Maybe my thinking on this is a little bit old school but I really dig the fact that Odunze is saying yup, I’m gonna do everything. Meanwhile Nabers and MHJ don’t seem like they want to be bothered by it. If we stay at 6, Odunze is the guy I want if Maye is gone.
#Washington WR Rome Odunze, the No. 3 overall player on @MoveTheSticks' Top 50 and in contention to be the Top WR, will run and test at the Combine in Indy, source said.
So, a no on Marvin Harrison Jr or Malik Nabers. But a yes on Odunze.
And by that, I mean it shows Odunze's confidence in himself and love for the game.
This is exactly right. The only thing a top 5 prospect can do is hurt themselves (literally and figuratively) by doing the Combine. When you KNOW you are going to be drafted in a certain range like MHJ, the qbs, you only need the pro day to wow. The Combine is a pain in the ass too. You got to fly up to Indy for a few days in February whereas the pro days you are at home and prepping in your facilities.
Its why guys like JJ and Rome feel the need to show out. If Rome runs 4.4, jumps thru the gym, and looks good in the drills, he could solidify himself as WR2. Maye has to participate because hes been slipping.
Is there any evidence to suggest it’s a bad move? No. Not really. Just shows the lack of interest in my opinion.
Is there any evidence to suggest it’s a bad move? No. Not really. Just shows the lack of interest in my opinion.
What does MHJr or Nabers have to gain by doing the combine tests? MHJr is a lock to be a top 5 pick. Nabers is a lock to be a top 10
While an MHJr or a Nabers wouldn't fall that far, there is nothing for them to gain by doing the combine, but a lot for them to lose.
Is there any evidence to suggest it’s a bad move? No. Not really. Just shows the lack of interest in my opinion.
Every scout and GM has already seen them, and looked at a whole lot of video on them. And can go back and look at tons of video on them. The most important part of the combine to the teams when it comes to the top guys, especially QBs, is the meetings. They want to know what is in their heads. But I think if a team has 2 guys equal on their board and one did all the drills at the combine and the other did none, that team will probably lean toward the guy who did the drills because it shows commitment.
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Darnold chose to not do anything at the combine. Just my opinion but it’s an orange flag for me if you are completely healthy and choose to not do anything at the combine. You’ve got every scout and GM in the game at the event and you are basically saying nah I’m good.
Is there any evidence to suggest it’s a bad move? No. Not really. Just shows the lack of interest in my opinion.
Every scout and GM has already seen them, and looked at a whole lot of video on them. And can go back and look at tons of video on them. The most important part of the combine to the teams when it comes to the top guys, especially QBs, is the meetings. They want to know what is in their heads. But I think if a team has 2 guys equal on their board and one did all the drills at the combine and the other did none, that team will probably lean toward the guy who did the drills because it shows commitment.
This. Combine drills mean very little unless your Al Davis watching the 40 yard dash. Remember Mike Mamula ?
I have never seen anyone value these types of things over talent the way you do. I'm not suggesting it is wrong, but I don't know why anyone would expect MJH to run around at the Combine when the absolute best case scenario for him is that his draft stock stays exactly where it is.
MJH competing at the combine would tell me he isn't a good decision maker and doesn't consider outcomes.
Odunze is a known quantity. Good for him that he wants to participate, but I wouldn't bat an eyelash if he decided to stay home instead.
Well Neal didn't work out and look at how that has played out.
If a guy is a real competitor he will want to work out and show off. Not working out screams diva or a lack of confidence in how they will perform. I would pass on someone not working out unless it was due to an injury.
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should not be a determinative factor on whether you draft them or not. That's pretty stupid.
Well Neal didn't work out and look at how that has played out.
If a guy is a real competitor he will want to work out and show off. Not working out screams diva or a lack of confidence in how they will perform. I would pass on someone not working out unless it was due to an injury.
You'd pass on someone not participating in the combine? That's stupid AF, but that's on brand for you.
I learned this working closely with agents and scouts in one of the premier all star games, and not a single scout holds this against the player, even if they are disappointed at times for not getting to see them in action or interview them at that particular time. There's even games played between some scouts, telling a kid not to do X or to do Y, usually through the agent telephone game or even during in-person interviews.
Pats DT Bill Murray participated in an all star game out of college, and one team pulled him to the side after seeing him on the field and before official interviews, and told him to stay in his hotel room and not answer the phone for any team but them and he would be a Patriot. This didn't happen but they tried. 4 months later they signed him as an UDFA.
Is there any evidence to suggest it’s a bad move? No. Not really. Just shows the lack of interest in my opinion.
The underwear olympics overall dont impact how or where a person is drafted. What you do on tape and the medical information is primary.. running around doing drills in shorts that some of these guys have been training weeks to do, isnt football.
I don’t really care about the actual times and what they test out. Could care less if Odunze runs a 4.38 or a 4.50.
To me, not doing anything at the combine says you are all set. The competitive nature of these guys should say “yeah I wanna beat everyone there.”
I agree. Very well spoken. He is 2nd best WR after MHJ imo.
Nabers is an incredible prospect who has earned the right to skip it. He could wind up being the best player in the entire draft. He has rare size for a guy as explosive as he is.
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Nabers not doing anything at the combine is a red flag to me. He’s not this incredible prospect that has earned the right to skip it.
Nabers is an incredible prospect who has earned the right to skip it. He could wind up being the best player in the entire draft. He has rare size for a guy as explosive as he is.
Nabers is 6 feet tall. How is that “rare size”?
It is the 2nd level guys that need to show that they should be drafted higher and earn a bigger pay check.
I doubt a single GM or HC gives a crap that MHJr or Nabers don't go to the combine as long as they have a pro day for the interview.
I agree that they are protecting themselves from a freak injury before they are drafted. Why chance it? All three are likely to go top 10 with MHJr challenging the QBs for the top spot(well at least top 4). Don't get hurt for free.
Actually shows a little intelligence, IMV. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
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In comment 16408968 ryanmkeane said:
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Nabers not doing anything at the combine is a red flag to me. He’s not this incredible prospect that has earned the right to skip it.
Nabers is an incredible prospect who has earned the right to skip it. He could wind up being the best player in the entire draft. He has rare size for a guy as explosive as he is.
Nabers is 6 feet tall. How is that “rare size”?
You left out the second part of the sentence - "for a guy as explosive as he is". He has the explosiveness of much smaller receivers. There is a class of receivers who are smaller and have elite explosion. Tank Dell is 5-10, 165. Tyreek Hill who is the biggest of the new age explosive WRs is 5-10, 185. Malik Nabers is 2 inches taller and heavier than Tyreek. You want to know the ceiling for Nabers? It's Hill. Combine that explosiveness in a bigger body and Nabers has a serious chance to be the best receiver in the NFL. I'm not predicting he will be, but the gap between MHJ and Nabers is totally overblown. And there are scouts who have Nabers ahead.
It is the 2nd level guys that need to show that they should be drafted higher and earn a bigger pay check.
I doubt a single GM or HC gives a crap that MHJr or Nabers don't go to the combine as long as they have a pro day for the interview.
I agree that they are protecting themselves from a freak injury before they are drafted. Why chance it? All three are likely to go top 10 with MHJr challenging the QBs for the top spot(well at least top 4). Don't get hurt for free.
Actually shows a little intelligence, IMV. They have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Exactly right. They have nothing to gain. Their value is set. In some order MHJ and Nabers are WR1 and WR2. Caleb Williams has been the presumptive #1 for over a year. He doesn't need to throw a football in shorts. I'm a little surprised Daniels won't participate but what are we talking about here, he's going somewhere between #2 and #6. He has to interview well and have a good pro day. JJ McCarthy, however, needs the combine.
I don’t really care about the actual times and what they test out. Could care less if Odunze runs a 4.38 or a 4.50.
To me, not doing anything at the combine says you are all set. The competitive nature of these guys should say “yeah I wanna beat everyone there.”
He is all set though, he’s not willing to risk an injury. And he just spent all season trying to be the best and was arguably the best, but somehow the competitiveness isn’t where it needs to be?
So what do you do with any player that skips the combine, remove them from your board?
It's an antiquated and distracting media event.
If I were about to make a huge investment on a young man, and I'd prefer he did fewer things to risk his health and safety. Like rebuilding his training regimen for the combine.
It’s the only chance for the team doctors to get access.