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Around SBN: Africa Cup Of Nations Semifinal: Black Stars Ripe For Upset?

Riffing on the DB Prospects

 

It's become fashionable to make fun of the monstrosity that is the NFL Scouting Combine. In many instances some of this is justified. But in my opinion, the position that has the most riding on combine performance is cornerback. The position requires rare athleticism, so the combine can go a long ways in how they're evaluated, particularly in a year such as this one where it's a deep, competitive class.

Almost every Viking fan agrees they need some youth and upside in the secondary. Some think they need to find at least one new, immediate starter; some think they need depth only. Some are more concerned with corner than safety, and vice versa. But nearly everyone thinks they'll walk away from the draft doing something in this area.

The DBs combine day was today. Here are some 40 times

Javier Arenas: 4.52 (tweaked his hammy at the end of his run, so just did it once)
Larry Asante: 4.69 & 4.63
Eric Berry: 4.46 & 4.40
Kam Chancellor: 4.63 & 4.62
Perrish Cox: 4.53 & 4.57
Dominique Franks: 4.52 & 4.57
Brandon Ghee: 4.37 & 4.39
Joe Haden: 4.57 & 4.60
Kareem Jackson: 4.41 & 4.46
Chad Jones: 4.57 & 4.57
Reshad Jones: 4.54 & 4.59
Trevard Lindley: 4.53 & 4.57
Devin McCourty: 4.34 & 4.35
Jerome Murphy: 4.52 & 4.54
Patrick Robinson: 4.42 & 4.49
Myron Rolle: 4.69 & 4.68
Earl Thomas: 4.53 & 4.44
Donovan Warren: 4.59
Major Wright: 4.49

Some thoughts: Taylor Mays was beyond absurd, but I still think he's a poor fit for Minnesota, as he'd be playing in space in the Tampa-2, which isn't his strong suit (and besides, maybe they should just start printing out his Raiders jerseys with that 40 time).

Brandon Ghee had the best workout of all the pure CBs, not just in the 40 but in the other drills as well. I don't think you make a guy a first rounder because of a good combine day, though. And there are concerns to his game.

The guy considered best cover corner in the draft--Joe Haden--ran a scary bad 40. This will be interesting. Scouts love his tape, but that's shocking for a guy who was supposed to be a pure man-cover type. (Scouts have a saying that while you can have slower recievers; there's no slow corners in the league). Last year the top rated DB--Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins--had a similar 40 and went in the mid first. But had the size to translate to safety, as well as some zone experience.

There were several CBs considered borderline round 1/2 type prospects. Guys like McCourty, Cox, Warren, Robinson, Franks, Jackson. Depending on how much weight a team puts into this, Franks, Cox, and Warren maybe lost some money today.

As a Vikings fan I'm keeping an eye on Devin McCourty out of Rutgers. Physically he's 5'11" with pretty good length in the arms, so he's big enough for what they traditionally do. Athletically he checks out, testing out amongst the leaders in many of the drills and, more importantly, scouts love his agility and balance on tape. And stylistically, he seems like a great fit as he's a fiesty/physical type that loves to press and support the run. NFL Draft Scout comps him to Ronde Barber (fwiw).

But who knows?

Thoughts on some of these defensive backs?

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Well, one of my favorite players in this draft is Myron Rolle.
I’m quite surprised by his bad 40 time, but I’m kind of happy for that too, because with that his stock won’t skyrocket and we get a chance at him in the second or maybe even in the third.

As for CB, I really like both Kyle Wilson and Patrick Robinson, and overall, they were pretty good out there today. I would be very pleased if we could get any of them, especially if they fall to late second.

SKÖL VIKINGS!

SHOW YOUR HORNS!

by VikingTW11 on Mar 2, 2010 7:21 PM CST reply actions  

Oh, and by the way, 4.24 was Mays’ unnoficial 40 time.

The official time is 4.43

SKÖL VIKINGS!

SHOW YOUR HORNS!

by VikingTW11 on Mar 2, 2010 7:33 PM CST reply actions  

I wanted Mays

but now it seems that he is gonna be gone earlier, to low for a trade

by muffin man on Mar 2, 2010 8:03 PM CST reply actions  

40 times

To me, the official and unofficial 40 times at the Combine are all in doubt because of their inconsistency.

I can see Taylor Mays dropping to the Vikings. I see him as a great player who might be able to start by mid-season. He is so fast it doesn’t matter that he can’t cover. He will get to the ball or ball carrier in time anyway. Eventually he will learn to cover and he will be very good.

by medicineball on Mar 2, 2010 8:45 PM CST reply actions  

one more thing

USC plays a lot of Cover-2, so his adjustment to the Vikings would be somewhat reduced.

by medicineball on Mar 2, 2010 8:46 PM CST up reply actions  

Well...

I don’t think he will fall to us, but if he does, he would be a nice fit.

SKÖL VIKINGS!

SHOW YOUR HORNS!

by VikingTW11 on Mar 2, 2010 8:50 PM CST up reply actions  

Times

Most teams rely on their own scouts’ watches, from what I gather. So who knows?

by jianfu on Mar 2, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions  

NFLN had a camera shot of Mean Joe Greene, now a scout with the Steelers. He was timing 40-yard dashes with his own stopwatch.

by medicineball on Mar 3, 2010 10:22 AM CST up reply actions  

amari spievey

unofficial times were between 4.46 and 4.51 (unofficial) considered 10th best in the draft and has a helluva nose for the ball. just a thought. i know i get on here and tout iowa guys all the time (can’t help it :)) but they’ve got some very talented players that could be drafted in the middle rounds and would be an amazing value.

I piss people off on a fairly regular basis. I cherish my right to speak my mind, whether I sound like an uneducated savage or not. I've never been accused of keeping what I think a secret, nor will I ever. Don't like it? I don't care.

by IABerserker1 on Mar 2, 2010 10:00 PM CST reply actions  

Spievey is a really good player. I don’t know that I saw a more sure tackler at Cb in the nation. It’s hard to judge him in coverage though but part of that could just be because teams for the most part avoided him, which is a good thing. I agree with you, in the middle rounds he would have great value.

What do you think about Calloway?

by packallday555 on Mar 3, 2010 6:38 PM CST up reply actions  

calloway is a good player.

a bit spotty at times, but all in all, he is a pretty consistant player and stays pretty healthy. i think he started 25 straight games before he decided to operate his moped while intoxicated. not to say that OWIs are funny, but during the day, seeing 650 pounds of humanity (2 o-linemen) riding the same moped up market street hill is maybe funnier than clowns boxing. by far funnier than the same o-linemen getting on the bus at the bottom of the hill and off at the top. pure gold.

I piss people off on a fairly regular basis. I cherish my right to speak my mind, whether I sound like an uneducated savage or not. I've never been accused of keeping what I think a secret, nor will I ever. Don't like it? I don't care.

by IABerserker1 on Mar 3, 2010 7:19 PM CST up reply actions  

not touting

iowa has really good fits for where they fall or if they fall to the triangle.bulaga,edds,angerer,moeaki,spievey,calloway,ect…….

by gothicpurple on Mar 3, 2010 3:46 AM CST reply actions  

An all Hawkeye draft! If they were the best players available, great!

by medicineball on Mar 3, 2010 10:23 AM CST up reply actions  

Spievey

What was his 40?

I see that some people over at the Cardinals forums are choosing Spievey as a 2nd round pick in their draft.

by Deek on Mar 3, 2010 1:35 PM CST up reply actions  

his 40 (unofficial)

was between 4.46 and 4.51. not bad.

I piss people off on a fairly regular basis. I cherish my right to speak my mind, whether I sound like an uneducated savage or not. I've never been accused of keeping what I think a secret, nor will I ever. Don't like it? I don't care.

by IABerserker1 on Mar 3, 2010 7:20 PM CST up reply actions  

Cover-2

One more positive thing on Spievey. He played a lot of Cover-2 at Iowa, and so he would be one of those guys more easily able to fit right in faster with the Vikings. Same with players from USC and Tennessee.

by medicineball on Mar 3, 2010 2:21 PM CST up reply actions  

Could he be a Bob Sanders type of player?

I know not fair to assess guys that way…but Bob Sanders is a heck of a football player, when he’s healthy.

"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula

by NMVike on Mar 3, 2010 2:54 PM CST up reply actions  

he can hit pretty hard

and is fairly good in run support (which i’m sure he could get even better at) like ’toine, but even better in coverage.

I piss people off on a fairly regular basis. I cherish my right to speak my mind, whether I sound like an uneducated savage or not. I've never been accused of keeping what I think a secret, nor will I ever. Don't like it? I don't care.

by IABerserker1 on Mar 3, 2010 7:22 PM CST up reply actions  

Spievey is also 6’0, 190, so he has decent size. He’s 21, turning 22 in April.

by medicineball on Mar 3, 2010 7:49 PM CST up reply actions  

I like Rolle

His 40 time is much worse than I thought it would be, but I really l dig an academic when it comes to foot ball. Intelligence plays a large part in football and not enough people on the field tend to have it. When you know why your doing something, instead of just feeling it you have the ability to disect that and work it to a better degree. Plus I have huge respect for any player who doesn’t get a degree in sports medicine, history or home ec.

It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...

by Grime on Mar 3, 2010 8:14 AM CST reply actions  

What's wrong with a degree in history?

"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula

by NMVike on Mar 3, 2010 12:54 PM CST up reply actions  

Nothing but it's rarely challenging.

Read the list of majors next time you walk into a college game, it’s kind of depressing.

It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...

by Grime on Mar 3, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm just a little uneasy about lumping Sports Med and History in with Home Econ

Degrees in Sports Med and History will allow the kid to stay with sports after football. Sports Med as a trainer and History as an educator/coach. Nothing wrong with that… True, same could be said for Home Ec, but c’mon!

I have less respect for NFL prospects who major in journalism or Communications. We all know from listening to the talking heads on BSPN and NFL Net that it doesn’t require an education to spill that garbage.

"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula

by NMVike on Mar 3, 2010 2:58 PM CST up reply actions  

A degree in Home Ec?

I couldn’t imagine any football players going to college for that degree..

Excuse me Professor, but uhm, I burnt my carrot cake again.
Sorry Mr. Williams, but we’re going to have to fail you…

by Deek on Mar 3, 2010 1:36 PM CST up reply actions  

WILLIAMS SMASH!

Figuring your talking about Pat..

It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...

by Grime on Mar 3, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions  

HAHA

I was trying to think of a player who probably loves food! So I thought of Phat Pat…

by Deek on Mar 3, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Reuter gives us a summary of the DB workout.

by jianfu on Mar 3, 2010 2:04 PM CST reply actions  

Ghee

I like Ghee, McCourty, Wilson, Spievey, & Myron Lewis who for some reason does not get much love.

Ghee is the real deal and it is doubtful he makes it to us. We need speed in the secondary.

I think the corners go Haden, Wilson, McCourty, and then Ghee. If we want a corner we may have to take one in the first round.

I would take Ghee in round 1, Spievey in round 2, and Myron Lewis in round 3.

by MarkSP18 on Mar 3, 2010 3:53 PM CST reply actions  

Remember the O line!

or not..

It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...

by Grime on Mar 4, 2010 11:07 AM CST up reply actions  

thad turner

take a look at thad turner- projected at round 5. Didn’t start playing CB until his junior year, looks really strong in m2m coverage…

by zbunde on Mar 4, 2010 12:35 PM CST reply actions  

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