New Insider Info (qb's and combine)
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Reports have surfaced over the last several days indicating that both USC QB Matt Leinart and Texas QB Vince Young will likely refrain from throwing at next week's scouting combine in Indianapolis. Some NFL officials -- especially from teams selecting at the top of this year's draft -- have expressed some frustration over the news. Leinart and Young also have taken heat from the media. However, both would be extremely wise to opt out.
Top-rated quarterbacks have the highest risk factor when it comes to working out at the combine. They are asked to look their best while throwing many unfamiliar routes to unfamiliar receivers, making it nearly impossible to establish timing. They also must adjust to throwing the differently shaped and distinctly fatter NFL football. Finally, only a few thousand of the RCA Dome's 55,506 seats are occupied by potential future employers, creating an abnormal environment for quarterbacks attempting to settle into a passing rhythm.
Leinart and Young have very little to prove. Everyone knows Leinart lacks ideal mobility and arm strength, so this is an awful setting for him to showcase his skills. Young is a phenomenal athlete who will benefit from running the 40-yard dash and performing agility drills, but if he elects to throw, his unorthodox release and inconsistent passing skills will overshadow his impressive running ability.
Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler, who plans to participate fully in the passing drills, has a stronger arm than both Leinart and Young, giving him an advantage in this setting. While Cutler has bridged the gap between himself and Leinart and Young, most officials still rank him third at this point, meaning he has more ground to make up in Indianapolis.
NFL teams are already impressed with Cutler's competitive nature, which is another reason why he should participate in every aspect of next week's workout. Furthermore, if he puts on an impressive showing, the talk in early March will focus on Cutler's possible ascent to the top of the draft board.
Nevertheless, it's important not to get caught up in all the early hype. The draft process is a marathon, not a sprint. Cutler has come out of the gates fast, but Leinart and Young will have plenty of time to impress -- most notably when throwing to familiar receivers, on a familiar practice field at their respective school's pro day.
Scouts Inc.'s Top 32
RANK NAME POS CLASS SCHOOL PREV
1. Reggie Bush RB JR USC 1
2. D'Brickashaw Ferguson OT SR Virginia 2
3. Matt Leinart QB SR USC 3
4. Vince Young QB JR Texas 4
5. Mario Williams DE JR N.C. State 5
6. A.J. Hawk OLB SR Ohio State 6
7. Jimmy Williams DC SR Virginia Tech 8
8. Michael Huff DB SR Texas 12
9. Jay Cutler QB SR Vanderbilt 7
10. DeAngelo Williams RB SR Memphis 11
11. Vernon Davis TE JR Maryland 10
12. Chad Greenway OLB SR Iowa 13
13. Haloti Ngata DT JR Oregon 9
14. LenDale White RB JR USC 16
15. Santonio Holmes WR JR Ohio State 14
16. Winston Justice OT JR USC 15
17. Laurence Maroney RB JR Minnesota 19
18. Tamba Hali DE SR Penn State 17
19. Demeco Ryans OLB SR Alabama 18
20. Chad Jackson WR JR Florida 20
21. Tye Hill DC SR Clemson NR
22. Leonard Pope TE JR Georgia 21
23. Ernie Sims OLB JR Florida State 22
24. Ashton Youboty DC JR Ohio State 23
25. Gabe Watson DT SR Michigan 24
26. Mathias Kiwanuka DE SR Boston College 25
27. Sinorice Moss WR SR Miami-FL 26
28. Marcus McNeill OT SR Auburn 28
29. Nick Mangold OC SR Ohio State NR
30. Bobby Carpenter OLB SR Ohio State 29
31. Brodrick Bunkley DT SR Florida State 30
32. Darryl Tapp DE SR Virginia Tech 32
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider.
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George: I slept with your wife!
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New Insider Info (qb's and combine)
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