Combine Review-Offensive Players

Much to my wife's chagrin, the last two days (and the next two) the combine has dominated the TV. Of course she mentioned that she couldn't wait until we move into our new house so we can have cable in the bedroom too so she doesn't have to put up with this bullshit anymore. Luckily she's on a business trip this week so the next two defensive days I have no worry about the grumbling sitting next to me.

So the offensive prospects have come and gone and the following are my initial thoughts about players who really elevated their status, and some who likely cost themselves millions of dollars.

SHOOTING STARS

Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Now I wasn't a huge fan of his during college, I saw him more as a running QB, a Seneca Wallace or Brad Smith then anything else. He first started to convert me during the Senior Bowl, where he won the MVP, and completed my conversion this past weekend at the combine. On my own internal list, I have Pat White now the third quarterback behind Stafford and Sanchez, and he may be higher then Sanchez. He was clearly threw the best passes during the drills yesterday, and he has a poise and confidence that every great quarterback has. In the end he very well end up the best QB in this entire draft when we look back on it in ten years.

Andre Brown, RB, North Carolina State
Andre Brown was a decent college back who was hampered by injuries and playing for one of the lower level ACC teams easily had the best complete workout of any running back yesterday. He was a top performer in the 40, the bench press and vertical jump. He definitely looked the part, and because of injuries he has some fresh legs. I think he could easily be the version of Willie Parker in this class. A kid who didn't play that much in college, wasn't that productive, but his best days are in front of him.

Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
He easily had the best combine of any WR yesterday. He was a top performer on the vertical, 3 cone and 20 yard shuttle, but that's not the big story. He likely caught the ball better then anyone else to go with his routes that were damn near perfect. He looked like a man among boys out there and I think he really recovered his draft stock that was hurt by playing with a freshman QB who ran the ball as much as he threw it.

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia and Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Due to Andre Smith pulling his childish bs this weekend, Monroe and Smith were automatically shot straight to the top of the draft. That didn't end there though, both those boys had tremendous combines and they both look like absolute beasts. You have to love Jason Smith, a kid I'm falling in love with. When talking about his style of play, "I'm looking to physically assault somebody."

David Richmond, WR, San Jose St, Sammie Stroughter, WR, Oregon St and Mike Wallace, WR, Ole Miss
These three wide receivers stood out to me all day long. Richmond may have caught the ball better then anyone, with huge hands that just snag the ball out of the air and away from the body. Stroughter had great routes and felt like a very natural wide receiver with great instincts for the position. It almost felt like I was watching a smaller version of Anquan Boldin. Mike Wallace caught people's attention with his mohawk, then really caught their attention by turning in the second fastest 40 time so far in the combine. His athletic ability was all over the place and helped his stock considerably.

HONORABLE MENTION
QB-Mike Reilly Central Washington, Stephen McGee Texas A&M
RB-Ian Johnson Boise St, Mike Goodson Texas A&M
WR-Kenny McKinnley South Caroliona, Johnny Knox Abilene Christian
TE-Jared Cook South Carolina, Cornelius Ingram Florida
OL-Jamon Meredith South Carolina, Lydon Murtha Nebraska

CRASHING SATELLITES

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Apparently the childish lazy behavior that he was tagged prior to this weekend stuck even more when he announced that he wasn't going to participate this weekend because he wasn't ready, that he was behind schedule on training. In a sense he had more time than anyone else here since he was suspended for the bowl game and should have been working out then to get ready for this, but apparently he hasn't. It's also a red flag that no one really knows who his agent is.

Hunter Cantwell, QB, Louisville
To put it simply he did not throw the ball very well this weekend. I'm not sure if anyone else threw it worse since we only really got to see one group, though I know Freeman and Davis weren't that impressive either. It's quickly becoming to look like Louisville is becoming one of those programs, much like Texas Tech.

Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
I remember this time last year and Beckum was thought very highly of, very athletic and most folks had him as one of the top TEs in the class. Now, I have him about 8 on my list which easily puts him into day two. He could have helped himself greatly by having a phenomenal combine, but he was just another tight end and didn't help himself what so ever.