Day four of the 2007 NFL Combine saw the 'skilled' positions hit the field for drills and testing.
Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson began the Combine as not only the top receiver in this year's draft crop, but arguably the top overall prospect as well. His first step in impressing the pundits would be the weigh-ins; he checked in at 6'5" and 239 pounds and accomplished his objective. That was going to be it for Johnson at the combine, as he said he was not going to workout until his pro date. But seeing all of the scouts and GMs may have changed his mind, because he decided to run the 40-yard dash anyway.
He posted the third fastest time of all receivers with a 4.35, and with East Carolina quarterback James Pinkney's shoes to boot (forgive the pun). Are you kidding? This guy is a freak. Where he goes in the draft will have nothing to do with relative ability, and everything to do with team needs. He's the most talented player in the draft bar none.
Robert Meachem really helped himself Sunday with a great day. He is in that second tier of receivers and with two of the better receivers not working out, Meachem definitely put his draft stock on the rise with a 4.39 in his 40-yard dash.
Jason Hill posted the second fastest time in Group 4 in a quick 4.32.
Two of the top receiver prospects did not work out; Ted Ginn Jr. and Dwayne Jarrett both opted to wait for their pro date to workout.
40 times for Wide Receivers
Yamon Figurs
Kansas St.
4.30
Jason Hill
Washington St.
4.32
Calvin Johnson
Georgia Tech
4.35
Mike Walker
Central Florida
4.35
David Clowney
Virginia Tech
4.36
Laurent Robinson
Illinois St.
4.38
Robert Meachem
Tennessee
4.39
Aundrae Allison
East Carolina
4.39
Mike Mason
Tennessee St.
4.40
Legedu Naanee
Boise St.
4.41
Steve Breaston
Michigan
4.41
Chandler Williams
Florida Int.
4.42
Anthony Gonzales
Ohio St.
4.44
Steve Smith
Southern Cal
4.44
Jonathan Holland
Louisiana Tech
4.45
Paul Williams
Fresno St.
4.45
Craig Davis
Louisiana St.
4.46
Ryne Robinson
Miami-Ohio
4.47
Johnnie Lee Higgins
UTEP
4.48
Courtney Taylor
Auburn
4.50
Running Backs
Adrian Peterson came to the NFL Combine as the top rated running back on most people's boards, and after Sunday's workouts, he solidified his position. Peterson put up some good numbers: 40-yard dash - 4.40, vertical leap - 38 1/2" and a broad jump of 10' 7"; all were in the top three for Peterson's group. The junior from Oklahoma was impressive enough that that now it's reported that he could go as high as number three to the Cleveland Browns.
Marshawn Lynch is the number two back on most boards and he also had a solid day. Lynch ran the 40 in a very respectable 4.46, and jumped an equally respectable 35 1/2" in the vertical jump which shows good explosion. Lynch didn't bridge the gap between himself and peterson, but he certainly didn't hurt his draft stock on Sunday either.
40 times for Running Backs
1. Chris Henry
Arizona
4.30
2. Adrian Peterson
Oklahoma
4.4
3. Antonio Pittman
Ohio St.
4.4
4. Kenny Irons
Auburn
4.45
5. Lorenzo Booker
Florida St
4.46
6. Marshawn Lynch
Cal
4.46
7. DeShawn Wynn
Florida
4.48
8. Alonzo Coleman
Hampton
4.49
9. Ramonce Taylor
Texas
4.5
10. Kolby Smith
Louisville
4.51
Quarterbacks
The most notable aspect of the quarterback workouts is that Jamarcus Russell and Brady Quinn did not participate. The two top QB prospects opted to workout at their own Pro Dates rather than in Indianapolis at the combine. Much ado has been made as to whether or not that helps or hurts draft status, but it certainly seems to be affecting Quinn and Russell differently.
Quinn has seen his draft stock fall at the Combine despite not working out. The one workout he did do was extremely impressive (he did 24 reps in the bench press), he showed up in great shape, and still people are nit-picking and looking for reasons for Quinn to fall.
Russell on the other hand showed up slightly overweight, isn't doing any workouts either , but somehow seems to have cemented the number one selection in the draft regardless.
More day four news and numbers will be posted later on.
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