The 2015 NFL Combine Thread

ChrisR2223 said:

Thoughts on Dyer?
I like the kid and rumor is the Seahawks would be all over him at 31.
Thoughts?

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Dyer? Who? The rb from Louisville and auburn? He's an udfa type.

ChrisR2223 said:

Thoughts on Dyer?
I like the kid and rumor is the Seahawks would be all over him at 31.
Thoughts?

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Michael Dyer from Louisville? (former Auburn RB)

I thought he was a barely draftable prospect because of his off the field issues and lack of production the last few years. I would be shocked to see him go in the first 4 rounds let alone the first.

If the Seahawks are gonna take a chance on a character guy I think Dorial Green-Beckham would make a lot of sense at 32.

Outside of his terrible bench, Buck Allen had a nice day. If he can turn in 15+ at his pro day, I would have less reason to pause, but 11 is almost embarrassing.

I like that Dyer went a stretch of close to 170 touches without fumbling. I think he showed he was more athletic then others given him credit for.
Let him develop for a season with Fears he could turn into something nice and I would risk that in the 6th round.

Im surpriced Zack Zenner flyes under the radar. He had a great combine, and have done everything to backup his college tape. Hes second on my draft board as RB - Behind Gurley. If Patriots wont/dont use a high pick on a RB, then Zenner in the 4th or 5th range is perfect for me.

mayoclinic said:

For all the David Johnson love, compare:

- 2015 David Johnson: 6' 0 1/2" 224#; 4.50 40, 1.57 10-split, 4.27 SS, 6.82 3C; 41.5" VJ, 10'7" BJ
- 2014 Tyler Gaffney: 5' 11 1/2" 220#; 4.49 40, 1.51 10-split, 4.18 SS, 6.80 3C; 36.5" BJ, 9.8" BJ

Johnson seems a bit more explosive based on his VJ, but Gaffney may be more agile. He rushed for 1700 yards in the Pac 10 his Senior Season and has excellent receiving skills.

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I.M. Fletcher said:

HAH, had the exact same thought. For a guy that is going to end up a day two pick, he may not be any better than what we already have. Gaffney definitely feels like more of a long strider, but for me its about draft capital. Also, he has some dancing feet in the backfield. He can get away with that in Northern Iowa's read-option, but he could become the new hated one.

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Really?

Tyler Gaffney CFB Career Stats:32 catches for 264 yards, 8.3 ypc
David Johnson CFB Career Stats 141 catches for 1,734 yards, 12.3ypc

I'll let you decide which is the better Vereen replacement.

MrNathanDrake said:

I think BB prefers having RBBC of average or even sub-par RB's that don't fumble (Benjarvis Green Ellis, Blount), rather than a star RB that fumbles often.

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Well this could be the year to find out because Abdullah is smart enough and way more than athletic enough to be a premier BB draft pick. And as I keep telling everyone, Abdullah was getting better every year at fumbling - it's becoming less of an issue.

Ameer Abdullah had the second best short shuttle amongst RBs since 2006. Only Chris Rainey beat him.

Compare:

Ameer Abdullah

5' 8 1/2", 205

4.60, 1.61
VJ - 42.5
BJ - 10'10"
3Cone - 6.79
SS - 3.95




Kevin Faulk

5'8", 205

4.57, 1.61
VJ - 34"
BJ - 9'6"
3Cone - 7.14
SS - 4.09

Ameer Abdullah's fumble rate in college is approx 33 attempts per fumble. There's no getting around it, that's poor but he only had four this year and has shown marked improvement in ball security. In Kevin Faulk's first three years as a Patriot, his fumble rate was exactly the same, one fumble every 33 attempts.

Abdullah is the superior athlete to Faulk and, arguably Vereen, and I believe is the superior runner to both. His fumbles may well be too much of a red flag for BB, but as Faulk proved, fumble issues is a very fixable problem - heck we can just deflate the balls anyway.

Abdullah is a clear second round grade for me for the Patriots. Shane Vereen Plus.

Another Comparison:

Tre McBride

6', 210
4.41, 1.51
VJ - 38"
BJ - 10'2"
3Cone - 6.96
SS - 4.08


Odell Beckham

5'11", 198
4.43, 1.50
VJ - 38.5
BJ - 10'2"
3Cone - 6.69
SS - 3.94

Beckham's quickness is much more evident than McBride's and that's why Beckham will always be the much better receiver. But McBride is no slouch. Like Beckham, he has terrific hands, explosiveness and body control; I'd like to have seen what McBride could have done in that LSU pro-style offense.

Note - Only the 4.29 running JJ Nelson had a better 10 yd split yesterday; a 1.50 to McBride's 1.51.

Josh Boyce is also a pretty good comparison to McBride as well although both Boyce and Beckham play a little faster than McBride.

What I want to happen tomorrow:

1. Us to re-sign Revis and McCourty to long term contracts
2. all the CBs to blow up the combine and shoot up the draft board into the first round.

Just noticed that amongst WRs, only one (Amari Cooper) had a sub 4.00 short shuttle. Last year there were six as well as one with a 4.00 and another two with a 4.01. The next best this year was Sammie Coates with 4.06.

manxman2601 said:

Really?

Tyler Gaffney CFB Career Stats:32 catches for 264 yards, 8.3 ypc
David Johnson CFB Career Stats 141 catches for 1,734 yards, 12.3ypc

I'll let you decide which is the better Vereen replacement.

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Shane Vereen only had 674 receiving yards at Cal. I grant that Gaffney wasn't used as much as a receiver, but presumably BB has had a chance to evaluate his basic skill set.

I have no doubt that David Johnson would be a fine all-purpose addition. But Gaffney is already under contract, and Johnson might take a 3rd round pick right now. Not a gimme, IMO. Hopefully the Pats will do their homework on this eval.

mayoclinic said:

Shane Vereen only had 674 receiving yards at Cal. I grant that Gaffney wasn't used as much as a receiver, but presumably BB has had a chance to evaluate his basic skill set.

I have no doubt that David Johnson would be a fine all-purpose addition. But Gaffney is already under contract, and Johnson might take a 3rd round pick right now. Not a gimme, IMO. Hopefully the Pats will do their homework on this eval.

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I just don't think Gaffney is a Vereen type back. Gaffney is an outstanding between the tackles runner, who, got some some help from some massive double-TE, six linemen type OLs. He's a Jonas Gray, Stevan Ridley replacement. Just don't seem him replacing Vereen. David Johnson is a RB/HB/WR hybrid. And I'm sure Josh McDaniels would love to have them both.

Shane Ray has apparently withdrawn from the Combine drills with a food injury.

mayoclinic said:

Shane Ray has apparently withdrawn from the Combine drills with a food injury.

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Food injury. I get those

manxman2601 said:

Food injury. I get those

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Oops.

Tyler Varga apparently also not working out today. Expects to be ready by his pro day.

Can see why Beasley did well in the bench press. All those muscles!

1.59 split for Chickillo. Wow! Sammie Coates had a 1.59 split.

Wow Hardison just ran a 4.61