Pro Football Weekly and Riddell present ...
2002 NFL draft

Scout talk

NFL scouts discuss results from Wisconsin's pro timing day and the Combine

By Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor of special projects
March 7, 2002

• Houston officials are reportedly already trying to work out a deal with Fresno State QB David Carr. Carr’s agent, Michael F. Sullivan, denied that any talks have taken place. If they have begun contract negotiations with Carr prior to the draft, the Texans would be following the lead of the expansion Cleveland Browns in 1999, when the Browns agreed to terms with QB Tim Couch before drafting him.

• Wisconsin DT Wendell Bryant turned a lot of heads when he was timed as low as 4.77 in the 40-yard dash by some NFL scouts at Wisconsin’s pro timing day. Bryant looked impressive in position drills, banging and battling with Cincinnati Bengals DL coach Tim Krumrie, a former Badger. Bryant’s32.5-inch vertical jump and nine-foot broad jump were equally impressive for a defensive lineman. The main concern with Bryant continues to be his upper-body strength. He has displayed great quickness, but he bench-pressed 225 pounds only 20 times. By comparison, Badgers WR-RS Nick Davis bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times. Wisconsin TE Mark Anelli did not run as fast as scouts would like for a tight end (4.84, 4.95). CB Mike Echols ran consistently between 4.44 and 4.49 in the 40-yard dash and had an impressive vertical jump of 38.5 inches. His quickness remains a concern, however, after running a 4.28 in the 20-yard shuttle and 7.17 in the three-cone drill — slow times for a cornerback. After Bryant, MLB Nick Griesen may have helped his stock the most. He showed remarkable quickness (4.13 in the 20-yard shuttle and a 6.93 in the three-cone drill), great leaping ability (32-inch vertical jump and a nine-foot broad jump) for a linebacker. He also doubles as a long snapper.

• Oklahoma S Roy Williams displayed a lot of willingness and class by performing everything scouts asked him to do at the Combine, posting impressive numbers in the process.

• Although performing just 24 repetitions in the 225-pound bench-press test, Auburn OL Kendall Simmons looked impressive in position drills. Iowa RB Ladell Betts, who opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, elevated himself at the Combine in RB drills, running very well and catching every ball thrown to him.

• Sam Houston State QB Josh McCown displayed remarkable athleticism and may have solidified his status as the third-best quarterback in the draft behind Fresno State’s David Carr and Oregon’s Joey Harrington.

• Northwestern LB Napoleon Harris may have slipped into the top 10 after a strong showing at the Combine. After bulking up and switching to defensive end last season, Harris displayed unusual fluidity for his size with back-to-back sub-4.6 times.

• Akron WR Jake Schifino and Wisconsin-Stout DB Tony Beckham did not play in many packed stadiums during their college careers, but that may change after their performances at the Combine, where they posted sub-4.4 40-yard-dash times. Schifino ran a 4.38 and 4.45. Beckham was clocked at 4.33 and 4.34. Beckham did not retest in the 40-yard dash when he worked out at the University of Wisconsin Wednesday. He did not show great quickness, running a 4.32 20-yard shuttle and 7.13 in the three-cone drill. With the straight-away speed he demonstrated at the Combine, there has been some talk of moving Beckham to wide receiver, depending on his catching ability.

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