Ohio State Pro Day 2006

[buckeyenate1]

Hamby?

What was Hamby's 40 time?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/10/06

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
Buckeyes linebackers grab most scouts' attention


Friday, March 10, 2006

Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter

Columbus- A sweating Bobby Carpenter, clothed head-to-toe in white spandex and looking like a fit version of the Michelin Man, popped out of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Thursday afternoon for a bathroom break. The Ohio State linebacker was obviously at work.

At Ohio State's Pro Day, 16 Buckeyes ran, jumped and drilled for hordes of NFL scouts and four head coaches, Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher, Chicago's Lovie Smith, the New York Giants' Tom Coughlin and the Browns' Romeo Crennel.

No Buckeye had more at stake than Carpenter, who did not work out at the NFL combine two weeks ago while still recovering from the broken right fibula he suffered in the Michigan game more than three months ago.

The verdict? Full speed ahead for the April 29 NFL draft.

He was even better in the drills than I expected," said one scout. "He was more fluid."

Carpenter ran his 40-yard in about 4.6 seconds, a good time for a player most teams envision as a perfect fit as an outside linebacker who can rush the passer or drop into coverage in a 3-4 defense. Carpenter thought nerves kept him from running his best 40 time, but he said he and A.J. Hawk and Anthony Schlegel did well as a trio in linebacker drills.

"I didn't get in as much training in as I wanted to," Carpenter said of his rehab, "but I think guys were pretty impressed. They said if I'm not 100 percent, they'd like to see me when I'm fully healed."

Carpenter is one of six Buckeyes with a chance to be first-round pick, with Hawk and receiver Santonio Holmes locks and cornerback Ashton Youboty, safety Donte Whitner and center Nick Mangold also possibilities.

The Browns, who pick 12th, had seven coaches and scouts on hand.

Pittsburgh, with the last pick in the first round, seems interested in Carpenter and Mangold.

Holmes, Hawk speed:

Santonio Holmes also didn't run at the combine, when he was fighting the flu and thought his weight was too high. Healthy and 10 pounds lighter at 180, he ran a 40 clocked between 4.29 and 4.35, a time he thinks should solidify him as the best receiver prospect in the draft.

After running a 4.59 at the combine, Hawk ripped off an eye-popping time - clocked at 4.44 by one team.

"He's everything you want in a linebacker," said one scout.

There's a good chance that Hawk won't get past the San Francisco 49ers, who have the No. 6 pick in the draft.

Ginn passes, Gonzo burns:

Only three Ohio State underclassmen took the opportunity to run for scouts. One who passed it up was sophomore receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who initially planned to run.

"It was a hard decision, but I decided not to do it," Ginn said. "I've still got time, another year, maybe two."

Sophomore running back Antonio Pittman also didn't run but wanted to quiet any worries about his absence from team practices. He said he's nursing a hamstring injury he suffered during practice leading up to the Fiesta Bowl.

Sophomore receiver Anthony Gonzalez was the most prominent underclassman to perform and opened eyes for scouts by running a time that one scout timed at 4.29. Others had him in the low 4.3s.

Sims hurt:

Guard Rob Sims was disappointed after pulling his hamstring while running his 40. A sore hamstring also kept him from running at the combine.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4748

 

[gilly32]

Kudla bench for pros?

Anyone know if Mike Kudla worked out for the scouts yesterday? If so, how did he do on the bench press?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Anyone know if Mike Kudla worked out for the scouts yesterday? If so, how did he do on the bench press?

Kudla is not mentioned. I would imagine he did not attend after his performance at the combine.

ABJ

3/10/06

NFL Draft

Buckeyes make good impression on pro day

NFL coaches watch while 12 Ohio State players run, work out

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->COLUMBUS - Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter said the right ankle he fractured Nov. 19 against Michigan still doesn't feel back to normal.

That notion surprised Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

``He looked like he was 100 percent to me,'' LeBeau said. ``They said he's 90 percent. If he's got more than that, he's pretty good.''

Carpenter said he ran the 40-yard dash in the high-4.5 to low-4.6-second range Thursday in his first chance to impress the pro scouts. He was projected as going to the Steelers with the last pick in the first round on ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s last list.

``I'm happy with how I did,'' Carpenter said. ``I didn't run the 40 as well as I hoped to. Some of that might be due to a little nerves.

``You don't get second chances. This is something you dream about your whole life, running in front of the pro scouts.''

Carpenter wasn't the only standout as Ohio State held pro day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

With the surface markedly faster than the Indianapolis Scouting Combine last month, junior wide receiver Santonio Holmes clocked between 4.29 and 4.35. Holmes said a representative of the New York Giants had him on the lower end.

``I heard it and saw it,'' OSU guard Rob Sims said of Holmes' effort.

``We've got the baddest boys in the country.''

Holmes said he had the flu during the combine and had gained 10 pounds on his 180-pound frame, so he elected not to run there.

Glenville High School coach Ted Ginn Sr. was on hand to see ex-Tarblooder Donte Whitner, a junior safety, run between 4.28 and 4.37 after notching an official 4.40 at the combine.

``He made money today,'' Ginn said.

Mike D'Andrea said fellow linebacker A.J. Hawk clocked in the 4.38-4.40 range after going 4.59 in Indianapolis. Hawk is expected to be a top-seven pick in the April 29-30 draft. Safety Nate Salley said he improved from 4.59 at the combine to 4.48-4.57 at OSU.

With 12 Buckeyes invited to the combine and perhaps that many expected to be drafted, at least 100 scouts and coaches turned out. The Browns' contingent included coach Romeo Crennel, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, offensive line coach Jeff Davidson and his assistant Jeff Uhlenhake, receivers coach Terry Robiskie and defensive backs coach Mel Tucker, a former OSU assistant.

At least four coaches were on hand, including the Pittsburgh Steelers' Bill Cowher, the Chicago Bears' Lovie Smith, the New York Giants' Tom Coughlin and Crennel. Among the general managers who attended were the Detroit Lions' Matt Millen, the Green Bay Packers' Ted Thompson and the New York Jets' Terry Bradway.

Asked who had impressed him before the workouts, Crennel said: ``All of them. You've got a receiver who's impressive, a center, several linebackers, defensive backs.''

The most disappointed Buckeye was Sims, a Nordonia High School product who pulled his right hamstring in a workout before the combine and was unable to run there. Sims only made it 20 yards before aggravating the hamstring again.

``It's disappointing,'' Sims said, his voice quivering. ``For an offensive lineman, the 40 isn't the most important thing in the world, but I know I could have run one of the best times in the country.

``I did acupuncture, massages. I hope I showed a tough side of me, that I wasn't going to quit.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/10/06

OSU FOOTBALL

Carpenter, rest of Buckeyes on the fast track at pro day

Friday, March 10, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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They left shaking their heads in wonder, veteran NFL coaches wowed by Bobby Carpenter’s workout yesterday.

The Ohio State linebacker had a lot at stake at the school’s pro day. He suffered a broken bone in his lower leg against Michigan on Nov. 19, forcing him to miss the Fiesta Bowl and not run at the NFL Combine in February.

So when more than 120 coaches and scouts from at least 25 NFL teams filed into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center yesterday, many of them were curious about Carpenter.

"He looked like he was 100 percent to me," Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. "They said he was about 90 percent, so if he’s got more than that, he’s pretty good."

Told Carpenter was not full strength, Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach Mark Duffner said, "Shoot, I thought he looked pretty good."

Carpenter said he was clocked in the high 4.5-second range in the 40-yard dash despite feeling that the leg isn’t quite as strong as it was before the injury.

"It’s tough, I didn’t get as much chance to train as much as I would like to and it’s still not 100 percent," he said. "But I think these guys were pretty impressed. They were saying if I wasn’t 100 percent, they’d like to see what I could do when I’m fully healed. So I was satisfied with what I did."

He wasn’t the only one. No official times were given, but players reported a 40 time that was about .2 to .3 seconds faster than their combine times.

Either the OSU track is unusually fast, the Indianapolis track is unusually slow or it was just a very good day for everyone. Some examples:


• Linebacker A.J. Hawk had Indy times reported between 4.56 and 4.65. His times yesterday were between 4.38 and 4.44.


• Safety Nate Salley at Indy: 4.67 to 4.71. In Columbus: between 4.48 and 4.57. Linebacker Anthony Schlegel at Indy: 4.86 to 4.9. In Columbus: 4.64 to 4.71. Safety Donte Whitner in Indy: 4.45 and 4.46. In Columbus: "low to mid-4.3s."

"Guys are so used to their surroundings and they’re comfortable here," Whitner said. "We’ve been running three or four years (here), so you know they can run fast."

Hawk was one of the few players who managed to avoid talking to reporters. But he, Schlegel and Carpenter impressed LeBeau.

"I think you could take all three of these guys and have a pretty decent set of young professional linebackers," he said.

Holmes was thrilled with his day. He had planned to run at the combine but said he felt overweight (190 pounds) and sick with the flu, so he decided to wait.

It apparently paid off. At 180 yesterday, he said he was clocked between 4.29 and 4.34. That should end doubts about him being the first receiver drafted.

"I’m pretty sure that will keep me extended from the pack," Holmes said.

OSU could have 10 players or more selected in the NFL draft on April 29-30, including at least three first-rounders and possibly five (Hawk, Holmes, Carpenter, Ashton Youboty and Nick Mangold.)

The school record is four first-rounders in 1971 (Tim Anderson, John Brockington, Leo Hayden and Jack Tatum).
[email protected]

 

[BGriffBuckeye]

A poster on BN said that Tyler ran in the high 4.3's

 

[gbearbuck]

How was Kudla at the combine? Did he set the record for bench press?

 

[barlow1802]

he had 45 and came close to locking 46, so he tied the record. look around next time..combine thread, kudlas thread or use the search function

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

All these 4.2s-4.3s being thrown around... I think our "fast track" must be only 35 yards long.

 

[gbearbuck]

thanks barlow... what a beast!!!

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

The PD article mentions that three underclassmen ran. Anyone know who the two besides Gonzo were?

 

[jreal26]

Ive looked all over and cant find Youboty or Salleys time.

I was very impressed with your DB's this year. Whitner and Everett, had great speed back there. Carpenter looks to be a prototypical 3-4 LB. Hated to see that dude get hurt against Mich. I don't think a 4.4 is too bad at all for Youboty, I think he could have helped himself by staying another year, but a 4.4 is pretty solid. There have been a few DB's creeping up into the 1st round territory, but he should go in the late first. I'm curious to know how Salley looked in position drills in Indy? What kind of reports did you guys hear from the combine on him?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

3/11/06

OSU FOOTBALL | NOTEBOOK

Buckeyes welcome end of auditions

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Ohio State players are thrilled that their dog-andpony-show days are over.

The school’s pro day Thursday marked the end of months of specialized training to prepare for the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and other drills they had to perform at the combine in February and again Thursday.

"I’m excited to be done and over with it,"
linebacker Bobby Carpenter said. "Now I can really start enjoying myself, enjoy the end of my college (days) before I have to go start earning a living."

Every year, NFL coaches and scouts insist that game film means more than a player’s 40 times.

Yet they all show up at the combine and pro days with stopwatches in hand, and draft stocks mysteriously go up and down afterward.

"Numbers will be good," Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Thursday on his way in to watch the drills. "If they run good, we’ll like that."

Carpenter said, "If you’re a first-day guy (top three rounds of the draft), a lot of it is based off game film. The numbers just reaffirm what you can do on the field."

Center Nick Mangold also was breathing a sigh of relief afterward.
"I’m glad," he said. "Hopefully, all the workouts are over with and we can get back to doing the heavy lifting and more conditioning-type stuff instead of speed stuff."
Kudla’s NFL spot



Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said he believes OSU defensive end Mike Kudla would be an NFL outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

"I think he would do well in a system like ours, because he can do a little bit of both," Le-Beau said. "He can come down and become an end, and he’s agile enough to get up and drop. So he’s a guy that I think would do well in that type of system."

[email protected]

 

[sandgk]

"I think you could take all three of these guys and have a pretty decent set of young professional linebackers," he said.

Well, have we not all been saying pretty much the same thing for the past year?

Great to hear one of the NFL's top evaluators of defensive talent give such praise to possibly the best Buckeye LB corps anyone has seen pass through Columbus.

 

[tedginn05]

All these 4.2s-4.3s being thrown around... I think our "fast track" must be only 35 yards long.

It was ran on 40 yards. No doubt about that. Just a extremely fast field.

You can make the argument that the combine was ran on AstroTurf also, but there is a difference.

The turf at Indy was indoors and hadn't been given the treatment(Or should I say, beating) that the WHAC had recieved from years in the Ohio weather.

It also still had its padding underneath intact, giving the turf a bounce to it, possibly slowing down runners. The padding under the WHAC AstroTurf was non-existant. It was there at one time, but again was so old, that it basically disappeared/dried away.

That fast track at WHAC was AstroTurf that was atleast 15-20 years old. It was dried up so much it had the hardness of a track. With no cushion or bounce to it. I don't even think the football team uses it anymore, since it would be like playing on concrete.

I do know that the Lacroose(sp?) team practices on that field.

I'm not really surprised they ran outdoors on that field.