Scout's Eye Series: What's Next?

FROM WES BUNTING:

With the all-star games and NFL Combine now over, the draft season enters its final portion -- the pro day circuit, where college prospects have a final opportunity to impress NFL scouts. Here are some of the more interesting stories on the pro day calendar and prospects who can expect to garner extra attention in the coming weeks.

Tight Ends on the Mend

Two of the nation’s top tight end prospects saw their seasons derailed by injuries and are now hoping to get back on track. Travis Beckum (Wisconsin) and Cornelius Ingram (Florida) both are athletic prospects with the type of vertical speed to get down the field and create mismatches in the pass game. However, Ingram missed the 2008 season with a knee injury, and Beckum went down in October with a broken left fibula. At the Combine, Beckum posted 28 reps on the bench to lead all tight ends. He looks to be on pace to run at Wisconsin’s pro day, but if he is unable, he expects to hold a private workout for scouts a couple of weeks later. Ingram ran at the Combine and posted a 40 time of 4.68, good enough for fourth among tight ends. He looked smooth in position drills and didn’t show any lingering effects from his injury. Even with a loaded tight end crop, Ingram and Beckum could hear their names called during the first three rounds if they have solid pro day workouts.

Running Back to Rise?

With the unusually slow 40 times coming from the running back group at the Combine, it might have been in LeSean McCoy’s (Pittsburgh) best interests to sit this one out. He currently grades out as the third running back in the draft and was forced to miss his Combine workout because of the flu. But McCoy is an intriguing running back with great quickness and burst for his size. I don’t know if he has the girth or power to become full-time back in the NFL, but he certainly has the ability develop into a big-play threat. His pro day will be well attended on the circuit, in part because he has yet to clock an official 40-yard dash time. I doubt that even a great workout would move him past Chris Wells (Ohio State) or Knowshon Moreno (Georgia), but it would likely assure him a spot near the end of round one.

How to Rebound

After one of the more bizarre Combine appearances – and disappearances -- in recent memory, Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith needs to create some positive buzz at his upcoming pro day. His physical attributes are all there, but his 40 time and bench press numbers will be far less important than the maturity level he displays. I don’t believe the media reports that say Smith could fall to the bottom of the first round or top of the second. The kid simply has too much talent, and the NFL is starved for offensive linemen with his type of overall athletic ability. It only takes one team to fall in love with a player like Smith and convince itself that his antics at the Combine and the Sugar Bowl were just a lack of maturity. Obviously, some significant psychological testing will be needed, and teams interested in him will want to get a good overall feel for him as a person. There’s an awful lot riding on Smith’s pro day, and for once it has nothing to do with the physical part of the workout.

An Era Comes to an End

The University of Miami has a streak of 14 consecutive drafts in which a Hurricanes player has been picked in the first round. That streak is likely to end this year as Miami doesn’t have a prospect who warrants consideration in the first three rounds. Cornerback Bruce Johnson will likely be the ‘Canes’ first player selected and should come off the board some time during the mid/late portions of the draft. Johnson is an athletic corner with great straight-line speed and fluidity in and out of his breaks. He does a good job staying with receivers down the field and plays a lot tougher than his 5-10, 170 pound frame indicates. He has the makings of a tough nickel back who will likely find his way on the field at some point in his rookie year. He performed well at the Combine and was one of the more naturally gifted corners in Indianapolis. However, no matter how well Johnson performs at his pro day, the attention will likely focus on the Hurricanes’ inability to produce a first-round pick.

He’s a Kicker?

I usually don’t like to give kickers or punters much love, but the performance of USC kicker David Buehler at the Combine is worth noting. First, Buehler measured 6-2 and 227 pounds. Then, he proceeded to record 25 reps on the bench press, which was more than offensive tackles Michael Oher (21) and Eugene Monroe (23). Buehler continued his impressive workout with a 40 time of 4.56 -- the same time listed for linebacker Aaron Curry (Wake Forest), arguably the nation’s top overall prospect. Now, what does all this mean? Maybe it means nothing more than that Buehler is one of the most athletic kickers to ever take part in the NFL Combine. But it clearly will earn him a little extra attention at USC’s pro day.

Comments

Add a Comment