Good morning from Lucas Oil Stadium. The first day of the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine is set to get underway, and DenverBroncos.com is in town to cover the league’s annual job fair.
Throughout the event, we will post daily blogs from the media room here at the stadium. In addition, we will post audio and video of some of the top players’ interviews, provide photos and finish off each day with a top story recapping the biggest events.
Today, offensive linemen, kickers, punters, long snappers and tight ends will address the media. In addition, Head Coach John Fox will step to the podium at approximately 10:30 a.m. here in Indy, which of course means 8:30 a.m. Denver time.
Feel free to post any questions you have in the comments — or via my Twitter account or the official Broncos account — and we will do our best to answer them. Keep checking back throughout the day for updates.
While we wait for the first group of interviewees, you can take a closer look at how the personnel staff approached the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. The story was featured in last summer’s Broncos Magazine, and it seems especially relevant again this time of year. We’ll look to provide similar insight from this year’s event.
10:02 a.m. EST First up at the podium was Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz. The Lions hold the 23rd pick in the first round — two slots ahead of the Broncos.
“I think our focus will be the same it’s always been,” Schwartz said. “We’ll evaluate every single player. You never know what is going to happen in the draft ahead of you.”
11:44 a.m. EST: Coach Fox has met with the media at the podium and held another session with the local Denver media afterward. We’ll have much more on what the coach said in this afternoon’s top story, but here are a few tidbits. You can watch the full video of his press conference here.
“If we’d made the Super Bowl, he probably could have played,” Fox said.
“As we embark here in our offseason, there are two separate pools of players (draft-eligible players and free agents) and I can’t comment on either side too much,” he said. “We’re going to be doing everything we can to get better. We will have a lot of areas [to address]. I don’t want to get into exact needs because it’s a competitive thing, but having a stable of running backs is important. If you just look at our track record—my track record—I believe in that and we’re going to try to continue to build that.”
“At the end of the day, we’re very comfortable with Tim. He did turn us from a 4-12 team to a playoff team. … Typically we go to camp with four quarterbacks. If you do the math, we have two, so that means we need two more. That can come from a lot of varieties of areas. All we’re trying to do is find the best human talent we can that we think fits what we believe to be a championship football team with the Denver Broncos.”
12:23 p.m. EST: There’s been a big rush on players lately, so we’ll have a lot of updates coming. The first player to come into the room was Georgia punter Drew Butler.
With the combine turning in to such a spectacle, Butler is trying to keep the event in perspective.
“I’m not really looking at this week as a make-or-break opportunity,” Butler said. “Fortunately for myself, I’ve built a pretty good foundation. I’m looking for what I can show this week to kind of put the cherry on top of a good career and move forward. Just to show that consistency and coachability and how I can perform and get that ball to do what I want on every single punt. I think that’s something I’ve done my past three years in college and I’m here to show coaches that I have what it takes.”
12:27 p.m. EST: Troy offensive tackle James Brown spoke quietly from the podium during his media session, often giving short answers. How would he describe himself as a player? “I’m a competitor. I like to win.”
But when he was asked what football meant to him, he said it saved him from making a big mistake.
“When I was coming up in high school, I got to a point where I really lost my care for school,” Brown said. “I didn’t want to come to school anymore. I was getting to the point where I was getting ready to drop out, and my coaches came and talked to me about it. They talked about having a future and playing football. Then I started getting recruitment letters, and ever since then everything’s been on the up-and-up.”
12:47 p.m. EST: Next up was Lou Groza Award winner Randy Bullock from Von Miller’s alma mater, Texas A&M.
“It meant a whole lot,” he said of the honor. “That’s a very prestigious award that only one person can get each year. My name is now with some of the best that have ever kicked.”
Even though he won the award given to college football’s top kicker, he knows that a job in the NFL will still be hard to come by.
“It is different – that’s just one of the things with the kicking position,” Bullock said. “Nothing is guaranteed. Some of the guys you’re competing against can be 15 years older than you.”
12:56 p.m. EST: Georgia Kicker Blair Walsh talked about the drills that the kickers will run through during combine testing.
“We’re going to hit kickoffs in both corners and down the middle,” he said. “It should be a good day to get tested.”
While there is a lot of pressure on the players to perform well in combine testing, Walsh said that he tries to have fun with the whole experience.
“I don’t think you can have that pressure when you kick field goals,” the place kicker said. “I think you have to go out there and have fun and enjoy what you do. You have to be confident in your abilities because your abilities are what got you here to this point and they’re going to get you through it.”
1:04 p.m. EST: Throughout the combine, teams interview dozens of players — and Purdue kicker Carson Wiggs knows it could get a little repetitive for the scouts and coaches. So he took some time with the press to talk about his approach to interviews with teams during the combine process.
“The (scouts and coaches) come up to a table and they’ve been asking the kickers and punters the same questions all day,” he said. “So, I go in there with a couple jokes or some sarcasm to get them chuckling a little bit.”
1:40 p.m. EST: Baylor center Philip Blake talked about where his passion from football came from, having grown up in Canada.
“My mom came home one weekend from Buffalo and she bought Madden ’98 and ever since I put it in the computer and started playing, I’ve loved the game,” he said.
The offensive lineman started out his athletic career playing street hockey, not football.
“I wasn’t this big at the time, I gained all my weight in high school,” he said. ” My cousin played hockey and I used to have to carry his bags all around. Most of the time I played goalie or defense.”
1:53 p.m. EST: The first quarterback to make an appearance was Miami’s Jacory Harris, who was announced as a “throwing quarterback.” It’s a designation that doesn’t bother the draft hopeful.
“From what I understand, (Houston Texans quarterback) T.J. Yates was a throwing quarterback last year, and he got drafted,” Harris said. “Here as a throwing quarterback you just come in a day early and you leave later than others. You have the opportunity to showcase your skills more than the other quarterbacks. You have the opportunity to throw to the running backs, linebackers, DBs — every position. And I’m excited about that opportunity.”
2:07 p.m. EST: Offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom, who played with Broncos offensive lineman Zane Beadles at Utah, grew up watching the combine and now he is in Indianapolis as a participant.
“It’s pretty exciting. I’m one of those guys who’s been watching the combine ever since it’s been on the NFL Network,” he said. “To actually be in it is pretty exciting.”
Like Beadles, Bergstrom is a versatile lineman who has spent time at different offensive line positions during his career.
“I was mostly right tackle,” he said. “I played left as a freshman but switched to right and stayed there after that. I’m happy to move anywhere. I played only left guard in the senior bowl and felt like I did alright there. I played a little left tackle my freshman year. I played center in high school. I’ve heard all of it. I’ve heard guys say you’ll probably move to guard. Whatever. Whatever it takes to win. I want to win.”
2:27 p.m. EST: Shawn Powell, a punter from Florida State, talked about the process that the combine participants go through.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase your talent in front of the front office. We’re all here looking for jobs, fighting for jobs. … It’s a great experience and I’m very blessed and honored to have the opportunity to be here.”
As with all the special teams players, Powell knows that he faces stiff competition for the few NFL punting jobs that come available.
“Our position is always limited, no matter what you do,” he said. “That’s the nature of the beast that you get into. Being able to be recognized as one of the best just makes it that much better.”
2:47 p.m. EST: One of the top offensive tackles in the draft, Ohio State’s Mike Adams, took his turn with the media.
He believes his biggest strength is his athleticism and ability to block in space.
“I like to play through the whistle in the run game,” Adams said.
Since our own Stuart Zaas went to Michigan, I figured I’d throw him a bone and include Adams’ quote about losing to the Wolverines as a senior.
“Losing to Michigan as an Ohio State guy is something nobody ever wants to go through, but I got three pairs of gold pants from beating them, so I’m alright, I guess.”
Adams said he’s been good friends with fellow top O-line prospect Michael Brewster since they met at an Ohio State camp when they were 14.
“Having him here at the combine with me and also down at the Senior Bowl together, it’s always good,” Adams said. “Just to have someone who you know, who you’re comfortable with, going through the same things you’re going through, just to be able to relate to it is awesome.”
3:01 p.m. EST: The O-linemen keep rolling in, as Georgia center Ben Jones was up next.
He said the main area that needs improvement is his ability to get to the second level of the defense and block linebackers.
Jones said that at Georgia, he practiced against the Bulldogs’ 3-4 defense, meaning he took on “360-pounders every day,” and faced 290-pound defensive ends at other times against tough SEC defenses.
He compares himself to Jeff Saturday.
“He’s a little under 6-2, very intelligent, can get the job done and he’s played for a while now,” Jones said. “I think I can come in and play hopefully for a long time.”
3:06 p.m. EST: Mississippi State offensive lineman Quentin Saulsberry has a leg up on some of the other combine participants this year — he got the rundown of what to expect from a former Bulldog first-round pick in Derek Sherrod.
“When you have guys come back to your university that went through the whole process, it’s special,” Saulsberry said. “You just take what you can from those guys.”
The best bit of advice he got?
“Just be on time wherever I go,” he smiled.
Saulsberry was very polite with reporters, so one asked him if he can get mean enough to be successful on the line in the NFL.
“I can be very mean,” Saulsberry said. “I don’t want to say how mean, but I can get real mean.”
Why can’t you say how mean? A reporter with a camera asked.
“Because we’re on TV,” Saulsberry laughed.
“Defensive linemen, offensive linemen, you have to have that mean streak in you,” Saulsberry said. “Because it’s war in the trenches, always. The phrase that we hear all the time, third-and-1, fourth-and-1, who is going to step up and make the play? Who’s going to be that person that makes a block? Who’s not going to be the guy that gives up that play?”
3:16 p.m. EST: Punter Bryan Anger talked about his focus for the week – hang time on his punts.
“Gross, I don’t focus on so much,” he said. “With hitting big kicks, good hang and distance comes. I really focus on hang time and then the net will follow with that. If you get good hang, you limit returns. As long as you can hit the ball a decent distance with that hang, you’re good.”
Anger participated in the East-West Shrine Game this year and said that the experience from that helped prepare him for this week.
“I felt good,” he said of that experience. “I had a good week overall. It was nice to get out there and NFL-style punt with NFL balls. It was awesome to work with all that personnel. I had a really good time.”
3:20 p.m. EST: Josh Harris has the distinction of being the only long snapper invited to the combine this year.
As the only player at his position here, he will snap for all the punters and kickers tomorrow – that means a lot of work for the snapper, who walked on at Auburn.
“It’s pretty cool,” Harris said. “I never thought I’d really get the opportunity to be here, then to get the invite to be here and perform in front of every NFL team – that’s an incredible opportunity.”
As a walk-on, Harris was a member of the 2011 NCAA National Champion team, making him the second member of his family to hoist the trophy wearing the Tigers’ jersey.
“My grandfather played on the 1957 National Championship team with Auburn,” Harris explained. “To be able to share that with him – he’s passed away since – but to have that mentally between me and him, to keep something like that in the family is really cool. I don’t think many other people can say that they have two Auburn championships within the family.”
3:31 p.m. EST: Offensive lineman Ryan Miller, who attended the University of Colorado, took as much advice from former Buffs (and current Patriots) lineman Nate Solder as he could get leading up to the Combine.
“Nate has been a great asset to have in this,” Miller said. “He has been giving out advice, kind of the dos and don’ts, ‘Maybe you should try this, this might work for you, this didn’t work for me,’ kind of things. It’s been very valuable.”
Miller said that he followed Solder’s rookie season with New England this year.
“Yeah, it was good to watch him. I got to see him play in Denver. It’s amazing to see that Nate has gotten bigger,” he laughed.
3:31 p.m. EST: Brandon Mosley is the second Auburn player that we talked to today. After a day of medical evaluations and interviews, he’s ready to get going with the on-field drills.
“It’s awesome,” Mosley said of the experience so far. “It’s everything I expected. I haven’t been doing a lot yet, just the physical and examination stuff. It’s been kind of long and not much sleep. It’s going pretty good and it’ll get better in a few days when we start working out with the bench press and drills. It’ll be fun.”
As with every other player here in Indianapolis, Mosley is hoping that a team takes notice of his showing at the Combine.
“I guess everybody’s hope is to get drafted and picked up,” he said. “It’d be a dream to play for anybody. Since I was a little kid growing up, I’ve wanted to play in the NFL. I’m real excited.”
4:11 p.m. EST: Offensive tackle Matt Kalil, who is expected to be a top-10 pick in April, checked in at 6’6″, 306 pounds during official measurements today. He said that during the season his playing weight was around 300 pounds, but that he’s been working hard to add bulk before he hits the NFL.
“I’ve gained about six pounds (since the season), but in good weight,” Kalil said. “It’s the heaviest I’ve been, but I feel good playing at that weight. I can still move well. I’m going to do everything at the combine and I’m definitely excited about that.”
Scouts and coaches advised the University of Southern California lineman to add weight, given his body type.
“I’m tall and slender, I can weight 310 and still look like it’s light. I definitely have room to add more weight and I’m looking to do that training these next two months. Get bigger, get stronger working on my body.”
As one of the highest-touted offensive tackles in this year’s draft class, Kalil is hoping to become one of the first players taken off the board.
“I’ve always thrived on keeping my speed and athleticism rather than being overly big or heavy,” he said when asked about his strengths. “I’m always finding something to work on with my technique to become a better player.”
4:23 p.m. EST: Mitchell Schwartz, an offensive lineman from Cal, talked about training for the Combine.
“I was already at a pretty good weight where I wanted to be, but obviously you train for specific events,” he said. “You don’t do a shuttle in a game. You don’t do a 3-cone drill. So you’re training for specific events you’re going to do.”
Schwartz said that it’s important to keep training for football games while also sharpening drill-specific skill sets.
“We still did a bunch of skill work, working with an offensive line coach, a few times a week, just staying sharp with offensive line stuff in general,” he explained. “You don’t want to let your fundamentals go to waste. It’s more of a focus on specific drills more so than your normal get ready for the season get ready for football type of thing.”
5:17 p.m. EST: Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin isn’t shy about where he ranks himself among draft prospects at his position.
While many consider Kalil to be the top tackle available, Martin begs to differ, saying he is “without a doubt” better than Kalil.
“As a competitor, you’ve got to think you’re the best,” Martin said. “Matt’s a tremendous player, but I think I’m better than he is.”
Why?
“I just believe in myself as a player,” he explained. “There’s nothing cocky about it, that’s just how I approach my game to prepare for an event like this.”
5:23 p.m. EST: Another top O-line prospect, Riley Reiff, has an interesting story — he was a three-time state champion in wrestling.
He finished his career with only one loss, which came early in his career.
“I just got beat,” Reiff said. “It was my freshman year. Lost to a kid, one of my good friends, actually.”
Then you took it out on everybody else?
“Yeah,” he laughed. “Tried to.”
Reiff said wrestling helped him as he transitioned to football because you use the same physical tools — hands, hips and feet — in addition to the mental toughness it provided.
The offensive tackle grew up in South Dakota, where he said there are a lot of Broncos and Vikings fans, but Reiff chose the Raiders for what some might describe as an odd reason.
“The mailman was a Raiders fan and he always talked to me,” he explained.
Interesting.
5:31 p.m. EST: We’ll finish out the first day’s blog with one of the more entertaining stories of the afternoon.
Tight end prospect Orson Charles was going through a typical press conference, giving some pretty good quotes.
“Blocking is mainly want-to,” Charles said. You’ve got to want to do it, and then technique. I feel like if you have good technique and the will to do it, you can block anybody.”
He also gave some insight into what it’s like for players preparing to interview with teams. He has a few set up for this evening.
“I’m not really sure which teams, I just have the room numbers and the times to show up.”
Then, he was asked about an incident on a recruiting trip to Florida.
“It was an accident,” he began. “I was on a recruiting visit to Florida. They were practicing and they had the Heisman trophy out and the (national championship) crystal ball out. That was my first time seeing it — it was my first visit, period. So I took a picture of the crystal ball. They had a little gap, then they had the Heisman trophy to the left.
“When I squatted down to take a picture of Tim Tebow’s name, I bumped (the crystal ball) onto the table, and it hit the floor and just shattered. I was definitely wanting to get away.”
So what did he do?
“I just froze,” he said. “I just stood there. I couldn’t believe it. Just five minutes ago we were saying, ‘That can’t be the real one, they wouldn’t have it out here.’ Then when it hit the floor and shattered, we just stood there.”
Needless to say, Charles ended up at Georgia.
5:39 p.m. EST: Player availability is over for the day, but here are a couple quick quotes from Utah offensive line prospect Tony Bergstrom about Zane Beadles we gathered earlier in the afternoon.
“I talked to him a little bit after he was drafted and I talk to him when he comes through Utah,” Bergstrom said of Beadles. “He’s doing a great job. He’s killing it out there (in Denver).”
“As a young player, he was who I modeled my game after,” he continued. “I came in and he was kind of the big guy on campus. I was really trying to live up to his name and trying to be like Zane.”
That’ll do it for the Day One blog. Thanks for sticking with us, and we’ll have plenty more tomorrow when Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway meets the media at 10:30 a.m. EST, followed by appearances by quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.
-Gray Caldwell and Stuart Zaas
Tags: NFL Scouting Combine
The only game i went to in Denver was the game where the Broncos were up 17-6 at the half i believe …… Then Manning and Wayne went off on Darrent Williams ugh it pains me till this day I flew in from Houston just for that.
You playing cards Skillz? I’m playing in a tourney that started about 6 minutes ago…
yep just busted out in 56th place in the 25 buck tourney
Wyo_Turtle is my Handle there… couldn’t use Bronco_Turtle becuase it was over 12 characters..
10 dollar cash giveaway?
I’m in the $2000 monthly qualifier…
I am in the dble shootout later placed 8th in the 6:30 one didn’t get any cards at the last table
gl in that bro give em hell
How ya doing turtle?
Busted… Big Blind flopped two pair… Q7… Flop was Q J 7 rainbow… guy in the cutoff had QJ and I was crushed the whole way…
To touch on the Trent Richardson convo … if he falls to 25 … we are taking him … its not even a quesitn … not unless the reason he fell to 25 is because his knees are shattered or something. If its repaired but he fell because of slight concerns and because there are alot of talented 2nd round RBs … we will take him. 25 is just as good as second round. Heck many players being franchised some I wouldn’t mind us giving a 25 for. Trent will not fall that far tho as strand stated … the man just does too many things well at the position. Possibly the best overall prospect since Adrian Peterson, in strength, speed and pure violence running the ball. Also has great vision hands etc. I want beef at 25 too (Devon Still hopefully) but if trent falls we will get him but its unlikely. Deangelo Williams was Fox 27th pick once upon a time.
If manning goes to KC …. we will have problems for the next 3-5 years. The man doesn’t need an awesome team. He is so cerebral … he elevates any time 10 fold. He will start kicking butt from day 1. He will tip the scales in a west that played baddly last year.
TRB
TRB… I agree with you on Richardson… I would love to see him in Orange and Blue…
Peyton is 36… and wounded, no worries if he comes to KC, maybe one good year like Montana but no way he plays at a high level for more than 2 years…
I have to say one of the saddest days of my Football watching career was the day Marino tried to throw the short out pass after coming back from his injury and it went right in the dirt and everyone knew he was done… Johnny Unitas had the same thing happen to him, not really the same fashion as Earl Morral really replaced him but in the 4th quarter of the superbowl against the Jets it was clear that Johnny U was not the same either…
Peyton had his Run… but the days of him being feared are behind him! He may play some great games, but I don’t ever see him having a Great season ever again… Plus Von will crush him…
IMO Peyton should retire but apparently he rather risk paralysis even tho his legacy is beyond intact. Best of luck to him wateva he chooses.
Agreed again! He has nothing left to prove… Hate to say it but he was amazingly talented and fun to watch when not shredding us…
i just busted out snowmen vs aces ugh lol
That sucks Skillz…
Gray? where can we go to see what a players Combine measurables were, i.e. Height and weight….?
I dont think we will take Richardson. His surgeries arnt a good thing. Yes some great RBs have been selected in round 1 but it is to high of a risk. Richardson has a lot of miles and already two surgeries. Why spend our 25 pick on a position we can get later on? Denver has a better history with later round RB or UDFA. Knowshow was a 1st rounder what a bad pick. Health concerns coming out of college and couldnt hold onto the ball. Look how that turned out. We shouldnt spend our 25 pick on Richardson with his injury concerns. Plus he wont fall to us. Cincinnati has a huge need for a RB he wont get past them. Especially to add him to Dalton and Green.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1057671-nfl-combine-2012-predicting-the-16-fastest-players-there
Heres a list of Combine records. CJ owns fastes 40 at 4.24
Sorry that was fastest 40 times and players likly to have a fast time.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1072446-nfl-combine-records-fastest-40-times-best-bench-press-and-more/page/2
Heres the records
Hello Broncos Country,hope everyone is doing well.
Haven’t posted in a few days,can’t wait till the players get to show what hey got at the combine.
Let it be known that if the Steelers pass on Hightower LB Alabama,I want him in Orange and Blue,he will be a beast in the NFL,I wanted Rolando McClain LB from Alabama 2 years ago,but the Faders drafted him 8th,I think.
Mays is nothing more than a good backup,the verdict is still out on Irving,but you don’t pass on a LB like Hightower,imo.
MLB,DT,CB,RB are our biggest concerns,hopefully we address some of those positions in FA.I believe in EFX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!or EF anyway,lol.
Can’t wait to see what our new Defense looks like under JDR,I think we will be a lot better,JDR knows great Defense,Hell maybe under him some of the players we have,like Moore,Ayers,and Irving will flourish!
Looking forward to a great FA class,draft,and a great 2012 season!!!
P.S. going to pickup a pool table this evening,may be a little later on before I make the Friday Night Live Show,LMAO!!!!
Good friends………..Good beer…………and a good pool table!!!!!
T.G.I.F.
BFE
Morning, Alaskan. Just read your comment about Trent Richardson, and I don’t believe the Broncos will be lucky enough to snag him either, although I sure wish they could, along with a few other Bama players.
However, I’m not sure where you heard that he’s had two knee surgeries. As far as I know, he’s only had the one that was earlier this month, and it was very minor, just to repair a slight tear in the lateral meniscus. He did sprain a knee (not sure if it was the same one) in the 2010 LSU game, but it didn’t require surgery.
Mark Ingram also had to have minor knee surgery while he was still at Bama, before the season started in 2010, but he was only out for two games. I was just wondering if maybe you had the two mixed up, or something.
Here’s an article about Trent’s Combine review, regarding his knee.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7608567/2012-nfl-draft-trent-richardson-given-passing-review-left-knee-dr-james-andrews
could this off-season move any freaking slower? UGH!!!! Feels like the 2012 season is SO SO far away. Where’s the DeLorian whenyou need it?
What’s up Roll Tide??
It was me that started all this TRich talk, and the article I read on nfl.com that mentioned that this was his second procedure is no longer there, so it must have been incorrect… Thanks for keeping us in line on your Bama boys!
I brought up the hypothetical scenario to spur a healthy debate, but I think it would be very unlikely for him to drop that far. But I do believe he will drop a little, more b/c teams seem to be waiting longer and longer to draft RB’s..
I think he will drop but i dont think the bengals will pass on him. Huge hole. IMO i just dont like RBs in the first round. Especially if they have had a surgery between college and the NFL.
Hey, OT! No problem! I must have missed your comment, but I haven’t been able to keep up with all of them the past few days. Richardson could have had two surgeries, but I just don’t remember anything about a previous one.
Last year, Michael Lombardi was critical of Mark Ingram’s knee injury and was reporting that he had degenerative arthritis, etc., but Ingram and Dr. Andrews disputed all of that. However, he did drop to 28th in the draft, so Richardson might drop some as well. We’ll see.
Catch you later. Have to go finish polishing silver for a Bridal Tea this weekend. Ugh…
From what I read Tide, Alaskan doesn’t think we would get him even if he fell to us. I wholy disagree. Also Trent Richardson (even tho I don’t watch college football) is way better than Mark Ingram was coming out … just as strong if not stronger and faster. Last year was a weak RB class. Ingram was expected to go late anyway. I understand studs can be found in the later rounds and mostly in the 2nd round. Heck alot of undrafted guys too. But Richardson is the RB Luck … he is about as sure as u can get. But at the end of the day … things happen and people fail. We will see how it pans out. I hope he doesn’t fall … Only player I hope Falls in Devon Still OR Dre Kirkpatrick depending on what we do in FA. And then gimme Doug Martin in the 2nd round and im happy.
BFE, Hope u doing good bro. Im more of a Burfict guy than Hightowever … but I hear Hightower is smarter … but slower. MLB is a major need. And we need one that can keep up with TEs as well. I doubt we get MLB … They still like Irving but its such a key position that Mays stunk up. If we have a great D Draft and FA, I believe we can be a top 10 D this coming year. The pieces are there for the taking.
TRB
Your right i dont think we will and i dont think we should. There is a lot of talent at RB this year also. We could get a future star later on. At RB there is no such thing as a for sure thing. Any guy in the draft is that way. Just cause a guy succeeds in college doesnt mean he will in the NFL. I think there is more of a need elsewhere to be addressed with at 25. Not RB. Miller, James and even Martin would be a better choice and we could get them later on. RBs can be a star one year a bust the next. One injury can change everything. RB is the worst about that IMO. Why spend the 25 pick on a guy who has had recent surgery on his leg. Knowshow Moreno we took the shot how did that turn out. Barley lasts ten games. RB is a better risk later on. Especially if RB isnt a huge need because McGahee who i know is old and yes Moreno who is decent when healthy. With one 1st round RB on the team it will be pointless to grab another. Note that the Bengals have 17 and 21. They have a huge need major need for a good back to help Dalton out. All the talk about him is pointless because he wont make it past them. He may not even make it past the Bucs. I personally just dont like RBs in the first round. There have been more busts at RB in the first round than any other position.
Leg injuries can completely change a player mentally and physically. I wasnt a RB but at LB when i shattered my leg i just want the same. Ive been working on getting back and hope i could walk on and play for a small school its hard to get back to how i was. Thats what leg injuries can do. Any player with a leg injury bothers me. If it was his hand i would have a different view and say if he falls to us we should.
Never played football for a program, just the usual back yard and thanksgiving at receiver so ill take ur word for it. I understand what u are saying … when something happens to ur knees mentally u are scared to cut like u used too … not because of physical issues just mental … granted it may never be as strong physically again either. But I hear u … happened to many NFL players. From what I hear its not a major injury. Ingram surviving so far too and our very own McGahee was thought to be down and out. But yea … i want my Devon Still and Doug Martin. That alone will make the draft perfect for me … alas I rarely get my way when it comes to personel. TRB
I hear ya Tide, it’s been difficult to keep up lately… I’ve been so busy with work, and it seems the blog blew up that last few days… So much for it dying with the old man.. LOL! I think it’s safe to say you won’t be talking Combine at your bridal tea this weekend…
Btw, I’m working from home today on this cold and rainy NY day, and I just had a nice big breakfast to include some grits baby!
TRB – that’s why I brought up this scenario, b/c while it might be unlikely that TRich falls to #25, it certainly would throw a monkey wrench in our plans should it occur….
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82725381/comments/redskins-safety-landry-is-a-weightlifting-machine
Talk about buff lol.
FA wish remains Landry and Branon Carr.
TRB
OT,
Its because the combine is near … thats how the offseason works … dead for the most part but come Combine, FA, Draft, and when the blogs of the offseason workouts start popping up with pictures … the blog blows up. Blog has been around long before the “old man” and shall remain long after lol.
Thats exactly what i was meaning. When i had a workout for Mesa State turning to my left scared me and hurt. Hurt bad. I didnt sprain it i shattered it. Lost my scholarship to Colorado the Buffs because i was at a party when my leg shattered. No drugs or alcohol in my system. Plus they saw i just wasnt the same.
Now i like Richardson dont get me wrong i think if he can recover correctly he could be great. Just as a avid fan who had a boyish dream to play in Denver, I dont want to see Denver take that risk of him recovering correctly to be a star.
I like Martin. He could be a major complement to the RBs we have even Knowshow if he can stay healthy enough to stay on the field. (Moreno not Martin) That could make a great running game excellent. The last few boards i have seen have a lot of DT falling, Still, Worthy and Cox. The last two falling out of the first round. Even Brockers is falling a bit. I think its because there is so much talent at DT that there falling because other not so deep positions are rising.
I have said this often and will say it again I like Curry or Branch at 25 two DE that could boost our pass rush. Especially with all the big passing teams we play this year. Either TJ or Ta’amu in the 2 and a RB in the third. Or Ta’amu in the third if he stays about where he is on the boards. Miller Martin or James i would love to see in blue and orange. as for Ta’amu theres BEEF!!!! 6-3 345lbs. Thats major BEEF!!!
INDIANAPOLIS — Baylor QB Robert Griffin III has yet to go through any drills at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, but he passed one of his most important tests in the eyes of many scouts when he stepped up to the scale Friday morning.
Griffin officially was measured at 6-foot-2 3/8 and 223 pounds– impressive figures for a player who dealt with a number of questions regarding how he’d be measured at the combine compared to the numbers Baylor listed (6-2, 220).
Griffin’s chief rival to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft, Stanford QB Andrew Luck, officially was measured at 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds. Luck’s numbers were the same as the ones listed by Stanford.
Griffin is expected to work out in front of scouts this weekend, and he said earlier this week that he plans to run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash. Griffin also said he doesn’t intend to throw.
6’2 … not to shabby Vick does it at 6’1 and brees does it at less (he claims 6ft) lol.
TRB
Hell we could get Landry and move him to FB LB or DE with a build like that. DAAAMMMMNNNN!!!!!
Alaskan … sorry to hear Bro … i had dreams of playing for the Broncos too unlike u tho I didn’t work at it or play at school. Woulda been awesome. Nothing like playing football.
The reason I oppose DE is we have Doom and Ayers showed promise especially late in the season. Would be awesome to have 2 Dooms but for now ill settle for one. The reason we need a Big tall DT who can rush the passer is because inside pressure is very important. Von often lines over ayers so we get pressure from there and from dooms side. Now we need a big tall guy who can rush from the center and bat the ball down. That was why the Giants won in my book. Thier D line namely pierre paul owned the oline and Brady. Constant pressure and batted down ball. Thats why at 6’5 310 … Devon Still is my man. Next to bunkley I think they could both do work. Cox aint bad either when it comes to inside rush and Brockers but Brockers will be long gone. I just want Defense to tell u the truth. TRB
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82725381/article/redskins-safety-landry-is-a-weightlifting-machine
yea landry is somethign else … thats a better link .. that other link takes to comments for those who haven’t already clicked.
TRB
I want defense too. I would prefer a big signing or Mario and then drafting a DT at 25. My choices are if we dont get super mario.
Like what’ve I’ve read re: Doug Martin. I did see him play a few times for the Broncos (Boise st) and like his running style. Think he’d be a good fit.
Richardson is a premier RB and will more than likely be gone by the time Broncos make their selection.
Hope we go for DT/DE with the likes of Still, Worthy, or Cox. I do like your man TRB, who would be a solid addition. Looking forward to the workouts at the Combine.
Last year most of us were clammoring for Dareus or Peterson and Broncos selected Miller which was a great pick.
sndvl – do you remember who hit on Miller last year.
What’s up BFE!! Good to see you on here bro!! T.G.I.F!
new blog yall
rnd 1 – DT Devon Still – Penn State – 6’5 310
rnd 2 – RB Doug martin – Boise State – 5’9 219
rnd 3 – WR Tommy Streeter – The U – 6’5 215
rnd 4 – OL Phillip Blake – Baylor – 6’2 311
Devon takes care of our DT concerns. Tall strong and can rush the passer. Doug takes care of our RB situation Fast durable great vision low center of gravity can catch pass protect, man can do it all. Tommy streeter Tall and well built, runs a sub 4’4. Phillip Blake … Center by trade. protected RG3 … used to a mobile QB, can also play guard. Walton and Beadles are our weakest links. Get those 4 and I think we are good … this is of course praying we take care of CB and maybe even Safety in FA (Brandon Carr and Landry) … very realistic. All projected in the rounds ive stated. No over reaching. But It probably won’t happen LOL.
TRB
TRB – LOL! I know bro, was just joking around..
TRB. perfect list! I would be stoked if that happens!
Grimes may be resigned.
Anyone having problems posting?