2014 NFL Draft...

[AUChizad]

Dee was FORCED to not participate. Meanwhile...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/24/clowney-skips-on-field-drills-citing-hip-flexor/

Clowney skips on-field drills, citing hip flexor
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 24, 2014, 10:31 AM EST

Jadeveon Clowney impressed everyone with his 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he won’t continue to impress in the on-field drills.

Clowney decided not to participate during the drills for defensive linemen. In a very brief interview with Warren Sapp of NFL Network, Clowney said he didn’t like one of the drills the rest of the defensive linemen were doing, on which they began face-down on the ground and then had to get up and high-step over and around blocking pads.

“I don’t like how they start on the ground,” Clowney said with a grin.

But starting on the ground apparently wasn’t his only problem with the drill: Clowney also sat out later drills in which players started in a three-point stance, and he then told NFL Network’s Willie McGinest that the real reason he wasn’t participating is that he has hip flexor tightness. Clowney did say he still plans to do the vertical jump and the broad jump.

It’s common for quarterbacks to sit out the passing drills at the Combine, but most defensive linemen do everything unless there’s a medical reason not to. Sapp and NFL Network’s Mike Mayock both suggested that some NFL teams may lose a little respect for Clowney for deciding to sit out while other defensive linemen are working.

This decision might play into the perception that Clowney is an amazingly gifted athlete but not much of a worker. Or NFL teams might decide that Clowney made so many big hits with pads on that they don’t particularly care if he doesn’t want to run around in shorts hitting tackling dummies.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Clowney, the second coming of Mike Mamula.

[CCTAU]

Clowney, the second coming of Mike Mamula.

WHO?

[AU_Tiger_2000]

WHO?

Was the first great combine workout warrior.  Played DE at Boston College and was expected to be a second or third round pick.  Blew everybody off the field at the combine and got drafted in the top ten by the Eagles.  Largely considered a bust but his career was pretty solid.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/the-myth-of-mike-mamula/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

[AUChizad]

"Officially" Clowney had a slightly better time (4.48) than De'Anthony Thomas (4.50), who beat him across the line.

…

[GH2001]

And he was also a good yard or two ahead of Manziel (4.6) in the same simulcast fashion. I'd say it puts Clowney solidly in the 4.5 area. Although some are saying that Thomas' 40 is undervalued and not right.

[CCTAU]

I think the most important issue that clip shows, is that Clowny was just as fast for the first ten yards. That is all a DE needs. And it is pretty damn impressive.

However, I watched him this year. He only did it 1 out of every 10 plays.

[Townhallsavoy]

Warren Sapp's reaction to Clowney's speed:

[Vandy Vol]

I keep hearing this about Bridgewater but all I've seen is a schedule full of patsies the last 2 years and losses to Syracuse, UConn and UCF. He didn't throw or run any at the combine. And has proclaimed he's the best qb at the draft. Personally, all of that combined is a yellow flag.

We know what Manziel is. Would anyone seriously take Teddy over JFF with the game on the line? Dude is a gamer. Bridgewater has yet to impress against anyone worth a crap. Sorry but fla isn't worth a crap. I just think many are overhyping this kid. Maybe he will pan out. But I don't see anything at this point that screams sure fire #1 pick.

You have to consider who he's up against as consideration for "top QB."  Blake Bortles (UCF) and Derek Carr (Fresno State) also had schedules full of patsies.  Granted, I didn't watch either of them play in 2013, but I'm not aware of them being outstanding against their sub-par competition.  Statistically speaking, Bortles is behind both of them quite handily.  Carr is much closer to Bridgewater, but Bridgewater's raw and adjusted QBR was higher than Carr each year from 2011 to 2013, as was his passer rating in 2012 and 2013.

Then you've got McCarron.  Fewer yards thrown in 2013 than the three above.  Also a bad TD:INT ratio, although not as bad as Bortles.  And arguably any stats that McCarron was able to put up were mostly due to being surrounded by talent.

Manziel's passing yards are about the same as Bridgewater's but his TD:INT ratio is almost as bad as Bortles.  So statistically speaking, Manziel comes off as making bad decisions when on the run and slinging the ball.  His number of sacks is pretty high, within 4 of Bridgewater and 2 of Bortles, so there's little difference there.

The stats have Carr, Manziel, and Bridgewater pretty close, but I think Carr gets discounted due to potentially skewed stats from a Fresno State schedule; even with his solid combine performance, I don't think he's projected to go until late in the first round or early second.  I don't think Bridgewater is the clear top choice, but given that it's primarily between him and Manziel, I think most teams see Manziel as more of a risk due to his lack of size and tendency to run the ball.  For an investor, that's an injury waiting to happen.  When you combine this with a bad TD:INT ratio for both of the past two seasons, Manziel seems inferior to Bridgewater in many ways.

[Kaos]

If you're going to discount the competition of bridge water and carry you also have to discount AJ. Play two "real" games a year. Loses most of them.

When has he ever had to lead a fourth quarter comeback against a good team? Georgia? That it?

Nick Marshall did more this year than AJ has in his entire career in terms of handling adversity.

[GH2001]

You have to consider who he's up against as consideration for "top QB."  Blake Bortles (UCF) and Derek Carr (Fresno State) also had schedules full of patsies.  Granted, I didn't watch either of them play in 2013, but I'm not aware of them being outstanding against their sub-par competition.  Statistically speaking, Bortles is behind both of them quite handily.  Carr is much closer to Bridgewater, but Bridgewater's raw and adjusted QBR was higher than Carr each year from 2011 to 2013, as was his passer rating in 2012 and 2013.

Then you've got McCarron.  Fewer yards thrown in 2013 than the three above.  Also a bad TD:INT ratio, although not as bad as Bortles.  And arguably any stats that McCarron was able to put up were mostly due to being surrounded by talent.

Manziel's passing yards are about the same as Bridgewater's but his TD:INT ratio is almost as bad as Bortles.  So statistically speaking, Manziel comes off as making bad decisions when on the run and slinging the ball.  His number of sacks is pretty high, within 4 of Bridgewater and 2 of Bortles, so there's little difference there.

The stats have Carr, Manziel, and Bridgewater pretty close, but I think Carr gets discounted due to potentially skewed stats from a Fresno State schedule; even with his solid combine performance, I don't think he's projected to go until late in the first round or early second.  I don't think Bridgewater is the clear top choice, but given that it's primarily between him and Manziel, I think most teams see Manziel as more of a risk due to his lack of size and tendency to run the ball.  For an investor, that's an injury waiting to happen.  When you combine this with a bad TD:INT ratio for both of the past two seasons, Manziel seems inferior to Bridgewater in many ways.

Bridgewater against the teams Manziel played? I don't think we'd even be hearing Bridgewaters name much.

Hard to compare td to int ratios between 3 guys that have played such different levels of competition.   

[djsimp]

[Vandy Vol]

Bridgewater against the teams Manziel played? I don't think we'd even be hearing Bridgewaters name much.

If Louisville played those teams?  No, we probably wouldn't.  But if Bridgewater played at Texas A&M against those teams?  I'm not Miss Cleo, but I'd venture to guess that he'd still be in the running for best QB.  I mean, really...we're talking about Blake Bortles and AJ McCarron as potentially being in the top 5 for 2014.  This is no QB class of 2011.

With that being said, I agree that it's difficult to look at stats alone when you're dealing with players from two different levels of competition.  However, one only needs to compare the playing styles to understand why Bridgewater could conceivably be taken before Manziel.  Manziel throws on the run often due to his tendency to want to break out of the pocket, and it has resulted in many bad decisions.  Bridgewater shows much more patience and efficiency in the pocket while operating in a pro style offense.  Lesser competition, sure, but certainly fewer mistakes and a consistent improvement of completion percentages over three years.

I also agree that Bridgewater's decision not to participate in hardly anything at the combine is slightly disappointing, but everything else I've heard about the guy indicates that he has leadership skills and is a team player.  Meanwhile, there's Johnny "Money" Manziel, who has been the epitome of egotistical and childish antics.  He's a young guy, and so I write off a lot of what he does as inexperience and immaturity, but that's exactly the reason why a team may not want to take him.  There's more than just raw talent to take into consideration.

Again, I don't think Bridgewater is the clear choice here, but I don't see how it would be unfathomable that he's taken over Manziel.

[GH2001]

If Louisville played those teams?  No, we probably wouldn't.  But if Bridgewater played at Texas A&M against those teams?  I'm not Miss Cleo, but I'd venture to guess that he'd still be in the running for best QB.  I mean, really...we're talking about Blake Bortles and AJ McCarron as potentially being in the top 5 for 2014.  This is no QB class of 2011.

With that being said, I agree that it's difficult to look at stats alone when you're dealing with players from two different levels of competition.  However, one only needs to compare the playing styles to understand why Bridgewater could conceivably be taken before Manziel.  Manziel throws on the run often due to his tendency to want to break out of the pocket, and it has resulted in many bad decisions.  Bridgewater shows much more patience and efficiency in the pocket while operating in a pro style offense.  Lesser competition, sure, but certainly fewer mistakes and a consistent improvement of completion percentages over three years.

I also agree that Bridgewater's decision not to participate in hardly anything at the combine is slightly disappointing, but everything else I've heard about the guy indicates that he has leadership skills and is a team player.  Meanwhile, there's Johnny "Money" Manziel, who has been the epitome of egotistical and childish antics.  He's a young guy, and so I write off a lot of what he does as inexperience and immaturity, but that's exactly the reason why a team may not want to take him.  There's more than just raw talent to take into consideration.

Again, I don't think Bridgewater is the clear choice here, but I don't see how it would be unfathomable that he's taken over Manziel.

And that's my issue. He has said it and the pundits have said it - he's the clear choice. I just dont agree with that.

[AUTailgatingRules]

So did he come out to make sure he got drafted?

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/monday-s-combine-winner-and-losers-who-is-this-man-022414

[WiregrassTiger]

"Sam didn't do anything to prove his doubters wrong on Monday. He ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, jumped just 25.5 inches in the vertical and 9-foot-6 in the broad jump. He also proved to have stiff hips, even without pads on in defensive line drills. Players have done worse in the combine and still had solid NFL careers, but Sam's performance was among the worst of the year so far."

Sounds like most of the guys must've been wearing spandex.

[CCTAU]

"Sam didn't do anything to prove his doubters wrong on Monday. He ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, jumped just 25.5 inches in the vertical and 9-foot-6 in the broad jump. He also proved to have stiff hips, even without pads on in defensive line drills. Players have done worse in the combine and still had solid NFL careers, but Sam's performance was among the worst of the year so far."

Sounds like most of the guys must've been wearing spandex.

Now you are gay bashing. And that is what's wrong with the NFL. He will not get drafted high because NFL teams think like you. He is gonna sue!

[dallaswareagle]

"Sam didn't do anything to prove his doubters wrong on Monday. He ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, jumped just 25.5 inches in the vertical and 9-foot-6 in the broad guy jump. He also proved to have stiff hips, even without pads on in defensive line drills. Players have done worse in the combine and still had solid NFL careers, but Sam's performance was among the worst of the year so far."

Sounds like most of the guys must've been wearing spandex.

 

[WiregrassTiger]

I think they should give him a break on the stiff hips part. I'm surprised that he's even able to stand erect after taking all of the poundings this season.

[Tiger Wench]

Then how, exactly, did he win SEC defensive player of the year over Dee Ford?