NFL Combine Kicks Off
The 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis gets underway today, and seven Mizzou Tigers will be participating: offensive tackle Justin Britt, defensive ends Michael Sam and Kony Ealy, running back Henry Josey, wide receivers L’Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas, and defensive back E.J. Gaines.
Britt will have measurements and medical examinations done today, interview with team representatives, and meet with the media this afternoon. He will attend an NFLPA meeting on Friday, as well as undergo psychological testing, perform the bench press test, and do more interviews. On Saturday, Britt will participate in the on-field workout. He will run the 40-yard dash in the 9 to 10 a.m. slot and do field drills from 10 to 11 a.m.
According to scouts, Britt’s strengths are his solid build, quickness, strength and ability to recognize and adjust to the blitz. He is projected to be a late-round selection.
Washington, Lucas and Josey will begin their combine process Friday and will have their on-field workouts on Sunday. Washington and Lucas will run the 40 between 11 a.m. and noon, and participate in field drills from noon to 1 p.m. Josey will run his 40 between 1 and 2 p.m., and he will follow up with field drills from 2 to 3 p.m.
Washington’s strengths are, according to scouts, his body and arm length, outstanding speed, explosiveness, and big-play ability. He is projected to be taken in the 6th or 7th round.
Lucas’ strengths are his outstanding size and body length, excellent hand, and toughness and ability to enter traffic and catch on contact. He is expected to be a late-round pick.
Josey’s quick feet, agility, ability to burst through the hole, and mental toughness are his strengths. He is projected to be a mid-round selection.
Sam and Ealy’s testing starts Saturday, and will conclude Monday with their on-field workouts. Ealy will run the 40 in the 9 to 10 a.m. slot and will be evaluated in field drills from 10 to 11 a.m. Sam’s 40 time will be measured between 11 a.m. and noon, and he will do his field drills from noon to 1 p.m.
Scouts see Sam’s strengths as his arm length, snap-anticipation, great initial first step, and his intensity and demeanor. He is projected to be picked in the middle rounds of the draft.
Ealy’s long, projectable frame, quickness, ability to spin off blocks, close on the quarterback fast and crash down the line have scouts raving. He is projected to go within the first 20 picks.
On Sunday, it will finally be Gaines’ turn to begin the three-day process that will conclude on Tuesday, when he is set to run the 40 between 9 and 10 am and participate in field drills from 10 to 11 am.
Scouts love the defensive back’s muscular build, aggressive style, confidence, good route recognition, willingness and ability to hit hard, and versatility. He is projected to be a 2nd or 3rd round selection.
The official workout results will be posted on NFL.com within 30-45 minutes after each workout session concludes, and we will post them right here on GaryPinkel.com shortly after.
