2011 NFL Combine: The Biggest Post Combine Questions Raised in Indianapolis
2011 NFL Combine: The Biggest Post Combine Questions Raised in Indianapolis
The 2011 NFL Scouting Combine is supposed to be an arena in which scouts and general managers get the majority of their questions answered about specific prospects.
While that still holds, the combine can also bring to light even more questions about prospects than it actually answers.
That happens to be the case this year, and even the most respected draft analysts have very different looking draft boards.
Here are the biggest questions brought up at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Will Mark Ingram Fall After a Slow Time?
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Many mock drafts had Alabama RB Mark Ingram as a mid-first-round pick, but his 4.62 40-yard dash time has some analysts questioning that placement.
New mocks now have Ingram in free-fall, with some even putting him out of the first round altogether.
Don't read too far into it.
While a slow 40 time is a moderate concern, no one was ready to peg Ingram as a speed back before the combine.
And there's one number from Ingram you actually should be concentrating on: 1.53.
That was Ingram's 10-yard split time, and that number is a much better indicator on his ability at running back.
Is Cameron Newton the Best Quarterback?
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The bandwagon for Cam Newton going No. 1 overall was gaining steam heading into the combine, but his performance in Indianapolis might derail those thoughts for the time being.
Despite running a good time in the 40 (4.59), Newton showed all the reasons why he is a risky high pick and borderline top quarterback prospect.
He was wildly inaccurate at every level—even admitting in an NFL Network interview that he "underestimated the timing aspect of playing quaterback"—and Newton struggled mightily with his footwork in his dropbacks.
CBS Sports also reported that Newton struggled in team interviews and with his football knowledge.
He'll still go high in April's draft, but the writing is on the wall if Newton is a bust.
Are There 5 First-Round Quarterbacks?
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Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert have been first-round fixtures throughout the draft process, but they might have some serious company come April.
Ryan Mallett, who was dogged by drug questions in the interview process, put together one of the better throwing performances in Indianapolis and could still be a first-round pick.
Jake Locker made a case for the first round by running a 4.59 40-yard dash and showing more accuracy during the quarterback throwing sessions.
Finally, Christian Ponder put his name back on the first-round map with an impressive combine which showed off both his improving accuracy and live arm strength.
With so many teams in the running for quarterback upgrades, five quarterbacks doesn't seem like such a stretch after all.
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Who Is the Best Defensive Line Prospect?
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When it's all said and done, the 2011 NFL Draft could prove to be among the best ever in terms of defensive line prospects.
Deciding who is the best of that group arguably got a lot tougher after the combine, however.
Nick Fairley was many analysts' No. 1-pick heading into Indianapolis and his numbers at the combine (4.8 40) didn't disappoint. Even so, he still has plenty of competition.
Da'Quan Bowers did nothing to budge his status as a top-five pick, and while Marcell Dareus was a bit slower than Fairley, he also packs on nearly 30 more pounds.
Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and J.J. Watt also had solid showings at the combine, and the three solidified their spots among the draft's top 15-20 picks.
Fairley might still be the best of the group, but the defensive line has plenty of prospects that could vie for that spot.
Is Julio Jones the Best WR Prospect?
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Georgia WR A.J. Green was the consensus No. 1 receiver prospect heading into the combine, but Julio Jones stole some of his thunder with an athletic showcase in Indianapolis.
A physical specimen at 6'2," 220 lbs, Jones ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and had the longest broad jump of any receiver (11'3").
He was also impressive in the catching drills, and we found out later that Jones had done all this on a broken foot.
The performance might not be enough to vault him over Green as the draft's best WR, but it certainly will have receiver-hungry general managers thinking long and hard about which one they'd draft given the opportunity.
Could Von Miller and Robert Quinn Sneak into the Top 5?
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Surprise, surprise, but two more defensive prospects made a big splash at the combine.
Texas A&M LB Von Miller showed off an array of athletic abilities that NFL Network's Mike Mayock said will make him a "top 10 pick."
Miller weighed in at 246 pounds and ran unofficial 40 times of 4.46 and 4.53. He also had a 37" vertical leap and a 6.70 second cone drill—fantastic numbers for a man his size.
Joining him in the ranks of the impressive was Robert Quinn of North Carolina.
The 265-pound Quinn ran the 40 in 4.7 seconds and Mayock already loved the tape on him enough to say he has a "slight preference" for Quinn over Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.
In a draft dominated by defensive prospects, two more—Miller and Quinn—definitely stamped their place among the elite and could sneak into the top five.
Will Nate Solder Be the First Tackle Picked?
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The offensive tackle position was among the toughest to sort out heading into the combine, but it should be a little more clear afterwards.
Tyron Smith wowed scouts by showing up at a chiseled 307 lbs, and his 29 reps on the 225 lbs-bench press eliminated some concerns about his strength.
Anthony Castonzo and Gabe Carimi both had solid, but unspectacular combines which can sometimes be a calming influence on a tackle's draft status.
However, Colorado tackle Nate Solder stole the show in Indianapolis.
At 6'8," 320 lbs, Solder displayed plenty of athleticism and erased many of the concerns about his height and bend at left tackle.
Smith will certainly give him a run for his money, but it appears that Solder has a step up on being the first tackle taken in April's draft.
Will Crazy Fast 40 Times Rocket Some Up the Boards?
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The 40-yard dash might be the most overrated evaluator in all of football, but plenty of prospects made some serious money with blazing times in Indianapolis.
Running back Da'Rel Scott was, for the most part, an afterthought heading into the combine, but his 4.35 time turned a lot of heads.
Edmund Gates clocked in as the fastest receiver at 4.37, and everyone knows how much certain teams love to reach for speed like that.
Reports before the combine said that Nevada linebacker Dontay Moch would run in the 4.2's, but his 4.44 time was definitely fast enough to ensure a second-round selection.
Fellow linebacker Martez Wilson also surprised by running 4.53, and he's now most likely a sure thing for the first round.
Is There a First-Round Safety?
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Many thought that the 2011 safeties are as weak as the position has ever been, and that was confirmed at the combine.
With teams in need of a safety, however, could it really be that 32 teams pick without selecting one?
Rahim Moore, the No. 1 safety prospect, ran in the 4.5-4.6 range, and he showed enough athletic ability to be a solid safety in the NFL.
After Moore however, the class of safeties drops off considerably.
Deandre McDaniel, Ahmad Black and Quinton Carter all disappointed with slow 40 times, and it might be left to Moore to crack the first round for safeties.
Which Cornerback Helped His Draft Stock the Most?
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Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara and Jimmy Smith were the consensus first-round cornerbacks heading into the combine, and all shined in Indianapolis.
Peterson showed his athletic prowess, running a 4.34 40-yard dash while weighing 219 pounds. He's a solid top 5-10 pick in April's draft.
Amukamara erased any doubts about his draft stock by running the 40 in 4.43 seconds, and he shouldn't last past the top 12 picks.
Smith, on the other hand, surprised most scouts with his showing at the combine.
The 6'2," 211-pound Smith ran the 40 in 4.46 seconds, and despite some character concerns, Smith is most likely a top 20-25 pick now.
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