The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NFL combine goes prime times
32 players with ties to state nears Georgia record.
Quarterbacks, tight ends and receivers were scheduled to arrive Sunday in Indianapolis to start the NFL combine process.
A total of 32 players with Georgia connections will take part in the NFL’s job fair, which has moved the workouts to prime time for NFL Network. Many of the drills performed have been moved to the afternoon and evening, in hopes of attracting a larger TV audience. The drills have traditionally taken place in the morning
and early afternoon.
“I don’t think the time change matters to me,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “I don’t think it matters to anybody in the league.”
However, the reduction of player interviews from 60 to 45 has some teams grumbling. The Falcons have long prized the interviewing process but think the new format could be a case of less is more. The formal and informal interviews with players, which used to take place in a hotel, will be held in suites at the stadium. Team position coaches will meet with players they are studying at designated times.
The Falcons hope more structure will reduce the chaos of the old setup. While all players may not meet with general manager Thomas Dimitroff and coach Dan Quinn, they could meet with position coaches and scouts.
If the players impress the Falcons, the team will follow up at its Pro Day or set up a campus visit.
“The interview is something that (the media) can’t get into, but it’s huge for the teams,” Kiper said.
For the NFL teams, the numbers on the field also mean things. For instance, the threecone drill addresses a player’s ability to change direction.
“Just getting all of the numbers is important,” Kiper said. “The three-cone, you test explosiveness with the broad ( jump) and the vertical, you see how strong guys are, which tells you something about how they prepare and how serious they are about their work. Those bench-press reps tell you a little bit about that as well. So, there are things you take from every drill and every number that you get.”
There are some intriguing prospects from Georgia at the combine. Ten players are former Georgia Bulldogs, with 20 others who play out of state and two from Georgia Southern.
Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm needs to show off his arm strength during the drills Thursday. Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas from Pace Academy is considered a top-10 prospect, but
Kiper has him rated lower because he “plays too high.”
Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who played at Lanier High, likely will be the first player from Georgia drafted. Some late-bloomers — Kyle Dugger from Lenoir-Rhyne and Whitewater High, and Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty and Paulding County High — are intriguing prospects. Both showed they could compete against power conference players at the Senior Bowl. Gandy-Golden is part of a talented wide receiver group — Kiper believes 25 receivers could go in the first three rounds of the draft.
“He’s a hands-catcher,” Kiper said. “He knows how to use that frame to shield the defender, which I like. He has a pretty good burst out of his break, which is important for a player his size. Then, (at the Senior Bowl) he showed that he could play with the big boys. Depending on his workout numbers, I can see him going anywhere between the second and fourth round.”
The Falcons are primed to heavily scout defensive and offensive line prospects, looking for a defensive end and defensive tackle and a left guard, who could convert to center. Center Alex Mack will turn 35 in November. After saying they will not re-sign defensive end Vic Beasley, the Falcons have a hole at defensive end. Also, defensive end Adrian Clayborn and defensive tackles Jack Crawford and Tyeler Davison can become free agents in March. Defensive end Takk McKinley, who hasn’t been highly productive, is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Also, the Falcons must consider strong safeties. Keanu Neal missed most of the past two seasons with major injuries. He suffered a knee injury in the first game of 2018 and ruptured his Achilles tendon in the third game of 2019. Last season, free safety Ricardo Allen had to move over to strong safety, and he later suffered a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery.
The Falcons hold the 16th pick in 2020. The team is set to make eight picks overall — four among the top 100 — when the NFL draft is held April 23-25 in Las Vegas.