Maehl, Bair improve draft stock with standout Combine performances
by David Piper on Mar 1, 2011 9:00 AM PST
in Oregon Ducks Football
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The NFL Combine is wrapping up, and our former Oregon Ducks have seen mixed results. It was a very good experience for Jeff Maehl and Brandon Bair, who had performances that will ensure that they are drafted, and not such a good experience for Casey Matthews.
Maehl wowed enough to take him off the draft bubble and firmly entrench him as a guy who will find a spot somewhere in the later rounds. He didn't wow anyone with his speed, with a 4.62 40 meter time, but bulked up by almost ten pounds (to 190) and set the combine record in the three cone drill at 6.42 seconds, and also had the best record of any wideout in the 60 yard shuttle (10.62). Says NFL Network analyst Sterling Sharpe:
“I like his game,” commentator Sterling Sharpe said. “He’s going to out slow some people but I like his game. He catches the football with his hands. He’s very fluid at route running. He’s a smart route runner. He doesn’t run into traffic or headaches. I like what I’ve seen from him in college.”
A bit of a backhanded compliment, yes, but its looking increasingly like Maehl will get drafted.
Brandon Bair also had a very good combine, ranking in the top ten in defensive linemen in several categories. Bair was projected a late round pick before the combine, but afterward, NFL Network lead analyst postulated:
"One of those 3-4 teams is going to scoop him up in the third or fourth round, put 20 pounds on him and all of the sudden (you have a) 6-6, 300-pound, 5-technique sitting face up on that offensive tackle"
The difference between round three and round six is a much more secure roster slot and a whole lot of money.
Unfortunately, Casey Matthews didn't get much of a chance to show what he could do, injuring his shoulder during the bench press and not getting a chance to show what he could do during defensive drills. While this is a bummer for him, he was the guy whose status was most assured, and he'll have a shot to show what he can do at Oregon's pro day.
Watch the NFL Scouting Combine Feb. 24-Mar. 1
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Steve Largent wasn't very fast...
but nobody could stop him, either. Maehlman delivers and will be a slot receiver for a long time.
"It’s great with these group of guys. There is no panic in them." --Chip Kelly, Clearly NOT talking about members of ATQ.
His combine numbers are better than Austin Collie and they are about the same size. I think he could donquite well in the NFL.
by sacduxnutz on Mar 1, 2011 5:33 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I'm gonna be like Axemen for a second.
I go to high school with Sterling Sharpe’s daughter, and I’ve personally met him. He’s a total dick, and he still thinks the NFL is in the nineties in terms of playbooks. I wouldn’t believe anything he said on how a player would look in the pros now a days.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Mar 1, 2011 6:23 PM PST reply actions
I have a lot of faith that Maehl is going to make an NFL roster. He’s not ever going to blow people away with his pure physical attributes, but for every Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson there are a bunch of solid route runners who get asked to catch the 5 yard slant on 3rd down, not the 60 yard bomb. He’s also shown that he can make clutch plays and deliver on crucial downs and in the red zone; anyone who reviews his tape is going to see that he steps up when the team needs him.
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