OU Pro Day Results

[swardboy]

Geesh, we're slow...


Oklahoma NFL Pro Day results are in

4:12 PM Tue, Mar 10, 2009[/URL]
Brandon George
From Oklahoma's Athletic Department today:
NORMAN, Okla. -- Representatives from 27 NFL franchises were in Norman on Tuesday morning for the annual pro day. Several former Oklahoma players worked out for the group, which included Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress and former Steelers great Joe Greene.
All but three of the players who worked out completed their eligibility last season. The three who were older included running back Jacob Gutierrez, fullback Ian Pleasant and defensive back Darien Williams. The Oklahoman's Jake Trotter [URL="http://www.newsok.com/lendy-holmes-improves-time-in-40-yard-dash-at-ou-pro-day/article/3352066?custom_click=lead_story_title"]reported live today from OU's Pro Day (http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/dallas_morning/http%253A%252F%252Fcollegesportsblog.dallasnews.co m%252Farchives%252F2009%252F03%252Foklahoma-nfl-pro-day-results-are-in.html%253Fnpc).
Aside from the physical testing, scouts also put the players through several position drills.
Here are the results from the testing ...

Height
Cory Bennett, 6-02.2
Brett Bowers, 5-11.6
Branndon Braxton, 6-06.2
Cortney Carter, 5-08.1
Quentin Chaney, 6-04.1
Jon Cooper, 6-02.1
Alan Davis, 6-02.1
Joey Halzle, 6-03
Nic Harris, 6-02.3
Lendy Holmes, 6-00.2
Juaquin Iglesias, 6-00.7
Manuel Johnson, 5-10.7
Mike Knall, 5-08.7
Phil Loadholt, 6-07.7
Duke Robinson, 6-05.2
Brandon Walker, 6-02.7
Darien Williams, 5-10.2
Weight
Cory Brandon, 283
Brett Bowers, 196
Branndon Braxton, 306
Cortney Carter, 177
Quentin Chaney, 208
Jon Cooper, 290
Alan Davis, 259
Joey Halzle, 213
Nic Harris, 232
Lendy Holmes, 203
Juaquin Iglesias, 208
Manuel Johnson, 187
Mike Knall, 182
Phil Loadholt, 332
Duke Robinson, 330
Brandon Walker, 306
Darien Williams, 207
Vertical Jump (inches)
Cory Bennett, 29.5
Brett Bowers, 32.0
Branndon Braxton, 26.0
Cortney Carter, 29.5
Quentin Chaney, 32.5
Jon Cooper, 31.5
Alan Davis, 31.5
Joey Halzle, 29.0
Lendy Holmes, 35.0
Phil Loadholt, 28.5
Duke Robinson, 31.5
Brandon Walker, 34.5
Darien Williams, 34.5
Jacob Gutierrez, 33.5
Broad Jump (feet-inches)
Cory Bennett, 9-4
Brett Bowers, 9-6
Branndon Braxton, 7-7
Cortney Carter, 9-6
Quentin Chaney, 9-8
Jon Cooper, 8-9
Alan Davis, 9-10
Joey Halzle, 8-10
Phil Loadholt, 8-9
Lendy Holmes, 10-0
Duke Robinson, 8-3
Brandon Walker, 9-3
Jacob Gutierrez, 9-7
Darien Williams, 10-1
40-Yard Dash
Cory Bennett, 4.97, 4.95
Brett Bowers, 4.62, 4.63
Branndon Braxton, 5.71, 5.70
Cortney Carter, 4.86, 4.88
Quentin Chaney, 4.59, 4.62
Jon Cooper, 5.10, 5.09
Alan Davis, 4.94, 4.96
Joey Halzle, 4.96, 5.03
Nic Harris, 4.84, 4.84
Lendy Holmes, 4.65, 4.65
Phil Loadholt, 5.50, 5.45
Brandon Walker, 5.15, NA
Darien Williams, 4.71, 4.75
Jacob Gutierrez, 4.75, 4.69
Ian Pleasant, 4.72, 4.76

20-Yard Shuttle
Cory Bennett, 4.84, 4.86
Brett Bowers, 4.30, 4.30
Branndon Braxton, 4.92, 4.85
Cortney Carter, 4.39, 4.65
Quentin Chaney, 4.36, 4.49
Jon Cooper, 4.60, 4.50
Alan Davis, 4.52, 4.77
Joey Halzle, 4.58, 4.46
Nic Harris, 4.23, 4.24
Lendy Holmes, 4.06, 4.30
Phil Loadholt, 4.77, 4.80
Duke Robinson, 5.00, 4.90
Brandon Walker, 4.88, 4.98
Darien Williams, 4.24, 4.35
Jacob Gutierrez, 4.38, 4.43

Three-Cone Drill
Cory Bennett, 7.90
Brett Bowers, 7.10
Branndon Braxton, 7.75
Cortney Carter, 7.31
Quentin Chaney, 7.12
Jon Cooper, 7.43
Alan Davis, 7.75
Joey Halzle, 7.38
Nic Harris, 7.00
Lendy Holmes, 7.26
Phil Loadholt, 8.80
Brandon Walker, 8.20
Duke Robinson, 8.09
Juaquin Iglesias, 7.22

60-Yard Shuttle
Nic Harris, 11.44
Lendy Holmes, 11.69
Joey Halzle, 12.09
Darien Williams, 11.58
Cortney Carter, 11.84
Quentin Chaney, 11.52
Brett Bowers, 11.62
Jacob Gutierrez, 12.01

Bench Press (reps at 225 pounds)
Cory Bennett, 21
Brett Bowers, 14
Branndon Braxton, 15
Cortney Carter, 5
Jon Cooper, 32
Alan Davis, 25
Darien Williams, 18
Phil Loadholt, 26
Jacob Gutierrez, 24
Duke Robinson 20

[Collier11]

I have always said that 40 times dont really matter and I stand by that but my gawd we have been really slow the past two years

[soonerinabilene]

Bench Press (reps at 225 pounds)
Cory Bennett, 21
Brett Bowers, 14
Branndon Braxton, 15
Cortney Carter, 5
Jon Cooper, 32
Alan Davis, 25
Darien Williams, 18
Phil Loadholt, 26
Jacob Gutierrez, 24
Duke Robinson 20

yeah,um, Jon Cooper is pretty strong.

[Curly Bill]

....but we don't look slow when we play. We're just so used to hearing how every Tom, Dick and Harry runs a 4.4 or a 4.5 that when we see real times we are programmed to think they're slow. In reality we have to realize that the majority of those purported 4.4's and 4.5's are BS.

[RADsooner]

its the way its done, hand clocked stop watch vs. digital timers. is that correct?

[Curly Bill]

its the way its done, hand clocked stop watch vs. digital timers. is that correct?

I think that's largely it. I'm a coach and you can have several experienced coaches hand timing 40's and there will be quite a bit of variance in the results.

[ouleaf]

I've been wondering if it's just bad technique on our guys parts. If they just don't have that that good of a start. I'd certainly like to think that Lendy is faster than that judging by the way he ran guys down last season. I'd kind of like to see the split times for our guys and then compare them to guys that run legit 4.4 and under. Compare how long it takes the sub 4.4 guys to finish the last 20 yds and how long it takes Lendy/Manny/Iggy etc.

[goingoneight]

Here's how a 40 time works, people...

No pads, no coverage to shake off within five yards, no elements to deal with, no soreness from the previous play's hit... you line up in shorts and tennis shoes and run a straight line.

Now, is a great 40 time a good indicator of athleticism? Yes. But not even close to the complete definition of a great athlete. Some guys are super fast, but don't carry themselves in pads well, don't have good footwork or skills. Like Malcom Kelly versus Juaqin Iglesias. Rip Kelly for being "slow" all you want (which was stupid considering his knee injury), but he makes that catch in the UF game. Probably the one Manny got interfered with on too. At the same time, Iglesias has been healthier and sharper in route-running and may end up being a better pro simply because of that. Isaiah Stanback supposedly has world-class speed, but he can't crack the two deep at Dallas.


If you think we're "slow," re-watch the UF game. We were step-for-step with them throughout the whole game with some pretty big holes in OUr attack without Murray and Granger yet again. I'll bet Louis Murphy didn't think Nic Harris was slow when he jumped his route and picked off Jebow. I'll bet truthfully speaking Jebow didn't think OUr front four was slow.

Also, something can be said for how quick a guy accelerates. Murray may not be as fast as AD, but he hits the ground and takes off way quicker. Also take a look at how much a guy weighs. A 5'9 195 pound receiver is going to run faster than a nickelback.

[rainiersooner]

Yeah that's interesting. I can't think of many instances where "lack of speed" has been a problem for us (and that is certainly not to say that there have not been problems)...so I don't know what to make of that.

Edit:

What goingoneight said!

[starclassic tama]

one thing i like about stoops, he doesn't B.S. when it comes to heights and weights. he will round you up to the nearest inch if you are close, but that's it. unlike mack brown, who has been known to embellish these figures to a sometimes embarassing degree. such as fake roy williams, 6'6 in his texas career, until he gets to the combine where he's barely 6'2.

[Leroy Lizard]

Those times look much more realistic than the 4.3 crap we see all the time.

[badger]

Jon Cooper is working his way into getting drafted with his Combine and Pro Day performances. Way to go, Jon! :)

[OUDoc]

Gute was there?

[Widescreen]

It always amazes me how strong Gute is for such a short guy.

[Collier11]

For those who still think Reggie, Curtis, and Malcolm made mistakes...id say they did pretty well financially although I still think Reggie shoulda come back


Malcolm Kelly- Base Salary-$295k Signing Bonus-$ 1,264,000
Total Salary-$ 1,559,000 with bad knees and all

Reggie Smith- Base $295k Signing Bonus-$784k Total $1.079 million
Not bad for a guy who barely made it off the bench

Curtis Lofton- Base $295k Signing Bonus- $1.64 million
Other Bonus-$1.035 million Total Salary- $2.97 million

As much as we hate it when our fav players leave early, its all about money at that point and while they didnt make huge money, they are all doing well.

[Collier11]

FYI, you can go to this site and check any players salaries for their whole career
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/default.aspx

[soonerfan28]

Brett Bowers may have turned some heads today. Hopefull it will translate on to the field because it never did at OU.

[badger]

I know how a 40 works and the rest of the drills work, so here's how I think everything works when it comes to workouts: You have to have a time that doesn't raise a red flag.

Get an average 40 time for your position, don't only to two bench presses when the rest of your peers do a dozen, don't broad jump two feet when your competitors can all jump eight.

It is quite apparent that Florida inflated their WR's 40 times much like Mack inflates player height stats (to compensate for being slow and short elsewhere, hmm?). However, so long as the players put up acceptable times in all of their drills, they should be able to live off their college reputation for the rest.

[Collier11]

Here is what some notable OU alum have made for their careers thus far

Mark Clayton- $7.376 million
Jammal Brown-$10.051 million
AD- $7.361 million
Brandon Jones- $2.599 million
Chris Chester-$2.399 million
Tommie Harris- $20.794
Dusty- $1.747 million
Mark Bradley-$3.843 million
Corey Ivy- $3.852 million
Kelly Gregg- $12.172 million
Travis Wilson- $1.364 million
Brodney Pool- $4.322 million
Teddy Lehman- $3.4 million
Davin Joseph- $5.085 million
Clint Ingram- $1.804 million

[badger]

What, no mention of TRRW? ;)

For the record, he was in a four year deal worth about $25 mil when he got cut (as per Roy's own request). So, about $6-$7 mil per season. Not too shabby!

[8timechamps]

fullback Ian Pleasant

Eh? Fullback?

Maybe he has a better shot there.

[Collier11]

I forgot good ol Roy, whoops!

Looks like this for him
$28.172 million

[starclassic tama]

the badg is right. take all the best players in the NFL and look at their combine stats. a few are eye-poppers like adrian peterson, but the majority have decent stats and are just amazing football players.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Well lets look at the KEI index that a lot of scouts use to measure "explosiveness" where the bench, vertical and broadjump are used...Obviously if someone didn't do all 3, then they can't be measured

Nic Harris-didn't bench, but notice his shuttles..Despite the slow 40, his shuttles and 3 cone are pretty darn good..I don't think his 40 time is really an issue..

Lendy- I guess no bench...his 20 yard shuttle is pretty good..tops at the combine was just sub 4..his 3 cone was just ok, middle of the pack...same with the 60..broad jump was average...just nothing that would cause somebody to overlook his time..

Brandon Walker-A guy I called the sleeper of the group before the combine...good 40, vertical, broadjump...wish he woulda benched...The knock on him right now is just being flat out lazy at times...

Jon Cooper-KEI Index of 72.25 which is good(70 is the benchmark)...If Cooper was 6'4 to 6'5 and 305-315, he would be a top 3 center in my opinion...


I'll do some more later

[8timechamps]

Funny seeing Kelly Gregg on the list. Looks like he did pretty darn well for an "undersized" Edmond boy.

I swear it seems like he played on the Ravens D-line for 20 years.

[starclassic tama]

jeeze our o-line was so salty last year. here's hoping we can get a scrappy group together this year and end up being really good. it has been stated a lot, but i don't think it can be overstated. this season starts and ends with the o-line.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Right...and one thing some of us a posters received flack for early on was because not understanding why these guys couldn't run block against 8 man fronts, like OU is the only team that plays against them.

My argument was that these guys were struggling because they didn't get off their guy and get to the 2nd level..And now hearing what the scouts were saying about this crew overall, they looked lost anytime they got to the 2nd level and struggled blocking moving targets...

[starclassic tama]

STEP what do you think about our safety prospects? i don't know much about proctor or some of the other guys...

[badger]

the badg is right.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_V1Xl3xmG9-A/SE2M3EHgm7I/AAAAAAAAAdM/hXLTwk9wwSE/S1600-R/hell_froze.jpg

There is hope for you yet, I see. AGREEING with someone? Holy Purple Jesus ;)

In addition to Cooper, it appears Duke has been turning a lot of heads (in a GOOD way) with his work ethic since our season ended. Read more here. (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20090311_92_B6_DukeRo488034)

I think he is our best hope at getting someone taken in the first round this year. Thoughts?

[King Crimson]

Gutierrez was never the same after the injury, but impressed with the strength at the workouts.

best to jacob. great sooner. he was untackle-able (not a word) against Baylor in 05, a game we basically almost give away....(though we weren't very good either).

he's more likely to be strength coach somewhere....but the kid was 100% and a great human being from all accounts.

[badger]

gutteriez was never the same after the injury, but impressed with the strength at the workouts.

best to jacob. great sooner. he was untacklable (not a word) against Baylor in 05, a game we basically almost give away....

he's more likely to be strength coach somewhere....but the kid was 100% and a great human being from all accounts.

Dear ol' Guuuuuut, I wish I could still watch him on special teams make a beeline for the guy with the ball. Forget watching the entire field for those returns, I always focused my eyes on Guuuut, because he was that awesome.

Is it normal to bring alumni back for pro days at colleges as opposed to just players just-out of college? If so, why couldn't we have one of OUR alumni throwing when we brought Eric Crouch (booooooo! I still despise you for 2001! boooooo!) in?

[Collier11]

Gil Brandt with some tidbits on OU's pro day

The big story to come out of Norman, Okla., on Tuesday was Nic Harris’ continued slow times in the 40-yard dash. The 6-foot-2 and 7/8-inch safety followed up a slow time in the 40 at last month’s NFL Scouting Combine with another slow time at the University of Oklahoma’s pro day. He ran it twice — both in 4.83 seconds.

Working in Harris’ favor is that he has an amazing backpedal — it seems as if he can run the 40 backwards as fast as he can run it forward. But as Mike Mayock pointed out on NFL Network’s Path to the Draft show today, Harris might be better suited as a weakside linebacker in the NFL. He had a 4.23-second short-shuttle run and a 7.0-second three-cone drill, more in line with linebacker times. Harris did positional drills as a safety, not a linebacker.

Four offensive linemen who have NFL potential worked out in Norman. Phil Loadholt (6-7 7/8, 332 pounds), Duke Robinson (6-5 1/4, 330 pounds), Jon Cooper (6-2 1/8, 290 pounds) and Brandon Walker (6-2 7/8, 306 pounds) drew three offensive line coaches to the pro day — Detroit’s Pat Morris, Buffalo’s Sean Kugler and Miami’s Dave DeGuglielmo. Vikings head coach Brad Childress and vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman also were there.

Loadholt looked very good in his positional drills. His workout-drill numbers were as follows: 5.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash twice, a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 8-9 broad jump, a 4.77-second short shuttle, a 8.14-second three-cone drill and 26 bench-press repetitions (though it should be taken into account that it is harder for a tall player with long arms to throw up the bar).

Robinson stood on his 40 times from the combine, posted a 31 1/2-inch vertical, a 8-3 broad jump and a 5.0-second short shuttle, and put up 20 bench-press reps.

Cooper, who is a very good player despite his slender frame (for a center), ran a 5.0 flat and 5.03 in the 40, had a 31 1/2-inch vertical jump, an 8-9 broad jump, a 4.50-second short shuttle and a 7.43-second three-cone drill, and posted 32 bench-press lifts.

Walker had a 34 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-2 broad jump, and he ran a 5.18-second 40. He also had a 4.88-second short shuttle and an 8.20-second three-cone drill, and he stood on his bench-press reps from the combine.

WR Joaquin Iglesias stood on his combine numbers, but he looked very good catching the ball in positional drills.

I would like to commend Oklahoma director of sports enhancement Jerry Schmidt (known as coach Smitty) for his excellent job in organizing this highly efficient pro day. Scouts love to come to Oklahoma because the whole coaching staff is there, the facilities are great and Schmidt runs the event like clockwork. In fact, he timed things so well that the barbecue that was ordered for scouts came 30 minutes after the workout was done.

Still, there’s no doubt that every scout left five pounds heavier.

– Gil Brandt

[stoops the eternal pimp]

STEP what do you think about our safety prospects? i don't know much about proctor or some of the other guys...

Proctor was one of the guys Stoops talked about in his presser last week..saying how good he was last winter/spring and then he kinda tailed off...

I'm a Quinton Carter fan...I thought he played well when he had opportunities last year...Kinda reminded me of Brandon Shelby

Joseph Ibiloye looks like he could be a good safety on paper...

Its really not a position that I think we will fall off much

[Collier11]

Even being in the Big 12 with all the offenses, our D should be top 15-20 next yr with what we have coming back

[oumartin]

look, These guys are slow. Look at what happens against faster teams.

[goingoneight]

look, These guys are slow. Look at what happens against faster teams.

As in???

If you're pointing out Florida, perhaps you might want to look at turnovers before you go claiming UF's guys were 15 yards wide open every play.

[oumartin]

why don't you go back and look at the past few bowl games before you go pointing out Florida. You can view it as you want. WVU tons faster, USC, well
LSU? Heck Boise State had just as much team speed.

You can continue to view things from up there in your behind but there has been some speed issues for a few years.

[Collier11]

we did look really slow against lsu and wvu, usc we matched athletes but we just fell apart as a team

[Leroy Lizard]

The winning team always looks faster. I seriously doubt WVU or BSU were faster than OU.

[LSUdeek]

Guys, Laron Landry ran a 4.35 at the NFL combine. There is a reason why LSU did not offer Nic Harris. He doesn't have LSU speed at the safety posish.

[Collier11]

all I know is that our starting Dbacks and Wr's should not be running 4.7's and 4.8's, ever! 4.3 speed and below is world class speed and very few people run a true 4.3 but my gosh, our speed position players should be running 4.4's-4.6's atleast

[starclassic tama]

PLENTY of safeties run in the 4.7's. you are really making way too big of a deal out of 40 times dude, and it shows a glaring lack of knowledge about the game. what about anquan boldin and larry fitzgerald? both are in the 4.7's. a guy that runs a 4.7 but is a smart football player will react much faster and therefore play faster then a guy who is a 4.35 but has the football instincts of eric bassey. and nobody has ever had a legitimate laser timed 40 in the 4.2's.

[badger]

Guys, Laron Landry ran a 4.35 at the NFL combine. There is a reason why LSU did not offer Nic Harris. He doesn't have LSU speed at the safety posish.

I think I hear you chanting S-E-C on the other side of your computer screen ;)

[LSUdeek]

I think I hear you chanting S-E-C on the other side of your computer screen ;)

:O

Not on this one... and especially not for Tim Teblow and the Gaytors.
:D

[soonerfan28]

I would say that Chad Jones (4.55?) and Craig Steltz(4.6 & 4.65) don't have, as you put it "LSU speed" then either. Let me know when the next LSU safety runs 4.35.

[Collier11]

PLENTY of safeties run in the 4.7's. you are really making way too big of a deal out of 40 times dude, and it shows a glaring lack of knowledge about the game. what about anquan boldin and larry fitzgerald? both are in the 4.7's. a guy that runs a 4.7 but is a smart football player will react much faster and therefore play faster then a guy who is a 4.35 but has the football instincts of eric bassey. and nobody has ever had a legitimate laser timed 40 in the 4.2's.

Actually someone was clocked last yr in the 4.2's I believe, STEP could confirm or deny that for us.

Listen, Ive always said that 40 times are overrated but when nearly everyone of our speed position athletes are clocking in the 4.6's or slower the past two years, that is bothersome.

I realize there is a huge diff between game speed and track speed and all that, but go back and look at how BJ, Clayton, Perkins, Woolfolk, AD, Quentin, etc... ran, and look at the past two years.

[badger]

:O

Not on this one... and especially not for Tim Teblow and the Gaytors.
:D

I hope you'll understand when Sooners like me do not buy the SEC speed mentality any longer. Teams like Florida bragged that their WR's could run 4.2 40's, but then the combine reveals them not to be any faster than the Slo-mo Big 10.

I am not saying LSU is slow, but rather, that the SEC's alleged speed is just that - alleged, with no proof to back it up. I am hopeful that a non-Sugar Bowl game between us can put to rest this alleged speed issue ;)

[LSUdeek]

I would say that Chad Jones (4.55?) and Craig Steltz(4.6 & 4.65) don't have, as you put it "LSU speed" then either. Let me know when the next LSU safety runs 4.35.

Those times are .3 and .2 faster than Nic. Chad hasn't recorded a combine or pro day time anywhere yet, so I'm really unsure where nfldraftscout.com is getting those times.

[MI Sooner]

If you think we're "slow," re-watch the UF game. We were step-for-step with them throughout the whole game with some pretty big holes in OUr attack without Murray and Granger yet again. I'll bet Louis Murphy didn't think Nic Harris was slow when he jumped his route and picked off Jebow. I'll bet truthfully speaking Jebow didn't think OUr front four was slow.

Huh. I haven't gone back and watched the game, but when I watched it live, I thought that Harvin, Murphy, and one other guy (Demps?) looked extremely quick and fast. Nearly as fast as Maclin but quicker.

[soonerfan28]

Those times are .3 and .2 faster than Nic. Chad hasn't recorded a combine or pro day time anywhere yet, so I'm really unsure where nfldraftscout.com is getting those times.

I got the 40 for Jones off of his supposed HS time on rivals which to me is probably not what he really ran then anyway. Steltz ran that at the combine. You were using Landry's time as a comparison so I was simply showing you that 4.35's don't come to LSU every day. Landry's was .2 and .3 faster then Steltz and Jones.

[starclassic tama]

i do have to admit though, that a 4.85 is a crusttyyy time for a safety. nic looks SO much faster than that watching him play...

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Actually someone was clocked last yr in the 4.2's I believe, STEP could confirm or deny that for us.


.

Chris Johnson of East Carolina(Tennessee Titans) ran a 4.24, which I believe is the fastest electronically timed 40 in Combine history..of course you have a handful of times faster but those were all handheld times..and then you have some pro day times that are pretty amazing too, but those are more questionable than an official combine time

[stoops the eternal pimp]

i do have to admit though, that a 4.85 is a crusttyyy time for a safety. nic looks SO much faster than that watching him play...

well like I pointed out earlier, his cones and shuttles are comparible to a safety who would run a 40 time in the 4.5 to 4.6 range..Like Gil Brandt said, he runs the same speed backwards as he does forward..He has good hips for a guy his size and those cones and shuttles show good explosiveness out of the turn...

40 times mean more or less depending on the position

[OUmillenium]

Listen to step ^, he's talking about football speed like Rocky, Roy, Strait, Clayton, etc. had.

For example, Onyenegetcha (beat) had blazing track speed but was clueless in coverage. Lewis Baker was similar at a different position.

[RedstickSooner]

:O

Not on this one... and especially not for Tim Teblow and the Gaytors.
:D

Amen, Deek. I have to say, I have NEVER understood all these LSU fans rooting for Florida in the NC game. I mean, Shi-ite, it'd make more sense for US to root for Florida than y'all. We don't play them every year, and the coach we love came to prominence on Florida's staff.

As to football speed and 40 times, I'm really starting to wonder why we use it at all with football. Why couldn't we start timing kids in full kit? Do any teams/programs do so? What you can do in shorts & tennis shoes seems, to me, to have very, very little to do with what you can do in pads. Is there concern that in a test of pure speed, the added weight and bulk of pads would make for more injuries? Is it simply a compromise of convenience and mercy -- one that recognizes that getting into pads & such is a major pain in the arse, and therefore worth skipping unless truly necessary?

Seems to me it could really benefit a program if they started confidentially measuring recruits in pads and using those numbers for evaluation purposes. But maybe that's just me.