The NFL combine has been canceled. Does this hurt or help Michigan players who are in the draft?
https://www.si.com/college/bostoncollege/football/nfl-combine-2021-cancelled-covid19
I think it hurts Cam McGrone more than anyone, because I haven't heard his name mentioned in any draft talk. I wonder if he could change his decision at this point. He might not get drafted.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:44 AM ^
Found this on Ambry:
ANALYST'S REPORTS Crabbs PROS (+): He's most effective when aligned on the line of scrimmage and tasked with playing press coverage — has great success with reroutes and shows good functional strength here to get into the frame of receivers before transitioning into the trail position to carry routes. Compliments his press presence with shallow zone awareness and a good ability to redirect and attack the flats against bunch formations or leaked backs out of the backfield when playing C2 zone. I thought he was a combative tackler and plays with enthusiasm in head up situations — not someone who will pick and choose his spots to try to fill. He's got good hand-eye coordination skills when the ball arrives and made several impressive plays on the football in 2019, including INTs against Middle Tennessee State in the flats and Iowa on a tipped pass on 4th down.
CONS (—): Michigan will tell you he runs in the 4.3s but I did see him sag off of some coverage opportunities in turn and run reps when he came up half-empty in press. I don't question his transitional quickness or his functional speed but playing more airtight when he's aggressive to disrupt releases will be a helpful advancement in his game to take him to the next level. He's not super dense and I think he can stand to add a little bit more onto his frame to really help him bully on the outside — he's got the needed length and functional strength to press but at sub-190 I would still preferably like to see just a bit more muscle on his frame as he appears to have the room to add it.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:47 AM ^
Nico Collins:
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nico-collins-nfl-draft-player-profile-michigan-wide-receiver/
Collins’ athleticism is good for his size, and it also constitutes a sizable part of his game. Collins’ speed isn’t great (projected 4.55 by Tony Pauline), which minimizes his ability to separate downfield. But he compensates for this with impressive initial burst off the line and tremendous vertical explosiveness downfield. With his vertical athleticism, Collins can rise up to high-point balls, and use his length to cover the difference and reach for inaccurate passes.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:21 AM ^
Both Michael Thomas (4.57) and Mike Evans (4.53) ran around that range at the combine. With his size that should be good enough
January 29th, 2021 at 7:59 AM ^
It's almost like you would think a QB and minimally good coaches at the college level would understand that with his size and leaping ability, you should target him 8-10 times minimum per game....and as a QB he should be option 1-10 on 3rd and a need to target taco downfield...I guess the world of Michigan football will never know.
January 29th, 2021 at 2:02 PM ^
But sometimes QB is too busy bailing from clean pocket and then throwing it to the flat, and by sometimes I mean every damn play.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
Those are good comparisons if Nico actually runs ~4.55. His 7-lb weight loss and extra training will hopefully get him to sub 4.6, but a 4,65 wouldn’t surprise me. He still has fantastic ball skills and tracks the deep ball incredibly well, so he will likely be even better in the NFL with the QBs’ ability to throw back shoulder and high point balls regardless of coverage. Thomas and Evans are exactly those cases.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:51 AM ^
Jalen Mayfield:
As it currently stands, Mayfield is this writer’s fourth overall tackle in this 2021 NFL Draft class. His passing set is clean as you can clearly see Mayfield’s athletic ability on display. Especially when vertically dropping, Mayfield can cover ground, getting to defenders rushing from the wide-nine look without compromising his technique; where he can run into some trouble, however, is with oversetting.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:56 AM ^
Kwity Paye:
Right now, Paye is considered by most to be a fringe first-round prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class. However, if he can continue to put up big numbers and show off his athletic upside, the sky is in the limit.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:18 AM ^
Not sure if that's true. He's being pegged as either the #1 or #2 DE in the class and has several mock drafts putting him in the top 10. I think late 1st round or early 2nd is more appropriate for the player he's shown to be at Michigan. Man it would have been amazing to see Paye and Hutchinson bolstered with DTs that could push back or hold the line of scrimmage. They would have wreaked havoc
January 29th, 2021 at 8:02 AM ^
It was written 3 months ago so the evaluation certainly would/could change at this point
January 29th, 2021 at 7:47 AM ^
Some of the mock drafts I've seen have Paye rising pretty significantly in the first round into the fringe top 10 pick range. I know mocks are typically garbage anyway, but it seems like a lot of NFL scouts think he is one of the top 3 defensive prospects in the draft.
I would bet Feldman might be undervaluing Paye as a late first - early second rounder
January 29th, 2021 at 6:59 AM ^
Cam McGrone:
https://thedraftnetwork.com/player/cameron-mcgrone/fFKYDXWHmx
Cameron McGrone projects as a starting MIKE linebacker at the professional level. McGrone is just a redshirt sophomore who enters the NFL draft process with just 19 games and 15 starts at Michigan under his belt—a significantly small sample size that will leave teams needing a little extra clarity in order to decipher his ceiling within their respective defensive systems.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:15 AM ^
He could get picked up in the 5th/6th/7th rounds based on athleticism alone. But it's really easy to imagine him falling out of the draft entirely since there were definite games where he displayed his lack of experience.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:49 AM ^
Did McGrone play on special teams much? He will probably need to be a ST contributor if we wants to stick on an NFL roster while he gets some time to mature as a LB.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
He did before he became a starter. After that I don't think he played special teams, but he can learn.
January 29th, 2021 at 10:42 AM ^
Definitely a bad move by him to leave college. Even if he didn’t like M, this would’ve been a great year to transfer without penalty and vastly improve his draft stock.
January 29th, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
FWIW several of the Browns bloggers I follow have targeted McGrone as an excellent fit in the base scheme our DC wants to run next year. They very much want to field a 4-2-5 and are looking for fast, athletic LBs (not thumpers) for that.
I've seen him mocked to the Browns in the 4th & 5th rounds on a couple of boards.
January 30th, 2021 at 12:56 AM ^
I think he'd be a good fit for Cleveland, honestly. The Browns are gathering straight up speed at LB and McGrone can fill another spot along with Mack Wilson and others. Cleveland isn't valuing LBs like other teams...they want LBs who can get outside and contain. That's about it. It isn't beautiful and glorious work but I think the Browns are on to something here.
Cleveland's coaching has been excellent. Almost everyone improved this year; honestly, I can't think of a regression. He'd do very well to get selected in late rounds by the Browns.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:08 AM ^
McGrone needs to stick at UM for another year. He needs it and UM needs him.
January 29th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
No, he doesn't need to. This is an absurd fan take. He needs to show out for whatever team drafts him.
January 29th, 2021 at 2:15 PM ^
Go look at the difference in signing bonus and yearly salary of a 2nd round pick compared to a 4th round pick. True he could “show out” for the team that drafts him and cash in 4 years later but would have left millions on the table.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:11 PM ^
totally disagree...and its not because of fandom. Sample size is just too small
January 29th, 2021 at 7:13 AM ^
It makes pro days WAY more important
January 29th, 2021 at 7:13 AM ^
Think that Ambry should stomp his feet on pavement a few times, gain a little swelling then get his height remeasured. Pretty sure he’d gain another 1/8of an inch to get to six foot even.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:35 AM ^
Chris Evans:
Chris Evans provides an interesting study as an NFL Draft prospect. At 5’11” and 216 pounds, he has the ideal build for a modern day running back. Additionally, he has the skill set to be a three-down back in the NFL. His history of playing cornerback and slot receiver shows in his catch ability. Furthermore, Michigan has used him in a variety of ways in the passing game whether flexed out to the slot/out wide or on designed running back passing routes.
January 29th, 2021 at 11:39 AM ^
There is zero chance those wingspans are correct, I think they're off a foot, there's no chance all of our players have wingspans in excess of almost all NBA centers.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:38 AM ^
I think unfortunately it clearly hurts every Michigan draft prospect in this year's draft class. This year - very similar to last - pretty much all UM draft prospects are being projected based on their athletic potential and less so on their production.
When a guy is clearly an NFL athlete, but hasn't posted the production that would capture the attention of scouting departments, the combine is a critical event to showcase your "football athleticism" and improve or solidify your draft stock. Pretty much all of Michigan's draft entrees have professional athleticism, but very little production with the exception of Kwity:
Paye: Disruptive DE, approx. 20 college starts, first team ABT/AA, projected early-to-mid 1st rd
Mayfield - Athletic OT, approx. 15 college starts, projected late first/early second
Collins - Big body possession receiver, 1,500 total rec. yards, 15 TD, projected 4-6th rounder
Thomas - Lengthy man coverage corner, approx 12 college starts, 3 INT, projected 4-6th rounder
McGrone - Explosive ILB, approx. 15 college starts, ABT honors, projected 4th rd to FA prospect
I think all of those guy's profiles would indicate that the combine would be beneficial for them. Kwity apparently tests off the charts in combine drills, so with a good showing he is very likely a top 10 pick, and still could be.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:39 AM ^
I think if Kwity Paye was able to confirm his "freakish" athleticism at the combine, it would have cemented him as a top 10-15 pick. Without it, I think there will be a bit more hesitation.
January 29th, 2021 at 9:38 AM ^
Good. The Lions can take him at 21 when they get the Colts pick in the upcoming Stafford trade. Perfect. lol
Seriously though there was an NFL.com writer, I think Daniel Jeremiah(?), who already projected the Lions picking at 7 and 21 in the draft after a trade with the Colts. He had them taking a QB first (Justin Fields unfortunately...) and then Kwity Paye at 21. I have also seen multiple mock drafts with the Lions taking Kwity at 7. Kwity is going to be a first round pick. No doubt about it.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:40 AM ^
Prolly still have pro days at the different schools. Should be ok. Not honestly sure that the combine or pro days will help McGrone’s stock, but there are no other opportunities for him make noise so I’m hoping he tests very well. Worried for the is that he may be making a huge mistake by not returning. I think he could certainly be a drafted, NFL caliber player, but he did not show any hint of that this past season
January 29th, 2021 at 8:05 AM ^
Hurts those who opted out, almost certainly.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:53 AM ^
lotta 8 foot wingspans.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:54 AM ^
UM will hold a pro day and be able to test all the players for scouts. It can even be done virtually for scouts
January 29th, 2021 at 8:57 AM ^
I think it helps the UM guys for 3 reasons: 1) many non P5 guys do not get a chance to show equal or surprisingly good physical skills that can happen with the combine to move up the board while UM guys will certainly get a thorough pro day, 2) UM program is highly regarded in the NFL for the readiness and professionalism of their players so their “pedigree” is a benefit and 3) references from coaches will be even more important with the UM coaches having high credibility within the NFL.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:59 AM ^
I have exactly the same interest level in the fate of players, who leave early, as they have for the team they left behind. None.
January 29th, 2021 at 9:32 AM ^
Teams will still do their due diligence and individual workouts for the smaller groups of players who they are interested in. The combine is an ESPN money maker anyways for show and ESPN sucks.
January 29th, 2021 at 11:08 AM ^
This hurts Michigan players obviously; relying on game tape from last year is an anchor.
Of the 10 Senior Risers cited by the Athletic, Evans, St.Juste and James Hudson were all picked as opening people's eyes due to seeing them in person
Never understood Hudson's or BSJ's departures to be honest.... Hudson, iirc, left because he didn't want to play OLine (yet that's what he is now) and BSJ was a medical question....yet here he is playing fine - Mennesota's doctors checked him out and you can bet the NFL doctor's will do the same.
January 29th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
Hudson left because he didn't like how the staff treated him when he told them he was battling depression. BSJ left because the medical staff at Michigan told him his career was over.
January 29th, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
That’s one side of the story that’s been refuted..but you know go with the first thing you hear from like Fickell.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:57 PM ^
Cam Shazor. Someone really duped this kid into leaving early.
January 31st, 2021 at 10:39 AM ^
McGrone should’ve stayed and yes of course this hurts dozens of players.