In the Bleachers
Contributors: Michael
Felder
Taylor Mays, Bruce Campbell: ITB's
Combine Commentary
March 3rd, 2010
| It never fails as the
combine comes to a close. No this is something that can be counted on
like the sun rising in the east, setting in the west. It is as reliable
as death and taxes. "It" is the proverbial naysayer. More specifically
the droves out countless tweeters, bloggers, columnists, sports radio
hosts, college football fans and school specific fanatics that scream,
almost in unison: "THE COMBINE DOESN'T EVEN MATTER" Sometimes it comes after their players don't do so hot on the track. Sometimes it comes after a player from a rival school elevates his stock. Sometimes it comes out of spite and disgust with all the hype surrounding the biggest job interview in America. No matter where it comes from the fact is it comes. You'll hear it rained down from former players who weren't elite combine invites. Trumpeted by sports radio personalities who like to think they've got some clue as to what it takes to play in the league. Recited like a mantra by fans who are looking for a way to validate their All-American corner who just ran a 4.7-40 yard dash. Its frustrating, annoying and more than anything ridiculous. The fact that twitter has exploded with people saying "it doesn't matter" is just another reason to add to the recklessly penned columns about how "the combine isn't important." Here's a fact folks: LIKE IT OR NOT THE COMBINE IS A GREAT TOOL THAT COMPLETES THE HOLY TRINITY OF PLAYER EVALUATION That holy trinity of course being film evaluation, personality assessment and finally combine production. Read more for why the combine does matter and ITB's official stance on the NFL Draft Combine's importance... |
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Sam Bradford Tops ITB's "Do Not Touch" List
Yesterday we ran down our top ten list of players that we absolutely are in love with in the upcoming 2010 draft and got some pretty good feedback on our rankings. Some folks were puzzled by McClain's lofty status but as was previously stated if Nick Saban puts his defense in the hands of McClain I fully trust the Alabama backers ability to run and NFL ship in the next season and a half.
Today, on this hump day, we'll shed some light on the elite prospects that In The Bleachers is less than enamored with. Everyone has their big board, top pick and sleepers list but there are always players that talent evaluators aren't firmly sold upon. Here's our list of guys that we wouldn't want our team to touch with a ten foot pole. Guys that we think should be avoided like the plague. Guys that are, in our book, untouchable picks with a high bust potential.
Does this mean they'll all be certified garbage in the NFL? No, of course not. What it means is I'm not willing to commit to these players for fear of investing a ton of money and getting little positive return.
Listed in no particular order here are the five guys that raise the biggest red flags of the projected first rounders in this upcoming draft.
Taylor Mays
I'm fully capable of admitting that I drank the Taylor Mays kool-aid. I fell head over heels for a guy that was bigger, faster, stronger than any safety that I'd ever seen. I thought he was the second best safety in the nation and had elite, top ten, draft potential because of the tremendous blend between size and speed. I fell for it hook, line and sinker folks. However, just like Johnny Nash, "I can see clearly now" and I'm no longer clouded by Mays' herculean body type.
