The 2018 Scouting Combine is in full swing. The offensive linemen were doing things they rarely do on Friday. (Most of) the quarterbacks were throwing yesterday. Guess which got more attention? In this case, as is often the case, there was as much talk about the quarterback that wasn't throwing as the quarterbacks that were throwing. USC's Sam Darnold is widely expected to be the first quarterback selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. If the Cleveland Browns stop dodging quarterbacks he should be the first player selected. Darnold ran and jumped at the Combine but he didn't throw.
I've never understood why football players choose not to take part in the Combine. It's a chance to compete. They're competitors. If they have confidence in their ability they should be thrilled to compete. The decision to lay down is probably made by their agents. Although Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson chose not to run the 40 and he's apparently his own agent. But he did throw.
One player that probably should've stayed far away from Indianapolis this weekend was Oklahoma tackle Orlando Brown. He had one of the worst performances in Combine history. He kicked off his terrible day with 14 reps on the bench. That's kicker territory. He followed that with the fifth-slowest Combine 40 (5.85) time since 2006. The players with the four slower times weren't drafted. Brown was projected by many to be a first round pick before Friday. He'll probably be on the board a little longer than that now.
At the other end of the performance spectrum was Penn State running back Saquon Barkley.
"jaw-dropping"
"ridiculous"
"put on a show"
"blows apart NFL Combine"
Those are just some of the words tossed out to describe Barkley's performance in Indianapolis.
Here are his numbers:
bench press: 29
40-yard: 4.4
vertical jump: 41"
20-yard shuttle: 4.24
Most of the media talking heads tossed out various comparisons to past brilliant performances to prop up Barkley's numbers even more. One comparison they didn't make was this one. Jerick McKinnon. That's probably because comparing Barkley to a running back/option quarterback and eventual third round pick from Georgia Southern wouldn't have pushed the preferred narrative.
At the 2014 Combine, McKinnon posted these numbers:
bench press: 32
40-yard: 4.41
vertical jump: 40.5"
20-yard shuttle: 4.12
McKinnon also competed in a couple categories that Barkley avoided:
broad jump: 132"
3-cone: 6.83
I'm certainly not trying to imply that McKinnon was a better running back prospect in 2014 than Barkley is now. Far from it. To these eyes, Barkley's the best football player in the 2018 NFL Draft. It's just that all these talking heads are reacting to his performance as if something like it has never been seen before. It has. McKinnon did it four years ago.
University of Texas-El Paso guard Will Hernandez had an impressive Combine. At 6'2" 327 lbs, I had incorrectly considered him a slow-footed, road-grader. He's a big mauler. He can battle "in the phone booth." He's also a nimble giant. He can move.
40-yard: 5.15
More important for an offensive lineman: 10-yard split: 1.76
3-cone: 7.59
bench press: 37
Before Hernandez put this sort of movement on display I had pegged Hernandez as solely a gap-scheme guard. He can probably play in any scheme.
There was some bad news that came out of the Combine. Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was diagnosed with a heart condition. He left Indianapolis and will get further tests. Current Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was diagnosed with a heart condition at the 2013 Scouting Combine. He was still drafted in the first round and has had and will continue to have a fine NFL career. Every health situation is different. Here's hoping that Hurst faces no issues.
On a better note. University of Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin. Due to genetic condition his left hand was amputated when he as a child. At every step of his life he's been told that he can't. He's always shown that he can. He will be an NFL football player. He had 20 reps on the bench press yesterday. He might have a few more believers now. I know that I want him on my team.
One of the best things about the Scouting Combine is that it's a big step forward in the NFL offseason. Free Agency is only a week away.
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