We always gain insight from NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks, and on Thursday, the former NFL pro turned talent evaluator joined the Morning Show with Jon Chuckery and Hugh Douglas with the latest insider information from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Brooks was asked by Chuckery if the Combine process was still as significant to team executives and coaches as it once was, considering the wall-to-wall coverage the event gets.
“It’s still a significant piece of the platform. It’s the first time that coaches and scouts really get a chance to get around the players. It’s not necessarily about the evaluation about what they do on the field but how it fits into the fabric of your locker room.”
Given the fact many of the major players don't workout anymore, which area receives the most emphasis: the workout or the evaluation process? And do team executives learn all they can at the Combine?
“It really depends on the player. You get 15 minutes at the Combine during the interview session, whatever time you get at their Pro Day and then, if you bring to your team for one of the 60 visits. So that’s not a lot of time to make these multi-million dollar decisions that you have to make. So, you’re quickly trying to assess, ‘who is this guy, what is he passionate about football, what kind of things can be distraction, and is he the kind of guy you’d want to bring into your locker room?’ It’s really trying to get an introduction into the player and if your coaching staff like what he brings to the table.”
To Georgia-area fans, Brooks tossed the name of a local player he plans to pay close attention to: Georgia Bulldogs wide-receiver Riley Ridley.
“Coming out your way, Riley Ridley is one that’s intriguing. People are all over the map on where he can go. Some people view him as a guy who’s one the safest bets at wide-receiver, but you don’t how fast he is. So what he does here will determine where he will go.
The Kyler Murray situation has gotten the most attention of any player heading into the Draft, and while we learned of his measurables on Thursday (5-10 1/8, 207 pounds), Brooks believes teams will do a lot of questioning of the Heisman Trophy winner.
"When you look at the QB class, it is a big discussion as to who ranks as the #1 guy. Is it Dwayne Haskins (OSU) or is it Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)? Can you get past Murray’s height? Are you willing to adapt your offense to make sure he’s successful. Then there’s Haskins, who has all of the prototypical stuff that we've always wanted from QBs over the years, but he's only played as a starter one season."
According to Brooks, teams will also reap dividends defensively along the frontline.
"At the end of this draft will be known for the the defensive line is loaded. There are a ton of guys who can be difference makers at the point of attack. Whether it's Quinnen Williams (Alabama), Nick Bosa (OSU), Montez Sweat from Mississippi State or Jaylen Ferguson out of Louisiana Tech, there are a ton of guys that can play on the front line and impact the game."
In closing, when asked which player he considered to be a darkhorse candidate, or a guy folks may be sleeping on this year, Brooks pointed a player who been listed as high as #3 and as low as #15 on some mock drafts - LSU CB Greedy Williams.
“I think the guy who will be the toughest for everyone (to evaluate) is the corner from LSU, Greedy Williams. He's been talked about as a top corner, but when you talk to NFL teams, they are really undecided on how good he really is. There's questions about his tackling, his toughness. A lot of people at LSU say he's going to light it up when it comes to running and testing. That’s going to cloud the evaluation. A lot of people view him as a shutdown corner, but there are several teams who say he doesn't have that kind of ability. And that’s where the evaluation. Do you value what you saw on tape or the athlete you've seen on the field?"
The NFL Combine on-field work officially starts Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and goes through next Monday.