Lou: KFFL.com is providing Draft King with a series of articles direct from Indianapolis, the site of the 2008 NFL Combine. Enjoy!
February 24, 2008
NFL Scouting Combine: Day 4 Tidbits
By: Cory J. Bonini and Nicholas Minnix, KFFL.com
University of Miami (Fla.) free safety Kenny Phillips doesn't want to be the player to break the chain of accomplished NFL safeties from the Hurricanes program. He estimated that he spends roughly three to four hours per day in the film room. He said that former Miami safeties Ed Reed and Brandon Meriweather have helped him learn to break down film, but he wouldn't say what they tell him to look for. "I'm not going to give out the secrets." He considers himself the total package, saying that he spent a little time at corner, which allowed him to hone his cover skills.
Virginia Tech defensive end Chris Ellis said that teams have talked to him about being a 4-3 defensive end as well as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He admitted he was told that his strength was a concern to some of the teams, particularly those that run a 4-3 alignment. The 3-4 teams want to see him open up his hips more, learn to turn and drop. Interviewing teams told him that his positives included his natural football instincts, while his negatives included his ability to shed blocks.
Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers is confident that he'll fit into any scheme given the fact that the Hokies played a lot of man and zone coverage. He said that playing the boundary corner position really helped him improve his man-to-man coverage skills and tackling. Flowers is known for his physical play, which he says is essential given his size (5-foot-9 3/4, 189 pounds).
University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco was grossly off on several throws, missing receivers running out routes toward the sideline with frequency.
Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski has been training with former Fighting Irish wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, who was drafted last year by Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs.
University of Michigan wideout Mario Manningham disappointed with a 4.59 40-yard dash time.
Appalachian State wide receiver Dexter M. Jackson blazed during the 40-yard dash, recording an unofficial time of 4.27.
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Florida State wide receiver De'Cody Fagg suffered an unknown leg injury during drills with the quarterbacks and was removed from the field on a stretcher. The severity of the injury is unknown. Some reports suggest he either completely "blew out" the knee or suffered a dislocated kneecap.
University of Arkansas running back Darren McFadden ran a 4.27 40-yard dash, which is one of the fastest unofficial times ever recorded.
Questions surfaced regarding the health of Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey's leg. Before his junior season he suffered a fracture to the tibia that calcified. He played with the injury all of 2006 and 2007 without missing a game. Dorsey says he is fine.
University of Michigan running back Mike Hart posted a remarkably slow 4.67 40 time.
East Carolina University running back Chris Johnson posted a 4.29 40 time, which was the fasted recorded by a running back in this year's class before he was upstaged by McFadden's 4.27.
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