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WalterFootball.com: 2013 NFL Draft Scouting Combine - Field Workout Recap


By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: draftcampbell@gmail.com
Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.

This is the 2013 NFL Combine Field Workout Recap for the defensive linemen. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd used the workouts to illustrate why he is rated at the top of the 2013 NFL Draft. Floyd had a great performance at the Combine. He ran the 40 in a stunning 4.87 seconds, unofficially, with a 10-yard split of 1.68 seconds. Floyd was also phenomenal in the field drills with quick feet and good movement skills. It was obvious that the 6-fo0t-3, 297-pounder has amazing athleticism for an interior defensive lineman. The Combine helped confirm Floyd's high first-round grade.

There is no doubt that Oregon outside linebacker Dion Jordan is dripping with athleticism. He put on a clinic at the Combine with a blazing unofficial 40 time of 4.53 seconds (4.60 officially) and a 10-yard split of 1.57 seconds. While the times were excellent, Jordan was even better in the field work. He was extremely fluid with super fast feet as he flew through the bags. Jordan looked awesome dropping into coverage as a linebacker. He did that well in college, so it wasn't a surprise that he looked like a natural in these drills. Jordan (6-6, 248) needs to gain weight, but he clearly is a perfect fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.




BYU defensive end/outside linebacker Ezekiel Ansah showed off his supreme athleticism. The 6-foot-5, 271-pounder ran a sparkling 40 time of 4.62 seconds unofficially with a 10-yard split of 1.56. Ansah then did well in the field drills and gave more proof that he can handle outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Ansah is an athletic freak and he did his part to maintain his early first-round status.

SMU defensive end Margus Hunt is another defensive freak. The 6-foot-8, 277-pounder put his track background on display in the workouts. He had an official 40 time of 4.60 with a 10-yard split of 1.62. That was tied for the third-fastest time. In the bag drills, Hunt showed that he is a natural bender and moved extremely well. He has very quick feet and was smooth moving between the pads.

Hunt tied for the lead with all the defensive linemen with 38 reps on the bench press the day before. He truly is a rare specimen for size, speed and strength. Hunt's big Combine performance isn't a surprise, but he definitely helped himself.

Auburn's Corey Lemonier helped his draft stock with his Combine performance. He ran the 40-yard dash with an official time of 4.60 and 1.57 in the first 10 yards. In the field drills, Lemonier gave teams evidence that he can handle the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker. He was quick - a little tight in the hips - but fast in the field work. Lemonier (6-3, 255) has added some needed bulk and that was on display with a quality bench press total of 27 reps. He did his part to confirm a second-day grade.




Connecticut outside linebacker/defensive end Trevardo Williams is definitely a workout warrior, but he also has a lot production in his collegiate career. The 6-foot-1, 241-pounder blazed an official 40 time of 4.57 seconds with a mark of 1.61 in the 10-yard split. Williams was the fastest of all the defensive linemen. He also was very impressive in the bench press with 30 reps. That is a huge total for a sub-250 defender. Williams helped differentiate himself at the Combine.

Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore had a disappointing Combine. He ran a slow 40 time at 4.87 seconds unofficially (4.95 officially) with 1.69 in the 10-yard split. Moore made a second attempt at the 40, but pulled up with a leg injury. Worse than the 40, the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder managed only 12 reps on the bench press; the lowest total of any defensive lineman. Moore had good numbers in the broad jump (122) and vertical jump (35.5). The strength is the biggest red flag and it could cause teams to reevaluate him.

It wasn't surprising that LSU outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo looked good at the Combine. Everybody knows that he is extremely athletic. Mingo had one of the fastest 40 times at 4.58 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds. He was explosive in the field drills, too. Mingo did extremely well dropping into coverage and was very fluid in and out of his breaks. The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder is a player who thrives in space and clearly isn't big enough to play defensive end in the pros. Mingo used the Combine to show that his athletic ability is legitimate.




One highly regarded defensive end who had a mildly disappointing performance was Florida State's Bjoern Werner. His official 40 time was 4.83 seconds with a 10-yard split of 1.66 seconds. Werner did better in the defensive line field drills as he showed good feet and burst. Werner (6-3, 266) was asked to participate in the 3-4 outside linebacker drills as well, and he looked stiff to flip his hips and redirect. Werner's outing at the Combine demonstrated that he isn't a great fit as a 3-4 edge linebacker and would need development if he's drafted into that scheme.

Ohio State defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins ran the 40 at a time of 5.31 seconds officially with a slow 10-yard split of 1.80. It wasn't a good time for Hankins, but not terrible for a heavy tackle. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder was stiff moving through the field drills, but he had more quickness than one would think. The 2013 NFL Draft features a loaded defensive tackle class, and Hankins didn't do enough at the Combine to narrow the gap with the higher-ranked players like Floyd.

A few other defensive linemen are worth mentioning. Missouri's Sheldon Richardson (5.02), North Carolina's Sylvester Williams (5.03) and UCLA's Datone Jones (4.80) all had solid Combine performances. They had decent times, but didn't blow anyone away. None of the trio hurt or helped themselves significantly.

|Mitch|

I thought Margus Hunt was more impressive than Ansah and Jordan both...

FinSaint

I think Jordan would be a beast if/when he gets his shoulder repaired in time to take part in the OTAs, and he still remains my favorite for the OLB spot not least because of his coverage skills.

st thomas

there's plenty of meat to go around. i'm confident we get help quick on defense. who knows with payton though?

hagan714

I agree. that would allow Wilson to be the Rush OLB in the 34 were he excels. Thats if Wilson fits into the plains. After last year abuse i really am at a lose.

Size and speed at OLB would be unreal for the saints.

Now Hunt reminds of a bigger Cameron IMO. Just not developed. I watch him a few times and wondered if he was giving it all on more than one play.

papz

Good stuff. I'm a little worried Mingo/Jordan/Ansah tested themselves out of our range.

saintsfan1976

One will be there. No doubt. If the top ten draft picks have proven anything, there's always a few head-scratchers.

RaginCajun83

If Jordan/Ansah are gone by 15 and the Saints have to "settle" on Mingo, I think the Saints will be fine. Its a pick to improve the defense and I'm all for that

Rugby Saint II

Well, that is a deep defense. I guess that means we're going WR in the first!

saintsfan1976

It could happen.