NFL Combine 2011 Results: Stephen Paea & the Combine's 10 Strongest Players

Sunday was the day that everyone was waiting for. After days of measuring vitals, recording by rote answers, and waiting for offensive lineman to clunk their way through drills, it was time to watch the guys the fans actually pay to see--Cam Newton, Julio Jones, and A.J. Green.

It was the set up to be skill guys' day...until a defensive lineman stepped up stole the show.*

The combine puts an emphasis on speed, but Stephen Paea's Sunday exploits have gone a long way toward bringing the strength testing back into style.

In honor of the Michael Phelps of the bench press, here are the combine's top ten strongest players.

*Evidence of global warming.

10B. Anthony Sherman, FB, Connecticut

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Anthony Sherman #49 of the Connecticut Huskies runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ph

Bench: 32 reps.

Sherman is 5’10”, 242. He is competitive, and not without mean streak.

But Sherman lacks explosiveness at the point of attack, and is neither big or strong enough to get a consistent push in the running game. It’s unlikely he’ll be drafted.

He did put the bar up 32 times on Sunday, and for that, we salute him.

10A. Ross Homan, LB, Ohio State

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: D.J. Williams #45 of the Arkansas Razorbacks attempts to not touch the ground as he tries to break a tackle by Ross Homan #51 of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Super

Bench: 32 reps.

Homan is undersized at 6’1”, 240, but he has good speed and projects favorably as a weak side linebacker in the NFL.

He is athletic and fluid, but ironically (as this list goes) lacks the functional strength to consistently shed blockers.

The Buckeye’s skills would be maximized in a Tampa 2 scheme.

9. Zane Taylor, OL, Utah

Bench: 33 reps.

The big guy put up 33 reps (take that Homan!) at 6’3”, 309 pounds, but that was never a concern with him. Most question Taylor’s lower body strength, and worry he will be unable to generate push in the running game.

Taylor is smart and a hard worker, but a top ten finish in the combine bench press could very well represent the peak of his NFL career.

8. Chris Hairston, OL, Clemson

Bench: 33 reps.

Hairston takes the 8 spot for putting up his 33 by way of his 35¼ inch arms. As anyone who’s ever bench pressed 225 pound knows —the shorter, the better. (My girlfriend disagrees.)

Hairston has the type of natural size (6’6”, 326) teams look for in projecting a right tackle. He’s strong, able to engulf smaller defenders in the running game, but is not particularly athletic.

He’d do best on a team that could protect him in the passing game, and emphasize his run blocking ability. 

7. Marcus Cannon, OL, TCU

Bench: 33 reps.

The biggest of the 33-reppers. A 6’5”, 358 pound offensive lineman from the Mountain West, Cannon is more athletic then Hairston despite being even larger.

He can pass block surprisingly well, and is a mauler in the running game. Where he will need to improve is in his knowledge of the game. Too often, Cannon shows an inability to recognize blocking assignments, and to steal a line directly from his NFL.com profile, “he gets beat far too often on stunts and blitzes.”

Like Hairston, Cannon would do well on a team that emphasizes his run blocking, that emphasizes simplicity until he can better grasp his responsibilities.

6. J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Defensive lineman J.J. Watt #99 of the Wisconsin Badgers rushes the TCU Horned Frogs in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Bench: 34 reps.

Moving up in both strength and skill, we now come to J.J. Watt —the best football player on this list.

Watt is 6’5”, 290, and an absolute ox. He’s not exceedingly quick, but he is hard working and relentless, relying on strong hands and tenacity to get to the quarterback.

Watt will be a first round pick, and would do best in finding his way to a 3-4 defense.

5. Adrian Taylor, DL, Oklahoma

Bench: 34 reps.

Taylor tore his Achilles tendon during his senior year, but nevertheless projects as a legitimate NFL lineman. He is very effective against the run, strong at the point of attack and relatively quick off the snap.

Not a flashy player, Taylor struggles to pressure the QB, and because of his injury will probably not be drafted. He would do best to find a 4-3 team that could afford to be patient with him. The potential is there for him to become at least an adequate backup. 

4. Ryan Bartholomew, C, Syracuse

Bench: 34 reps.

Bartholomew is a 298 pound center who actually ran a 4.97 40 at the combine (which is faster then I can run it). However this is the strength column, and I think Bartholomew is a p**** for running. 

Anyway, Bartholomew has all the tools to become a solid offensive lineman at the next level—strength, speed, versatility—and Syracuse’s running production of the past year also speaks well of him.

On the heels of this performance, he figures to be drafted in the middle rounds and serve as a versatile backup.

3. Bruce Miller, DL, Central Florida

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ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 20: Defensive end Bruce Miller #49 of the University of Central Florida Golden Knights sets for play against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Bright House Stadium on October 20, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. UCF won 44 - 23. (Photo by Al M

Bench: 35 reps.

The lightest man in the top five, Bruce Miller put up 35 reps at 254 pounds. Miller is smart, athletic, and just a hair too small to play defensive lineman in the NFL.

Like Adrian Taylor, he will need to find a team willing to be patient while he makes the transition to OLB. He would do well as a designated pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme.

2. Marvin Austin, DL, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 7: Marvin Austin #9 of the North Carolina Tar Heels warms up before the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Kenan Stadium on November 7, 2009 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Bench: 38 reps.

Austin is one of the North Carolina suspendees, and that more than anything is what is weighing down his draft stock.

He is big, strong, and tremendously athletic. Austin has shown great feet and agility, as well as a propensity to get off his initial block.

He could be a force next year as a 3-technique defensive tackle.

1. Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon St.

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EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 03: Running back LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks rushes with the ball past tackle Stephen Paea #54 of the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on December 3, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

Bench: 49 reps.

And then there’s this guy.

Paea beat everyone by 11 reps. That’s astounding. That’s basically akin to running a 4.1 forty.

Paea is strong. Unholy strong. And that’s what he projects to exhibit in the NFL—strength in stopping the run, strength in holding the point of attack. He won’t be a double-digit sack guy, but in a lot of ways players like Paea are tougher to find. In spite of his MCL injury, he is not getting out of the first round.