Tebow last season when he did not even throw for the scouts). In general, with the exception of Blaine Gabbert all of the top quarterbacks are expected to workout making them the week’s biggest story. Despite the quarterback-centric focus,  remember the combine actually includes 329 total athletes hoping to hear their name on draft day. In the end, it is important to remember what the combine is and what it is not.  

The combine is a part of the process in which you can evaluate a player's athleticism.  It is also a time in which teams can interview players to gauge intangibles and football intelligence (the part of the combine scouts are most interested in regarding Newton).  There is also the Wonderlic (hint: it is good to score at least double-digits).

Most importantly, the combine is not a singular barometer of future NFL success. Read too much into the athletic skill and ignore too much film and you will find yourselves the proud owner of the next JaMarcus Russell, Vernon Gholston, or dare I say Mike Mamula.

NFL Network will focus heavily on 40 times, (Rich Eisen's annual dash is a can't miss) but be sure to watch the drills (all the drills are available through nfl.com). Do the corners and safeties look comfortable in their backpedal and transition? Can the linemen display good footwork and balance? Can the running backs catch?

You get the point.

Five stories to watch during the 2010 Scouting Combine that don’t involve Cam Newton:

1. How Will the Small School Players Perform? 
For all the attention the big names get, the players who likely benefit the most from the combine are the small school guys who only get a handful of scouts out at their pro days. A trio of names with day two potential are Villanova's G/T Ben Ijalana, Lehigh G/T Will Rackley and Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis.  

A couple of other small school guys of note are Abilene Christian WR Edmund Gates, Fort Valley State WR Ricardo Lockette, Portland State TE Julius Thomas, Slippery Rock C Brandon Fusco, Chattanooga CB Buster Skrine, Richmond DT Martin Parker and Appalachian State S Mark LeGree.

2. Will a Safety Step Up?
The 2011 safety class lacks a marquee prospect and the combine presents an opportunity for someone to shine. The top-rated safety is Rahim Moore and the combine is a good forum to display his speed and range. Not far behind are Quinton Carter and DeAndre McDaniel. Both are well-rounded safeties who can play in coverage or the box and have an opportunity to earn second round spots if they have good weeks. (Note: in the case of McDaniel this includes strong interviews as he looks to alleviate off-field concerns stemming from a 2008 misdemeanor assault arrest.)

If you are looking for a breakout performance keep an eye on Robert Sands. He possesses rare size for the position at 6’4" 220 lbs. and will look to show he has the speed and agility to be a top centerfielder. Also, keep an eye on Jaiquawn Jarrett who is an underrated athlete with good speed and agility for a safety. Further down the radar, keep an eye on Jerrard Tarrant, a surprise early entrant who should rank among the best athletes at the safety position.

3. The Battle Royale at Running Back
Mark Ingram is the surefire number one running back on the board but the draft slots behind him are wide open at this point. As a matter of fact, no position's board is likely to change more in the coming weeks than running back and the combine is a chance for some players to step up and others to step back.

Despite lacking talent at the top, depth is as strong as ever. Just twelve running backs were selected in the 2010 NFL Draft and twelve underclassmen have declared for this year’s draft making this one of the deepest running back classes in recent memory. 

Mikel LeShoure and Ryan Williams are hoping strong workouts can vault them into the first round. The combine battle to watch will be among the undersized backs including Jordan Todman, Jacquizz Rodgers, Shane Vereen, Dion Lewis, Noel Devine and Derrick Locke. 40 times and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield will play a major role in separating this group.

4.  The Return of Robert Quinn and the Tremendous Defensive End Class. 
After being suspended for the season for NCAA violations, DE Robert Quinn has sat idly by while DaQuan Bowers and Von Miller garnered the acclaim as this year’s top pass-rushers. Expect the tide to turn this weekend, as Quinn looks to ace the combine skill tests including a sub-4.6 40 and a tremendous vertical, while displaying explosion and agility in the drills.

If he meets the lofty expectations set for him don’t be surprised if he enters the top defensive end and rush linebacker discussions in the coming weeks as teams review his 2009 film. Cam Newton is the story everyone is following entering the combine but don’t be surprised if Quinn is the player they are talking about afterwards.

Overall, the defensive end is the strongest and deepest position in this year’s draft, featuring eight first round prospects and several other players who will light up the combine stage. In the elite athlete category keep an eye on Aldon Smith and Dontay Moch.

A first round positioning battle to watch is between Ryan Kerrigan, Adrian Clayborn, Cameron Jordan and JJ Watt. They are currently ranked second through sixth on the NFLDraft101 board and while each brings different talents to the table they will look to solidify their spots in the first round. 

Further down the list keep an eye on Jabaal Sheard and Brooks Reed as they look to demonstrate their abilities to drop into coverage in the conversion drills. Reed looked like a natural in these drills at the Senior Bowl and could move himself into the second round conversation with a strong performance. In general, the conversion drills, while short in duration and hardly a complete assessment, are one of the most important parts of the Combine workouts from an evaluation perspective.

5.  Will an Offensive Tackle Emerge From a Deep but Lightly Regarded Class? 
Unlike the past two years, the 2011 draft lacks a top-ten prospect at the talent position. That said, several teams in the top half of the draft have needs at the tackle position including Buffalo, Dallas and Detroit. The top five tackles in this year’s draft are graded fairly closely and a strong workout could allow someone to pull away from the pack and tempt a team to pull an early trigger.

From a combine perspective, Nate Solder and Tyron Smith have the athleticism to put up the strongest performances. Although in the case of Smith the weigh-in could be as important as the workout (currently just 285 lbs). The remainder of the top five will also be on display. Derrek Sherrod will look to display his underrated athleticism. Gabe Carimi attempt to show he is athletic enough to play the left side. Lastly, Anthony Castonzo hopes to answer questions about his strength. 

Two sleepers to watch are Central Florida’s Jah Reid and East Carolina’s Willie Smith.  Reid is a physical specimen at 6’7" 325 lbs. but needs to show he has the lateral agility to succeed at the next level. Smith is a converted defensive lineman who will challenge Nate Solder and Tyron Smith for the most athletic offensive tackle title.

Players I am most excited to see (not necessarily because they are the best at their position):  

QB: Ryan Mallet: Can he put on a display with his cannon arm and more importantly, how well will he answer questions regarding off-the-field concerns?

RB: Ryan Williams: Looks to put his injury-plagued season behind him and showcase his explosive talent.

WR: Jerrell Jernigan, Titus Young and Randall Cobb—a slot receiver showcase.

TE: Virgil Green—My pick for breakout performer from the 2011 combine.

OT: Lee Ziemba and DeMarcus Love—Can they rebound from sub-par Senior Bowl performances?

OG: Marcus Cannon—What will he weigh and does he have the feet to play tackle or is he a guard only?

C: Jason Kelce—Undersized and under the radar but one of the most athletic linemen in this year’s draft.

DT: Lawrence Guy—Is he strong and athletic enough to be a top sleeper?

DE: Bruce Miller—Undersized pass-rusher with a great motor but is he athletic enough to convert to linebacker?

OLB: Can someone standout at one of the weakest positions in the 2011 draft?

ILB: Martez Wilson—Expectations are high for the athletic inside linebacker; will see his stock soar with a standout workout.

CB: Prince Amukamara and Jimmy Smith—Can Amukamara answer questions about his speed? Does Smith have the fluidity to be an elite corner?

S: All of them—most wide open position on the defensive side of the ball.

Be sure to join NFLDraft101.com for a live chat during of the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine February 26—March 1; 11am-2pm each day.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for nfldraft101.com. He can be contacted at [e-mail]. Follow me on twitter: nfldraft101