This is the
second installment of “Inside the Numbers’;
last week we looked at the offensive players
and this week we will focus on the defense.
Too often we only look at 40 times when
evaluating prospects for the NFL Draft.
Today we are going to look beyond that, we
are going focus on speeds of the 10, 20 and
40 yard dash, the 20 and 60 yard shuttle
run, the 3-cone drill, the Vertical Jump (VJ),
the Broad Jump (BJ) and the bench press.
These drills measure explosive speed,
strength and agility, and are an even better
barometer than solely using 40 times for
evaluating certain positions for the NFL
Draft. These numbers were taken from the
recent 2006 NFL Combine:
Cornerbacks:
1. Johnathan
Joseph:
We will start
off with not only the fastest cornerback,
but the fastest player at the entire NFL
Combine and most likely the fastest player
available for the 2006 NFL Draft. Joseph,
out of South Carolina, had the fastest 40
time of 4.32 and the fastest 20 yard split
time of 2.53 seconds. He is not just a
little guy either; he measured in at 5-11
193 pounds.
2. Gerrick
McPhearson, Maryland:
Average size
at 5-10 196 pounds, but he had the best
Vertical Jump (VJ) of 41.5 and the second
fastest 10 yard split time of 1.52 seconds.
He also had the 3rd fastest 20
yard split time (2.58) behind only Jonathan
Joseph (2.53) and Tim Jennings (2.54). His
40 time of 4.42 was also nothing to sneeze
at.
3. Antonio
Cromartie, Florida State:
His combine
performance kind of went unheralded but he
was outstanding. Nicely sized at 6-2 208 and
he had the top Broad Jump (BJ) with an
impressive 11 feet and he was the second
strongest in the bench with 18 repetitions.
His 40 time of 4.44 was also extremely
impressive considering he is coming off a
season ending injury.
4. Tye Hill,
Clemson:
Hill had the
third fastest 40 time of 4.38 seconds, but
he did a full workout and had the top 3-cone
performance with a sizzling time of 6.63
seconds. Add this up to a great Senior Bowl
and it’s easy to see he will be a first
round draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
5. Tim
Jennings, Georgia:
The little
corner that could, kind of short at 5-7.6
185 pounds, but he is as quick as a cat. Tim
had the fastest 10 yard split time of 1.47,
the second fastest 20 yard split time of
2.54 and the second fastest 40 with a time
of 4.34 seconds.
20 yard
shuttle:
Only 15
cornerbacks elected to participate in this
drill for some reason. Only Derrick Martin
from Wyoming ran his shuttle in under 4.00
seconds.
The 3-cone:
Only 9
cornerbacks ran the 3-Cone unfortunately.
Tye Hill had the fastest time with 6.63
followed by Richard Marshal with 6.65
seconds.
The slowest 40 times:
1. Khalid
Naziruddin, Texas Tech: 4.76
2. Charles
Gordon, Kansas: 4.69
3. John
Walker, USC: 4.68
Safeties:
1. Pat
Watkins, Florida State:
His impressive
workout seems to have gone un-noticed.
Unlike most prospects Watkins actually
measured up to his listed height and weight.
Elite size at 6-4.6 211 pounds, he also had
the top VJ of 41 and the best BJ of 11-1.
Pat is explosive for a long legged guy, he
had the fastest 10 yards split time of 1.49
and he tied Jason Allen and Michael Huff
with the best 20 yards split time of 2.56.
His 4.44 forty was also evidence that Pat
has the closing speed and range to perform
at the next level.
2. Jason
Allen, Tennessee:
Coming off a
season ending injury, Allen chose to do a
complete workout; that alone speaks volumes
about his work ethic. Allen worked out with
the safeties and measured in at 6-0.7 209
pounds. He looked fantastic running a 4.41
forty, but he really shined in the agility
drills. He was the only safety to run the 20
yard shuttle in under 4 seconds. His time of
3.81 was excellent. His two closest
competitors were Darnell Bing (4.07) and
Daniel Manning (4.07). He also was the third
fastest participant in the 3-cone drill with
a time of 6.75 seconds.
Best Performers, 3-Cone:
1. Reed
Doughty, Northern Colorado: 6.66
2. Jarred Page, UCLA: 6.68
3. Jason Allen, Tennessee: 6.75
3. Anthony Smith: 6.75
Worst Performers, 3-cone:
1. Jarvis
Herring: 7.34
2. Darnell Bing: 7.25
3. Daniel Manning: 7.23
4. Calvin Lowry: 7.16
5. Ko Simpson: 7.09
Overall worst
performing safeties:
1. Jahmile
Addae, West Virginia:
Measured in at
5-10 214 pounds and failed to lift or do any
agility drills. His two 40 yard dash runs of
4.75 and 4.82 seconds were not impressive.
2. Dwayne
Slay, Texas Tech:
Mel Kiper had
hyped him up during the season, but he has
fallen like a rock. He didn’t lift or run
any agility drills and his 40 yard dash runs
of 4.82 and 4.84 were pathetic. His Vertical
Jump (VJ) of 32.5 was second worst, ahead of
only Marcus Demps (31). Yes he is a big
(6-3.4 216 pounds) hard hitting strong
safety but he has limited range.
Defensive Ends:
1. Mark
Anderson, Alabama:
One of the top
performers, very fast, but also agile and at
6-4.2 254 capable of playing end or
linebacker. Mark had the best VJ of 42 and
the best BJ of 10-7. He had the second
fastest 10 yard split time of 1.55 seconds,
behind only Manny Lawson (1.53) who, by the
way, will almost certainly be a linebacker
at only 241 pounds. Mark also had the third
fastest 20 yard split time of 2.68 behind
only Lawson (2.64) and Ryan LaCasse (2.64).
Top Performers, 3-Cone:
1. Manny
Lawson, NC State: 6.90
2. Mark Anderson, Alabama: 6.95
3. Rob Ninkovich, Purdue: 6.96
4. Kamerion Wimbley, FSU: 6.97
5. Jeremy Mincey, Florida: 6.99
Top Performers, 20 yard shuttle:
1. Chris
Gocong, Cal-Poly: 4.08
2. Mathias Kiwinuka, Boston College: 4.13
3. Manny Lawson, NC State: 4.18
3. Rob Ninkovich, Purdue: 4.18
4. Mark Anderson, Alabama: 4.22
The 3 slowest Defensive Ends in the 40 yard
dash:
1. Julius
Jenkins, Stanford: 5.11
2. Frostee Rucker, USC: 5.06
3. Copeland Bryan, Arizona: 4.98
Poor Performer:
Darryl Tapp
didn’t look good, at 6-1.5 252 pounds, his
two 40 runs of 4.84 and 4.91 showed he
doesn’t have good range. He also had the 5th
slowest 20 yard split time of 2.87 seconds.
However, his 10 yard split time of 1.66
seconds was pretty good which shows how he
can get off the ball so quick.
Defensive Tackles:
The Strongest
(bench reps at 225 pounds):
1. Broderick
Bunkley: 44
2. Haloti Ngata: 37
3. Gabriel Watson: 36
4. Barry Cofield: 35
5. Babatunde Oshinowa: 33
5. Marcus Green: 33
The Weakest:
1. Titus
Adams: 15
2. Kader Drame: 17
3. Mania Brown: 21
4. Darrell Adams: 22
5. Jonathan Lewis: 24
1. Broderick Bunkley, Florida State:
His impressive
workout has already been well documented,
but he is bigger, stronger and faster than
what most people thought. He weighed in at
6-2.6 306 pounds, he had the best BJ of 9-5
and tied Kendric Golston and Mania Brown for
the second fastest 20 yard split time of
2.90.
2. Barry
Cofield, Northwestern:
Weighed in at
6-4 304, was the fourth strongest in the
bench and the most explosive in short area
quickness. He had the top 10 yard split time
of 1.68 and the fastest 20 yard split time
of 2.88. He also had the second best 3-Cone
time of 7.43 seconds.
3. Kendric
Golston, Georgia:
Golston is
rising up the draft boards with an excellent
combine. He weighed in at 6-4 300 pounds.
Golston is very quick and agile; he had the
second fastest 20 yards split time of 2.90,
the 3rd fastest 20 yard shuttle
run of 4.45 and the 4th fastest
3-cone drill time of 7.60 seconds.
Best performers, 20 Yard Shuttle:
1. Dusty
Dvoracek: 4.35
2. Jonathan Lewis: 4.40
3. Kendric Golston: 4.45
4. Mania Brown: 4.47
5. John McCargo: 4.48
Best Performers, 3-Cone Drill:
1. Jonathan
Lewis: 7.40
2. Barry Cofield: 7.43
3. Kyle Williams: 7.56
4. Kendric Golston: 7.60
5. Dusty Dvoracek: 7.62
Worst
Performers, 3-Cone Drill:
1. Gabriel
Watson: 8.29
2. Kader Drame: 8.16
3. Montavious Stanley: 8.11
4. Haloti Ngata: 7.99
5. LeKevin Smith: 7.97
Overall Worst
Performers:
1. Kader Drame,
Syracuse:
One of the
lightest (290 pounds), weakest (17 reps),
and slowest (5.34 forty) defensive lineman
at the combine. He is also not very agile
recording the 2nd worst 3-Cone
time of 8.16 seconds.
2. Johnny Jolly, Texas A&M:
Johnny really
laid an egg. He didn’t try to lift or
attempt a vertical jump, he skipped all the
agility drills and then ran two pathetic 40s
of 5.51 and 5.28 seconds.
Inside Linebackers:
1. Tim
Dobbins, Iowa State:
Nicely sized
at 6-1 246 pounds and was the third
strongest in the bench at 23 reps, behind
only Kevin Simon (26) and Leon Williams
(25). Tim is very explosive, he had the
fastest 20 yard split time of 2.65 and tied
Leon Williams for the fastest 40 yard dash
at 4.61.
Best
Performers, 20 yard shuttle:
1. Tim
McGarigle: 4.07
2. Gerris Wilkinson: 4.17
3. Oliver Hoyte: 4.30
3. Abdul Hodge: 4.30
Best
Performers, 3-Cone Drill:
1. D’Qwell
Jackson: 7.05
2. Abdul Hodge: 7.09
2. Tim McGarigle: 7.09
Worst overall
performers:
1. Freddie
Roach, Alabama:
Weighed in a
little heavy at 6-1 257 pounds and recorded
the slowest 20 yard split time of 2.93 and
the slowest 40 time of 5.01 seconds.
2. Kevin
Simon, Tennessee:
A little short
at 5-10 235 pounds and didn’t run well. I
don’t think he was 100% because he recorded
the slowest 60 yard shuttle run of 12.59 and
the slowest 3-Cone drill time of 7.71
seconds. His 4.93 forty was also not
impressive.
3. Anthony
Schlegal, Ohio State:
Still
recovering from a season ending injury he
didn’t look agile at all. He recorded the
second slowest 60 yard shuttle at 12.18 and
the second slowest 3-Cone drill time of 7.41
seconds. Anthony’s 4.86 forty didn’t set the
world on fire either.
Outside Linebackers:
The Strongest
(bench reps at 225 pounds):
1. Terna Nande:
41
2. Jon Alston: 30
3. Elvis Dumervil: 30
4. Kai Parham: 30
5. Stephen Tulloch: 27
The Weakest:
1. Brandon
Johnson: 11
2. Freddie Keiaho: 15
3. Chad Greenway: 16
4. Cameron Vaughn: 17
5. Roger McIntosh: 18
5. Travis Williams: 18
1. James
Anderson, Virginia Tech:
This guy has
come out of no where and is flying up the
draft boards. Decent size at 6-2.6 229
pounds, he had the 2nd best VJ of
41 and tied for the best 10 yard split time
of 1.56 seconds. He is also very agile
recording the best 20 yard shuttle run of
4.07 and the best 3-Cone time of 6.67
seconds.
2. Jon Alston,
Stanford:
A little short
at 6-0 223 but has excellent straight line
speed. Jon had the fastest 20 yard split
time of 2.57 and he tied A.J. Hawk for the
fourth best BJ of 40, behind Ernie Sims
(41), Clint Ingram (41) and the leader Roger
(Rocky) McIntosh with a jump of 41.5. But as
you will see later, neither he nor Ernie
Sims looked particularly impressive in the
agility drills. His 20 yard shuttle run of
4.13 was only slightly above average.
3. Ernie Sims,
FSU:
His straight
line speed was awesome and he put on some
weight measuring in at 5-11 231 pounds.
Ernie had the second fastest 20 yard split
time of 2.61 and the 3rd fastest
40 yard sprint time of 4.54 behind only Jon
Alston at 4.50 and the leader, Thomas Howard
at 4.47 seconds. But his 20 yard shuttle
(4.22) and 3-Cone (7.31) were below average.
4. Thomas
Howard, UTEP:
Yes blazing
straight line speed with a 4.47 forty and
nice size at 6-3 239 pounds. He also looked
good in the 3-Cone with a time of 6.96
seconds, but looked bad in the 20 yard
shuttle with a poor time of 4.28 seconds.
5. Spencer
Havner, UCLA:
Havner is
interesting, he has nice size at 6-3.3 242
pounds and awesome agility, finishing second
in the 20 yard shuttle (6.81) and tying for
first in the 3-Cone drill with a time of
4.07 seconds. However he is not considered
strong, he refused to bench at the combine
and he has very poor straight line speed,
all his splits were bad and he ran two 40s
at 4.73 and 4.74 seconds.
6. A.J. Hawk,
Ohio State:
For the
record, his two official 40 times were 4.65
and 4.68 seconds. However, if you look
inside the numbers he had an excellent
workout over all. He had the second fastest
10 yard split time of 1.57 seconds, which
shows his explosiveness, and the fourth best
VJ of 40. He also recorded a respectable 24
reps in the bench, and had the 3rd
best 3-Cone time of 6.82 seconds.
Top
Performers, 20 Yard Shuttle:
1. James Anderson: 4.07
2. Spencer Havner: 4.07
3. Clint Ingram: 4.10
4. Terna Nande: 4.11
5. Freddie Keiaho: 4.12
Top
Performers, 3-Cone Drill:
1. James
Anderson: 6.67
2. Spencer Havner: 6.81
3. A.J. Hawk: 6.82
4. Jon Alston: 6.90
5. William Kershaw: 6.95
Worst
performers, 40 yard dash:
1. Kai Parham:
5.03
2. A.J. Nicholson: 4.91
3. Stephen Tulluch: 4.86
4. Keith Ellison: 4.84
5. Omar Gaither: 4.82
Worst
Performers, 3-Cone:
1. A.J. Nicholson: 7.37
2. Kai Parham: 7.35
3. Ernie Sims: 7.33
4. Omar Gaither: 7.31
5. Cameron Vaughn: 7.24
Poor
performers:
Chad
Greenway, Iowa:
Chad
really didn’t live up to his lofty
reputation at all; he was shorter than his
listed height at 6-2 242 pounds and much
weaker and slower. His 16 repetitions in the
bench was pathetic for a 242 pounder, and he
had the 3rd worst VJ of 33.5
inches. His 20 yard shuttle run of 4.22 and
3-Cone time of 7 flat didn’t stand out
either. But what was the most troubling is
that his straight line speed was not good,
especially for an ex-safety, his two 40 runs
of 4.78 and 4.83 seconds just won’t cut it.
I wouldn’t even be shocked to see him fall
out of the 1st round.
