Feb. 26, 2007 Print it By War Room scouts For Sporting News Defensive players took to the field Monday at the NFL Scouting Combine in the RCA Dome with some mixed results: POSLUSZNY IN POSITION Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny, whom many feel played much better as a junior then he did as a senior after sustaining a knee injury Jan. 1, 2006 in the Orange Bowl, had a strong all-around day Monday. He measured just shorter than ideal (6-1 5/8) and weighed a strong 238 pounds. Posluszny didn't blow us away observers with his two 40-yard dashes but was solid -- 4.67 seconds and 4.68 seconds. His athleticism particularly shined through in the linebacker drills, showing smoothness and fluid adjustments to change directions nicely in the open field. Posluszny proved that despite not being 100 percent that he is on track to return to his pre-injury form in 2007. He is a sure first-round pick. DURANT'S DURABLE Hampton's Justin Durant had one of the best days of any linebacker and must be considered among the top inside linebackers. He measured at 6-1, which eased some teams' concerns about his size, and then ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash to grab everyone's attention. After running so well in the 40, the GMs, coaches and scouts were watching Durant closely during the position drills and he more than held his own. He showed quick footwork, nice balance and good body control. He showed great hands in catching passes, which lends credence to him being terrific in coverage. His performance Monday pretty much locked up a spot on Day 1. WILLIS WOWS AGAIN Ole Miss' Patrick Willis, still our top-rated inside linebacker, shocked nearly everyone by running one of his 40-yard dashes in 4.49 seconds. He generally regarded as a good athlete with good speed (in the 4.5-second range), but he really helped himself with a blazing 40 in Indianapolis. Willis then went out and excelled at moving around smoothly and quickly during the position drills. He proved that he has the frame, athleticism and speed to be considered at inside or outside linebacker. ADAMS GAINS GROUND Clemson's Gaines Adams had an outstanding day, clearly establishing himself as the No. 1 defensive end. In addition to running the best 40-yard dash at that position (4.64 seconds), he excelled in all the linebacker drills, dropping back smoothly and changing directions well enough to prove he can play that position, too. Adams can play either end in a 4-3 scheme or rush linebacker in a 3-4 defense. BUZZ ON BEASON Miami (Fla.) outside linebacker Jon Beason, a junior, had a strong performance Monday. He ran a good 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds) and was remarkably smooth and fluid in all the drills. Beason showed he is one of the draft's more polished and athletic linebackers and assured himself of being one of the first linebackers off the board. HARRIS HOT AND COLD Michigan inside linebacker David Harris was one of few prospects who was both good and bad Monday. He surprised many by running the 40 in the 4.5-second range because nearly every team viewed him as a 4.7- or 4.8-type linebacker who lacked quickness and explosiveness. However, he did not move as well during the drills, looking a bit stiff and choppy. All things considered, Harris' 40-yard time will more than compensate for his struggles in the drills. ROBISON ROOSTS Texas defensive end Brian Robison jumped out Monday. He came to the Combine regarded as a fifth- or sixth-round prospect who is undersized but wins with determination and effort. However, he ran the second- and third-best 40 times at the position (4.66 and 4.69 seconds, behind only Adams), and followed that up by performing well in all the drills. Robison was surprisingly flexible in moving his feet and changing directions smoothly in the open field. Robison's workout looked more like he was worth a third- or fourth-round pick. A WAKE-UP CALL Wake Forest inside linebacker Jon Abbate, a junior, hurt himself at the Combine by measuring in at only 5-9 1/2 and 231 pounds. He lacks the elite athleticism and explosiveness to compensate for such lack of height. Abbate also did not run well in the 40-yard dash (4.98 seconds), and he will slide to the sixth or seventh round. SILER SLIPS Florida junior linebacker Brandon Siler also struggled during the position drills Monday, resulting in a significant hit to his draft stock. He looked stiff and unathletic moving around. He likely will drop well into Day 2.
I saw Robinson run and do a lot of the drills on NFLN, and he impressed me a lot. He was asked how he'd feel about moving to OLB at the next level and he said that he'll do whatever the team that drafts him wants. Contrast this with what Anthony Spencer said: he'd prefer to keep his hand down and play DE. Robinson seems like a good fit for the system and I would not be upset if we took him in the 3rd or so.
