9:35 A.M. EST: A pleasant good morning to you from the Indiana Convention Center, where we await an onslaught of defenders that actually began late yesterday afternoon when Purdue defensive end/outside linebacker Cliff Avril met with media for a few minutes at one of the eight round tables spaced around the room.
LSU’s Glenn Dorsey, Virginia’s Chris Long and USC’s Sedrick Ellis are expected to be the marquee names speaking throughout the day.
9:42 A.M. EST: How to lose 35 minutes … YouTube searches for news bloopers.
9:57 A.M. EST: Giants general manager Jerry Reese is speaking. No players yet.
10:20 A.M. EST: Still waiting on player arrivals as this day’s activities lurch out to a more serene start than yesterday’s. One should really try and embrace and cherish these spare sparse moments. Even the hallways are relatively quiet, with the annual gymnastics competition that shares convention space with the Combine also taking its time in coming to life.
11:22 A.M. EST: A few defensive linemen have entered the room, most notably North Carolina defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, whose stock rapidly rose before an injury during Monday afternoon North team practice at the Senior Bowl knocked him out of the rest of the week’s activities.
UNLV defensive end Jeremy Geathers — the son of one-time NFL veteran Jumpy Geathers, who played the same position — also spoke and said the Broncos were among the teams with whom he’d met.
1:24 P.M. EST: “Ensconced” was an apt term atop this blog, as we have been surrounded by linebackers and defensive linemen the past couple of hours. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to sit down at my terminal for more than 40 seconds. I think that at least a few people in this room know me from a mere couplet of words — “Excuse me.”
2:53 P.M. EST: Since it is apparent I’m not going to have time to write much until the end of the afternoon and early evening, here are a few photos to fill the void:
Virginia DE Chris Long:
Virginia Tech LB Xavier Adibi:
North Carolina DT Kentwan Balmer:
Penn State LB Dan Connor:
Maryland DL Andrew Crummey:
Boston College LB Joey Dunbar:
UNLV DE Jeremy Geathers:
Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston:
Arizona State LB Rob James:
Illinois LB Jeremy Leman:
South Florida LB Ben Moffitt:
Georgia Tech LB Philip Wheeler:
USC LB Thomas Williams:
USC LB Keith Rivers:
5:14 P.M. EST: Some official results from the day:
TIGHT ENDS, BROAD JUMP:
Dustin Keller, Purdue: 10′11″
Joey Haynos, Maryland: 10′3″
Tom Santi, Virginia: 10′1″
Gary Barnidge, Louisville: 9′9″
Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M: 9′9″
Kellen Davis, Michigan State: 9′9″
OFFENSIVE LINE, BROAD JUMP:
Cody Wallace, Texas A&M: 9′5″
Tyler Polumbus, Colorado: 9′4″
Branden Albert, Virginia: 9′3″
Mike Gibson, Cal: 9′2″
Mike Pollak, Arizona State: 9′2″
Demetrius Bell, Northwestern State: 9′1″
Carl Nicks, Nebraska: 9′1″
Breno Giacomini, Louisville: 9′0″
John Greco, Toledo: 9′0″
Chilo Rachal, USC: 9′0″
Drew Radovich, USC: 9′0″
Mason - Thanks again for the time you put in… Just one question??? Does Shanahan/Sundquist/Slowik/Others within the organization ever ask you about your input? From my eyes, you are a true fan of the game that just loves getting info on players! You do great work.
Oh yeah, and for the Broncos Country - I love our organizations “quiet” apporach to the draft. Throw all of the Mock Drafts out of the window. They are thrown together mostly by non-coaches. Besides Jay Cutler, who would you say our best First Round pick has been in the last decade?
I think one of our best first rounders whose career was cut a little short in the Shanny era would be John Mobley. What a stud, that guy would be flying all over the place. Rev I do have to agree with our Organization’s silent approach but I also like to hear whats going on in the off season, because if it wasn’t for Hockey, it would be a very long wait til the next kick off.
Myleshigh - Good choice in Mobley… The best??? I agree, good fans stay focused on our needs and what is going on! I think we have the best in A. Mason to keep us up to date with the latest.
You can walk into any gym in america and find a guy that can bench
225lbs, 30 times in a row.
and he couldn’t play football to save his life.
In the past, the Bronco’s put too much emphasis on the combine and “measurables”, it bit them in the tail.
Think “production” Denver. We need football players, not gym rats.
Better yet, we could find football playing gym rats and get the best of both worlds…
Seriously, I believe actions speak louder than the weight room myself. I would just like to see us pick up some players that can bring that weight room physicality to the game; when it matters most.
If you could, will you make a point of highlighting any info on DT Trevor Laws that comes up through the day? It would be greatly appreciated.
styg50
Mile High Report
Best first rounder? Al Wilson in 99?
In fact it would be tough to think of a player the Broncos have drafted since 98 that has had as big an impact in a Bronco Uniform as Al Wilson had. Mike Anderson? Ben Hamilton? Maybe DJ in a few years? Though the 2006 class is already challenging.
First Rounder - ‘97 Trevor Pryce… While in Denver, he was our D-line. I’m impressed that we still have most of our last 3 draft classes on our roster. Great job Shanahan and company!
AM - do you have a good link of combine results? I would like to know how Anthony Collins (OT) and Derek Fine (TE) from Kansas performed today???
Thanks
I’m putting together a list of the leaders and will post over on the main site in a little bit
Best first rounder? Has to be our favorite Rainbow Warrior Lelie. HAHAHAHA. No, really, has to Al Wilson. I do not see how anyone could argue with that one.
Aside from the combine I had a question for Bronco fans. I know that Mason is tied up in Indy right now so he doesn’t have the time to apply his great trade to current players in the NFL. Does anyone have additional information on the possibility of Denver trading Walker to the Bucs. I know that Gruden wants him, especially since there is a very good chance that Plummer may be talked out of retirement and Jake the Flake has been quoted as saying that Walker was the best WR he’s thrown to. The rumor about the trade is out there I just haven’t heard anymore about it.
Second, does anyone thing that the Broncos should start talks with the Jets for J. Vilma? I know that Vilma is coming off of knee surgery but I think that Denver could go a long way to helping itself by bringing in Vilma. This would allow them the chance to key on a DT or Safety in the draft. The linebacking crop in this years draft is not what it appears to be. None of these guys would be in the first round the year that Wilson was drafted or the year that D.J. Williams and Vilma were drafted.
When I think about Williams being teamed up with his old Miami teammate again a chill runs down my spine. This idea hadn’t occurred to me until I read that Vilma and his agent have been given the okay by the Jets to seek a trade. Get rid of Gold and bring Vilma in. Let Vilma man the middle, return Williams to the Sam position, pick up a LB like Dizon in the second or third round, and keep Webster and Winborn in the rotation.
On the offensive side of the ball I think that Shanahan and his talk about returning to their “philosophy” of football should back the words up by picking up FB-RB Peyton Hillis out of Arkansas. This guy is a mauler who has very quick feet, is a great receiver out of the backfield, and could play the position with more natural ability than Lorenzo Neil did while not giving up much in the size department.
Mike in San Diego
Mason,
I see Jeramy Leman, in your picture, is hwe4 going to be a steal for somebody, what a fantastic middle linebacker, and a great character, maybe the broncos will get him