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NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis February 19-24, 2014

Playoffs said:
He said he ran a 4.46 in the summer, that 4.4 is his goal. Would be amazing at 272, IMO.

Read a couple people who stood next to him felt he was more 6'5". We'll see. Arm strength is his concern for me, physically.
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My main concern are his feet. That really set-back Mario, plantar-fasciitis, sprained big toe & other foot disorders. If Clowney's wheels are good (do Texans have same medical team or have they learned how to evaluate) he should bring serious trade offers, if not take BPA.
 
beerlover said:
My main concern are his feet. That really set-back Mario, plantar-fasciitis, sprained big toe & other foot disorders. If Clowney's wheels are good (do Texans have same medical team or have they learned how to evaluate) he should bring serious trade offers, if not take BPA.
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You aren't saying that you think Clowney will attract trade offers from other teams to the Texans' for their 1.1 just because he checks out medically are you ?
And I would look for Clowney to run in the 4.60 - 4.70 range.
 
Playoffs said:
He said he ran a 4.46 in the summer, that 4.4 is his goal. Would be amazing at 272, IMO.

Read a couple people who stood next to him felt he was more 6'5". We'll see. Arm strength is his concern for me, physically.
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Some people forget the added height from cleats or shoes when estimating height up close. I know my son at 6'7" is over 7' after adding his gear (both boots and helmet add significantly to final height.

And with myself at 6'2", I thought Hakeem was much shorter than the 7' reported when I met him. It actually shocked me. I just didn't have to look up that much.

But the Combine should answer the question. It's like waiting for the water to boil.
 
Playoffs said:
He said he ran a 4.46 in the summer, that 4.4 is his goal. Would be amazing at 272, IMO.
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infantrycak said:
And what is with everyone thinking Bortles is taller than advertised? That almost never happens.
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3101d1381388198-traders-joking-keep-calm-everybody-lies.png
 
I'm still shocked at how many people think Manziel will run a sub-4.5 at the combine. Only 5 QB's have ever done it (Reggie McNeal, Robert Griffin, Marcus Vick, Denard Robinson, & Brad Smith) and Griffin is the only one who didn't change positions at the next level.
 
WolverineFan said:
I'm still shocked at how many people think Manziel will run a sub-4.5 at the combine. Only 5 QB's have ever done it (Reggie McNeal, Robert Griffin, Marcus Vick, Denard Robinson, & Brad Smith) and Griffin is the only one who didn't change positions at the next level.
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Yep, not happening.
no.gif
 
WolverineFan said:
I'm still shocked at how many people think Manziel will run a sub-4.5 at the combine. Only 5 QB's have ever done it (Reggie McNeal, Robert Griffin, Marcus Vick, Denard Robinson, & Brad Smith) and Griffin is the only one who didn't change positions at the next level.
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I'm shocked at the number of people who find it shocking. He ran away from SEC defenders for two years, he's got some wheels.

I won't be shocked with a 4.45, nor will I be shocked with a 4.60. I'm not expecting outside of that range.
 
Marshall said:
Some people forget the added height from cleats or shoes when estimating height up close. I know my son at 6'7" is over 7' after adding his gear (both boots and helmet add significantly to final height.

And with myself at 6'2", I thought Hakeem was much shorter than the 7' reported when I met him. It actually shocked me. I just didn't have to look up that much.

But the Combine should answer the question. It's like waiting for the water to boil.
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Hakeem was actually 6 10 3/4
 
disaacks3 said:
I'm shocked at the number of people who find it shocking. He ran away from SEC defenders for two years, he's got some wheels.

I won't be shocked with a 4.45, nor will I be shocked with a 4.60. I'm not expecting outside of that range.
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a 4.45 and 4.6 are exceptional times for an NFL QB.

infantrycak said:
And what is with everyone thinking Bortles is taller than advertised? That almost never happens.
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He was listed as 6'4" on team bio, Bortles says he is 6'5" and change. Johnny Manziel says he is 6'0". People who have met Johnny and stood next to him say he is 5'10. In a couple of weeks those questions are no longer.
 
IDEXAN said:
You aren't saying that you think Clowney will attract trade offers from other teams to the Texans' for their 1.1 just because he checks out medically are you ?
And I would look for Clowney to run in the 4.60 - 4.70 range.
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If Clowney checks out as medically sound that would erase a lot of his detractors (me for one) maybe not all but more than likely a sound business that does through research into a major investments. :kitten:
 
tweets read bottom(oldest)-to-top

Bucky Brooks ‏@BuckyBrooks
Regardless of their performance, I respect the willingness to put their talents on display in a pressure-packed environment

If he is a big-time guy & willing to put it on display, I have a tendency to give those guys a little extra when I discuss them in meetings

That's why it's a gamble when guys don't work out.. Everyone won't see the performance.. Plus, it's "all or nothing" at Pro Day.

Prospect can wait to perform at Pro Day, but he won't have the same stage at the combine. Team may only send scout, position coach to ProDay

3. Working out at #NFLCombine allows every GM, HC and scout to see the player showcase his skills. Every decision maker is in the building

Players have a built-in mulligan by working at the combine. Pro Day workout can erase poor workout in Indy.

(Cont) from any workout is recorded & used as the number on the player card. That's why there's nothing to lose at the combine.

Plus, teams will use the best measurement for final draft grade. Whether it's at the combine or Pro Day, the best 40, VJ, Shuttles or broad

A poor workout is kept in perspective because the tape evaluation outweighs everything else. Some guys just aren't great testers.

If a player runs slower than expected or looks tight during the workout, scouts will go back and see if the issues showed up on tape

2. Combine workouts don't negatively impact grade. Scouts use workouts to confirm what they've witnessed on tape. Speed/AA checked vs. Film

Doctors are evaluating long-term prospects. Is the player subject to re-injury or long-term issues based on prior medical history

1. Interviews and medical evaluations are most important. Teams are assessing character & potential locker room fit.
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With the Combine starting in a few days and there being so much interests on the 40 yard times, let me be the first to say this: the only times that count are the official times recorded and reported by the Combine committee.
 
Playoffs said:
Why Is The NFL Getting In Bed With Football's Infamous Troll Scout?
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Lance Zierlein ‏@LanceZierlein
From Gabriel (2/2) “But now, Nolan has crossed the line with this character assassination."

From G.Gabriel, “We let Nolan sit in with us in Chicago(Bears) during summer meetings when he was getting his start.” (1/2)
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http://www.sports790.com/onair/the-...sses-the-nolan-nawrocki-evaluations-12076400/

You've got a guy who has never called a school in his life and who has never had to draft a player in his life just crucifying a kid in his column... the fact that it's on NFL.com surprises me.
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2014 NFL Draft: Anonymous strikes again
 
disaacks3 said:
Scouts tend to keep their own watches and trust them far more than the electronic timing.



Nawrocki is good for comedy hour.
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Scouts have their own vested interests just as agents do, but at the very least there's no consistency. I say have everybody's time recorded/reported by the same official timer which eliminates both inconsistancy and the opportunity of a self-interested party submitting an overly favorable/unfavorable performance.
 
IDEXAN said:
Scouts have their own vested interests...
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National Scouting puts on the Combine and provides the data. They give teams six times -- 2 handheld, 1 hand started/laser stopped for two attempts. Teams interpret as they deem fit.

They continue to use PET, which relies on human element. FAT(fully automatic) was tested but those outcomes were never made public. No good reason why they won't go FAT that I've found, except a suggestion that those times would be slower.
 
Much of what Nawrocki says is common discussion and part of scouting reports behind closed doors. What is shocking to some is Nawrocki is doing it with the doors open in a public domain.
 
Texian said:
Much of what Nawrocki says is common discussion and part of scouting reports behind closed doors. What is shocking to some is Nawrocki is doing it with the doors open in a public domain.
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"Common discussion" for whom? It's amazing that his takes include analysis without ever actually meeting the subject.

While that might work for film analysis, it sure doesn't account for gems like - "Me first", "not a leader by example or known to inspire by his words", "too much of a follower" "Not a student of the game" "Nonchalant field presence - does not command respect from teammates and cannot inspire" "Mild practice demeanor - no urgency" "sets a bad example", "not depandable".

Even better is when those takes differ drastically from those who know, coach and have actaully spent time with the player in question.

He's trying to be the scout equivalent of a shock jock. While it might be entertaining, it's useless as a source of actual news.
 
disaacks3 said:
"Common discussion" for whom? It's amazing that his takes include analysis without ever actually meeting the subject.

While that might work for film analysis, it sure doesn't account for gems like - "Me first", "not a leader by example or known to inspire by his words", "too much of a follower" "Not a student of the game" "Nonchalant field presence — does not command respect from teammates and cannot inspire" "Mild practice demeanor — no urgency" "sets a bad example", "not depandable".

Even better is when those takes differ drastically from those who know, coach and have actaully spent time with the player in question.

He's trying to be the scout equivalent of a shock jock. While it might be entertaining, it's useless as a source of actual news.
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Clearly you're guessing and really don't know. Nawrocki collects his information by delving deep like actual real scouts do. Nawrocki contacts friends, family, coaches, associates, students, teammates etc. That is where he collects and gathers information on perspective players. A very common practice by full time NFL scouts. When you getting ready to sign someone to a multi year multi million $ contract you want to know more than just how fast they can run on a football field. Nawrocki gives you that experience whether you like or agree with it or not. What Nawrocki is writing is what is being said on a daily basis throughout NFL scouting offices across the league.
 
Texian said:
Clearly you're guessing and really don't know. Nawrocki collects his information by delving deep like actual real scouts do. Nawrocki contacts friends, family, coaches, associates, students, teammates etc. That is where he collects and gathers information on perspective players. A very common practice by full time NFL scouts. When you getting ready to sign someone to a multi year multi million $ contract you want to know more than just how fast they can run on a football field. Nawrocki gives you that experience whether you like or agree with it or not. What Nawrocki is writing is what is being said on a daily basis throughout NFL scouting offices across the league.
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Clearly your google-fu needs some work.

:kubepalm:

Come back and tell us how many of Cam Newton's coaches/teammates/friends/family/associates agreed with Nawrocki's analysis.

The next time Nawrocki "delves deep" will be the first.
 
disaacks3 said:
Clearly your google-fu needs some work.

:kubepalm:

Come back and tell us how many of Cam Newton's coaches/teammates/friends/family/associates agreed with Nawrocki's analysis.

The next time Nawrocki "delves deep" will be the first.
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More than you would think, Rivera had to add a 6th captain to make Cam a Captain, read what Smith and Gross had to say, and the story goes Pro Bowl players really wanted little to do with Cam at the Pro Bowl. The story is the OL laid down refusing to block for Cam.

like I said...you really don't know....but I'm here to help

https://www.google.com/search?q=Cam...ahoo:en-US:official&client=firefox&channel=sb

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/cam-newton-steve-smith-carolina-panthers-092112


Your Welcome!
 
Let's get this party started.....

Gil Brandt ‏@Gil_Brandt 11m

First set of combine participants have arrived here in Indy today. Nice day; missed snow, cold by a day. #NFLCombine
 
aussie_texan said:
when are the weigh ins and heights done for QBs???
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Wednesday, Feb. 19: Registration, hospital pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Thursday, Feb. 20: Measurements, medical examinations, media, interviews

Friday, Feb. 21: NFLPA meeting, psychological testing, kickers and specialists workout, bench press, interviews

Saturday, Feb. 22: Tight ends, offensive linemen, special teams drills

Sunday, Feb. 23: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers drills

Monday, Feb. 24: Defensive linemen, linebackers drills

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Defensive backs drills

Live Stream: nfl.com/combine/live
 
Playoffs said:
Wednesday, Feb. 19: Registration, hospital pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Thursday, Feb. 20: Measurements, medical examinations, media, interviews

Friday, Feb. 21: NFLPA meeting, psychological testing, kickers and specialists workout, bench press, interviews

Saturday, Feb. 22: Tight ends, offensive linemen, special teams drills

Sunday, Feb. 23: Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers drills

Monday, Feb. 24: Defensive linemen, linebackers drills

Tuesday, Feb. 25: Defensive backs drills

Live Stream: nfl.com/combine/live
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msr. thanks mate
 
More specifically...

Wednesday, Feb. 19
• PK/ST/OL/TE medical pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Thursday, Feb. 20
• PK/ST/OL/TE measurements, medical exams, media, interviews
• QB/WR/RB medical pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Friday, Feb. 21
• PK/ST workout; PK/ST/OL/TE bench press, psychological testing, interviews
• QB/WR/RB measurements, medical exams, media, interviews
• DL/LB medical pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Saturday, Feb. 22
• OL/TE on-field workout (timing, stations, skill drills)
• QB/WR/RB psychological testing, bench press, interviews
• DL/LB measurements, medical exams, media, interviews
• DB medical pre-exam and X-rays, orientation, interviews

Sunday, Feb. 23
• QB/WR/RB on-field workout (timing, stations, skill drills)
• DL/LB psychological testing, bench press, interviews
• DB measurements, medical exams, media, interviews

Monday, Feb. 24
• DL/LB on-field workout (timing, stations, skill drills)
• DB psychological testing, bench press, interviews

Tuesday, Feb. 25
• DB on-field workout (timing, stations, skill drills)
 
Texian said:
More than you would think, Rivera had to add a 6th captain to make Cam a Captain, read what Smith and Gross had to say, and the story goes Pro Bowl players really wanted little to do with Cam at the Pro Bowl. The story is the OL laid down refusing to block for Cam.

like I said...you really don't know....but I'm here to help

https://www.google.com/search?q=Cam...ahoo:en-US:official&client=firefox&channel=sb

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/cam-newton-steve-smith-carolina-panthers-092112


Your Welcome!
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Try again Suzie. You were asked to provide any confirmation from his collegiate career (you know, the one that Nawrocki supposedly based his evaluation on). You whiffed, miserably.

BTW - You really, REALLY ned to actually look at the stories your 2nd link pulls up (you know, that Google search?). It shows how far off Nawrocki's analysis was. Go ahead, man up and read the first four stories from your Google search.

1st article - Link
"This is a physical sport, and it's hard to simulate when you're trying to protect a person's career," Newton said. "You don't want anyone to leave Hawaii injured and have to sit out next year.

"You've got to play smart and have fun, but you've also got to be competitive as well. With the format this year, it will bring a twist that will be good for the fans."

Regardless of which team he landed on, Newton is thrilled to be surrounded by his real teammates – those that wear Panthers black and blue.

"It's great," Newton said. "We've got Luke, Kalil, Jordan, J.J., Tolbert and Kraken – and a lot of guys that aren't here that deserve to be here."
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2nd article - Link
So, how much has Newton grown since then?

For starters, he changed his demeanor and attitude around dramatically in his third season as the Panthers quarterback. His actions weren't defined as brooding or sulking but rather those of a leader. Over the course of the 2013-14 season, Newton would engineer four come-from-behind wins, three of which were against playoff contenders.
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3rd article - Link
Nawrocki has carved out a niche for himself as the fearless, dyspeptic critic of black guys' comportment (see his scouting report for Geno Smith), but he's really only channeling the ancient, mostly suppressed chauvinism of pro football's management class, which flowers anew in the runup to every draft. That's when we hear about players' "character issues," a broad-unto-meaninglessness category under which everything from pot smoking to sexual assault gets classified. That's when we hear about attitude problems and "fake smiles" and a "selfish, me-first makeup." (It's anyone's guess how much of this is disinformation promulgated in the hopes of sandbagging a desired prospect.
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4th article - Link

That's in the past now. He's also doing a better job of endearing himself to his teammates. He still isn't one of those hangout guys with them, but he's getting better at interacting with them.

Rivera has noticed.

"One of the things he's taken to heart is that it's not just about him wanting to be the best, it's about him wanting to help make his teammates the best," Rivera said. "You notice that now more."
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Sure, I may "not know". It's certain Nawrocki doesn't. He's probably not the coattails you were looking to ride on. Should I attach a Google search for Nawrocki & 1diot?
 
I think arguing about scouts should be banned, or at least go make another sub forum about it. Annoying as **** coming into read about football players and everyone is arguing about whether or not some fat bald guy is smart or not.
 
matts290 said:
I think arguing about scouts should be banned, or at least go make another sub forum about it. Annoying as **** coming into read about football players and everyone is arguing about whether or not some fat bald guy is smart or not.
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Technically, it is "reading about football players" when the aforementioned fat bald guy starts dissing them from afar, but I digress.

Mods: Feel free to take the "troll scout" entries in here elsewhere.
 
disaacks3 said:
Technically, it is "reading about football players" when the aforementioned fat bald guy starts dissing them from afar, but I digress.

Mods: Feel free to take the "troll scout" entries in here elsewhere.
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No I gotcha, I just think its a dumb habit a lot of us are in that instead of defending our players via football facts, we defend the scouts that defend them is a pseudo defensive type of way. :evil:

Anyways, two of the things I am looking forward most to in he combine is Manziel's 3 cone time and Bridgewaters hand size. Manziel's 3 cone time doesn't really have a whole lot of impact on his draft stock, but I think it is going to be insanely fast.
 
matts290 said:
No I gotcha, I just think its a dumb habit a lot of us are in that instead of defending our players via football facts, we defend the scouts that defend them is a pseudo defensive type of way. :evil:

Anyways, two of the things I am looking forward most to in he combine is Manziel's 3 cone time and Bridgewaters hand size. Manziel's 3 cone time doesn't really have a whole lot of impact on his draft stock, but I think it is going to be insanely fast.
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The three-cone is one of the ones I'm waiting for too. It'll be interesting to see if Bortles is on par with Bridgewater.
 
disaacks3 said:
It'll be interesting to see if Bortles is on par with Bridgewater.
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I highly doubt it, Bortles is an above average athlete at the QB position, but I don't think his 3 cone time will be on par with Bridgewater if for nothing than the simple physics of him being taller and heavier.

Clowney's will be interesting too, I think he will run something similar too what Barkevious Mingo ran last year at a 6.84, maybe a little faster.
 
Justin Gilbert, Dri Archer head race to be combine's fastest man
In the NFL, speed matters. So it's little wonder that the 40-yard dash is annually one of the most hotly anticipated drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. Running a blistering time is one of the quickest ways for a prospect to build buzz, especially if he can nab the title of combine's fastest. Think of how receiver Marquise Goodwin turned heads in 2013 after he posted a 4.27-second 40 -- the best time in five years.

Who will go down as the fastest player in Indianapolis this year? Here's a list of five candidates with a great shot:
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Bucky Brooks: 10 players with big questions to answer at combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is viewed as a glorified track meet by some observers, but scouts and coaches view the event as a four-day job interview. Personnel men will bombard top prospects with a variety of questions to assess their background profile and football character heading into the NFL. Although these interviews are cross-referenced with discussions with former coaches, administrators and teammates, the 15- to 30-minute conversations play a significant role on the final evaluations.

Given the importance of the interview process, I thought I would put on my scout's hat and come up with a pressing question for 10 of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. While I don't know how each player will respond, I can give you an idea of how teams will approach the interview process in Indianapolis to get to the answers needed to make solid assessments going forward.

Without further ado, here's what these players can expect to hear in meeting rooms at the combine:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Question: Do you love football?

Answer I would like to hear...

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Question: Do you want to be a star or a champion?

Answer I would like to hear...

3. Marqise Lee, WR, USC
Question: Why did your production slip dramatically in 2013?
...
4. Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo
Question: How will you adjust to the increased competition in the NFL?
...
5. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Question: What makes you the best cover corner in the 2014?
...
6. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Question: What is your best defensive position?
...
7. Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State
Question: Did your added weight negatively affect your game in 2013?
...
8. Michael Sam, DE, Missouri
Question: Are you comfortable moving to OLB as a pro?
...
9. Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida
Question: What kept you from playing to your potential this season?
...
10. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Question: Do you have any concerns about taking punishment at your current size?
...
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2014 NFL Scouting Combine preview
Dan Kadar
The 2014 NFL Scouting Combine begins on Thursday, with media sessions running through Sunday and workouts going until Tuesday. Deride the combine all you want; it is sort of strange. But the event carries a considerable amount of weight for teams.

Most importantly, teams can perform medical evaluations (the original intention of the combine), get official sizes for underclassmen entrants and interview players. Those are the most important things for teams at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The TV glitz and glamor events – drills and press conferences – will overtake football media over the next several days. Here are the key storylines to follow at this year's combine...
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2014 NFL Combine: 10 prospects with the most to gain/lose
Dane Brugler
Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Combine is just one piece to the overall puzzle that is the NFL Draft process. But it's an extremely important piece and far more than just 40-yard dash times.

From the medical evaluation to the team interviews and all the on-field drills, the NFL Combine puts the top prospects under the same microscope. Indianapolis becomes NFL headquarters for a week and NFL hopefuls are put through an intense ringer that is a 24/7 job interview. Lives will change at the NFL Combine, some positively and others negatively. Of the 331 prospects invited to the NFL Combine last year, 32 went in the first round (10.3%) and 109 went undrafted (32.9%).

Fact is, this list could include all 300+ names because each prospect has something to gain or lose at the NFL Combine, but these 10 stand out as prospects who could make or lose substantial money in Indianapolis this week.

10. TE Colt Lyerla, Ex-Oregon
...
9. WR Martavis Bryant, Clemson
...
8. CB Bradley Roby, Ohio State
...
7. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington
...
6. Notre Dame DL: Louis Nix, Stephon Tuitt
...
5. CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
...
4. Physical marvels: OT Greg Robinson, DE Jadeveon Clowney
...
3. DT Dominique Easley, Florida
...
2. WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
...
1. All 19 Quarterbacks
...
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Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet
Derek Carr deemed @SeniorBowl prep more important, and will throw at Fresno St.’s Pro Day. With positive SB reviews, no need to deviate.

#Fresno St. QB Derek Carr will not throw at @NFL Scouting Combine, per source. He will do other drills. Carr will throw at Fresno’s Pro Day
Click to expand...
 
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2014 NFL Combine: From 40 times to Fritos, 10 Bold Predictions
10. News flash - fast guys run fast. There will be plenty of eye-popping results from lower-level players, but expect South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney, Buffalo's Khalil Mack and UCLA's Anthony Barr - the three highest-rated defenders on NFLDraftScout.com's board - to star in this setting. Don't be surprised if each is clocked in the 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash.

9. Speedsters in surprising packages. Speaking of the 40, the top times typically recorded each year come from wide receivers or cornerbacks, but watch out for a pair of running backs - Baylor's Lache Seastrunk and Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas - to light up the track.

8. Sleepers at Receiver. Extending the limb a bit, write down the names of these four wide receivers: Fresno State's Davante Adams, Wyoming's Robert Herron, New Mexico State's Austin Franklin, Saginaw Valley State's Jeff Janis and Colorado's Paul Richardson. Each may post all-around workouts that rival or perhaps even beat the efforts this week from Clemson's Sammy Watkins or Southern Cal's Marqise Lee, the two best receivers in the 2014 draft.

7. With Risers, come Fallers. Many NFL personnel types will tell you that a poor workout at the combine can't hurt your grade, but watch how Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard and Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin slip down mock drafts when each turns in a slower than ideal 40 time. Neither looks faster than mid-4.5s on tape and times in the 4.6s wouldn't shock me.

6. Big speed. A final note on the 40; two years ago Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe sprung up draft boards by clocking in at 4.89 seconds at 6-feet-4, 346 pounds. This year's fastest "fat" guy will be Minnesota's RaShede Hageman, who measured in at 6-6, 318 pounds a few weeks ago at the Senior Bowl and may prove even faster. (Quick side note, because getting beaten to a bloody pulp is decidedly not among the things I'd like to have occur in Indianapolis, let's keep the calling 'Shede "fat" between us, okay?)

5. Teddy will be ready. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater won't be fat but after officially being listed at 6-3, 205 pounds for the Cardinals throughout his junior season, expect him to weigh in significantly heavier in Indianapolis, easing some of the concerns scouts have about his ability to hold up physically in the NFL.

4. Wiz kid could challenge Wonderlic. The NFL says the famed Wonderlic isn't an intelligence test, but Penn State right guard John Urschel is smart enough to recognize the exam for what it is. This year's recipient of the William V. Campbell Trophy as the nation's top football scholar-athlete is smart enough to recognize plenty of things. He earned a 4.0 GPA while receiving his Master's Degree in Mathematics in May, and spent his off-time teaching a class (Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry) to fellow Penn State students. Further, he had a paper published -- "Instabilities of the Sun-Jupiter-Asteroid Three Body Problem" -- last spring in the journal, Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy.

Math is one of several content areas found on the Wonderlic and therefore it is possible that Urschel may not get a perfect score. If he doesn't, I'm pretty confident that with a series of pie charts and bar graphs, he'll be to convince us that his test was actually better than perfect and that the whole 100 percent idea is actually throwing off his Bell curve.

3. Most on the line. Former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla doesn't have to prove he's as smart as Urschel, but his maturity will definitely be tested in Indianapolis. Because of poor choices off the field, no one has more riding on their combine performance than Lyerla. If his conditioning is right, Lyerla will post first-round caliber results in the athletic testing. It will be the drug and psychological testing, as well as the interviews, however, that will determine when - or if - a team gambles on his immense upside.

2. Focus on Sam shifts back to field. Michael Sam's interview session with the media will generate more buzz than any player workout at the combine. Unfortunately, that includes Sam's work out, which, frankly, I don't expect to be that impressive. The 6-1 5/8, 260-pounder struggled at outside linebacker at the Senior Bowl, showing limited flexibility and agility. He'll be working out with defensive linemen at the combine, but I expect that his results in the 40, three cone drill and short shuttle are likely to place him very much in the middle-of-the-pack among this group.

1. How brittle is Manziel's chip? While he has already announced that he won't be participating in any athletic testing until his personal pro day March 27, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel remains the "big" story of the 2014 draft, and therefore by extension the combine.

Just how big remains to be seen.

Manziel was officially listed at 6-1, 210 pounds by the Aggies and what he actually measures in at will be the first of many important tests he'll face in Indianapolis. Another will be what kind of composure he'll show when facing critics who question his assertion that if the Houston Texans select anyone other than him at No. 1, it will be "the worst decision they've ever made."

Electing not to compete on the field at the combine could prove one of the worst decisions Manziel has ever made.

While no one questions Manziel's confidence or improvisational skill, there are plenty of concerns about his accuracy, including when standing still in the pocket - a trait certain to be tested in the combine's drills but not necessarily as much so during Manziel's choreographed session a month and a half from now.

Should Bridgewater, Central Florida's Blake Bortles or Fresno State's Derek Carr take advantage of Manziel's absence with a spectacular throwing session in Indianapolis, they could be the quarterback vaulting up draft boards.

If that were to occur, it won't matter much if the "chip" on Manziel's shoulder was a Frito, Dorito or Tostito. Hate to Ruffles anyone feathers, but rather than Lays down, why not show some Pringles and compete?
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These are actually pretty good. If the player is stupid enough to answer these wrong, it definitely wouldn't bode well.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
Question: Do you love football?

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M
Question: Do you want to be a star or a champion?

10. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville
Question: Do you have any concerns about taking punishment at your current size?
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Combine Watch: Small-school stars who could shine in Indianapolis
Every year at the scouting combine, there are those smaller-school players who seem to rise up from out of nowhere to impress the general public. Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum - you don’t get an invitation to the combine in the first place without a lot of good tape and some sort of proof that you would have potential against better competition. Here are 16 names you should remember as the combine rolls along through this week and into the next...
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Dave Zangaro ‏@DZangaro
I can't believe the Cowboys won that coin toss today. It's their first post-season win since 2009.
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:bravo:
 
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PLEASANTLY SURPRISED DT INVITEE: Mike Pennel, Colorado State – Pueblo

Really want to check this guy out.
 
Dane Brugler ‏@dpbrugler
Of the 331 prospects invited last yr, 109 went undrafted (32.9%)

32 players were drafted last yr who weren't at Combine

There are 335 prospects in Indianapolis this week. There are only 256 picks in the 2014 #NFLDraft. This week is VERY important
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