2023 Combine Discussion

[wulfy]

DBs and Kickers/Punters working out today - not sure as exciting for us as DL and LBs .... but I think they need another Corner. (I'd like to seem them address in Free Agency, Rock Ya-Sin is my pick on a ~$7M AAV deal).

[Moriarty]

Are the majority of these DL and LBs undersized that are running this fast? Is that Will Anderson 40 a little surprising to anyone else? I don't follow the draft or college nearly as much as the rest of you

It's a uber-fast track. I add an adjustment to times to compare them to past performances. It also makes it weird for someone to decline and choose to only do Pro Day. I just don't think you can find a faster track than this.

Nonetheless, I am surprised a deep blue chipper like Anderson chose to run at all. I give him props for competitiveness, but I think the "fine, but not at all special" time does ding him a bit, next to everyone else. I wonder if he bulked up a bit for weighing? Unfortunately, you just can't know.

[wulfy]

Has anyone seen anything on Tuli Tuipulotu's workout? I love his game.

[karhu]

Has anyone seen anything on Tuli Tuipulotu's workout? I love his game.

Heard he looked good in drills, but I haven't seen any numbers on him past his measurements. He's officially a DE at 266 pounds, but that's about all I've been able to find. Like Mori said, I'm surprised that more top-50 guys aren't at least running.

[wab]

Calijah Kancey thought experiment: knowing what you know now about his play, where would you draft Ed Oliver?

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/ed-oliver ... 8e40559b5a

Kancey coming in at 6'1 has helped him in my eyes. I think a lot of people thought he'd come in at well under 6ft... like 5'10. As far as Oliver goes, I think he's been a bit of a disappointment.

[wab]

Interesting / Surprising measurements:

Will Anderson coming in at 6'4 253 - definitely good considering some thought he might be in the 230's
Siaki Ika coming at at 335 - well under the 350+ he was expected to weigh
Kancey coming in at 6'1 281 - would make me feel better about drafting him
Tuli Tuipulotu coming in at 266 - seems like a DE now
Myles Murphy coming in at 258 - was listed as high as 280, so that might alleviate some of his movement concerns
Mike Morris at 275 instead of nearly 300
Adetomiwa Adebawore came in much bigger than expected at 6'2 282 - definite 3T possibility.
Ali Gaye is also bigger than expected at 6'6 260 and change.

Tyree Wilson looks like a freak of nature.

[Moriarty]

Interesting / Surprising measurements:

Mike Morris at 275 instead of nearly 300
Adetomiwa Adebawore came in much bigger than expected at 6'2 282 - definite 3T possibility.

But even at a lighter weight, MM's 40 and vertical sucked.
And even at a larger weight, AA was lightning fast.

[wulfy]

Adetomiwa Adebawore also put up a very respectable 27 reps in the bench.

[crueltyabc]

As a Myles Murphy guy @wab you're still feeling good? My reaction was that I want to see him run fast and show agility in the drills if he's going to be 260 instead of 280. The size is what made him special in my opinion. You like his tape so much it doesn't matter about his weight for you?

My thing about Ed Oliver and Kancey was maybe he's not a boom-or-bust Aaron Donald type, maybe he's just an Ed Oliver type. Not a super star but able to use his special traits to overcome his deficiencies and end up a good (not great) starter. That makes me feel more comfortable with his getting drafted in the teens and setting my expectations at 3.5 sacks a season.

[Grizzled]

Interesting / Surprising measurements:

Will Anderson coming in at 6'4 253 - definitely good considering some thought he might be in the 230's
Siaki Ika coming at at 335 - well under the 350+ he was expected to weigh
Kancey coming in at 6'1 281 - would make me feel better about drafting him
Tuli Tuipulotu coming in at 266 - seems like a DE now
Myles Murphy coming in at 258 - was listed as high as 280, so that might alleviate some of his movement concerns
Mike Morris at 275 instead of nearly 300
Adetomiwa Adebawore came in much bigger than expected at 6'2 282 - definite 3T possibility.
Ali Gaye is also bigger than expected at 6'6 260 and change.

Tyree Wilson looks like a freak of nature.

Great on Anderson and ika, 2 guys who would do a lot to give the Bears a stout DL even if they sign a 3T and a DE in free agency. I thought I read that Kancey and Adebawore ran ungodly fast set of drills, at least at the 40. It's not my fave for DL guys, I look at the 3-cone.

[karhu]

At first, Van Ness's 17 bench reps look pretty bad. My first thought was "Where on earth does the power come from, then?"

But.

- Bench reps aren't a huge indicator of D-line success.
- The guy grew up as a hockey player, and didn't get off to a flying start for this sort of thing.
- Iowa focuses on core strength, and their players tend to be mediocre lifters at the combine. Robert Gallery, Marshal Yanda, Brendon Scherff, and Tyler Linderbaum, some of them notoriously alligator-armed and the last three outright thugs in the NFL, all put up 24 or so.

[EricTighe]

My third round steal won't be there . Adetomiwa Adebawore
A 4.6 40 for any LB/DE exceeds the threshold for being extremely fast. Mack ran a 4.65. Willie Anderson sealed his spot as BPA in this draft.
Breese lived up to the hype.

Just going to throw this out there. Nolan Smith in the second to play Off linebacker would be a complete freaking steal for us. I think he is better suited as an off-linebacker then as a DE. Surprised to see him work out with the DE's. Assuming we trade down and get an early second. He won't make it bast pick 40 if he gets out of the first round.

[EricTighe]

Oh yeah didn't mention Klancey for two reasons.

1. I believe we are taking WIll Anderson JR. or Tyree Wilson. End of story.
2. Klancey has cemented himself in the top 15 of this draft. The comps to Donald are to spooky for that many teams to pass again.

[EricTighe]

One thing the Combine is confirming so far. This is the draft to get DL.

Those are great numbers for Campbell. People thought he would run a 4.8 40. Oops.

[wab]

I’m on board with Nick Hampton in the 3rd but Nolan Smith in the 2nd would be a-ok too.

[Moriarty]

Wowza.

After all the other defensive positions scorched up the track, the S times were terrible.

Did somebody cover every inch of it in peanut butter before they ran??

[RichH55]

Oh yeah didn't mention Klancey for two reasons.

1. I believe we are taking WIll Anderson JR. or Tyree Wilson. End of story.
2. Klancey has cemented himself in the top 15 of this draft. The comps to Donald are to spooky for that many teams to pass again.

Comping anyone to Donald is a fool's errand IMHO

[EricTighe]

Aaron Donald combine numbers and measurements
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash Bench press Vertical jump Broad jump 3-cone drill
6'1" 285 lbs 32 5/8" 9 7/8" 4.68 sec * 35 reps * 32" 116" 7.11 sec

Klancey
6'1" 281 lbs 30 5/8 9 1/8 4.67 sec


Stature and athletically speaking it is a pretty fair comparison. We will have to wait on the other numbers until Klancey has his pro day. Oh yeah they both went to Pitt as well.

[thunderspirit]

There's a big difference in those arm lengths. It matters. A lot.

[cblaz11]

As far as player comps go, it’s spot on. That doesn’t mean he ends up having the same career as Donald, but their playing styles are very similar as are their measurements.

Still, I don’t know that I’d take him top 15. I have some concerns when I watch him play…at times he struggles to get off blocks and really gets moved easily in the run game.

[Grizzled]

The Bears have said they want taller guys even at DT. I'm assuming they mean 3T and would accept a tank at what I call the traditonal nose tackle run stuffer. DeForest Buckner is 6'7". Don't know, off the top of my head, other 3Ts who are this tall. Of the top guys in the draft, Breese is 6'5", a trio are 6'4", and the rest are 6'3" and 6'2" except for Kancy at 6'0".

[crueltyabc]

Donald is the best DT of this era so using him as a comp is silly. I keep bringing up Ed Oliver but I guess thats not working… let’s at least find another undersized DT and not pretend there’s any chance CK is Aaron Donald

[EricTighe]

Donald is the best DT of this era so using him as a comp is silly. I keep bringing up Ed Oliver but I guess thats not working… let’s at least find another undersized DT and not pretend there’s any chance CK is Aaron Donald

I don't believe anyone is saying he is going to be Aaron Donald. Only saying he is comparable to him in athletic ability and size. This is why any small athletic DT is compared to John Randall. Hell, even Donald was compared to him. It is just a base, not an end-all. I personally don't have Klancey ranked anywhere close to what I had Donald. I thought Donald was the best player in the draft and used my comp for him being Sapp. Style of play, quickness, and strength. As great as Sapp was, Donald is better.

[wulfy]

The Bears have said they want taller guys even at DT. I'm assuming they mean 3T and would accept a tank at what I call the traditonal nose tackle run stuffer. DeForest Buckner is 6'7". Don't know, off the top of my head, other 3Ts who are this tall. Of the top guys in the draft, Breese is 6'5", a trio are 6'4", and the rest are 6'3" and 6'2" except for Kancy at 6'0".

I think Breese is a sneaky possibility in a trade down.

[wulfy]

Illini’s Sydney Brown has moved himself into Day 2 - had a great Senior Bowl Week and a great Combine.

That Illini defensive backfield is one of the best in the country.

[RichH55]

As far as player comps go, it’s spot on. That doesn’t mean he ends up having the same career as Donald, but their playing styles are very similar as are their measurements.

Still, I don’t know that I’d take him top 15. I have some concerns when I watch him play…at times he struggles to get off blocks and really gets moved easily in the run game.

It's just so dumb. Body type isn't what makes Aaron Donald special.

[RichH55]

Donald is the best DT of this era so using him as a comp is silly. I keep bringing up Ed Oliver but I guess thats not working… let’s at least find another undersized DT and not pretend there’s any chance CK is Aaron Donald

Here here

[RichH55]

At first, Van Ness's 17 bench reps look pretty bad. My first thought was "Where on earth does the power come from, then?"

But.

- Bench reps aren't a huge indicator of D-line success.
- The guy grew up as a hockey player, and didn't get off to a flying start for this sort of thing.
- Iowa focuses on core strength, and their players tend to be mediocre lifters at the combine. Robert Gallery, Marshal Yanda, Brendon Scherff, and Tyler Linderbaum, some of them notoriously alligator-armed and the last three outright thugs in the NFL, all put up 24 or so.

I am struggling to get why people like him?

His tape was not great either

[Grizzled]

Illini’s Sydney Brown has moved himself into Day 2 - had a great Senior Bowl Week and a great Combine.

That Illini defensive backfield is one of the best in the country.

Aren't he and Chase brothers? Illinois daily double?

[wulfy]

Illini’s Sydney Brown has moved himself into Day 2 - had a great Senior Bowl Week and a great Combine.

That Illini defensive backfield is one of the best in the country.

Aren't he and Chase brothers? Illinois daily double?

Identical twins, actually.