The 2020 NFL scouting combine is now in the books. Over the course of the past week, more than 300 prospective NFL players were put through the paces during the world’s strangest job interview. After all, that is what the combine truly is: A job interview. Some will get jobs, others will not.
With the combine behind us, who improved their chances, and which prospects still have work to do?
Winner: Jalen Hurts
The Oklahoma product came into Indianapolis known for his athleticism, and he did not disappoint in that regard. Hurts posted a 4.59 40-yard dash, one of the best numbers turned in by the quarterbacks and a number that backs up Hurts’ athleticism on film. (Only Cole McDonald ran faster, besting Hurts by 0.01 seconds).
But scouts and evaluators knew that the Oklahoma signal-caller was athletic. What they wanted to see was more evidence that he can develop into an NFL passer. That is where his throwing session comes into play. He impressed during his throwing session, displaying tighter and crisper mechanics. In addition, the ball popped out of his hand very well. For example, he delivered on a well-placed out route to Isaiah Hodges along the left sideline, as well and a great dig route to Antonio Gandy-Golden off of a deep drop into the pocket. Those throws highlighted some improved footwork from the quarterback. Hurts helped himself this week, especially when you consider how well he likely performed in his interviews with teams.
While Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa seem solidified in the top tier of quarterbacks, there is a lot of wrangling behind them for a spot in that second tier. With his performance in Indianapolis, Hurts might have moved into that group.
Loser: Jake Fromm
To be fair to Fromm, the parts of the Combine that were visible to the public are probably not the areas where he is going to excel. The Georgia passer is not known for having a powerful arm, nor is he known for upper-tier athleticism. During the testing and the workout at Lucas Oil Stadium, those parts of his game were on display. Fromm managed just a 5.01 40-yard dash, the slowest time of any quarterback who chose to run. During his throwing session, Fromm’s passes lacked velocity and tended to dip as they approached their target.
However, the parts that we could not see, specifically the team interviews and the whiteboard sessions, are probably where Fromm shines. He is a very smart and experienced passer who was given a lot of responsibility at the line of scrimmage, and early in his career. From the neck up Fromm is one of the better quarterbacks in this class, and during those meetings he likely impressed coaches and general managers with his knowledge of the game and offensive/defensive schemes.
There is likely to be an NFL team – or more – that falls for Fromm during this process. Based on his film, it will likely be due more to what he does during the meetings than anything he displayed Thursday night on the Lucas Oil Turf.
Winner: Denzel Mims
Every draft season there are a number of prospects that simply ace the pre-draft cycle, boosting their stock as they run the gauntlet from the postseason circuit through the Combine.
Denzel Mims from Baylor is a candidate for such accolades.
The wide receiver turned heads down in Mobile during the Senior Bowl, when he demonstrated consistent prowess in the vertical passing game. Benjamin Solak, writing for The Draft Network, described one of Mims’ practice sessions this way:
What he has shown is separation ability over the last few days, and it’s been better than many experienced after viewing his tape. Mims wins on downfield routes because he has a clean release at the line of scrimmage, explosive first steps to generate a downfield stack and an inherent knack for ball-tracking early maintaining leverage. He knows just the right speed to finish his route so that he can stay between the corner and the football.
Now let’s look at what Mims accomplished in Indianapolis. He posted a 4.38 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time among wide receivers. His 38.5” vertical was tenth among wide receivers. His 10’11” broad jump was fourth-best among wide receivers, and to close things out his 6.66 three-cone time was the best for his position group. Scouts may have questions about his ability to separate based on his game film, but he started to answer those questions with a solid week at the Senior Bowl and when you factor in his testing, Mims is looking more like a first round target.
Loser: K.J. Hill
Similar to Mims, Hill was a player who flashed down in Mobile during Senior Bowl practices. Carter Donnick, who covers the draft for The Draft Network, used quite the lofty comparison when describing Hill’s production at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile:
He isn’t the biggest or the fastest, but Hill’s quickness, nuance and insane one-handed catches consistently put him on the highlight reel. Take it for what it is, but I had one name pop into my mind while watching Hill: Tyler Lockett.
Austin Gayle from Pro Football Focus, who was also in Mobile covering the Senior Bowl for PFF, was also impressed with the Ohio State wideout:
However, results from Indianapolis were a bit underwhelming. Size was going to be a factor when projecting his draft value, as he measured in at 5’11 and ⅞” and at 196 pounds, but the testing was also subpar given his size. Hill posted a 4.6 40-yard dash with an estimated 20-yard split of 2.67, which brings into question his usage out of the slot. He also underwhelmed with a vertical of 32.5” and a broad jump of 9’6”. Now, slot receivers are starters in the NFL, so even if he is pigeonholed into that role as a rookie he still brings value to a team, but those expecting him to perhaps crash the Day Two party are having second thoughts.
Winner: Justin Jefferson
Jefferson, the LSU slot receiver, had some incredible items on his resume as the Combine beckoned. Per Pro Football Focus, he posted a 92.3% contested catch rate, forced 23 missed tackles, had the most catches from the slot and had the most yards from the slot, among receivers last season.
Solid, but how would the wideout test out in Indianapolis?
As it turns out, incredibly well.
Jefferson ran a blazing 4.43 40-yard dash, a top ten time to go with what he produced on film during LSU’s run to a national championship. Not to be satisfied with a great 40-yard dash, Jefferson showed some explosiveness with a vertical of 37.5” and a broad jump of 10’6”, both very good for the wide receiver position.
While he was used primarily out of the slot by the Tigers, with his size (6’1” 202) Jefferson could be used as both a slot or a Z type receiver in the NFL. His speed, explosiveness and size make him a boundary threat on the outside, but that combination will make him a difficult assignment for many slot cornerbacks in the NFL. His resume, now complete with size, impressive testing and production, coupled with his positional versatility makes him a very attractive option for NFL offenses.
Loser: Mitchell Wilcox
When given this assignment, my editor was looking for 200-300 words on each selection.
But honestly, I’m hoping my editor lets this one slide a bit. Because folks, if you take a dome shot to the head on national television during the gauntlet, you’re leaving town in this category.
Wilcox did just that, suffering a burst blood vessel in his eye in the process. He made it through the rest of the drills, but his testing likely fell off as a result of the injury. He’ll get a chance to rebound on his Pro Day, but… yeah.
Winner: Jonathan Taylor
The Wisconsin running back posted a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash time, but while this turned heads we probably should have seen this coming. Back in high school Taylor ran track his junior and senior years, and at a meet in May of his senior year he posted a 10.49 in the 100-meter dash, a mark that is still among the fastest times in state history.
But Taylor was not done after his forty. He continued to shine, posting a 7.01 three-cone time that was fourth-best among the running backs, and his 20-yard shuttle of 4.24 was sixth-best among running backs. Long speed is nice at the running back position, but short-area quickness and change of direction ability are critical to the position, and Taylor was strong in this area as well, given these numbers.
Entering this season there were questions about whether he could be a three-down back in the NFL, so the Badgers tried to involve him in the passing game more. This speed – as well as those agility numbers – will convince NFL teams that they simply need to involve him in the passing game. That all-around ability will make him a very attractive prospect to teams.
Loser: Zack Moss
In contrast to what Taylor and Dillon did on Friday night, Moss’s testing numbers were…not great. His 40-yard dash time of 4.65 tied him for the fourth-slowest among running backs in Indianapolis, and things did not exactly improve from there. His vertical of 33” was the seventh-smallest, and his 20-yard shuttle of 4.37 was the fourth-slowest.
Thankfully for Moss there is much more that goes into playing the running back position at a high level than what you do during your Combine testing. Intelligence and competitive toughness are also huge factors for NFL scouts and evaluators to consider. Moss checks both those boxes. Consider this response when asked by Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar about executing a zone running design:
DF: Your left tackle and left guard seal this up well on the backside, but I’m always curious with running backs — with all that chaos going on, how you see that in the moment?
ZM: For one, you always want to know what type of front you’re running against. If it’s a three-down or four-down front (three or four down linemen), that will let you know a lot of things. It allows you to slow down the thinking process, and it lets you just play the game at a faster rate. I was able to ID the front — it was a four-down front with one ‘backer inside. They were playing a lot of nickel defense, and usually against a four-down, our guard and our center have to combo block and get up to the linebacker. But since the ‘backer blitzed, and he pretty much ate himself up, it created that big gap.
With that kind of processing speed, Moss likely aced his team meetings in Indianapolis. Will it be enough to overcome what he did during his testing? Time will tell.
Winner: A.J. Dillon
Dillon was known as more of a power runner from the film of his days at Boston College. For example, Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network described him as follows: “Love his forward lean and leg drive, if he needs a yard, the odds are pretty good he’s going to get one and a half. Consistently moves the pile and will drag defenders in one on one scenarios. Despite high pads, he’ll drop shoulder and reduce surface area for pending contact.”
On Friday night he displayed more athleticism than many were expecting. His 4.53 40-yard dash (at 6’0” 247) was very solid, and then his vertical of 41” and his broad jump of 10’11” really turned heads. That broad jump mark topped the running back board, as did his vertical leap.
These numbers, along with his film, really point to an ideal scheme fit for Dillon: A gap/power scheme that relies on power and explosiveness with the football in his hands. Teams that rely on such designs, such as the Baltimore Ravens, might find him an enticing option.
Loser: Bradlee Anae
The University of Utah EDGE defender put incredible production on film this past season, even dealing with a multitude of blocking schemes that were slid his way, as he told the media on Thursday. Anae posted 41 total tackles last season for the Utes, including 14 for a loss, to go with his 13 sacks.
Then at the Senior Bowl, Anae had a solid week in front of NFL teams, capping that week off with a great performance in the game itself. Anea notched three sacks and five total pressures, and one of his pressures led to an interception:
But the production did not match what Anae turned in during testing in Indianapolis. He ran just a 4.93 in the 40-yard dash, with a 10-yard split of 1.69. His agility and explosive tests were average at best, especially his three-cone time of 7.44 which put him in the middle of the pack.
Anae put incredible production on film this season, and in Mobile. For most scouts, film is more important than what you do during testing, but Anae missed out on an opportunity to continue the momentum he generated down in Mobile.
Winner: Teams that need an offensive tackle
If you are a team picking in the first half of the first round, and you need an offensive tackle, Friday was a very good night for you. From Andrew Thomas to Tristan Wirfs to Mekhi Becton to Matthew Peart to Jedrick Willis to Terence Steele through Ezra Cleveland, the offensive tackles displayed a combination of speed and power that turned many heads. Sure, on film some of these players are probably not first round picks, such as Peart and Cleveland, but their testing on Friday night might move them into at least the discussion.
Specifically, we need to focus on Wirfs and Becton for a moment. Wirfs, the 6’ and ⅞” offensive tackle, who weighed in at 320 pounds, posted an astonishing 40-yard dash time of 4.85. Many have theorized that Wirfs would fit best at guard in the NFL – an idea I do not align with – but if we are going to consider a position switch for him, what about tight end?
Then there is Becton, who also turned heads with a 40-time of his own. The heaviest player in Indianapolis, checking in at 364 pounds, Becton clocked in at 5.1 in the 40-yard dash. Imagine a man of that size, with that level of momentum, coming at you as he turns the corner as a puller in front of a running play? Try being the force defender taking on that freight train. Lots of defenders are going to make some business decisions when they are staring that down next season.
Loser: Teams that need immediate TE help
At the outset, it should be noted that a few different tight ends turned in solid performances out in Indianapolis. After an uninspiring 40-yard dash, Adam Trautman from the University of Dayton rebounded with solid testing in the agility drills. His three-cone time of 6.78 was not only the top mark posted by any of the tight ends, but it was the best time at the position since 2003 and would have placed him second among all tight ends and wideouts, behind only Denzel Mims and his time of 6.66. Albert Okwuegbunam’s 40-yard time of 4.49 was very impressive for a tight end. Cole Kmet from Notre Dame also turned in a solid night on Thursday, with a 4.7 40-yard dash and some great results in the jumping tests, including a 37” vertical and a broad jump of 10’3”.
The problem lies more with the jump that tight ends face when moving from the college game to the pro game. Last year was considered the “Year of the Tight End,” with two players: Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson, selected in the top 20. Both showed promise at times, and Fant had a strong finish to his season, but the transition for rookie tight ends is difficult. Many are tasked with handling more blocking responsibilities, and most are faced with trying to separate from quicker and more explosive defenders than they are used to. There is a lot for young TEs to adjust to when they turn pro. Hockenson and Fant are just the two most recent examples of this phenomenon.
Trautman, Kmet, Okwuegbunam and other tight ends such as Harrison Bryant, Hunter Bryant and Charlie Deguara show promise and potential on film, but given the recent history at the position teams might need a bit of patience when turning in a card with one of their names written down.
Winner: Teams that need something besides an OT/QB
Building off of a previous point for a moment. If you look at the fact that this draft includes four top-fight offensive tackles, with more trying to burst into that tier, and couple that with the annual “Rise of the Quarterbacks,” some teams that have needs outside of those two positions are going to see some elite talent fall into their laps later in the first round.
Consider the current NFL draft order and the quarterback position. Among the teams picking in the first 15 slots there are at least seven organizations to keep in mind: Cincinnati, Miami, Los Angeles, Carolina, Las Vegas, Indianapolis and Tampa Bay that are in the mix for a quarterback. Every year a few wildcards join the fray, and teams like Detroit and Washington could surprise us all and dive into the QB pool. Heck, even Joe Judge and Dave Gettleman opened the door to selecting a quarterback back on Tuesday when they would not even mention Daniel Jones by name. (I for one would not read much into that, but stranger things have happened).
Moving now to the offensive line, there are a number of teams picking in the top 15 that could address tackle: New York (both the Giants and the Jets), Cleveland, Carolina (if they forgo quarterback), Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Arizona.
Suppose, for a moment, that all four offensive tackles and four or even five quarterbacks come off the board in the top 15. Those teams picking in the bottom of the first round are going to see premium players fall to them. Not a bad place to be.
Loser: Logan Stenberg
Similar to Jake Fromm, the Kentucky interior offensive linemen was probably not in position to succeed given what he does well, and areas of his game that might be lacking.
Stenberg is an offensive guard that plays with a mean streak. With some nastiness to his game, as Chad Reuter from NFL.com described him. He was impressive on film and displayed great power and strength down in Mobile during Senior Bowl week. I was amazed at some of the one-on-one battles he had with Rob Windsor, the defensive lineman from Penn State. Windsor, who told the media on Thursday that he prides himself on being a “read-and-react pass rusher” tried a variety of pass rushing moves on Stenberg during their matchups. Stenberg always seemed to have an answer.
Then, the Combine happened. His testing was basically below-average across the board, with an underwhelming 10-yard split of 1.86 during his 40-yard dash of 5.3 seconds.
The fact of the matter is, you are not drafting Stenberg based on what he does during his athletic testing. You are drafting him based on what he does when he is in pads and the lights are turned on. Friday night was not his best showing, but teams would be smart to go back to the film and see where he excels.
Winner – Isaiah Simmons
Do not overthink this.
I repeat: Do. Not. Overthink. This.
Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons turned in one of the best combine performances among offball linebackers in NFL history. He demonstrated speed, with a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash. He displayed explosiveness, with a 39” vertical jump and an 11’0” broad jump. He displayed size and length, measuring in at 6’3 and ⅝” with a 76” wingspan. Simply put, Simmons brought the goods on Saturday night.
But do not consider him simply a workout warrior. Those who studied Simmons on tape were not surprised by what he posted during the Combine. In today’s NFL, with the trend towards positionless football, Simmons can be the piece for any team needing defensive help. As noted by Doug Farrar in this great piece, Simmons notched more than 100 snaps at four different positions last year for the Tigers. Simmons played 299 snaps in the box, 262 snaps at slot cornerback, 132 snaps at free safety, and 116 snaps at defensive line. In addition, he played 13 snaps at BOUNDARY CORNERBACK.
If you are a team needing help on defense – regardless of position – Simmons should be on your board. Need someone who can handle tight ends? Simmons can do that with his length and size. Need someone who can handle life in the slot or as an overhang defender? Simmons can do that. Need someone who can spy a quarterback on third down? Simmons can do that. Need someone with the size and speed to survive on the boundary? Simmons can do that.
His night was perhaps summed up best by Trevor Sikkema from The Draft Network:
That’s exactly right. So too will be the team that does not overthink Simmons.
Loser – Derrick Brown
You can see it happening.
Teams overthinking what Brown did on Saturday night, and passing on him in the draft.
Let us get the bad news out of the way. Brown did not test well at the Combine. His 40-yard dash of 5.16 seconds was the fourth-slowest among defensive linemen. His 20-yard shuttle of 4.79 seconds was the seventh-slowest. His vertical leap of 27” was the fourth-lowest. Then there is his three-cone time: 8.22 seconds. According to Pro Football Reference that number would be the tenth slowest among defensive linemen dating back to 2000.
Teams, however, should not overthink this.
On film Brown is a dominant force up front. He has great size and power at the point of attack, and can play almost anywhere up front. He commands double-teams, enabling him to create opportunities for those around him. In a league that still has those who value run defense, Brown can be a run-stopper up front.
To any scouts or decision-makers reading this: Trust your eyes, trust your tape grades, and do not shy away from drafting him. If you do, you’ll be sorry when he’s a force against your offense for years to come.
Winner – Willie Gay Jr.
Every Combine there is a player who tests so well, you cannot wait to dive into his film and see what you and others were missing. Mississippi State linebacker Willie Gay Jr. is one such player. Gay missed time during his junior year as a result of NCAA violations regarding an academic tutor, and he also got into an “altercation” with starting quarterback Garrett Shrader according to NFL.com.
Perhaps that is why no one saw his Saturday night performance coming.
Gay posted one of the best workouts among linebackers, along with Simmons. He ran a blazing 4.46 40-yard dash, second to only Simmons among linebackers. His 21 reps on the bench press (we’re going to discuss that in a moment) tied him for fifth among linebackers. His vertical leap of 39.5” was second-best among LBs, his broad jump of 11’4” was tops at the position, and his three-cone time of 7.08 was also near the top among linebackers.
Players with red flags such as Gay need strong combine showings to demonstrate that they might be worth the character risk. When a player like this tests as well as Gay did on Saturday night, teams might be more willing to take a chance on them later in the round. Conversely, poor testing combined with character flags is often a death knell for a prospect’s chances. Gay had a huge opportunity Saturday and made the most of it, and if he did well during his interview sessions, he will have left Indianapolis in a much better position.
Loser – A.J. Epenesa
If you were expecting Epenesa, the Iowa defensive lineman, to come into Indianapolis and look the part of a prototype NFL EDGE defender, you were likely disappointed by his testing results.
If you consider Epenesa as more of a 3-4 defensive end, and thus perhaps more of a defensive lineman? You might have been satisfied with what you saw.
Consider the work done by Kent Lee Platte, who you can find on Twitter at @MathBomb. Using his Relative Athletic Scoring system, which evaluates the players based on their size, testing results and position, Epenesa’s RAS score of 4.30 was near the bottom of all the EDGE defenders in Indianapolis.
But if you compare him with defensive linemen, he would post not a 4.30, but a 9.08, which would be near the top.
Epenesa projects more as a 5-technique defender in the NFL,a defensive end in a three-man front who will rely more on power than burst and explosiveness off the edge. Teams that are looking for that kind of player are probably double-checking what they saw on film, and not overthinking his testing results. But if you were hoping for a bendy edge rusher, you came away disappointed.
Winner – C.J. Henderson
Tackling is a part of football.
If you got a chance a few weeks ago to catch the HBO documentary “Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching,” you caught a great moment from the venerable New England Patriots head coach. Talking about the evolution of the game, Belichick remarked that sometimes he would get on a plane after a loss and see “everybody on their computers with spreadsheets” trying to figure out why the Patriots just dropped a game.
Belichick, as witty as ever, recalled that he would often be left saying: “Guys, we lost because we couldn’t tackle.”
If Belichick says it, then it is part of the game. Tackling matters.
But why are you drafting a cornerback? Is it because of his tackling, or his coverage skills? Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson is a great coverage player, and he certainly helped himself on Saturday with a very fast 4.39 40-yard dash time. On film there are instances of him perhaps making some “business decisions, but his coverage skills coupled with that speed and quickness makes him a potential shutdown corner. Teams might be willing to live with him giving up a 15-yard run here and there, if he is constantly preventing the 75-yard touchdown strike through the air.
Loser -Trey Adams
If you have read this far, you probably understand that the NFL Draft has become a year-long affair. As I like to refer to it, the “Draft Industrial Complex” never sleeps, and as soon as the 2020 draft ends, draftniks (like myself) will be elbows-deep in Trevor Lawrence tape.
And, deep down, you know you’ll be reading those “way too early 2021 mock drafts” come the end of April. At least, I hope you do, as I’ll be writing some…
But part of the draft season includes the summer scouting season. When evaluators do their baseline work on the next draft class. Along the way, players are discovered, rise up early boards, and often fall back to earth when the games begin again in the fall.
Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams might be one such player.
Early evaluators looked at his mix of size and power on film and thought that Adams – who measured in at 6’8” and 318 pounds – could be a bedrock tackle in the NFL. But his film this past season failed to match the buzz, and his Combine performance did not exactly help his cause. His 40-yard dash time of 5.6 seconds (with a 1.95 10-yard split) was not a great number. Nor was his broad jump of just 7’8”. With the great work being turned in by the other tackles out in Indianapolis, Adams leaves town with a lot to accomplish with not a ton of time left on the calendar.
Plus, there is footage out there of a rather…interesting answer during one of his interview sessions. This is a family website, friends, so you’ll have to find that on your own.
Winner: Jeremy Chinn
Earlier in this piece the topic of positional flexibility on the defensive side of the football was addressed, when Isaiah Simmons was discussed.
Safety is another position where flexibility matters. The days of having one free safety, and one strong safety, are out the window. First there is the matter of how offenses attack defenses in today’s game. With shifts and motions, you can force a safety out of position by changing the strength of the offensive formation before the snap. If you are playing a defense that has a free safety type player who struggles in the box, force him down there with shifts and motion and then attack him. Or a strong safety who struggles in the deep middle.
The second reason this matters at the safety spot is the number of multiple-safety packages teams are now using. The Patriots, for example, rely heavily on three-safety packages using Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon.
Safeties are back.
A safety who has helped himself a great deal this draft process is Southern Illinois’ Jeremy Chinn. During Senior Bowl week Chinn displayed that positional flexibility, showing prowess down in the box as a strong safety player, but still having the athleticism to play as a middle of the field free safety. His explosiveness and burst to attack the boundary receiver from the middle of the field was on display the entire week in Mobile.
One of the more…awkward parts of the Senior Bowl is the weigh-in. Watching players cross the stage to get measured wearing their underwear is rather strange. But a player that certainly won the weigh-in was Chinn. As Bryan Perez, who covers the Chicago Bears for NBC Chicago described it, Chinn “was the most rocked-up defensive player at the weigh-ins.”
Then he came to Indianapolis.
Chinn measured in at 6’3” 221 pounds, and posted a 41” vertical with an 11’6” broad jump. Explosiveness to match what he put on tape. Size to play in the box. A fantastic Combine for him after a very solid Senior Bowl. Chinn has made some money this draft cycle.
Loser: Michael Divinity
If you are a prospect with a checkered past and some red flags next to your name, Indianapolis is a huge opportunity for you. You can meet with teams and explain your situation, and hopefully put some minds to ease.
You can also put some minds at ease by showing great power, athleticism and agility.
Hopefully Divinity put on a show during his meetings with teams, because he fell short during the testing portion of the Combine.
Divinity enters draft season with a few different red flags. He suffered an ankle injury which caused him to miss some time, and he also was declared ineligible by LSU head coach Ed Ogereon. According to this article from the Daily Advertiser, Divinity tested positive for marijuana, which led to him being declared ineligible.
Divinity returned to the team for the National Championship game, and had a chance at the Combine to show NFL scouts and coaches he was worth taking in the draft. But he posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.85 seconds, and that coupled with a vertical jump of 31.5” has him near the bottom in those categories in the linebacker group. He’ll need a much better showing at his Pro Day – coupled with some great interview sessions – to make up the lost ground.
Winner: The city of Indianapolis
This was not only my first opportunity to cover the Combine as a credentialed media member, it was my first visit to the city of Indianapolis. I went in wide-eyed and with high expectations, and the host city did not disappoint.
One of the great parts of Combine week, for me, was attending Peter King’s annual Combine Tweet-Up at Sun King Brewery. Everything, from the beer to the company, was fantastic. During that question-and-answer session, Peter mentioned how the NFL is looking at moving the Combine out west to Los Angeles, when the new Rams’ stadium complex is completed.
Now, my voice counts for absolutely nothing, but in my opinion that would be a mistake.
The beauty of Indianapolis as the host city for the Combine is multi-faced. For the teams and their scouts, they literally never have to leave the building. Or, buildings to be precise. They can stay at the JW Marriott, use the skyway to walk into the Convention Center, and then from the convention center use the tunnel to get to Lucas Oil. They never have to see the light of day.
More importantly, however, Indianapolis provides quick and easy access to the hospital where the medical examinations are performed. That does not seem to be a possibility – at least not yet – for Los Angeles and the complex being built out west.
Plus, the size of the city makes Indianapolis a great destination for fans and members of the media. The city is very walkable – even though the wind always seems to be in your face – and the centralized location of Indianapolis makes it convenient for most in terms of flight times.
Finally, the St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail. Worth the price of admission.
Loser: The bench press
Epenesa, with 17 reps.
Andrew Thomas, the Georgia offensive tackle, with 21 reps.
Even Wirfs, who turned in a monster of a combine, posted 24 reps.
More and more it is becoming obvious that the bench press fails to truly illustrate the functional strength of these prospects. Sure, scouts can use it to see how well these athletes “prepare for the test” so to speak, but if you want to measure strength that will translate to the football field, the bench press is a poor exercise to use.
Brandon Thorn, who covers the NFL and the offensive line for outlets such as Establish the Run and The Athletic Denver, has been advocating for years that the NFL move away from the bench press and to another exercise at the combine. A more complex, athletic movement such as the squat or the hang or power clean. Yes, Wirfs benched 225 pounds 24 times, but if you want to see a true measure of his strength and power, watch him hang clean 450 pounds four times last summer:
As his tweet-up on Wednesday night Peter King mentioned that the league might be moving away from the bench press. Given what players like Wirfs can do at the combine – and how their bench press numbers might not measure their true functional power – I think it is time the league moves to a different test for strength.
Winner: The Ben Bartch shake
Sports fans love to root for underdogs. In the NFL, the idea of a Division III offensive tackle working his way through the draft process and into the NFL is the perfect underdog story. Enter Ben Bartch, the offensive tackle from St. John’s (MN), a Division III school. Bartch entered college as a tight end from Oregon, but put on 70 pounds over the course of his time in school and transitioned to offensive tackle.
When I say transition, I mean transition. Look at the evolution of his headshots, from “hopeful freshman tight end” to “nasty offensive tackle:”
How did Bartch add this weight? There were rumors of a nasty concoction of a shake that he would drink during his off-campus job, and when he addressed the media on Wednesday, Arif Hasan from The Athletic – Minnesota asked for the recipe:
Incredible.
The recipe took on a life of its own, with Bartch appearing on the NFL Network with Colleen Wolfe to prepare and consume the shake on air. That clip, complete with Bartch going into full QVC salesperson mode, is a must-watch.
But while the shake is fascinating, so to is its creator. Bartch showed he belonged down at Mobile, where at times he seemed like the best offensive tackle at the Senior Bowl. He tweaked his knee down there and will not be working out until the Pro Day at the University of Minnesota, but his recipe was one of the winners of the week.
Loser: BradyWatch 2020
Two storylines truly dominated last week in Indianapolis.
At the forefront was the fight over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Players such as Richard Sherman and Aaron Rodgers made their feelings known, and prospects of a quick conclusion to the labor issue were dashed just as quickly. Coaches, such as Bruce Arians, were asked about the negotiations but given how they are somewhat in the middle, they largely avoided the topic. As Arians said “we’re in the middle on this, so we’ll just go along with whatever they tell us.”
The other storyline, however, remains on everyone’s mind: Brady Watch 2020. Every hushed conversation in a hallway, every shouted conversation at the the bar at the J.W. Marriott, and every discussion in between inevitably turned to where Tom Brady would be playing next season. Even while the testing was taking place on Saturday afternoon, more NFL writers were trying their hand at lip reading instead of tweeting about testing results:
Brady, Julian Edelman and Jimmy Fallon were in attendance at the Carrier Dome as Syracuse hosted UNC in men’s basketball. Edelman could be seen saying on camera “he’s coming back.” Brady’s response, however, was less clear. Some thought Brady said “he’s not.” Others thought he was saying “this guy,” in reference to Edelman.
Yet more speculation.
No one knows where Brady is going to end up next season. But the fact of the matter is, the quarterback carousel will not truly start spinning until he makes a decision. The butterfly effect of what he decides to do will change the course of NFL history. Every team that is looking to address quarterback will have their plans altered in some way based on what he decides. That is why Brady Watch 2020, as it lingers, haunts us all.
After ten years of practicing law in the Washington, DC area, Mark Schofield now dedicates his time to his first love: The game of football. The former college quarterback’s work has been featured a number of places, including The Washington Post, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Pro Football Weekly and the Matt Waldman Rookie Scouting Portfolio.
