NFL Scouting Combine 2011 Storylines to Watch

The first wave of college football’s best players arrived in Indianapolis today for the start of the NFL’s invitation-only 2011 Scouting Combine.

Soon, it’ll be all about the numbers: height, weight, arm and hand length, body fat, aptitude, speed, distance, agility and strength.

While this year’s NFL Draft prospects prepare to showcase their talents, here are a few storylines to watch during the Combine:

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton’s Perceived Progress

Much has been made of probable No. 1 quarterback prospect Cam Newton’s purportedly impressive media-only workout earlier this month. ESPN’s Trent Dilfer called Newton’s session “phenomenal” and claimed that scouts would have been “slobbering (over Newton),” had they been in attendance.

Newton’s “Media Day,” a highly unusual practice that raised quite a few eyebrows throughout the NFL community, did little to quell fears that Newton is still influenced by his scandal-imbued father, Cecil.

Newton, who arrived at Indianapolis on Thursday, will participate in running and throwing drills only.

Perhaps no likely top-10 pick has as much to gain (or lose) at the Combine: If he exhibits refined mechanics, coupled with the same zip and pinpoint accuracy that he showed during his senior year, Newton could very well stake his claim to the Carolina Panthers No. 1 pick.

On the other hand, if he falters and fails to display improved throwing motion, he could conceivably slip to the Buffalo Bills at No. 3, the Arizona Cardinals at No. 5 or even the Tennessee Titans at No. 8.

Unusually Weak Running Back Class

The 2011 Draft class is by most accounts a strong one, but one notable exception is the running back position, where only one player (Alabama’s Mark Ingram) is a lock to go in the first round.

By comparison, three running backs, on average, have been selected in the first round since 2004, with one generally being a top 10 pick.

Besides Ingram, who’s expected to last until the middle of Round 1, the other two potential first-round running back selections are Illinois’ Mikel Leshoure, a big, bruising runner, who could shoot up draft boards if he’s able to run the 40-yard dash is less than 4.5 seconds and Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams, a shiftier back who must prove that he’s healthy after an injury-plagued sophomore year.

In short, it’s not only possible, but likely, that the 2011 Draft will go down as the first to feature only one first-round running back since 1984.

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Combine Coverage:  Preview  |  Day 1  |  Day 2   (click to view)