Combine Articles

[berad]

I think it would be interesting, during this combine/mock/draft season, to take a step back and look and some of the things that were said and done surrounding the Ravens and our draftees in regards to combine performance and measurables.

 

For instance, recent stories that have gotten attention are Clowney's impressive 40 time and not-so-impressive bench press reps. Similarly, Michael Sam's uninspiring overall measurables.

 

Just for comparisons sake, I looked up Terrell Suggs' combine measurables (which I knew were 'infamously' lackluster) and at 6'3, 262lbs he ran a 4.8sec 40-yd dash, 33 inch vertical, and had 19 reps on the bench press. This of course, luckily, caused him to drop in the draft to the Ravens but it was a big deal because he was projected as high as top 5.

 

Digging up an old USA Today article, it was really compelling to hear the comments made back then with the juxtaposition of how they worked out 10+ years later. Said Bears GM Jerry Angelos:

 

"Everybody walked away very disappointed, especially us way up at the top," Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo told the Chicago Tribune after the workout. "It probably knocked him down. It's going to hurt him. Everybody expected a 4.65 guy. At worst I thought he'd run 4.75."

 

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/draft/2003-04-14-sugg-de_x.htm

 

The Bears traded out of the #4 spot - when they could have taken Suggs - and received picks #14, #22, and #116 from the Jets. Those picks, in order, were: Michael Haynes, Rex Grossman, and Ian Scott. Compare them with an All-Pro, DPOY player like Suggs. If Angelo thought he was disappointed back in 2003 at Suggs' workout, imagine how he feels looking at his draft 10 years later. It may have "hurt" Sizzle's draft stock but had no bearing on the player he is.

 

I just thought it was really cool to see and - for someone like me who did not follow the NFL/Ravens back in 2003 - somewhat of a history lesson. I know Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were doubted becuase of their size and measurables but it did not hold them back from HOF careers.

 

TLDR: it would be neat to re-hash some of the pre-draft fodder surrounding our Ravens throughout the years, with comparisons to this years' class, and see how it actually played out on the field.

[Moderator 3]

Here's a start

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/How-Did-Current-Ravens-Fare-At-Combine/94bfb79e-731c-47c0-b789-e34344772006

[berad]

Here's a start

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/How-Did-Current-Ravens-Fare-At-Combine/94bfb79e-731c-47c0-b789-e34344772006

 

Was very pleased to see it. I commented in there that I don't follow college football so the combine is just a bunch of random dudes in shorts. When they get into the NFL and I can apply some context, it's cool to look back.