Latest Combine news and notes

[yuccaneers]

Adam Carriker and Gaines Adams were both very impressive, but in completely opposite ways. Carriker showed bulk and strength and talked about how he loves to set tackles up with his strength and then use his footwork and hands to outquick them to the spot. He was receptive to playing DT if asked, but he really got a lot of attention from two teams in the middle of the 1st round who would use him in a 3-4 at DE: Pittsburgh and Dallas. Adams weighed in at 258 and looking very lithe, and enthusiastically embraced the idea of playing OLB in a 3-4, a la Kamerion Wimbley. When asked by one team whom he most compares himself to in the NFL right now, he said Wimbley and Demarcus Ware, both guys who are physical enough to put a hand down and play some DE but have enough speed and instincts to play OLB. Washington spent a great deal of time with him, as did Miami.

Marcus Thomas was very upfront about his off-field rap sheet, and cited Troy Smith as a role model of someone who needed to see the writing on the wall before figuring it all out. Very shrewd move on his part, and it came across as genuine. He's a top 15 player in terms of talent, and might have found his way back into the top 40 picks.

Anthony Spencer has zoomed past Lamarr Woodley, who has bulked up but does not wear it real well. You can forget any thought of Woodley playing OLB; he's a 4-3 DE. Spencer is about the same weight (261) that he played at (255), but he looks more chiseled for a guy whose strength was primarily in his lower body. He's a great interview.

Lawrence Timmons measured quite a bit shorter than expected (barely cleared 6'), and was clearly uncomfortable in team interviews when asked about what he needs to work on to be an NFL success. Actually, quite a few of the LBs were a lot shorter than expected. I haven't seen any LB speed times yet, but if any of those guys (Timmons, Buster Davis, Abbate, Rufus Alexander, Beason) don't put up real impressive numbers in the 40 and more importantly the 3-cone and jumping drills, their stock will plummet. You can either be short or lack quickness, not both. David Harris stood out as looking great, and he's a real sharp cookie too. Posluszny was also a bit shorter than I had him pegged but he looks like he's gained about 10 pounds of useful muscle--his neck is gone.

Jason Hill created quite a buzz with his blazing 40 time, but the shocker to me and some other people here was how slow both Johnnie Lee Higgins and Paul Williams ran. Both those guys were expected in the 4.3 range, and Higgins has allegedly clocked a sub 4.2 time in spring practice. Matt Trannon is quietly moving up some draft boards, ran a 4.55 but his 10- and 20- splits were in line with the 4.4 guys. He's going to make some team happy as a Joe Jurevicius-type WR in the middle rounds. Sidney Rice ran well, probably kept himself a notch above Dwayne Bowe, who had slower splits than anticipated.

On the "existing NFL" front...
Matt Millen went into the 49ers suite and didn't come back out for over an hour.

The Bengals are practically giving away Chris Henry, but nobody wants anything to do with problem children right now, not with the Pacman fiasco. The Panthers turned down Henry for their 5th rounder, and the Panthers are in desperate need of WR help.

The Rams and Saints have spent a lot of time talking to one another. I know the Saints really like Reggie Nelson, so perhaps (just me guessing here) they are trying to move up, dangling Charles Grant, who is going to be a cancerous franchise player?

For lessons on how not to play your cards, see the Vikings. Coach Brad Childress clearly hasn't figured out the media manipulation game; first he declares they have no interest in a QB, then he goes gaga in praising Brady Quinn and says the QB position is open. Everyone knows they want to make changes at WR, yet they don't do anything to play up what they have to generate value. In separate interviews with radio folk, Rick Spielman said they had no interest in moving up, then said the team was very interested in making a move. When asked about Ted Ginn, Spielman (the guy who basically decides whom they pick) gave a 3-word answer: he's real fast. When asked to extrapolate, he then talked about Troy Williamson's speed and Tarvaris Jackson's arm strength. In short, they give the impression they have no idea what they're doing.

[dalbuc]

The Bengals are practically giving away Chris Henry, but nobody wants anything to do with problem children right now, not with the Pacman fiasco. The Panthers turned down Henry for their 5th rounder, and the Panthers are in desperate need of WR help.

That's terrible, holy crap.

[STRICK9]

I can see SF moving up to grab CJ.......

[Bucs_Rule]

Good then Joe Thomas would drop to us. I could care less if the lions trade down. If they trade down with another team then that team will either pick Thomas or CJ meaning most likely the other would fall to us since the browns seem to have no interest in either. I would be happy with either CJ or Thomas.

[Tampa Bay Todd]

On the "existing NFL" front...
Matt Millen went into the 49ers suite and didn't come back out for over an hour.

Don't like that -- not one bit. When did Millen grow a brain? Chances are he'll screw that up too. Or else he'll practically give the pick away.
Do hope that one of the two players we've all been talking about will be there if Millen starts dealing. I could see Cleveland taking Thomas though too.

[DBuc]

Not everything is about trading up in the draft...What the heck can San Francisco give to Detriot to make them drop from 2 to 11?  Detriot is openly trying to trade a bunch of players...I would assume that is what they are meeting about...

[DanTurksGhost]

Not everything is about trading up in the draft...What the heck can San Francisco give to Detriot to make them drop from 2 to 11?  Detriot is openly trying to trade a bunch of players...I would assume that is what they are meeting about...

SF wants a shot at CJ.

[Shag]

Not everything is about trading up in the draft...What the heck can San Francisco give to Detriot to make them drop from 2 to 11?  Detriot is openly trying to trade a bunch of players...I would assume that is what they are meeting about...

That's probably what it was. The draft isn't for another 2 months, but free agency starts this week.

[bradentonian]

Not everything is about trading up in the draft...What the heck can San Francisco give to Detriot to make them drop from 2 to 11? Detriot is openly trying to trade a bunch of players...I would assume that is what they are meeting about...

SF wants a shot at CJ.

They pretty much already have him (Vernon Davis)

[dbucfan]

Surely DTG - but at what price?  Pretty damn expensive to move fron 11 to 2 in most years, and one would expect this one to be expensive squared considering the FA marketplace.  

That said, if a mistake or bad deal can be made Millen is their man.  

[marlevr]

Not buying SF moving from 11 to 2. It has to be another trade FA related.

[DanTurksGhost]

Surely DTG - but at what price?  Pretty damn expensive to move fron 11 to 2 in most years, and one would expect this one to be expensive squared considering the FA marketplace. 

That said, if a mistake or bad deal can be made Millen is their man. 

I'm not saying they'll get a shot, but I know they'll ask at least. Though this meeting probably wasn't aimed at that end.

[dbucfan]

That makes sense and is more than likely correct, SF will want to know the price for exchanging picks, and then choke out something like well what about the folks you want to trade.  LOL

[wc24]

Good then Joe Thomas would drop to us. I could care less if the lions trade down. If they trade down with another team then that team will either pick Thomas or CJ meaning most likely the other would fall to us since the browns seem to have no interest in either. I would be happy with either CJ or Thomas.

Browns would take Thomas. If the Bucs aren't in the first three slots they don't get Thomas.

[RedAlert]

Browns would take Thomas. If the Bucs aren't in the first three slots they don't get Thomas.

This is a 3 day old article, but it bears consideration...

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1172309576111490.xml&coll=2