The Scouting Combine

by SteveUK on Feb 24, 2010 4:27 AM MST

I am looking forward to upcoming combine and wondered if you guys could answer some questions I have regarding it?

I have seen that Tim Tebow and Dan LeFevour have chosen not to throw at the combine. Is this something that will likely affect their draft stock or will their Pro Days be enough for them to show that they have the necessary abilities? With these guys not throwing and Clausen and Bradford both injured does this open the door for another QB to showcase his talent and improve his draft stock and if so who would say has the best chance to shine?

Which players do you think will benefit most from the combine and which players might lose out from the combine? I have seen many talk about Taylor Mays and would be interested to know how the combine may affect his position in the draft if he runs a fast 40 is this just expected and he stays as he is or does it shoot him up the boards? and if he doesn't run a quick 40 does he slide big time?

With regards to the Broncos are there any guys that they will be keeping their eyes close on and looking for a big showing? and are there any potential targets that, with a great performance, could either put themselves out of the Broncos reach at 10/11 or make it a good value pick at 10/11?

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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This is a great opportunity for lesser known QB's

Clausen, Bradford, Tebow, McCoy, LeFevour are not throwing. This is great news for the lesser known QB’s. Not bad news for the others, because they have pro days.

by Sayre Bedinger on Feb 24, 2010 7:29 AM MST reply actions

Still dissapointing

I admire guys who throw at the combine, I think that if you are healthy and able, you should at least try. I understand that they may not want to show flaws, but at the same time, if you are drafted solely based on your pro -day or combine results, then the team drafting you are idiots to begin with.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Feb 24, 2010 1:10 PM MST up reply actions

Yes, I would agree

I wish these guys were throwing, it would certainly make for better TV. I’ve always hated that so much stock is put into this thing, as well as pro days. If three or four years of film is not enough to convince you, then a 40 time shouldn’t be either.

by Sayre Bedinger on Feb 25, 2010 7:19 AM MST up reply actions

With the pro days they get to concentrate on just that.. throwing..

It also means that they get to throw to their own receivers who they have already built up a chemistry with.. then at the combine they can just concentrate on the athletic stuff..

It gives them a chance to train specifically for specific aspects at the different events.

by HorseStance on Feb 24, 2010 8:28 AM MST reply actions

As too Mays..

There are also a lot of interviews at the combine so character issues might be brought up and effect where he is drafted. If he runs a slow or fast 40 then it can effect his draft position but it is more likely to affect his mock position.. The analyists like that stuff but the player coaches don’t neccesarily buy into it so much.. of course speed does help in the safety position but so do many other aspects like hip rotation in coverage, tracking ability.

If you go on NFL dot com there is a portion in the combine section where Mike Mayock breaks down the drills and tells you why they are used, what they are looking for and generally what it all means.. Would recommend having a look at that.

Also we start to get a better idea of who the broncos are looking at depending on who they interview..

Many teams interview to throw other teams of their trails but that was not the case with us last year.. so i’m not sure if we will be honest again this year and interview guys we are really interested in.. We will also visit certain players pro days.. and this is a good indicator and also sometimes bring them into dove valley for workouts..

Hope that helps. :-)

by HorseStance on Feb 24, 2010 8:36 AM MST up reply actions

If I recall Jay Cutler chose to throw at the combine while VY and Matt Leinart didn't.

I believe it helped his stock considerably because it showed that he had confidence in himself and was a competitor. Now I am in no way shape or form a Cutler supporter or lover but I believe if you are a good QB then the combine can only help (if you aren’t already considered a 1st round talent). I think the combine is over-rated personally because people place too much stock on the work outs (ala vernon gholston, Heyward Bey etc). I think it is a good tool for scouts and coaches who have missed someone to maybe say, “Hey this kid had a great workout now I’ll go watch all of his college tapes and see if what I saw here translates onto the field”.

by BroncoMath101 on Feb 24, 2010 11:34 AM MST reply actions

Told you someone would say it better than me.. lol

by HorseStance on Feb 24, 2010 11:43 AM MST up reply actions

Jacoby Ford

Broncos rumored to be talking to him and he will most likely run in the 4.2’s

by VR92 on Feb 24, 2010 5:11 PM MST reply actions

To Throw or not to Throw...

I can understand why McCoy and Tebow aren’t throwing at the combine. McCoy needs more time to fully rehab his shoulder, and Tebow probably wants more time to solidify his new mechanics before throwing in front of scouts.

I think that Bradford should be fully recovered from his injury and a lot of scouts will want to see if he has any lingering effects from his injury. As far as I know, LeFevour and Clausen have no excuse for not throwing.

I find myself wondering if a lot of QBs wait until their pro day to throw because although scouts can ask for certain throws to be repeated, the player and their coaches and trainers have a lot more control of how things unfold at a pro day vs. the combine, and also the QBs get to throw to WR that they have worked with a lot before, so there will most likely be more completions (not that that should matter, but it has to have at least a slight subconscious effect on the evaluators).

by DoubleJay on Feb 24, 2010 7:01 PM MST reply actions

I don't usually endorse Bucky Brooks but...

this actually makes sense. He said it was a bad idea for these guys not to throw at the Combine. I can understand Sam Bradford not throwing. Brooks claim was that at the Combine, you have the ability to throw and workout in front of almost 400 NFL guys. The odds of “waking” up one of those 400 is greater at the Combine. He said at NFL Pro Days, you will only get maybe 20 or 30 NFL’ers in attendance.

I thought this was pretty wise insight. Mike Holmgren also commented that it’s pretty bad advice that these guys don’t throw at the combine. The point he made was you have a “built-in Mulligan” meaning, if you screw up at the Combine, then you have a “do-over” at your Pro Day. Pretty insightful thoughts I guess.

For me, I’d rather see them throw and show what they can do, hit or miss. Then turn around and do it again at the Pro Day.

Romans 5:8

by BronconNC on Feb 25, 2010 10:31 AM MST reply actions