While it’s straightforward to downplay the worth of watching prospects in T-shirts and shorts, the NFL’s Scouting Combine stays an necessary piece of each crew’s analysis course of.
And whereas the Patriots haven’t essentially been completely enamored with gamers who show to be exercise warriors on the Combine, that doesn’t imply they haven’t drafted a couple of prime achievers over time.
Last season, the truth is, they reeled in two of the quickest offensive gamers clocked on the mix.
Tyquan Thornton’s 4.28 40-yard sprint was the quickest amongst all wideouts. It wasn’t as quick as John Ross (4.22), who nonetheless holds the document he set in 2017 for quickest 40 by a large receiver, however it’s definitely aggressive with the very best. The Patriots took Thornton within the second spherical.
Meanwhile, Pierre Strong’s 4.37 sprint was quickest amongst working again prospects, and Sixteenth-fastest amongst all prospects. He additionally positioned effectively within the vertical soar and broad soar. The Patriots took him within the fourth spherical.
Then, there was Marcus Jones, arguably essentially the most versatile participant within the draft as a famous particular groups returner and defensive again who often performed receiver.
His velocity additionally factored into the Pats deciding on him within the third spherical. While he was restricted on the Combine resulting from shoulder issues, he was subsequently clocked with a sub-4.4.
At this stage, it’s too early to inform how Thornton, Strong and Jones are going to prove within the NFL. But the Patriots have been clearly drawn by velocity final 12 months and admitted one in all their said targets was to get quicker.
What will the main focus be this 12 months? Adding much more velocity? Athleticism? Toughness? Quickness?
Matt Groh, who served two years because the Patriots College Scouting Director earlier than being elevated to Director of Player Personnel final 12 months, appears to go in with a plan loosely primarily based on want, and definitely wasn’t afraid to pick out a few mix studs to fill some holes.
“You’ve got to consider what the player does and how the player is going to help you,” Groh stated following final 12 months’s draft. “You want to get tougher? You better get tough guys. You want to get faster? You better get fast guys.”
We’ll see quickly sufficient what the Patriots take into account. But if Groh continues to see toughness and velocity as key substances for his prototype, anticipate extra of the identical within the 2023 draft.
Between the 40 occasions, three-cone drills, quick shuttles, bench presses, lengthy and excessive jumps, the Patriots will zero in on matches in any respect positions on the Combine, which takes place in Indianapolis this week. Baseline bodily traits and intelligence have additionally lengthy been an indicator of Patriot draft picks.
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For now, Groh, together with former personnel head Dave Ziegler, who was a part of the 2021 draft earlier than heading to Las Vegas final 12 months, appear to have righted the ship after a succession of dangerous draft lessons (2017-2019) left the expertise pool fairly dry. But it might’t cease right here. Groh must hit it huge once more with the draft this 12 months.
Historically, new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has made good use of tight ends and slot receivers in his offenses. No doubt, he and Groh will likely be tuned into the receiver class, and even perhaps tight finish, thought-about one of many strongest teams within the draft.
When it comes to fit guys, although, three-cone drill outcomes have been a great predictor for the Patriots. Deion Branch (2002) and Julian Edelman (2009) have been blazers in that drill.
Edelman, who wasn’t invited to the Combine, posted a scorching 6.62 three-cone at Kent State’s Pro Day. That would have tied him for fourth finest time general on the 2009 Combine.
Chad Jackson, Josh Boyce and Malcolm Mitchell have been different draft picks who excelled on the three-cone, whereas Brandin Cooks, who was acquired in a commerce, was one other. Cooks, the truth is, nonetheless holds the document for finest 20-yard shuttle — one other measure of quickness — on the Combine.
But it’s not simply receivers. The Pats have stuffed spots everywhere in the roster with prime three-cone guys, particularly cornerbacks. Elsewhere, Chandler Jones (2012) completed fourth in that drill for defensive ends with a 7.07 second time. The Pats have additionally drafted some nice vertical leapers, in addition to lengthy jumpers.
Linebacker Jamie Collins, a freakish athlete, was good at each. Second-round picks Darius Butler (nook) and Kyle Dugger (security), extra just lately, additionally stood out on the Combine for his or her leaping potential. As for power guys, the Patriots have not been quick on these, both.
Wide receiver N’Keal Harry, their 2019 first-round decide who wound up a disappointment, benched 225 kilos 27 occasions, tying him for the best complete put up by a large receiver that 12 months. Running again Shane Vereen, a 2011 decide, had 31 reps, the fifth-best bench press efficiency by a working again.
So whereas the Combine is not the be-all, end-all in relation to choosing gamers, it is a piece of the puzzle.
“It’s not the finish line here for these prospects, but it means we’re getting close,” Groh stated of the Combine, talking with Patriots.com final 12 months. “We just take all the information and evaluate it and put it together as part of the puzzle and go from there to try to make the best decisions.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com