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Sunday was the offensive skill positions day to shine. Boy, did it ever start with a bang early in the morning. Marquise Goodwin and Tavon Austin got the party started by running 4.25s in their 40s. Some people there had them in the 4.1s hand timed. I'm pretty sure both runs will be superimposed on Rich Eisen's run on Tuesday (airing approx. 1:30 PM EST). Sunday also featured DBs getting measured, doing media work, and team interviews.
Day 5 News:
You can watch those 4.25s here side by side
The Titans are open to taking a guard, Jim Wyatt says
The Titans have met with the infamous Manti Te'o, Wyatt also reports
Mike Loyko of nepatriots.com constantly updates his spreadsheet
Charlie Campbell opines about defensive linemen stock
Doug Farrar aka Shutdown Corner raves about Michigan's Denard Robinson
The Chefs might be interested in Alex Smith and Luke Joeckel PFT says
If you need a good laugh, someone on SB Nation did a parody Mike Mayock video
Oregon DE/LB Dion Jordan and Alabama CB DeMarcus Milliner will have shoulder surgery after the combine
Longtime NFL personnel guru, Gil Brandt
La. Tech WR Quinton Patton ran 40 at
#NFLCombine in Under Armour's Chameleon 40. Shoes changed color while he ran, were gold at start .I've hand-timed players' 40s since 1976. Marquise Goodwin, Tavon Austin were the first two I've timed under 4.2 seconds back to back ...
Jim Wyatt on a visitor
Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro, who's regarded as best at position in draft. He's meeting with
#Titans tonight pic.twitter.com/vIRXjZtvfh
My notes:
- Marquise Goodwin is purely a track star in the mold of Mike Wallace. Tavon Austin is the better football player
- Cobi Hamilton struggled today during the gauntlet drills. He has a tendency to body catch.
- Tyler Bray has a cannon for an arm but not much else in the mental game. He has to impress elsewhere during interviews
- EJ Manuel had a good day throwing it around the park. Also ran a 4.62 at 6'4 237. He's a second round pick at this point. Excellent character and great ambassador for FSU
- DeAndre "Nuke" Hopkins was the best overall receiver today, flashing great hands and tracking ability on deep routes.
- Justin Hunter and Robert Woods look well recovered from their injuries.
- Denard Robinson is showing good progress transitioning from quarterback to receiver
- Collin Klein may rue the lost chance of working out with the tight ends as he didn't look good at all at QB
- TJ Moe (Missouri) sunk his stock by running a 4.74 as a WR. When you're getting beat by OL, it's bad.
My thoughts:
- I was really impressed with Chris Harper running well for his size (6'0 229) and how well rounded of a receiver he is. Pro comp: Hines Ward
- Markus Wheaton (Oregon State) carried over his monster Senior Bowl performance to this week. He has great explosion off the ball and ran 4.45
- Marquess Wilson is undraftable after that fiasco at Washington State. He's a diva that quit the team over a minor matter after conflict with head coach Mike Leach. No one likes a quitter, especially halfway through a senior season when you're leaving at the end of the year anyway.
- This year's receiver class is crazy fast and by all accounts about 15 deep. You can get one in the 3rd or 4th round and still be happy.
- Texas A&M's Ryan Swope doesn't strike me as an NFL caliber WR. He has really small hands which negates any speed he might have. Any DB worth his salt can get physical with him and it will show badly
- Montee Ball and Le'Veon Bell ended up with 4.6 40s, which is OK given their tape. Both are exactly what the Titans need: a big bruiser that will pound the rock on 3rd and short and let CJ get rest. I do worry about Bell's college workload however, the tread on the tires maybe worn down.
- Johnathan Franklin (UCLA) carried over his stellar Senior Bowl into the weekend. He ran 4.49 and is a proven receiver out of the backfield. If the Titans somehow get him, I'd be ecstatic.
- Mike Gillislee (Florida) also brought his A game from the Senior Bowl. He ran a solid 4.55. The tread on his tires should be relatively light as he backed up Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps for most of his career. He was pretty much the only weapon defenses had to bother covering and still ended up with over 1,200 yards.
- Staying in the state of Florida, Miami's Mike James ran well, posting a 4.53. He's been having a great draft process. Like Gillislee, he's been in limited use and shared duties with freshman sensation Duke Johnson in 2012.
- The Senior Bowl South WR duet (Quinton Patton and Tavarres King) had good days as well.
- Turns out that Marquise Goodwin came the closest to challenging CJ's 4.24 record with an official 4.27 after the 4.21 posted by Onterrio McCalebb was downgraded to a 4.34.