2009 NFL Combine: Open Thread
by Dave Cariello on Feb 23, 2009 6:00 AM CST
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With all of the offensive players finally finished with their 2009 NFL Combine workouts, it's finally time for the defensive guys to show their stuff. This, of course, means that we can now start paying attention. Today the defensive lineman and linebackers take the field. With two overpaid bookends, Charles Grant and Will Smith, and 2008 first round pick Sedrick Ellis already on the Saints line, I wouldn't expect them to use this years pick on a lineman. Therefore, it's really just the linebackers we should probably focus our attention on today. After the jump we've got a quick recap of what players to watch and what performance goals they'll want to hit. And as the title suggests, this is also an Open Thread for any of you who are watching it and want to discuss.
The NFL Network will have Combine coverage at 11am, 4pm and 8pm ET along with round-the-clock analysis. If you don't have NFL Network, you can get live video and real-time commenting right here on the NFL's website and updated news right here.
James Laurinaitis - ILB
Ohio State
6'2"
244 lbs.
Laurinaitis has been the most popular pick for those people that think the Saints are going to go with a linebacker in the first round. Those people also think Vilma won't be around next year but I just can't believe the Saints let him go. That being the case, if the Saints use their draft pick on a linebacker they would probably perfer one that plays the outside.
Rey Maualuga - ILB
USC
6'2"
249 lbs.
Rey is one of two talented linebackers from USC predicted to be drafted early in the first round and both of them have been popular mock choices for the Saints. Their stock values have been neck and neck up to this point but with Brian Cushing's excellent performance in the bench press, Maualuga will have to step it up if he doesn't want to get left behind.
Brian Cushing - ILB
USC
6'3"
243 lbs.
The other linebacker from USC, Cushing is already off to a good start with 30 reps in the Bench Press; second most among linebackers this year. His durability is questionable but Cushing's popularity as a Saints pick in mock drafts has been on the rise. Will that continue?
Aaron Curry - OLB
Wake Forest
6'2"
254 lbs.
As of now Curry has been more of a longshot to be picked by the Saints at the 14th spot. His current stock has him gone before the Saints ever even get to go on the clock. A poor Combine performance would change all of that.
Darry Beckwith - ILB
LSU
6'0"
242 lbs.
So far Beckwith hasn't been mentioned as a possible draft pick of the Saints but he's a homegrown talent so it would make sense. If Beckwith has a good Combine, he may very well start showing up as a Saints draft choice in the next round of mock drafts.
Target Numbers
Below are target numbers, put together by Gil Brandt, that both Inside and Outside linebackers should be looking to hit or surpass in their Combine performance today.
Inside linebackers
Drill
40-yard dash
10-yard split (40)
20-yard split (40)
Bench press
Vertical jump
Broad jump
20-yard shuttle
60-yard shuttle
3-cone drill
Outside linebackers
Drill
40-yard dash
10-yard split (40)
20-yard split (40)
Bench press
Vertical jump
Broad jump
20-yard shuttle
60-yard shuttle
3-cone drill
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Which player? Cushing
for the following reasons:
1. Aaron Curry will be long gone by the time we pick.
2. Rey Maualuga is strictly an inside linebacker. Cushing might could be our WILL.
3. Darry Beckwith is a third-rounder. Unless we trade down, I don’t see any chance of winding up with him. Besides, he’s an inside backer.
4. And lastly, James Laurinaitis. Two quotes about Laurinaitis say it all, I think. The first was the scout who described him as having a “tendency to stay blocked.” And the second I found this morning in Peter King’s SI column:
My favorite story involved a defensive coach for one team asking Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis why they should pick him. "Tell me something,‘’ the coach said. "When is the last time a linebacker from Ohio State came to the NFL and was worth a s—-?’’ That shook the Buckeye out of whatever confident zone he might have entered the room in.
Come to think of it, he makes a good point. A.J. Hawk has been OK, but nothing spectacular, and he followed the likes of Bobby Carpenter and Andy Katzenmoyer.
I hope that coach was Gregg Williams.
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
by MtnExile on Feb 23, 2009 6:44 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I hope that coach was Gregg Williams.
That would be cool.
Preserving the old ways from being abused.
From Tony Pauline
James Laurinaitis/ILB/Ohio State: Little Animal looked like anything but an animal on Monday at the combine. He was slow in the 40, timing in the mid 4.7-second area, then looked sluggish in drills. His bench press result of 22 reps was also on the bottom tier of the linebacker list.
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
Dark horse candidate
Lee Robinson, Alcorn State
One of the top players in SWAC. I want to see what this guy can do. He’s a projected low-rounder, which means we can get him in the fourth or below.
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
Maybe off-topic...
… but does anyone think we could take a serious run at Jeff Saturday? He’s said to be leaning towards re-signing with the Colts but might it be worth a look at a very, very good center who’s very used to organising a pass-blocking line?
I like Jeff Saturday a lot. But....
rotoworld.com:
Jeff Saturday-C – Colts Feb. 22 – 2:02 am et ESPN’s John Clayton reports that C Jeff Saturday will test free agency after he and the Colts failed to reach a contract agreement.
The writing was on the wall when Indianapolis drafted three centers last April. Saturday turns 34 in June and offensive linemen often prove to be products of the system when they leave the Colts, so he’ll be a risky signing.
Source: ESPN.com
Jeff Saturday-C- Colts Feb. 23 – 9:56 am et
The Bengals are expected to show interest in impending free agent C Jeff Saturday.
Bengals center Eric Ghiaciuc has been a weak link, often overmatched against bigger nose tackles. Saturday, 34, could hold down the position for a year or two while Cincy develops a draft pick.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
He’s expensive. I think the Bengals will overpay for him. And he’ll want to change things to do it the Colts way and then leave in a year or two.
Preserving the old ways from being abused.
This is said to be a deep draft for centers
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
Fair enough
I’ll happily let the Browns overpay. If it’s a good draft for centers we could pick one up mid- to late-rounds and see how he pans out. For all that people say we’d be mad to take an offensive player in this draft, I’d think a couple of late-round O linemen should never be passed up on draft day.
Anyone want to go out on a limb and predict the next Payton Project at QB?
Joey Heatherton
…er, Harrington. He had a great Combine.
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
eric wood from louisville
is a center I was really impressed by the other day at the combine. I don’t know that he’s up there in that tier with unger and mack from cal but performed well, as did a.q. shipley from penn state
by DeuceisLoose926 on Feb 23, 2009 11:40 AM CST reply actions
I don't know if Wood will last long enough
Cecil Newton, who is NOT at the Combine, is a late-round possibility. He’s a little small for a center—but almost exactly the same size as Jeff Saturday. He’s played at a high level throughout college.
Oh when the Saints...Start kicking ass...You don't want to be in that number...
No First round pick for Saints
If I’m not mistaken by signing Vilma the Jets get the Saints 2nd round pick that had been promised to the Giants for Shockey so the GMEN now get the Saints first round pick…..am I worng?
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