2010 NFL Combine: Final Update
by Dave Cariello on Mar 3, 2010 6:00 AM CST
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PrintAnother year, another crop of fresh-faced hopefuls and another NFL Combine is now in the books. But before we turn the page and look forward to the next off-season happenings, let's examine how the final group of defensive backs performed yesterday.
Last year this position group was an area of much interest for the Saints and their fans. While it may not be as much of a priority this off-season, the Saints just might be in the market for another game-changing safety if Darren Sharper really does leave New Orleans next season.
Make the jump for my brief, amateurish analysis of the 2010 Combine performances of this years cornerbacks and safeties.
Cornerbacks
Probably the single most impressive performance of the day among the cornerbacks was the 11'0" Broad Jump of Virginia's Chris Cook. I'm not talking about the American Idol winner. He also finished an incredibly close second in the 40-yard Dash with a time of 4.46, just one one-hundreth of a second behind Brandon Ghee out of Wake Forest.
A.J. Jefferson from Fresno State appears to have had the most productive all-around performance among cornerbacks, finishing as a top performer in five workouts. This includes a Combine best 44.0 in the Vertical Jump. Also showing up regularly as on the top performer list were Devin McCourty from Rutgers and Kevin Thomas out of USC.
Safeties
It's hard to believe that USC's Taylor Mays wasn't the only player going through workouts yesterday because he's all anyone talked about. Like Peyton Manning or something. Officially, Mays posted the best 40-yard Dash time among all DB's with a 4.43. Unofficially, he posted a 4.24 and is not from our planet. At the end of the day, Mays finished as a top performer in four drills.
It was all about the safeties yesterday and the other cause celebre behind Mays was Eric Berry from Tennessee. Todd McShay was glowing over this guy on NFL Live last night; take that for what it's worth. Berry finished as a top performer in four events, earning the best results among safeties in the Vertical Jump and the Broad Jump.
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Do we have an outside shot at Mays?
Not Rueben but Taylor.
as a usc alum... i would LOVE to see t.mays in our defensive back field
but i think we’re in more need of a DT/DE or LB
ur an alum? Nice now I see why you love Reggie...
you still in LA?
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
yeah. still in LA. kinda sucked this year cuz they don't play a lot of the saints games here
hopefully with the SB win, they’ll have some more coverage this season.
yeah i'm here too, which part you in...
yes it sucks, i have to go to bars and my building won’t allow a satellite without a balcony, which i don’t have.
Don't worry I got your back cuz...
Chip Vaughn
is more of a strong safety project, isn’t he?
Not according to the hype when he was drafted. But if they feel Young can do the job there maybe they could move him back to his college position after all.
For those who can't remember the uncapped FA rules, this link's for you.
“do the job there” => do the job at free safety.
For those who can't remember the uncapped FA rules, this link's for you.
Taylor Mays is a bust waiting to happen
During drills, Mays was in poor form. As fast as he was moving forwards, Mays was terribly slow moving in reverse. It was similar to his performance at the Senior Bowl in January. Mays looked uncomfortable backpedaling during drills and one scout called his defensive back fundamentals “just bad.” When asked to change direction, Mays would come to a complete stop then start up again. The contrast between Mays and players such as Earl Thomas and T.J. Ward, who lost little momentum changing direction, was striking. [SportsIllustrated.com]
“I know he’s a specimen,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “I know he’s an unbelievable athlete. I know he’s a freak. I get all that. What you’ve got to see on tape is him making a play. You’ve got two picks in three years,” Mayock said. “You’ve got to get around the football more often.” [National Football Post]
Mays isn’t a free safety at the next level; no chance he pans out there because he is horrible in coverage and has zero ball skills. Mays idea of playing football is running and throwing his body around, which is why I am giving him the nickname "The Trojan Torpedo." I think Mays can start at strong safety for some team, but he will be pretty average. Mays is the Vernon Gholston of safety prospects. Sure he has great measurables, but so did Gholston. I personally wouldn’t draft Mays in the top 40 picks, but his draft range is all over the board. He could go top five to a team like Oakland or he could fall to the lower part of the first round. [WalterFootball.com]
"Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God Almighty." --J.O.L.
"You’ve got to get around the football more often."
I don’t like that one at all.
So you say you lost your baby,
Do you know that you're the one?
I’ll have to seriously consider predicting Al Davis takes him in our mock draft. HA!
So you say you lost your baby,
Do you know that you're the one?
i think he would be a decent developmental prospect at OLB
he is willing to throw his body around and does weigh around 230 or a little more
"I want to hand this trophy to the MVP of the Super Bowl -- and the MVP of the entire league, Drew Brees.''
-- Sean Payton
by DeuceisLoose926 on Mar 3, 2010 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
me three
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by Dave Cariello on Mar 3, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions
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