Pro Day Tracker (1 Viewer)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/foot...t.news.tracker/

Some interesting clips from Tony's SI blog

Thursday, March 18, 6:14 p.m.

In Oregon, the wait was worth it for LeGarrette Blount. The maligned prospect stunned scouts by posting forty times which ranged in the mid 4.5 second area, a full two-tenths faster than his combine mark. Several scouts clocked Blount in times of 4.53 and 4.55 seconds after he weighed in at 238 pounds. The forty was the only item Blount had on his schedule today.

Thursday, March 18, 11:30 a.m.

During the mayhem of yesterday's pro day updates, we failed to mention one of the better performances in the nation. Michigan State receiver Blair White shocked scouts by running 40 times around 4.40 seconds. It was much better than the 4.50 White ran at the combine and was far better than anything scouts could have imagined. White ran terrific routes during drills and caught everything thrown to him, which was expected.

Wednesday, March 17, 7:51 p.m.

Wideout Arrelious Benn ran the 40 in the low-to-mid 4.4 second area, a major improvement from his performance at the combine. Scouts said Benn caught the ball exceptionally well and has moved back in with a group of receivers that will be drafted starting late in round one.

Wednesday, March 17, 4:44 p.m.

Jeff Cottam, the one-time highly rated tight end who struggled with a back injury in the middle of his career, turned a few heads today. Cottam measured 6-foot-6.5 and weighed 262 pounds. His official 40 time of 4.79 seconds was not bad considering most of the times today were slow. Cottam looked sensational catching the ball, making a number of athletic receptions. Originally graded as a free agent prospects, Cottam could now get looks in the late rounds.

• At Fresno State, running back Ryan Mathews repeated his 40 times from the combine, running in the 4.45 range. Like at Florida this morning, the field Mathews ran on at Fresno State was soggy from rain.

Wednesday, March 17, 1:30 p.m.

The pass catchers put on a show today. Aaron Hernandez and David Nelson each displayed sure hands, catching everything thrown their way. Hernandez has cemented himself as one of the top three tight ends in April's draft.

Scouts are walking away from the workout with a better feeling about Tim Tebow than they did two months ago at the Senior Bowl. His accuracy was better and he was completing passes, but receivers found it necessary to reach backwards or bend to the ground to grab his throws. He also under-threw a lot of passes. The general feeling is while Tebow improved he still needs a lot of work on his game.

Wednesday, March 17, 12:48 p.m.

Tim Tebow's passing workout is still going on. There is a crowd of approximately 1,000 people on hand cheering his every move. Tebow started slow in the early going then picked up the pace. The consensus is, while he's showing a good amount of accuracy and is completing his passes, he has thus far shown poor arm strength and his passes do not come in the form of tight spirals.

Wednesday, March 17, 11:39 a.m.

Tight end Aaron Hernandez was quick again and timed just under 4.60 on his second 40. Earlier in the day, Hernandez surprised scouts by completing 30 reps on the bench press -- a terrific number for a tight end known more for receiving than blocking.

Tuesday, March 16, 5:26 p.m.

At Bowling Green, Freddie Barnes' times in the forty ranged from a low of 4.58 seconds to a high of 4.65. He touched 31 on the vertical jump. These numbers will not move Barnes in with the second tier of receivers available next April but he'll still be a quality pick in the later rounds.

Tuesday, March 16, 12:49 p.m.

It is rare for NFL scouts to travel in large numbers to Bowling Green State for a pro day, but that's exactly what's happening. They will be on hand to watch the workout of record-setting receiver Freddie Barnes. His 155 receptions in 2009 set an NCAA mark as Barnes also registered 19 touchdowns and 1,770 receiving yards. Despite being graded as a legitimate mid-to-late round prospect, Barnes did not receive an invitation to last month's combine, which surprised many in the scouting community.

Many are concerned about his speed and quickness so a good athletic workout this afternoon is important for Barnes.

Monday, March 15, 2:38 p.m.

Brandon LaFell was only slightly faster today than in Indianapolis last month. Both of his 40 times hovered in the mid-4.5s. Safety Chad Jones also ran similar times and completed just 11 reps on the bench.

Monday, March 15, 12:52 p.m.

Receiver Demaryius Thomas did attend the Georgia Tech pro day today in Atlanta. With a boot still on his surgically repaired left foot, Thomas walked without the aid of crutches and by all accounts was moving very well.

Jonathan Dwyer looked very impressive from start to finish. In similar fashion to his combine performance, Dwyer looked terrific in drills, effortlessly moving around and looking in great shape. Unlike Indianapolis, Dwyer was swift in the 40, clocking times which read in the mid-4.55 area, almost .15 faster than his time at the combine. This will restore Dwyer's draft ranking and he now battles Ryan Mathews of Fresno State and Jahvid Best of Cal for the right to be the second running back selected in next month's draft after C.J. Spiller of Clemson

Pro day 40 times almost always are better than combine times. Don't NFL scouts discount these "homer" times?

IHEARTFF said:

Pro day 40 times almost always are better than combine times. Don't NFL scouts discount these "homer" times?

Click to expand...

I think they balance the improved times against their earlier documented times in the Combine etc. and form a conclusion based on all information.

Tuesday, March 23, 1:14 p.m.

The times at the Mississippi pro day have been fast today, even though it's being performed on slippery field turf. Thus far no one has stood out more than Dexter McCluster.

The multi-purpose skill player ran 40 times which hovered in the low 4.4s. Some scouts had McCluster as fast as 4.39 seconds. His three-cone time was also swift at 6.59. McCluster's 40 time represents an improvement of .15 seconds over his combine mark. He did stand on his combine results in the vertical jump, broad jump and short shuttle.

Tuesday, March 23, 12:02 p.m.

Jimmy Clausen will not participate in today's workout in South Bend and has opted to throw for scouts on April 9. Clausen, who has been throwing to his Notre Dame teammates during training, is expected to attend today's pro day and watch from the sidelines.

Wednesday, March 24, 12:15 p.m.

Opinions are mixed on the throwing workout of quarterback Dan LeFevour. While his short and intermediate passes were solid, LeFevour struggled throwing downfield. Receivers were slowing up in their routes to catch the ball and out-running LeFevour's deep passes in some instances.

Bryan Anderson, one of the biggest sleepers at receiver, raised some eyebrows. The big pass catcher measured 6-feet-5 and 212 pounds, then ran 40 times just under 4.55 seconds (4.50 and 4.58). His marks of 37 inches in the vertical jump, 4.06 in the short shuttle and 6.81 seconds in the three cone also stood out. Anderson later grabbed every catchable ball thrown his way during position drills, which surprised no one.

A four year starter at Central Michigan, Anderson left the school ranked second in career receptions (290), first in receiving yards (3648) and first in touchdown receptions (28). He moves towards April as a legitimate fourth receiver on the NFL level and a possible later round selection.

Wednesday, March 24, 11:22 a.m.

One week ago Monday, during Georgia Tech's pro-day, we noted receiver Demaryius Thomas was seen easily moving around on the left foot that was surgically repaired at the end of February. Sources close to the situation told us yesterday the rehabilitation is going well and there's a good chance Thomas will do a workout for scouts before the draft. There's no date yet and the details of what the workout will be comprised of are still to be determined. We expect the decision to be made in the coming weeks.

Monday, March 29, noon

The final week of pro-day workouts starts today with a barnburner. Sam Bradford is expected to workout and throw for scouts today in Norman, Oklahoma. Several of his Sooner teammates will also be participating in the workout. Defensive lineman Corey Wootton is also working out for scouts today as he returns to full health from the knee injury he sustained more than one year ago. We'll also be monitoring the Stephen F. Austin pro-day where small school prospect Tim Knicky works out for scouts.

Saturday, March 27, 4 p.m.

Almost twenty teams were on hand as junior tight end Rob Gronkowski finally ran for scouts during an unusual Saturday workout. It was worth the wait.

Gronkowski ran his 40s in 4.66 and 4.65 seconds. Only one tight end that projects in the draft's first two rounds, James Graham of Miami, was faster at the combine. Gronkowski weighed in at 258 pounds, six less than at the combine.

There has been much speculation about the health of Gronkowski's back after he participated only in the bench press at the combine, and then passed up Arizona's pro-day workout on March 12. Gronkowski missed the entire 2009 season after he was forced to undergo surgery for a back injury.

Last Thursday Gronkowski denied reports coming from the NFL Network that he was suffering from spinal stenosis, a potentially career-threatening condition. Left tackle Chris Samuels played through the same ailment throughout his NFL career, though it ultimately caused him to retire prematurely.

Gronkowski's 40 times confirm he is a legitimate deep threat at the tight end position, something he showed throughout the 2008 season.

Friday, March 26, 11:30 a.m.

In a rare Saturday pro day, junior tight end Rob Gronkowski is scheduled to work out tomorrow in Arizona. Gronkowski denied recent reports that he is suffering from spinal stenosis, a potentially career-threatening condition. During the combine, Gronkowski repeatedly told those on hand that his surgically repaired back was 100-percent healthy, yet he chose to participate in only the bench press and completed 23 reps. He also bypassed Arizona's March 12th pro day. Cornerback Devin Ross is taking advantage of the extra opportunity and is also scheduled to run tomorrow.

Jimmy Clausen is using two of his Notre Dame teammates for target practice as he prepares for his April 9th work out. Robby Parris and David Grimes both flew to the Los Angeles area this week and will be the practice receivers for Clausen. Parris finished his senior season with 25 receptions, while Grimes last played for the Irish in 2008 and totaled 35 receptions. Grimes signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos after last April's draft, but was later released.

Thursday, March 25, 4:45 p.m.

Running back Anthony Dixon ran in the upper 4.5-second area (4.58). This represents an improvement of almost two-tenths from his combine mark and will push Dixon towards the late part of round two.