2014 NFL Combine Recap: DB
Coming in to the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, this was the position group that I was most looking forward to seeing. I think that of all the position groups the Bearsā are sure to address this offseason the defensive backfield will go through the largest overhaul. There was plenty of talent on display this morning and, like most of the positions in this yearās draft, I was really impressed by the overall depth of the group. There were remarkably few disappointing times and nearly all of the prospects had bright spots in the drills. Iāll be using official 40 times again today, so letās get down to business:
Cornerbacks
Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State: Some analysts have him as their top rated corner in this class, but I was a little disappointed with Dennardās performance today. Not that he stood out as a poor performer, but he didnāt distance himself from the competition as much as I expected. He ran a solid 4.51 in the 40 yard dash and looked a little tight in the drills. He looks like a scheme-specific sort of player to me and needs to play for a team that uses a lot of press coverage. The main problem I see there is that heās a little short (5ā² 11ā³, 30 inch arms) for that type of scheme.
Brandon Dixon, Northwest Missouri State: A small school prospect that showed me something today. Heās well-built and moved very well. Dixon turned in a very good 40 time of 4.41 and really stood out to me in all the drills. Coming from such a low-level of competition heās likely to be a bit of a project, but I think heās a player the Bears should seriously consider drafting come the third day of the draft.
Antone Exum, Virginia Tech: Big and really well put together, Exum had a nice showing today. He posted a 4.59 in the 40, which is actually pretty impressive for a guy of his size (6ā² 0ā³, 213 lbs.), and had a decent showing in the field drills. Feels like a safety to me.
Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech: One of the most impressive specimens of the day. He had a time of 4.49 in the 40 and was one of the dayās best performers in the field drills. His 38.5 inch vertical jump was impressive as well. Unfortunately for the Bears, corners with his combination of length (6ā² 0ā³, 33 inch arms) and athleticism are the āin thingā right now in the NFL so it wouldnāt surprise me to see him sneak into the bottom of the first round. If he does make it to the Bearsā second round pick, I think they should sprint to the podium.
Phillip Gaines, Rice: Gaines had the second fastest 40 time of any DB at the combine with a blistering 4.38. He also ran smoothly in the drills, but his ball skills leave something to be desired.
Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State: Gilbert distanced himself from the competition today. He has the length (6ā² 0ā³, 33 inch arms), athleticism (4.37 in the 40), and ball skills NFL teams covet. He was also phenomenal in the drills. At this point, I would be absolutely shocked if he fell out of the top 10 (Iām looking at you, Lions).
Keith McGill, Utah: Another lesser known prospect that I came away impressed with. McGill has exceptional length (6ā² 3ā³, 33 inch arms), respectable athleticism (4.51 in the 40, 39 inch vertical), and looked extremely fluid in the field drills. Heās bound to rise up draft boards very soon.
Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida: One of the more disappointing performances of the day. I had heard so much about his athleticism, that his 4.61 in the 40 really surprised me. He also had some concentration lapses in the drills that required him to catch the football.
Marcus Roberson, Florida: Another disappointment from a former Gator. He could only muster a 4.61 in the 40 and ran far too upright in the drills. There had been some talk of Roberson sneaking into the first round, but I expect that chatter to die down now. If he falls too far, however, he could wind up being a steal for somebody because heās still a very good football player.
Bradley Roby, Ohio State: After a lackluster final season of college ball, todayās eye-popping performance was exactly what Robyās draft stock needed. He blazed a 4.39 in the 40 and might have had the best performance in the field drills of any player out there today. He reminded people why he was projected to go in the top 20 in last yearās draft.
Jason Verrett, TCU: Another stand-out of the day. Heās small (5ā² 9ā³, 189 lbs.), but what Verrett lack in size he makes up with his special movement skills. He jumped 39 inches in the vertical, posted a 4.38 in the 40 and looked good in all the field drills.
Other Notes- Aaron Colvin did not participate today.
Safeties
Mo Alexander, Utah State: Alexander had one of the better days among the safeties. He had a solid day of field work, ran a 4.54 in the 40 and jumped 38 inches in the vertical. He looked exceptionally smooth for a 220 lb. man with a reputation as an in-the-box type hard hitter.
Dion Bailey, USC: A highly touted prospect at the beginning of the year, the converted linebacker has seen his draft stock plummet in recent months and his combine performance did little to change that. He managed only a pedestrian 4.66 in the 40 yard dash, but looked surprisingly smooth in the field drills. I think he will be drafted on the third day by a team looking for him to gain weight and move to linebacker. If it works, he could wind up being a steal, but he is likely to end up as just a special teams player.
Terrence Brooks, Florida State: So athletic he blended in with the corners today. His 4.42 was the best time among any of the safeties and close to the best among the corners. He also had an impressive 38 inch vertical jump and looked really good in the field drills. Brooks is small for the position (5ā² 11ā³, 198), but not absurdly tiny.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama: Though Clinton-Dix has been touted as the best safety in this class, I came away from the combine unimpressed. His 4.58 in the 40 was solid but unspectacular, as were his 33 inch vertical jump and 119 inch broad jump. He was a bit tight in the field work and just didnāt shine as much as I would like a first round safety prospect to.
Calvin Pryor, Louisville: Pryor is the āotherā first round safety in this class, I came away from the combine equally unimpressed with both he and Clinton-Dix. He also ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds, had a slightly better vertical at 34.5 inches, but had a worse broad jump of 116 inches. His style of play reminds me a lot of Lois Delmas and, like Delmas, I think there could be injury concerns in his future.
Deone Bucannon, Washington State: This guy might be my favorite safety in this class. Heās extremely well put together, remarkably athletic and has the tape to back it up. Coming from a bad program like Washington State, heās flown a little under the radar so far, but Iād be surprised if he makes it out of the second round. He ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds, bench pressed 225 lbs. 19 times, had a vertical jump of 36.5 inches, and a broad jump of 125 inches; all among the best for his position. Throw in that heās 6ā² 1ā³, weighs 211 lbs., and has arms over 32 inches and you can see why Iām falling in love with this kid.
Ed Reynolds, Stanford: Reynolds is another guy who came into last season with a ton of momentum, but has seen his stock fall as of late. He timed out at 4.57 in the 40 and looked stiff in the field work. He seems like an in-the-box strong safety type to me.
Brock Vereen, Minnesota: Vereen had a solid day. He wasnāt the biggest guy out there and his arms are kind of short (30 inches), but he moved well. He tallied 4.47 in the 40 and was solid in the field drills, though nobody will mistake him for a cornerback.
Notes- Vinnie Sunseri and Jimmie Ward did not participate today
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