The National Football Post takes a look back at the weekend and breaks down prospects who stood out.
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
Not only did the 6-6, 314-pound Campbell measure in with 36¼-inch arms and bench press 225 pounds 34 times, his workout Saturday was one of the more impressive in combine history. He posted a 4.85-second 40 time along with a 32-inch vertical and now looks like a guy who could make a run at the top 10. Campbell is a little stiff as a lateral athlete and isn’t quite as fluid as you’d expect for an athlete of his caliber, but his physical skill set and long, lean frame are tough to ignore. He looks like a guy who could draw a lot of interest toward the top end of the draft, so expect the Raiders to be potential players for him.
John Jerry, OG, Mississippi
Even at 6-5, 328 pounds, Jerry ran one of the most impressive 40 times at this year’s combine, coming in at 5.15 seconds. I still believe his ideal position in the NFL is at guard, but after watching him run so well, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear his name start coming up more and more as a potential tackle. He was one of the more coordinated linemen on Saturday, showcasing good fluidity and change-of-directions skills for his size in position drills, and continues to impress me every time I watch him.
Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana
Saffold is another guy who continues to stand out this postseason. He isn’t someone who will put up gaudy workout numbers, but he’s a flexible lineman with impressive lateral quickness and coordination when asked to redirect. He really looked natural during his workouts Saturday whenever he was asked to redirect and was one of the few guys who was able to consistently keep his base down when sliding his feet. The 2010 tackle class looks to be one of the more impressive to come along in years, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the top four tackles come off the board early and ultimately give Saffold a chance to make a run at the end of the first round.
Tony Moeaki, TE, Iowa
To be honest, if you were an outside observer who had never watched college football and only saw the combine workouts, you could easily end up thinking Moeaki was the best of the bunch. He finally looks healthy and showed well for himself on Saturday, running in the high 4.6 range and showcasing impressive athleticism. In my opinion, he was the cleanest route runner of the group. Plus, you could also make the case that the best part of Moeaki’s game – his ability to block on the edge -- wasn’t even on display. Health has always been his biggest question mark, but if he is able to avoid the injury bug for any extended period of time, there’s no reason to think Moeaki can’t end up starting as an “on the line Y” at the next level.
Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting
Check out the NFP's 2010 "Draft Central" for more combine and draft coverage!
i have no knowledge of this myself, but my friend's cousin knows someone who went to maryland and he says that campbell acts all nice in public, but is really stuck up in person.
mike j - please.
Jane, are you a robot? Nobody wants to buy your coach purses here, nor do we want to read your electronic ads.
Er, no, there,kevin. NFL & draft analyst types.
Please.
um, mike, isn't that what wes is? he, you know, wrote the article. he is, um, at the combine. he watches tape. he's what you might call an nfl & draft analyst type, no?
did you want him to confirm rumor and innuendo from other people who are guessing?
Peter King said the same thing about Campbell, via Gil Brandt. I've read that other places, too. So that makes me think he's not...oh, wait...Ed Hardy t-shirts? Let me go get my credit card...
To clear up the Mike J and kevin spat, Mike Mayock said that Bruce Campbell was overrated and that he would be drafted too high based on his Combine workout and measurables during the NFL Network broadcast. His reasoning was based on what Mike J originally said in his first post, that Campbell doesn't move his hips well and his blocking is not yet up to par for first round status. Mike didn't think that he was not a good prospect, just that he should not be rated as a first-rounder, ready to start at the next level.
I think Wes has it right, though, that his workout alone will attract the attention of the Raiders. I don't think they bother watching game tape in order to make their decisions (see also JaMarcus Russel and Heyward-Bey).
@Luke L.---very funny!!
If Bruce Campbell's climb allows Davis to fall to my Boys at 27, I would be very happy. Davis is the better player imo.
Bruce Campbell didn't even make honorable mention all-acc. The coaches obviously weren't impressed with him. Can you say Mike Mamula?
Stay healthy Tony! He is such a stud and will be very good on Sundays if he can stay healthy. And Wes is right on. He's a tremendous blocker as well. Ferentz said he my be the best blocking TE he has ever had and that's a mouthful.
Moeaki is a beast and his injuries are behind him.
Chief is a fool.
Tebow were asked to and able to throw the ball downfield more and/or their receivers were better able to gain yards after catch because they were hit in stride but McCoy and LeFevour's completions were more of the dink and dunk variety. LeFevour's numbers were also against lesser competition in the MAC.
Cornerback was given big contract...
Green Bay hikes prices up to $5...
Where will Peyton Manning end...
Velocity and throws to the left...
Who makes up this talented small-school...
Mar 01, 2010
07:11 AM
I have no knowledge at all myself of this, but I have read that if you watch Campbell's game tape, his blocking was nothing to write home about, & he isn't even a first round talent, let alone a high selection.