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NFL Draft Show - Penn State student radio content

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I am really anxious to see what happens with Jeffrey.
 
Really interested to hear/read the interviews you guys do with coaches, teammates, etc behind the scenes. As fans we can watch the game tape that's online and make our own (unqualified) opinions about their on-field play, but what we don't get nearly enough of is firsthand knowledge about their work ethic, practice habits, off-field personality, etc.
 
DISCLAIMER: This was supposed to be accompanied with an interview from Burfict - however that was nixed a few hours after his 40-yd time until a later date. I would expect it to come after his pro day...unless he does worse. Very strange.

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The Curious Case of Vontaze Burfict​


Vontaze Burfict’s fall down the draft boards is unprecedented, however somewhat unsurprising

Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s highlight reel isn’t normal. Neither is the route he’s taken to the NFL the last few months. Rarely do you see a player of his caliber plummet down the draft boards much like Burfict.

Though one thing is clear about his fall from grace – Vontaze Burfict has no one to blame but himself.

Coming out of high school, Burfict was considered one of the best players to ever sign with Arizona State. As the number one rated inside linebacker prospect by Scout.com in 2009, Burfict was described as being “built like a DT but runs like a LB” who could “hit like a brick.” The recruiting website listed only his discipline in pursuit as a weakness. He seemed like a sure thing.

For the first two years of his career at Arizona State, that seemed to be the case. He started nine games his freshman year in 2009, recorded 69 tackles and was named Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year. During his sophomore year in 2010 he played in 11 games and made 90 tackles, earning himself Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as becoming Arizona State’s first First Team All-American since Terrell Suggs. He seemed poised for a breakout junior season in 2011. Scouts tabbed him as a first round pick as college football fans began to realize his potential. Sporting News dubbed him “The Meanest Man in College Football.” He was no longer just the guy in the maroon number seven jersey menacingly pointing at USC quarterback Matt Barkley. He was a rising star and the next sure thing.


Burfict’s fiery attitude was always a concern while at Arizona State

Unfortunately, character issues and a lackluster junior season severely hurt Burfict’s draft stock. He made only 69 tackles, matching the total of his freshman season while starting in three more games. He was inconsistent; some even say he lacked effort. He was involved in a locker room altercation with a teammate during the preseason and even blamed his poor play on his coaches.

Despite it all, it seemed as though the issues and concerns that haunted Burfict last season would not be anything a good showing at the NFL Combine couldn’t fix.

What resulted, however, was the exact opposite. Burfict clocked a horrendous 5.09 seconds in the 40-yard dash, good for dead last amongst all linebackers at the combine. Even some defensive tackle prospects like Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy, Penn State’s Devont Still and Memphis’ Dontari Poe, beat Vontaze Burfict’s 40-yard dash time. He was second to last in the vertical jump and last in the broad jump, providing results that came nowhere near mimicking the potential that Burfict showed while at Arizona State.

Whoever decides to take him on draft day will be selecting a high risk, high reward player with the hopes that he can improve his character and find the form he had during his sophomore season. If he pans out the way most originally believed he was going to, Burfict will almost certainly be a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the most, if not the most, feared defender in the NFL. As long as he gets his head out of the clouds and his feet back on the ground, the sky is the limit for him.

If Vontaze Burfict is not able to overcome his character issues however, issues that can inevitably derail a potentially illustrious NFL career, then the league and its fan base will have lost out on a superstar.

Unlike Burfict’s current status, that is a sure thing.

Troy Weller is a junior majoring in Communications. To contact him, e-mail: tnw5044@psu.edu
 
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Five Winners, Five Losers from NFL Combine



Indianapolis once again was the site of the NFL Combine
The NFL Combine is an event where all the top prospects that are about to enter the NFL Draft have an opportunity to prove the scouts right or wrong in front of every team and their representatives. Whether it is through their 40-yard dash time, or even just the manner in which they carry themselves through interviews, the week of events will help determine if a prospect is a first or second round pick, or a sixth or seventh.

In this year’s Combine, as with every year, there were many players who both helped their draft stock and hurt it. Here are five big winners and five big losers from the 2012 NFL Combine.

Five Winners

Stephen Hill – Wide Receiver, Georgia Tech

Standing at 6-foot-4, Hill shocked many scouts at the Combine. He ran the 40-yard dash at 4.36 seconds, the fastest time of all receivers, and had the fourth highest vertical jump at 39.5 inches. Analysts had Hill ranked as low as a fifth round pick going into the Combine, with some having him ranked as low as 14th in wide receivers. But like Demaryius Thomas two years ago, this Georgia Tech product is using an incredible performance to climb up the draft board and become a potential second round pick. IN addition to showcasing explosiveness, Hill has also shown an abilty to run routes and catch balls, as he did not drop one ball during his receiver drills. A good performance at Georgia Tech’s March 6 Pro Day could solidify Hill’s place in the second round as a top five wide receiver pick in this class.


Dontari Poe – Defensive Tackle, Memphis

Poe came into the Combine at 346 pounds, listed as a late first round pick due to this questionable production at Memphis (30 starts, 98 tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks). At the Combine, Poe seemed to erase all doubt about his abilities, posting an astounding 4.98 40-yard dash time in addition to posting 44 reps of 225 pounds, the highest number of the Combine. His combination of size and speed now makes him one of the biggest winners of the Combine, and potentially a middle or top first round pick. He also has broken out of the 3-4 nose tackle mold with his mobility, giving him the valuable asset of possessing the speed to play 4-3 defense.


Lamar Miller – Running Back, Miami (FL)

In a class where everyone is looking for the best running back after Trent Richardson, teams may have found the answer in Miller. He posted the fastest 40 time of all running backs, at 4.40 seconds. He has shown the ability to be a dynamic back who can make a move to the end zone on any given play. Teams will value has ability to change direction in concert with his speed and agility. The only knock on Miller is that he only has one year of tape, but if he continues to amaze at his March 8 Pro Day, he may indeed be the second back taken in 2012.


Josh Robinson – Cornerback, Central Florida

He has at times been listed as low as 14th in cornerbacks and a fifth round pick, but Robinson proved himself valuable in Indianapolis. He led all players at the Combine with a stellar 4.33 second 40-yard dash time, and finished first in defensive backs in the three-cone drill, running it in 6.55 seconds. He also finished first in the broad jump and second in the vertical jump among defensive backs. He still has to answer questions about playing man-to-man coverage against NFL wide receivers, but his flashy numbers have shown that he is an explosive playmaker and could move up to the third round.


Robert Griffin III – Quarterback, Baylor


Even though he didn’t throw at the combine, RGIII impressed many​

It may seem odd for someone so highly valued already to emerge as a winner at the Combine, but RG3 had a fantastic day. He impressed all that he encountered during his interviews, and displayed his speed with a 4.40 second 40-yard dash time. But more importantly, Griffin proved taller than many experts had speculated, standing in at 6-foot-2 and 3/8 inches. Griffin continues to impress scouts on and off the field, and has proven himself worthy of one of the top picks in this draft. It is no surprise to hear that St. Louis will most likely trade the second pick, and the recipient will be the winner of the RG3 sweepstakes.

Five Losers

Kendall Wright – Wide Receiver, Baylor


Wright will need to try again at his pro day in order to impress with his speed​

Wright arrived at Indianapolis as one of the top three receivers on the draft board. With Michael Floyd’s character coming into question, he appeared solidly in the two spot behind Justin Blackmon. But then he ran a 4.61 second 40-yard dash time, considered middling for someone expected to run a sub-4.40 time. On tape, Wright appears explosive, which is why his time was disappointing. Wright is still a great route runner and displayed impressive jumping ability with a 38.5-inch vertical jump. But he has put himself in the position of needing an impressive Pro Day on March 21 to maintain his high draft stock. For now, he is back in the pack of late first round receivers.


Vontaze Burfict – Linebacker, Arizona State

Burfict was thought of as a potential top 10 pick going into the 2011 season, but a subpar season littered with disputes with his coaches allowed his stock to slide. After the Combine, Burfict’s stock Is now at an all-time low. He ran the slowest 40-yard dash time of all linebackers at 5.09 seconds, slower than the 346-pond defensive tackle Poe. He also looked slow during other drills, which only further damaged his draft stock. Unless he turns things around with a great Pro Day in March 24, Burfict’s poor Combine and character questions could lead him into the third or fourth round.


Michael Brockers – Defensive Tackle, Louisiana State


Brockers may have had his stock drop a bit, something his weight also needs to do​

The LSU defensive tackle entered the Combine at the top of his position, potentially a top ten pick. But he showed up weighing 322 pounds, 16 pounds more than he weighed at the end of the season. Then he ran a 5.36 40-time, fifth lowest among defensive linemen at Indianapolis, while he looked unimpressive during his individual drills. On a day where Dontari Poe stole the show, Brockers did nothing to help himself. Brockers’ draft stock will take a hit unless he can impress at March 14 Pro Day.


Mike Adams – Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

Adams came into the Combine with questions surrounding him after his suspension for illegal benefits and misdemeanor charge for drug possession. He arrived the Combine also trying to prove critics wrong who had accused him of being lazy. Unfortunately, his numbers did nothing to turn perceptions around. His 19 reps on the bench press were lackluster, and 5.4 40-yard dash time was lowest of all offensive linemen. Adams has the size, at 6-foot-7 and 324 pounds, to be a great NFL offensive tackle, but he needs to show the ability to pull it all together. With his Pro Day set for March 9, Adams will need a great showing to earn back his first round status.


Alshon Jeffery – Wide Receiver, South Carolina

Alshon Jeffery has been dealing with a lot of questions about his character and conditioning. Scouts have expressed concerns about his weight gain and its effect on his play after his statistics dropped in 2011. Jeffery did show up thinner than he was during the season, which scouts approved of. However, he declined to run the 40-yard dash, which received criticism. He also reportedly did not interview well during the weekend, raising more red flags about his potential. For this once definite first rounder, the draft stock is very shaky. He will need to run a good 40 time at his March 28 Pro Day, or risk falling to the second round.

Joe Garofalo is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email jwg5403@psu.edu.

http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/story/nfl-draft/five-winners-five-losers-from-nfl-combine
 
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Visit here: http://psucommedia.com/special-cover...fl-draft-bible - also follow us on Twitter @NFLDraftShow

Go to http://psucommedia.com/special-coverage/topic/nfl-draft to find all of our stories - Here are our interviews (DeVier Posey included):
Jeff Allen
Justin Bethel
Omar Bolden
Vontaze Burfict
Orson Charles
Dwayne Frampton
Blake Gideon
Chris Givens
Casey Hayward
Alshon Jeffrey
G.J. Kinne
Luke Kuechly
Lance Lewis
Ryan Lindley
Brandon Lindsey
Brandon Maye
Brock Osweiler
DeVier Posey
Keenan Robinson
Devon Still | VIDEO
Trevin Wade
Isaac Williams
Tavon Wilson

To listen to our show go here and click play: http://psucommedia.com/comradio
 
I really hope the Browns just draft a bunch of guys of at least average character...and then take a chance on Burfict. Every team needs a crazy liability that wants to kill people.

I hope they take his crazy ass. If they don't...Bengals will.
 

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