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Dorsey's pro day fails to cement him as certain No. 1 pick - USATODAY.com

Crusader

I was just about to say that I'm not really impressed by any of Dorseys numbers. They are decent but not elite. Then again, football isn't played by numbers but with heart and passion which he has lots of.

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There are few programs around the country that pump out pro prospects as consistently as LSU and experience means the Tigers are among the best at putting on a pro day. Wednesday's event was set up in a way that made life easier for scouts and working media in attendance.

Representative from 27 of the 32 NFL teams were in attendance, including Chiefs GM Carl Peterson and head coach Herm Edwards, Vikings VP of player personnel Rick Spielman and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.


There were 16 LSU prospects on display -- eight of whom are expected to be drafted -- and a handful of others from various nearby smaller programs, but it didn't take a private detective to finger DT Glenn Dorsey as the leading man.

Dorsey didn't set the world on fire by any means but he did turn in a solid workout. The 6-foot-1½, 297-pound defensive tackle ran a 5.14-second 40-yard dash, which is a respectable time for a player his size. On the bench, Dorsey put up 225 pounds 27 times. He doesn't have great upper-body strength like USC's Sedrick Ellis (34 reps) -- the other elite DT in the 2008 class -- but it is a sound number considering the average reps for defensive tackles at the combine was 27.2. It should also be noted that Ellis' fastest 40 time at the combine was 5.32.

After lifting and running, coaches from Miami, Kansas City, Baltimore and New Orleans led Dorsey though an on-field workout. Saints defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and Chiefs defensive line coach Tim Krumrie played particularly big roles during the drills. In addition to targeting specific skill sets, their collective goal was to test Dorsey's stamina and mental toughness by pushing him to the limit. To his credit, Dorsey did not back down and showed a mean streak that seemingly gave him a second wind during the final few minutes. Coaches and scouts love to see that type of mental toughness in a player.

The bottom line is that Dorsey performed well enough to back up what scouts have seen of him on film. There seems to be no lingering issues stemming from a knee injury suffered last season, and I spoke with members from three different personnel departments who claimed his stock will not be hurt by the 2006 stress fracture that had become a point of concern early in the draft process.

With all that in mind, it would be shocking if Dorsey is not the first defensive tackle off the board this year. The Rams (No. 2 overall), Falcons (No. 3) and Raiders (No. 4) could all use help along the interior of the defensive line, so don't expect him to fall out of the top four.

The rest of the workouts
OLB Ali Highsmith needed to have a big day after running 4.95 and 5.00 40-yard dash times at the combine last month. After all, it's clear on film that Highsmith is at his best making plays on the move and in pursuit.

He came through with times of 4.78 and 4.69 on his first two attempts, and it got even better after that. Scouts were so surprised by the gap between the times that they asked him to run a third 40 and Highsmith responded with a 4.68. Finally, Highsmith didn't lift at the combine but put up 23 reps on the bench. The combine average for linebackers was 22.7. While Highsmith has physical limitations and durability issues that will likely keep him out of the first two rounds, at least his times now match up with his playing speed on film.


One player who didn't help himself was WR Early Doucet. Like Highsmith, Doucet also ran three 40s, but with a best time of 4.56 and a slowest of 4.68 This isn't an ideal time for a 6-foot, 209-pound receiver but it does not come as a huge surprise, either. We've been saying for months that Doucet lacks the elite speed to be a vertical weapon in the NFL, which is why we've graded him out as a second-rounder.
The two players who surprised the most were QB Matt Flynn and SS Craig Steltz. Flynn is a bit of an enigma because he's a one-year starter who missed a couple games due to injury and shared time with Ryan Perrilloux in an LSU offense that doesn't translate well to the NFL. Still, he's clearly capable of developing into an NFL quarterback and it showed on the field today.

Flynn displayed better-than-expected accuracy, put good zip on his passes and moved his feet very well. Earlier in the day, he measured 6-2 and weighed in at 229 pounds. That's as big as Michigan's Chad Henne and even bigger than USC's John David Booty. In addition, every college coach and NFL scout we have spoken to lately gushes about Flynn's intangibles and ability to lead. Keep an eye on him, because Flynn is gaining momentum as a mid-to-late round developmental prospect.

Steltz, who didn't run at the combine, ran a 4.63 40-yard dash, 4.19 short shuttle and a 7.09 three-cone drill. The 40 time may seem disappointing but it's good enough for a 212-pound safety prospect, and the other times are excellent. Throw in a 35-inch vertical jump and Steltz appears to have good short-area explosiveness, and on film he shows the ability to jump routes and make plays.

Finally, Steltz showed scouts that the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Senior Bowl is healing by comfortably putting up 10 reps on the bench. After evaluating him on film, seeing the numbers he put up at the combine and watching his pro day workout we are confident that Steltz will go in the middle rounds. He should come off the board right around the same time as Boston College's Jamie Silva, who is a very similar prospect.

The cornerback tandem of Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon also worked out for scouts. Jackson followed up a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine with a 4.63 on campus, and while that does raise some red flags, Jackson already projects as a Cover 2 corner and is so fluid in coverage that he appears faster on film. And it doesn't hurt that he has ample experience lining up against some of the best collegiate receivers in the nation.

Zenon had a better showing in the 40 with a 4.55, not elite speed but good enough for a smart corner who makes few mistakes and, like Jackson, is used to lining up against upper-echelon wideouts on a weekly basis. In other words, these times might have impacted the stock of other players far more than it will hurt Jackson and Zenon because of their experience and styles of play.

FB Jacob Hester opted not to run, a move that was mildly surprising from a player who goes 100 miles per hour on every snap and never seems to back down from a challenge. However, chances are Hester made the right call even though he didn't have a great showing at the combine because he is a far better football player than he is an athlete. He isn't going to win many foot races or lifting contests, but when watching Hester on film it is clear he is a tough lead blocker and strong short-yardage runner who makes the most of his natural ability.

Finally, former LSU RB Alley Broussard, who transferred to Missouri Southern State in 2007, was back in Baton Rouge for pro day and ran a 4.68 40-yard dash and notched 22 reps on the bench press. He is clearly recovering from the knee injuries that plagued his career and could get a shot to make an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent.



Upcoming workouts
Here's a look at the most important remaining pro days on the schedule:

Thursday: Virginia Tech
Friday: Coastal Carolina, Kansas State
Monday: Arkansas State
Tuesday: Hawaii
April 2: USC




ESPN - Solid workouts for DT Dorsey, QB Flynn; WR Doucet falters - NFL

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