2010 Combine – Top 10 Performances Day 1-4

Unofficially, C.J. Spiller's time was 4.28. And watching him run, it looked like it. I don't understand how the official time of 4.37 was nearly a tenth off the unofficial time. Kind of strange.

Does this mean Dickerson is going to be taken 8th overall by the Raiders?

Seriously? In one aspect you're right. Knowing a player's dimensions does mean a lot when evaluating performance.

Now here's where you're wrong. Dickerson is 6'4 and 226 pounds. I don't know how you messed that up.

you describe my feelings exactly:) its always about the ACC, Clemson and Denver in my world

I Live in VA, so everybody brags about that cess pool called blacksburg, so yes With a passion;)

I go to college right outside of Blacksburg. Everything this is hokie this and hokie that.

Tech isn't a bad team but they don't deserve to be in the top 15 like they are nearly every year. The fans believe that Tech can compete with the usual greats every year, it's very annoying.

If we go with Iupati or a TE, who are the 2nd and 3rd rd. names at DT that are said to be available then? Also, any scuttlebutt on LaGarrett Blount's likely destination in April's pecking-order, Ian? When he squared his shoulders behind Iupati in the second-quarter of the Senior Bowl, he covered 20 yards in like three seconds (complete with diving into the end-zone).

Considering that we no longer need to prioritize a third-down back with receiving ability and experience in blocking blitzers, Blount would be a physical red-zone presence that could pay big dividends (even if– like Northwstern's OLB Wootton– he'd be a best-athlete-available luxury-pick more than a desperately-needed positional-fix).

Also, Ian, what role does Robert Ayers background as a one-year wonder at Tennessee have to do with our interest in the massive lower-body and grinding leverage of Tennesee Volunteer DT Dan Williams (who consistently got under Iupati's pads during the first quarter of the Senior Bowl when Iupati was playing RG)?

Thanks for the timely feedback, Ian. I can't say I've studied the draft as much as you guys or Bleacher Report, so I hesitate to even offer up my top three choices yet (as I know how I'll be retracting them once the free-agency news starts trickling out). But I, too, like Cody and Williams and agree in principle with getting good-citizen's who want to build a career here.

However, at least Blount didn't hit his girlfriend or get wound up in a bar with his posse. He lost his shit on the field, which even Albert Haynesworth did a few years ago when he stomped on some Cowboy's private-parts (Andre Gurdode?).

So, what are the odds he'd make the same mistake again (especially as he sacrificed his senior season and millions of theoretical dollars for doing so)?

As for Chester Taylor, I've read your endorsement of him. But perhaps you may have misread my third-down back point. Buckhalter and Moreno already can do what is asked of most third-down backs (which is why I'd have an aneurysm if we drafted this year's Leon Washington, Dexter McClusker).

Chester Taylor can punch the ball in on third-and-short within the red-zone (so I'd also be happy with Chester's reasonably-priced FA acquisition).

But, if we are going to add another RB, I'd prefer we focus more on a Shonn Greene-type (who can break tackles and who fell to the third-round precisely because coaches like McD down-graded him for his lack of receiving experience and blitz pickups).

But with Buck's two surgically-repaired knees and Moreno's question-marks on breaking more tackles with his legs, we could use someone nearing 250 lb's like a LaGarrett Blount or a Marshawn Lynch-type (especially as it would keep Moreno fresher for third-down by relieving his early-down responsibilities).

After all, even Terrell Davis was once mislabeled as a character concern by his petulant and obviously-insane college coach Ray Goff (which, along with his retrospectively-fortuitous college injuries, is what allowed John to ride off with two Lombardi Trophies into the sunset).

Now I wouldn't compare the way his Georgia coach questioned Terrell's commitment with Blount's lack of, ahem, sportsmanship. But a bargain is a bargain (as some Lower East Side rag-trade merchant may have once said in the last five-decades).

As for Dan Williams lasting until the 2nd round, I'd have to doubt that possibility (if only on a quick perusal of the NFLN and various mock-drafts that have him in the top-20 selections).

Everyone goes overboard with 40-times this time of year (even in positions like DT that are completely irrelevant to such concerns). After all, Ted Washington played until 39-years old and was replaced wherever he left with players like Pat Williams, Vince Wilfork and Shawn Rogers.

So he obviously was a worthy addition that those teams valued so highly that they immediately prioritized getting a younger replacement
to draw those double-teams and force teams to run to either side of his massive frame.

If I was a defensive-coordinator, I would also get spoiled by being able to basically focus my LB's and Safeties on outside rushing-lanes 80% of the time.

Whether the shorter Terrence Mt. Cody can develop into such a perennial run-stuffer is beyond my limited college-football knowledge.

But hearing Dan Williams recently compared to Minnesota's Kevin Williams by Mike Mayock tells me that he'll be long gone when round-two begins (especially with his drive, leverage and powerful butt and upper-thighs).

Speaking of massive inside presences and of Boston College products– where Mayock once played–this guy named Mike McLaughlin looks bigger than a young Tedy Bruschi or a Bill Romanowski-without-steroids (and he ran pretty well too at the combine). So, along with Sayre Bedinger's mid-round suggestion of that promising strong-armed Fordham QB, I'd throw in McLaughlin's name too (in case he can learn from Andra Davis and provide more muscle along the two inside LB positions).

As for Richard Quinn's off-field troubles, its just the latest in a predictable habit for Broncos TE's that luckily skipped smaller-faster WR-types like Shannon Sharpe and Desmond Clark. However, I remember the days when team-enforcer Clarence Kay was the first to mix things up on and off-the-field (just like even more-massive TE Orson Mobley kept that similar tradition going).

Then there was Byron Chamberlain who wasn't exactly the coaching-staff's favorite good-guy (when it came to weekend haunts, practice habits and weight control).

So, I guess playing TE is Denver is only a safe-bet if you're more of a receiving target like Desmond Clark, Billy Miller, Shannon Sharpe or Tony Scheffler. With only Daniel Graham being the “good-citizen” fly in my theory's ointment.

That's all I've got to meander about, although I'll share my top-three once we get an idea how the B-Marsh situation resolves itself (assuming that X-Man and McD don't leave it unresolved heading into draft-week).

If he's gone, then we can probably afford to get WR Dez Bryant and Mike “everybody's grabbing out there” Iupati (and I'd ink ageless Center Kevin Mawae to a two-year deal so we'd have one less position to immediately fill).

However, a Logan Mankins could allow Denver to use the Iupati pick on a B.A.A. luxury-selection that is less likely to be the kind of positional-reach that got us into such deep dog-doo last draft.

And maybe a Safety like Myron Rolle out of Fla. State, and most recently Oxford or Cambridge, would be able to attract such good press as a symbolic-departure from the era of Travis Henry/Dale Carter that no one would also notice a LaGarrett Blount's drawbacks?

If so, we could possibly trade away a Renaldo Hill and maybe even a David Bruton for added selections (as Denver apparently offered ex-Ravens and current-Jets Safety Jim Leonhard and ex-Ravens and current-Jets ILB Bart Scott more-expensive deals that they turned down last Spring in favor of rejoining Rex Ryan in the Meadowlands).

Anyway. Keep holding up the NY-area's contribution to Broncos Nation for the rest of us (who aren't nearly as engaged). Your site's reporting and insights are always thought-provoking and welcome to my unquenchable thirst for Broncos shop-talk.

Good….I know I am very biased towards Clemson I apologize

From what I know from the people who are inside the program is that he is an extremely good leader and a hard worker so he has the work ethic. I know it will probably take him a year and half too and it totally depends on what team he is drafted by..
I am not anti Knowshon Moreno…I like him and he has very good potential for next year

I love your Blount/Lynch comparisons, couple that with the Broncos new running back coach and you may have a point my friend. I don't read mock drafts (unless they're provided on this fine site), I knew who Mayock was, but I thought he was about as useless as Kiper until very recently (this thought was out of ignorance, not out of opinion). So most of the opinions are based off of my observation and if I have to I'll get whatever I can wherever I can on a player who I had no way of seeing (John Mobley, Kutztown, really?).

You mentioned Mankins, I know that a lineman will hardly ever influence a team this highly, but if we're able to get that man somehow I say call it a day and I'd declare playoffs… As ridiculous as that sounds. I feel like Seth Olsen will start next season in place of Chris Kuper. Then Russ Hochstein could play center (as he did for several games in New England). That would swell the hell out of Denver's interior line. However, in the very likely chance that Mankins isn't available then yes, I do see Iupati as someone that I cheer for Denver to choose in the first round. Mankins is a RFA who as far as I know has not been tendered. If he were to be tendered for a 1st round pick only I'd still take him in Denver (he's just under 28 all pro comes cheaper than Iupati likely too, with experience!).

Onto the TE curse in Denver, I forgot all about Mr. Clarence Kay. However, was it not in 2008 when Daniel Graham had a domestic squabble? Wow, this is an actual real deal problem for Broncos tight ends…

Where do you see Blount being drafted? Which round? And could you ever see a Darren Sproles or a LaDainian Tomlinson in a Broncos uniform? And thank you for reading and for contributing =) Also for your compliments.