Alabama nose guard to visit Ravens, Chargers and Jets Aaron Wilson
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Mount Cody remains a massive structure, but it’s slowly eroding.
University of Alabama burly nose guard Terrence Cody was down to 348 pounds at his Pro Day workout after tipping the scales at 370 pounds at the Senior Bowl and weighing in the neighborhood of 400 pounds when he was in junior college a few years ago.
Although Cody still confesses to an occasional weakness for his mom’s sweet potato pie, he has become much more disciplined about his diet and workout regimen.
“I’ve been working really hard,” Cody told the National Football Post during a telephone interview Saturday afternoon. “When I came in at 348 pounds, it shocked a lot of people and I ran a better 40-yard dash.
“Day in and day out, I’m trying to get in better shape and keep the weight off and maintain my strength. This is the best shape I’ve been in since high school, but this is me getting into good football shape.”
The 6-foot-4 defensive lineman is scheduled to visit the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers. He’s regarded as the prototype run-stuffer for the 3-4 defense.
Because of concerns about his conditioning and stamina, there has been talk in NFL circles that Cody could go later in the first round.
“I’ll be happy to get drafted, but I’m shooting for the top 10 or top 15 picks,” Cody said. “I’m really the only true nose guard in the draft this year. I’m thinking first round, somewhere very high.”
Playing directly behind Cody, Rolando McClain won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
Now, McClain is poised to join Cody in the NFL and is projected toward the middle of the first round.
With the two-time All-American selection occupying blockers, McClain was left free to flow to the football.
“I feel like I’m that perfect 3-4 player,” Cody said. “I took up those blocks for Rolando and we both did really good this season. He was running free and getting involved. After the first play of the game, I knew if they were going to run away from me.
“They’re not going to try to run the ball right me, so they run outside to try to tear me out. Or they pass it to try to keep me off the field. Sooner or later, they’re going to have to try their luck against me. So, I just stay patient.”
Cody’s Pro Day was attended by every NFL team since the Crimson Tide feature several talented draft prospects.
It was attended by Jets coach Rex Ryan, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Carolina Panthers coach John Fox.
Cody ran the 40-yard dash in 5.62 and 5.64 seconds, down from a 5.73 at the NFL scouting combine. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times, posting a 7-9 broad jump and a 22-inch vertical leap.
He’s a football player, not a decathlete.
In two seasons at Alabama, he recorded 52 tackles, 10 ½ for losses, two blocked kicks and one sack.
It looks like Cody’s stock is on the rise after drawing criticism for his conditioning at the Senior Bowl.
“I’ve been enjoying the draft process, it’s been treating me good,” said Cody, who has been working out at API in Pensacola, Fla., along with Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, Virginia Tech defensive end Jason Worilds and former Alabama teammates Mike Johnson and Roy Upchurch. “The No. 1 priority for me is to get my weight down. I showed a lot of discipline and work ethic by losing the weight.
“Now, I have to keep it off and continue to get into even better shape. I think 345 to 350 would be a good weight for me to play at. I can move exceptionally well at that weight and I’ll be a lot healthier in the long run.”
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I dont agree with his statement about being the only true NT. I think Dan Williams is one as well, along with Cam Thomas from UNC. I still think hes a 2 down player, which to me doesnt warrant a top 10-15 selection. I would feel good as a team, especially the Broncos, if he was begotten in the 2nd
BearMarket, I can remember when Jets OT Sherman Plunkett was a literal joke by his very presence, simply because he weighed 300 lbs..
Cody could get into the backfield occasionally if he got down to around 330. Apparently his gluttony is such that that is not even dreamed of. But against Florida, with two pro prospects blocking him, the Gators just abandoned running up the gut. So the question is, how high do you want to draft a two-round stuffer??
I remember Sherman Plunkett also, and how Rich "Tombstone" Jackson of the Denver Broncos destroyed him so bad that Plunkett's career was pretty much over after that game. Plunkett was physically destroyed by Jackson who weighed only 250 lbs., and to add insult to injury his ear was bleeding from those headslaps Jackson gave him. It got so bad that Plunkett began whiffing blocks on Jackson who tattooed Namath so many times it was not funny.
The classic battles were Jackson against big Bob Brown of the Raiders. I would love to see one of today's OL or DL have such battles in the trenches. It hurt just to watch those two go at it.
My point is that size isn't everything. Strength, conditioning, a will to win make all the difference. If Cody cannot control his weight now, what will happen when he gets big money? Will he be the next Gilbert Brown or become another first rounder shoulda-woulda-coulda been?
Ryan, I don't know if that's true. Dan Williams and Cam Thomas have had a lot of bandwagoners jump on because of a strong combine performance...but they're not the caliber of nose tackle Cody is.
The job of a nose tackle is to absorb the double team and stop the run. Williams and Thomas are athletic enough to push the pocket (which an NT isn't even really supposed to do), but they both disappear when double teamed.
Mar 20, 2010
07:25 PM
Wow, and I remember the sand storm the Bears created when they drafted William Perry, 300 lbs and so big they called him the Fridge!
Look, anyone who seriously think any team that needs a tackle will pass on this kid because he is too fat is simply insane. They won't blink an eye. But they will keep him away from that sweet potato pie and have a nutritionist around him 24/7.
But let him drop because he weights 348? Please.