NFL's top Workout Wonders at the Combine ...the top 6 over the years http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/02/23/pick...cherreport.com 6. Adam Archuleta Archuleta went from walk-on at Arizona State to Pac 10 Defensive Player of the Year before he amazed scouts with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash time, a 39-inch vertical leap and 31 reps (at 225 pounds) on the bench press at the combine. St. Louis selected him with the 20th overall selection, and while he did have some solid seasons in Lovie Smith‘s Cover 2 defense, he was never selected to the Pro Bowl. Which, somehow, didn’t deter the Redskins from making him the highest-paid safety in 2006. Archuleta never took to Gregg Williams‘ system, and he was traded to the Bears before failing in one final stop with the Raiders. But it’s not all bad for him. He did manage to parlay a great combine workout and marginal NFL career to land Playmate Jennifer Walcott. 5. Darrius Heyward-Bey The Raiders love speed and the vertical game, so it’s no surprise that the team became infatuated with Heyward-Bey after he was a top performer in the 40 (4.25), bench press (16 reps) and vertical jump (38 1/2 inches) among others. The Raiders might have surprised some when they took Heyward-Bey with the seventh-overall pick, ahead of Michael Crabtree, but they view him as the next Cliff Branch. Right now, he looks like the next Ronald Curry. 4. Matt Jones Jones was a quarterback and a member of the basketball team at Arkansas, so it’s no surprise that he put up big numbers at the combine, clocking a 4.37 time in the 40, along with a 39 1/2-inch vertical leap. The Jaguars drafted him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, but Jones never quite made the transition to receiver as his off-the-field troubles became so big, even the Bengals gave up on him. 3. Jonathan Sullivan There were a number of notable defensive linemen in the 2003 NFL Draft, and All of them seemed like can’t-miss prospects. Sullivan, who skipped his senior season at Georgia, distanced himself from the others at the combine, and ended up being the No. 6 selection of the Saints. Sullivan is out of football. One of the defensive tackles the Saints passed on? Kevin Williams, who has been to three Pro Bowls and is part of the Vikings’ famed “Williams Wall.” 2. Mike Mamula As Kirwan noted in his chat, you can’t spell all-time combine workout warrior without Mike Mamula. No, really, you can’t. Mamula, a defensive end, had a 40-time that rivaled linebackers and did more bench press reps than most offensive linemen. His case was so compelling, the Eagles traded up to draft him No. 7 overall in 1995. And you know the rest, as Mamula has become the punchline for the combine ever since. 1. Vernon Gholston How is Gholston ahead of Mamula? Well, it’s understandable that teams could be duped by a workout warrior back when Mamula made it through the combine in 1995. But what excuse do they have now? Gholston was a physical specimen whose chiseled abs would have made Hugh Jackman and The Situation jealous. Gholston put on a show at the combine that could only be rivaled by Ivan Drago in “Rocky IV.” Yet in three NFL seasons, he has yet to record a single sack. Mr. Mamula, congratulations, you are no longer the biggest joke of the combine.
Can anyone find where Kirwan had him rated in that draft? Seemed like everyone had us taking him when we did. Sure the whole thing has sucked balls, but it's not like anyone thought this was going to be the result at the time. It's these same analysts who hype these guys every year. Surprised Robertson wasn't on that list... VG has made us forget about DeWayne.
drob atleast had some production.not enough for what we gave up to get him but he wasn't a total bust
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/vernon-gholston?id=756 Vernon Gholston is a remarkable talent, but he's only just begun realizing his vast potential. He never picked up a football until his sophomore year in high school and had just one season of defensive experience as a linebacker before being converted to defensive end when he arrived at Ohio State. Blessed with incredible speed (clocked at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash), long limbs and superb strength, Gholston is the prototype pass rusher that professional teams look for -- big, fast, strong and explosive. An avid performer in the weight room, he boasted the best bench press on the team at 455 pounds. He also put on an impressive performance for teammates, squatting 405 pounds 20 times. How Gholston was lured into football will one day make a nice story, if he becomes the legendary pass rusher many personnel experts are predicting. Walking in the halls of Cass Technical High School, football coach Thomas Wilcher spotted the 14-year-old strapping youngster, who stood 6-3, 240 pounds at the time. He convinced the player to join the football team. Gholston was too big to play in Detroit's Police Athletic League and the elementary public schools did not offer an organized football program. From the first time he ever stepped on the field, the coaching staff knew they had a natural talent. As a sophomore at Cass Tech, Gholston was first tried at linebacker, but he was overwhelmed by the plays he needed to know to play that position. One of the offensive coaches "stole" the youngster away from the defensive squad and had him play offensive guard as a sophomore. His junior campaign was limited by ankle sprains, which forced him to stay on the offensive line and scrap plans to also play linebacker. By his senior season, he had already earned All-State honors as an offensive lineman and gained experience playing linebacker for the first time in his career. In just one season on defense, he was regarded as one of the best linebackers in the Midwest region. He would go on to record 75 tackles with six sacks in his final season, as Rivals.com rated him the 11th-best defensive end prospect in the nation and the 12th-best overall prospect in the state of Michigan. Gholston enrolled at Ohio State, becoming the only player from Michigan on the squad. He turned down scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Iowa to join the Buckeyes. The coaching staff immediately began giving him a crash course in playing the "Leo" position, which incorporates dropping into pass coverage and rushing the passer from either side of the field. He mentored under Mike Kudla his first year with the team, appearing in six games as a true freshman in 2004, but did not record a tackle. In 2005, a broken hand suffered in the second game vs. Texas earned Gholston a medical hardship. He had one tackle in that game and spent the rest of the year on the sideline. Gholston used that time wisely in the weight room, bulking up from 238 to 264 pounds, as he took over "Leo" duties in 2006. He garnered All-Big Ten Conference second-team honors, as he ranked fourth in the league with 15 stops for losses of 86 yards and was fifth in the Big Ten with 8.5 sacks. He added a quarterback pressure with two pass breakups and an interception. He also finished sixth on the squad with 49 tackles (21 solo). In 2007, Gholston earned All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive end. He posted 37 tackles (25 solo) and was a terror in the backfield, ranking eighth in the nation with 15.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and second nationally with 14 sacks. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a 25-yard touchdown. In 34 games at Ohio State, Gholston started 25 times. He registered 87 tackles (47 solo) with 22.5 sacks for minus-184 yards and 30.5 stops for losses of 199 yards. He had two pass deflections and an eight-yard interception return, as he also recovered a fumble that he returned 25 yards for a touchdown. Wow just a recipe for disaster written all over it.
Bunch of under-achievers... I Still don't understand why Mamalu get's so much shit. He was a good defensive player, 32.0 Sacks in 5 years. Eagles fans are just a bunch of whiny sacks of shit.
And when you mean 'bust' it still doesn't do him justice. Some guys get labeled busts due to things beyond their control (injuries, etc.) but in VG's case I truly believe that he just didn't care. Forever going forward I don't believe this organization could draft someone so high and get so little return on the investment...
