2011 NFL Post-Combine Buzz
The No. 2 RB Is ...
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2011 NFL Combine Results
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RBs |
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2011 Post-Combine Buzz
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The Julio vs. A.J. Battle
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Cam The Entertainer
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The No. 2 RB Is ...
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The No. 3 WR Is ...
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The Slow Little Guys
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The Small School Stars
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The No. 1 OT Is ...
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The Mark Ingram Workout
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The Mediocre Tight Ends
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The New Wave Of Athletic QBs
2011 NFL Combine Position Analysis
- QBs |
RBs |
WRs |
TEs
| Cs |
OTs |
OGs
- DEs
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DTs
| ILBs |
OLBs |
Ss |
CBs
There’s Mark Ingram followed up by a bunch of guys. That’s not to say the Combine didn’t open a few eyes and create a bit of a buzz about some prospects, but there’s no one out there who demands to be taken in the first round other than Ingram.
The problem for running backs now is that they’re not necessary. As long as the offensive line is solid, the running production will come. Running backs don’t win championships, quarterbacks do, and all in today’s NFL most teams simply use two or three backs to fit the needs of the moment. If one goes down, flush him and go get another.
So with that in mind, the Combine produced slew of nice role players who should have good careers in their own niche. Pitt’s Dion Lewis measured under 5’7” and ran a brutal 4.57 40, but his feet were quick as a hiccup in the ball drills. His skills and his ability made the stopwatch and the measurables irrelevant; he came up with a few cuts in the short drills that went beyond fluid.
Nebraska’s Roy Helu will make everyone go back to look at the tape. He was a nice prospect coming into Indianapolis, but he jumped out after ripping off a 4.42 at 219 pounds. Not only was he fast, he was lightning quick with a running back-best 4.01 in the shuttle drills to go along with great performances in the ball drills. Over the next few weeks, he’ll have everyone wondering why he didn’t do far more for the Huskers.
Syracuse’s Delone Carter showed off his strength with 27 reps, and his explosion with a 37” vertical, but it was his 4.56 40 and 4.07 shuttle that will boost him up a round or two. Kentucky’s Derrick Locke ran a terrific 4.4, Oklahoma’s DeMarco Murray did everything well, including a 4.41 40, and Auburn’s Mario Fannin went from being a free agent to a mid-round pick with a 4.38. But none of them will be the No. 2 back.
Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas was a mega-disappointment with a last-second pull out of all the drills as he still tried to heal up after getting beaten up in the bowl loss to Syracuse. Even so, he’s still the odds-on favorite to be the second back chosen as long as he comes up with a strong Pro Day.
Just as disappointing was Virginia Tech’s Ryan Williams, who cut well in the short drills and blasted away with a wonderful 40” vertical, but his 4.61 40 was brutally slow and took him out of the running for the No. 2 honor.
Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter built off his strong Senior Bowl week with a good 4.53 in the 40 and a terrific 4.15 in the shuttle. He didn’t measure big at just over 5’7”, but he did nothing to hurt himself. However, he’s a complementary back and can be had in the third round.
The second back taken in the draft will almost certainly be Mikel LeShoure of Illinois, who didn’t generate too much of a buzz, but did everything he needed to with a 4.59 40, a quick 6.82 cone drill, and with the way he looked carrying his 227 pounds without a problem.