The 2013 NFL Combine Thread

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by manxman2601

If there was going to be a surprise pick for the Pats, I think Gavin Escobar might be it. I think he's a better prospect than Ertz and maybe even Eifert. He measures really nicely too:



https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/st...19428170059776

For tight end I really like Travis Kelce from Cincinnati as a later selection in round 4 or 5 if he's there. I feel he may rise up the boards a little bit. He's an athletic former quarterback, late bloomer at the position but can really block and catch and has great size. I would love for the Pats to add him later on.

[manxman2601]

Originally Posted by Hercules Rockefeller

For tight end I really like Travis Kelce from Cincinnati as a later selection in round 4 or 5 if he's there. I feel he may rise up the boards a little bit. He's an athletic former quarterback, late bloomer at the position but can really block and catch and has great size. I would love for the Pats to add him later on.

I like him too but he WILL rise up the boards. Can't see him going later than the 3rd. I'm a Nick Kasa fan - Gronk size and athleticism but will likely go 4th to 5th because he's new to the position.

Gavin Escobar is really good though. I saw someone suggest he'll be the best TE of the class eventually and I think they may be right.

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Originally Posted by manxman2601

I like him too but he WILL rise up the boards. Can't see him going later than the 3rd. I'm a Nick Kasa fan - Gronk size and athleticism but will likely go 4th to 5th because he's new to the position.

Gavin Escobar is really good though. I saw someone suggest he'll be the best TE of the class eventually and I think they may be right.

That's been my concern is that he will rise up---when I first saw him play this year I couldn't find him on any lists, and I just checked and now he's in the top 75 on NFL.com . We're on the same page, I love Kasa too. He has tremendous size and can block, and got to play against high level competition on a bad team so he's undervalued. I'll have to look into Escobar, not familiar with him. There's a number of nice TE prospects in the mid rounds of this draft, and I hope BB notices and takes advantage. The 2 TE offense is great, but it needs to have two productive players. Having Gronk, Hernandez, Ballard and a rookie would allow them to save a little money with no Fells/Hooa and be more productive than they were this year.

[manxman2601]

Wisconsin tackle Ricky Wagner met with a Patriots scout last night.

https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/304683588006330368

[Sciz]

I like Wagner. Could definitely be a starting RT candidate as a rookie if Vollmer moves on.

[manxman2601]

One of my favourites:

Cahokia native Terron Armstead (306 lbs) expects to run 40 in the 4.7 range and get at least a 35-inch vertical. #STL #NFLCombine

https://twitter.com/Ron_Clements/sta...05405399998464

Since 1999, only one OT has had a vert greater than 35" and that was only 35.5". and only two have run in the 4.7's (Bruce Campbell and Joe Staley).

Something to keep an eye on.

By the way, this is an excellent resource for tracking previous results in an easy to access format.

NFL Combine Results - Historical NFL Scouting Combine Data

Just click on NFL Combine Data at the top of the page.

[KontradictioN]

manx, do you have any intriguing RG prospects that I should be keeping my eye on?

[manxman2601]

Originally Posted by KontradictioN

manx, do you have any intriguing RG prospects that I should be keeping my eye on?

Well for the Patriots, an OG is likely to be a OT in college. Bakhtiari of Colorado is certainly a possibility because he can play all 5 OL positions (and we've interviewed him) and I wouldn't look far beyond Armstead because of his athleticism. Brian Winters also looks like he might be a fit; has the nasty the Patriots like. Also keep an eye out for good beards

Whilst it's not definitive, a vert of around 30" or better seems to be a fairly consistent indicator so I'd be looking for an OT with a good vertical jump.

[manxman2601]

Originally Posted by KontradictioN

manx, do you have any intriguing RG prospects that I should be keeping my eye on?

How about Hugh Thornton of Illinois. He's a ex-wrester which is familiar:

Offensive linemen are expected to take on and fend off 300-pound rushers on each snap. And for Illinois' Hugh Thornton, his wrestling background has helped develop his physical ability on the football field.

“I think wrestling definitely has an influence on how I play,” Thornton said. “It's physical, it's one-on-one, it's domination, and it's why I play the offensive line.”

Thornton was a two-time Idaho state heavyweight wrestling champion as a sophomore and junior in high school. He moved to Oberlin, Ohio, for his senior season of football and also finished third in the state of Ohio in wrestling at heavyweight.

2013 Combine notes: Bakhtiari latest Colorado offensive line product - CBSSports

[Sciz]

https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/st...61562827223040

According to several sources, Azusa Pacific OT Luke Marquardt won the weigh-ins… Heard comparisons to Ivan Drago and Sid Vicious (wrestler)

He's my favorite late-round OT, but that might be changing if his stock increases too much. Had Jackie Slater as his OL coach.