Day 2 of NFL Scouting Combine in the books. Take a look at the winners and losers from running backs and offensive lineman
Day 2 of the Scouting Combine is in the books as the running backs and offensive lineman took the stage from Indianapolis. While on paper, the Cowboys seem all set at the running back position with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, they still need to be ready to get a sleeper in the later rounds if the situation warrants.
When taking a look at the offensive line, it remains to be one of Dallas’ strengths. However age and health can start to become a factor and in this league and one can never have too many big, young, tough offensive lineman on the depth chart. Sometimes someone does something so glorious at the combine they demand a longer look.
For example, take NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 5 ranked player in the entire draft, Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton.
Here is a recap of the winners and losers from Friday night.
Winners
Tristan Wirfs – OL, Iowa
The testing for the 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman really had scouts impressed. He set a record for his position as he pulled off a 36.5-inch vertical. He flashed his athleticism on the field moving effortlessly from side to side and back and forth being lead by the coaches. A flawless combine to say the least. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter was a big fan and had this to say to put a bow on Wirf’s combine:
Wirfs’ arms measured 34 inches earlier this week, which means an NFL team maTy try him at tackle given his size and athleticism. Put it all together, and a team is going to want to lock him up early in the first round.
Erza Cleveland – OT, Boise State
With already bench-pressing 30 reps before hitting the field, Cleveland showed that power was just one of the many attributes to be looked at by scouts this spring. He posted a 4.93-second 40 time as well showing he could also move for his size. He was also ranked first amongst all lineman in the three-cone drill with a very impressive 7.26-seconds.
Austin Jackson- OT, USC
Along with Wirfs, Jackson had a phenomenal showing at the combine as well. The 6-foot-5, 322-pound tackle looks to be a another top tier tackle taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He posted a 31-inch vertical and a 9-7 broad jump. His size and versatility will work well against some of the bigger and faster edge rushers in the NFL.
Jonathan Taylor- RB, Wisconsin
Posting the fastest 40-yard dash time of all running backs at this years combine (4.39), Taylor could be considered to be one of the top running backs in this years draft. He also showed a lot of promise in the pass catching drills as well despite the lack of receptions early in his collegiate career at Wisconsin. NFL.com’s Chad Reuter had this to say on Taylor’s day:
Taylor’s cuts were not as quick and effortless as those of Swift, Darrynton Evans or Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but his speed and vision have allowed him to find and exploit holes over the past three years for the Badgers.
Darrynton Evans – RB, Appalachian State
Standing in at 5-foot-10 and weighing just 203 pounds, Evans gave Taylor a run for his money as one of the fastest running backs at the combine (4.42). Evans also showed his cutting and shifting ability during the bag drills as smooth as NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has seen this year.
He got his knees up and down in a hurry over bags and also cut as smoothly and quickly as any back I’ve seen at the combine. He also acquitted himself well in pass-catching drills. At 5-10, 203, teams may not consider him a three-down back, but I’m not sure there are many of those anymore.
Losers
Trey Adams- OT, Washington
Unfortunately for Adams, it would be a long road ahead for him to impress the scouts in Indianapolis due to his recent ACL and back surgeries in back to back years of 2017 and 2018. His on the field work was limited and his 40-yard dash time came in at 5.6-second with a 1.89-second 10-yard split which ranked second-worst in the group. Adams will likely have to wait a little while to hear his name called in Vegas.
Logan Stenberg – OG, Kentucky
According to NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, Stenberg always brings the intensity. Unfortunately for him, it’s usually towards the referees after being called for a penalty. His 5.3-second 40-yard dash time fell behind plenty of his fellow lineman. He struggled to move quickly laterally in the on field drills as well. They don’t rank intensity at the combine.
Tony Jones – RB, Notre Dame
Coming in at 220-pounds, Jones is already considered a power back. To impress scouts at the combine you have to show some athleticism even when given this categorization. His 4.68-second 40-yard dash time along with a subpar vertical (32.5-inch) will move him down the ranks on draft day.
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