2006 NFL Scouting Combine - Day 3
By: Staff

Day three at the combine saw the offensive lineman and running backs on the field.

A small group of this year’s O-line prospects are being described as position specific players, meaning that it will take a certain team with a specific scheme to maximize that player’s ability. This applies to some of the smaller less physically imposing linemen like Daryn Colledge who is more of a finesse blocker than a power lineman. Colledge only weighed in at 299 pounds and managed just 21 reps in the bench press. This was the weakest of all linemen and a number bested by even QB Jay Cutler.

Chris Chester is a name that keeps popping up in combine chatter. The former Oklahoma Sooner is a converted tight end and has impressed scouts so far this weekend. Chester only started a handful of games on the offensive line this past season but he has opened the eyes of the experts on hand in Indianapolis. Viewed as a center or guard in the NFL, Chester ran the fastest 40 yard time of the offensive linemen posting a 4.87.

The mirror drill is another big step for the O-linemen to show their footwork as well as ability to contain a defensive player. Deuce Lutui looked quick and loose and generally held his defensive mirror at bay. Nick Mangold held up OK and retains his status as the top center prospect in this draft. Fred Matua is rather short armed but showed pretty good footwork as well. Quinn Ojinnaka, from Syracuse, was choppy with his feet and not smooth in working back and forth holding off his mirror. More than a few of the linemen were bending at the waist too much and grabbing with their hands, traits that could turn off the scouts.

The full 40 yard dash for offensive linemen is not the most important stat for that group. Scouts are looking at how they do over the first ten yards of the run. Chester ran the fastest of the day. Eric Winston ran 4.93 and Pat Ross ran a 4.96. Guy Whimper was the only other lineman to run under 5.00. Mangold ran a 5.03 while Weber State’s Paul McQuistan ran a 5.07 as did Marcus McNeill. Greg Eslinger, Dennis Roland and Colledge each ran 5.08. A few of the slower times belonged to Troy Reddick with a 5.72 and Stefon Wheeler with an O-Line low of 5.75.

The group one running backs also ran the 40 today and nobody really stood out in the first group to make their runs. Joseph Addai was the fastest at 4.37 followed by Maurice Drew’s 4.41, Andre Hall’s 4.43, Jerome Harrison’s 4.50 and Brian Calhoun's 4.65. As for the fullbacks, 260 pound Matt Bernstein ran the 40 in a very respectable 4.89. Of the group, Addai helped his stock the most. His quick 40-time could position him as the fifth best running back in the draft after Bush, Williams, White, and Maroney. Calhoun's 40-time is going to hurt his stock and he could fall out of the top three rounds.

Defensive linemen and tight ends were weighed and measured today and Elvis Dumerville checked in at 5’11 3/8” which could scare off more than a few teams. Leonard Pope was measured at a mammoth 6’7 ¾” tall and is the second tight end on many draft lists.

The first group of players that arrived on Wednesday are now done. Sunday will have group two running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers on the field for their workouts. Look for continuing coverage of the 2006 NFL Combine right here at Football’s Future.