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2015 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
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2015 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
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This is the 2015 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap for the Defensive Lineman. Follow me
@walterfootball for updates.
2015 NFL Combine: Field Drills Recap – Defensive Lineman
By Charlie Campbell –
@draftcampbell
The average 40 time for defensive ends in 2013 was 4.77 seconds. Everybody knows that Jadeveon Clowney is a physical freak, and last year, he timed at 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. Aaron Donald had a freakish time for a defensive tackle with 4.68 seconds. This year’s group did well also.
USC’s defensive lineman Leonard Williams is the top defensive prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft, and he had a quality 40 time of 4.97 seconds. Williams (6-5, 302) was explosive in the field work. He fired through the pads and showed heavy hands when hitting the bags. He had quick feet to tap dance through the ground pads and made it look easy. There is no doubt that Williams has a ton of natural ability with speed, strength and athleticism. Williams did everything he needed to at the Combine to remain a top-five pick.
Washington’s Danny Shelton looked explosive, powerful and athletic for such a big nose tackle. Shelton’s 40 timed out at 5.64 seconds, but that is irrelevant to the kind of football player he is. In the field work, you could see why Shelton is special. He has an insane lower body that makes him extremely powerful. He also is sudden and quick for such a huge lineman. His conditioning also looked good.
UCLA defensive end Owa Odighizuwa is an impressive athlete as well. He blazed a fast 40 time of 4.62 seconds. One thing that evaluators wanted to see is how Odighizuwa moved in linebacker drills. Odighizuwa (6-3, 267) held his own and didn’t look bad dropping in coverage as a linebacker. His natural athleticism makes one think he could get it done, but if a 3-4 team drafts him, he’ll need some development to get his footwork down.
Utah defensive end Nate Orchard didn’t have a good Combine, but that really isn’t his environment to thrive. He’s a pure football player. Orchard (6-3, 250) ran more slowly than expected in the 40 at 4.80 seconds. He also looked stiff in the linebacker drills. Orchard is undersized, but he really looks like he should stay as a 4-3 end.
Mississippi State defensive end Preston Smith did his part to lock himself into the second day of the 2015 NFL Draft. He had a respectable 40 time of 4.74 seconds, officially. Smith (6-5, 271) moved pretty well in the defensive line drills. He was strong and had some shock to his hands. However, he looked stiff in the linebacker drills, and the Combine illustrated that Smith could be misfit in a 3-4. He should stay in a 4-3.
Norfolk State edge defender Lynden Trail is a bit of tweener defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker. Trail (6-7, 269) had a 40 time at 4.91 seconds. That wasn’t impressive, but Trail looked respectable in the field drills. He probably will interest the 3-4 teams, especially with his length on the edge.
Oklahoma nose tackle Jordan Phillips did well. Phillips (6-5, 329) had a faster 10-yard split than Danny Shelton (1.84 seconds vs. 1.88 seconds). In the bag drills, Phillips was powerful and explosive. He is athletic for his size and proved to be a good nose tackle option for teams that miss out on Shelton. Phillips could end up going in the back half of the first round.
LSU defensive end Danielle Hunter (6-5, 252) blazed a fast 40 time, as expected, with a time of 4.57 seconds. It was one of the best runs of the day. He has a great skill set, but is a developmental player. Hunter is a fabulous athlete who came out a year too early. He needs more bulk on his frame to be a 4-3 defensive end, but his best fit could be in a 3-4.
Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis (6-5, 320) confirmed his evaluations for entering the 2015 NFL Draft. He ran the 40 in 5.07 seconds. It was a good time for a heavy defensive tackle. He also was athletic in the field drills, but it continues to make one question why Davis didn’t produce more in college.
Texas’ Malcom Brown could be a three-technique or a nose tackle in a 4-3 defense. Brown (6-2, 319) ran a fast time for his position at 5.05 seconds. In the field drills, he moved well and showed that he has some natural athleticism. Brown did his part to confirm a first-round grade.
Another potential first-rounder who showed some athleticism was Oregon’s Arik Armstead. The 6-foot-7, 292-pounder is agile for his size and has some quick feet. He ran for a time of 5.10 seconds in the 40. Armstead had a good Combine, but didn’t blow it away like some expected.
Back to the 2015 NFL Draft Scouting Combine Page.
2015 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2015 NFL Combine Stock Report:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2015 NFL Combine Field Drills Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2015 NFL Combine Bench Recap:
RB | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
2015 NFL Combine Weigh-In Recap:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB
NFL Combine Rumors by Tony Pauline
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