2024 NFL Combine preview: 5 interior defensive linemen the Detroit Lions should watch

@dutch-oven said:

Were you a paratrooper in the Army?

No. I had a jumpmasters license for sport jumping before I went into the service. Shoulder injury precluded being able to pass the physical for airborne school even though I was teaching new jumpers how to skydive. Ironic don't ya think.? I did go sport jump at the Special Forces sport jump zone on Ft Bragg though. My silver wings were skydivers' silver wings, so I was not a fighting soldier from the sky. Besides I did not intend to "jump and die". I preferred to come back home.??

@texasag1969 said:

Only if he does a tandem with my expert skydiving daughter who can land on one foot without so much as rolling on the ground. Today's parachutes ?are more like gliders that can stop on a dime. Totally different from the ones I used which I now refer to as crash and burn chutes.?️

Were you a paratrooper in the Army?

@flugel said:

His doctor didn't clear him to jump out of air planes though - did he?   

Only if he does a tandem with my expert skydiving daughter who can land on one foot without so much as rolling on the ground. Today's parachutes ?are more like gliders that can stop on a dime. Totally different from the ones I used which I now refer to as crash and burn chutes.?️

@texasag1969 said:

A&M WR Ainias Smith was unable to participate in all combine activities except one, the 225 lb bench press where he led all WRs with 21 reps. He also participated in the interviews portion.

His doctor didn't clear him to jump out of air planes though - did he?   

@syd said:

Tracking every 2024 NFL draft prospect the Browns have met

Not a bad early list.

Berry might want to go right back to filling Perrion Winfrey's vacant rookie DT spot, pairing w/Ika in future ?

The sleeper of that group, is my favorite Guard, U Conn's Christian Hayes  ?   Room to grow into a solid NFL starter w/NFL coaching. In mock sims, I'd pass Hayes for higher positional needs at #54.. Hayes was gone 3-5 picks later. Can't see Hayes getting to #85 with fake or live drafting. Glad Berry/scouts got Hayes a job interview

Stuck in ACC country. I too like Virginia's WR Malik Washington .. But, we don't have his projected 4th round pick slot. Adding Washington pushes E.Moore as the slot receiver. But, it does nothing for us filling a #2 outside WR. Malik Washington fits a Elijah Moore cost raise replacement in recent future.

@gumby73 said:

footballs played 40 seconds apart.. 3 hundy's shouldn't be line waiting for 2nd 40 yd. runs.. 20 yards may shorten that wait time too..  like it

Thanks Gumbs.  I just realized I left out the most important word NOT so I went back and edited it in there.

@flugel said:

Good analysis from O'Hara and Lewan about the need to make the big guys run 40 yards instead of 20-30 yards or so.   Coincidentally, back to back OL pulled up lame 30 yards into their 40.

footballs played 40 seconds apart.. 3 hundy's shouldn't be line waiting for 2nd 40 yd. runs.. 20 yards may shorten that wait time too..  like it

@gumby73 said:

Daniel Jeremiah

"Scouts like to see IOL run 10 yard splits of 1.76 w/40's at 4.96"

"Tackles/ 10 yard splits of 1.73 w/40's of 4.95"

My scorecard of group one reads

Tanor Bortolini 4,94-1.69

Frank Crum 4.94-1.69

Tylan Grable 4.96- 1.69

Group 2  (just began)

Roger Rosengarten 4.92-1.73

that's all at this time folks

Good analysis from O'Hara and Lewan about the need to make the big guys NOT run 40 yards instead of 20-30 yards or so.   Coincidentally, back to back OL pulled up lame 30 yards into their 40.

"Scouts like to see IOL run 10 yard splits of 1.76 w/40's at 4.96"

"Tackles/ 10 yard splits of 1.73 w/40's of 4.95"

My scorecard of group one reads

Tanor Bortolini 4,94-1.69

Frank Crum 4.94-1.69

Tylan Grable 4.96- 1.69

Group 2  (just began)

Roger Rosengarten 4.92-1.73

that's all at this time folks. edit- that's the final score of 40's that ran them

@dutch-oven said:

I know WR is a popular position for people to focus on for the Browns, but they really need to look at DLine too.

The Browns improvement on defense had a ton to do with their improved DLine, but it was a short-term fix, as so many DLinemen are free agents.

I'd also love for an inside linebacker. 

this and i hope i am right

Browns in hot pursuit of 2024 NFL draft offensive linemen at NFL Scouting Combine

1.) Let's try to avoid the over-payments of adding just FA's.. The quality of player, left on the drafting clock, just might be as good as trading for a player at pick #54? (DL/WR)

2.) The early volume of picks, should vary on positions at WR/ OL & a really impressive speed class of Secondary help.

3.) Maybe 2 of 4 QB's, that only Jimmy Haslam/Depo would draft in top 10. 

4.) RB, LB & TE class didn't look to hurt their cause for a few going in top 50 picks 

5.) The only named studs we may not be in reach of now in Rd.2 ?  The Texas Duo at WR/PR/KR A. Mitchell & X.Worthy <<(combine, enjoyed getting know a fun kid!)   

Time to watch the horses that make offenses go !  Offensive Line  ? 

@dutch-oven said:

The Draft guides usually come out around St. Patrick's Day, so I'll grab one and get a mock draft (or three) out... 

Thanks Dutch.   (or three)  ?   

@flugel said:

Agreed.  I also think a great Safety can be a game changer.  That said, we did drafted a DT (Ika) in round 3 and a DE (McGuire) in round 4 last year as well as a DE (Wright) in round 3 in 2022.  A decent surprise last year was a 2020 DT (Elliott) we drafted in round 3 played some pretty good football in the starting rotation.  I think Tomlinson returns but I haven't fact checked that one yet.  

Offensively, there's a good chance we lose Pro Bowl Right Guard (Teller) to FA. Maybe Luke Wypler is up to the challenge of filling that spot or we draft someone or sign a FA. Meanwhile it appears Wills remains our less than enthusiastic LT.  If Conklin could freakin stay healthy - we could move Dawand Jones to LT (although he also ended 2023 on IR as did Wills). 

WRs are irresistible eye candy because it's a passing era and the drop-off from Cooper is big enough for temptation to add another.  He's gonna = he hasn't yet.  That said, this is a damn good draft for TEs. Sizing them up at the combines by appearance only - it sure looks like there's some dual purpose TEs (like Steve Heiden was here.  I'll let my draft magazines tell me how many I got wrong as blockers later this month.

As much as I hate typing this - I think there's a really good chance the Browns will draft a RB to share the workload with Chubb.  The big volume of FA RBs won't be cheaper than a rookie we can keep longer at cap friendlier prices. Investments for a healthier cap is a NEED.  Staying in that thought, Wisconsin's Braelon Allen or Washington's Dillon Johnson are just 2 of an exciting bunch of RBs that could fall to some of our draft slots. 

The Draft guides usually come out around St. Patrick's Day, so I'll grab one and get a mock draft (or three) out... 

@dutch-oven said:

I know WR is a popular position for people to focus on for the Browns, but they really need to look at DLine too.

The Browns improvement on defense had a ton to do with their improved DLine, but it was a short-term fix, as so many DLinemen are free agents.

I'd also love for an inside linebacker. 

Agreed.  I also think a great Safety can be a game changer.  That said, we did drafted a DT (Ika) in round 3 and a DE (McGuire) in round 4 last year as well as a DE (Wright) in round 3 in 2022.  A decent surprise last year was a 2020 DT (Elliott) we drafted in round 3 played some pretty good football in the starting rotation.  I think Tomlinson returns but I haven't fact checked that one yet.  

Offensively, there's a good chance we lose Pro Bowl Right Guard (Teller) to FA. Maybe Luke Wypler is up to the challenge of filling that spot or we draft someone or sign a FA. Meanwhile it appears Wills remains our less than enthusiastic LT.  If Conklin could freakin stay healthy - we could move Dawand Jones to LT (although he also ended 2023 on IR as did Wills). 

WRs are irresistible eye candy because it's a passing era and the drop-off from Cooper is big enough for temptation to add another.  He's gonna = he hasn't yet.  That said, this is a damn good draft for TEs. Sizing them up at the combines by appearance only - it sure looks like there's some dual purpose TEs (like Steve Heiden was here.  I'll let my draft magazines tell me how many I got wrong as blockers later this month.

As much as I hate typing this - I think there's a really good chance the Browns will draft a RB to share the workload with Chubb.  The big volume of FA RBs won't be cheaper than a rookie we can keep longer at cap friendlier prices. Investments for a healthier cap is a NEED.  Staying in that thought, Wisconsin's Braelon Allen or Washington's Dillon Johnson are just 2 of an exciting bunch of RBs that could fall to some of our draft slots. 

The Browns improvement on defense had a ton to do with their improved DLine, but it was a short-term fix, as so many DLinemen are free agents.

I'd also love for an inside linebacker. 

AD Mitchell is a freak ?

   WR leader going into group two 

Edit---Texas teammate WR Xavier Worthy 4.25 ? 40.....  2nd run, unofficially ties John Ross 4.22 combine 40 record !

Official edit-- 4.21  40 time official ! Texas WR Xavier Worthy becomes new combine 40 time record holder !  

The link above probably has the Combine results and goodies you want to see thus far...

@syd said:

I dunno man, I have watched him play alot, fucker looked damn good, But ya it is the same coach who had murry and mayfield and they were not worthy of a first round pick, so you may be on to  something.

anyway any idea when the wr's are up ?

To your point above, Williams actually reminds me a lot of Kyler Murray at the college level.  At the NFL level, Kyler looks more like a Keebler (Elf) than a keeper.  

If I had my career riding on the choice of keeping Justin Fields (which also means Marvin Harrison becomes a Chicago Bear) and starting all over with NFL potty training for Caleb Williams by offensive coaches that will be fired within 2 years - it's a pretty easy choice.  I can't get the TD:INT ratio Fields had as a sophomore 41:3.  Yes, he had great receivers - but Marvin Harrison is the 6'4" and faster version of his HOF father.  You add that to WR DJ Moore and a big draft volume of OL to protect the QB - why go way out of the way to overthink it?

Every year, NFL Combine interviews almost always unveil something funny about a prospect. For many prospects, it’s the first time they’re given a big platform to speak in front of multiple national reporters and let NFL fans see who they really are behind the helmet.

This year, look no further than Illinois tight end Tip Reiman, who believes that "pigeons are not real". 

Illinois Tight End Tip Reiman Says Pigeons Aren’t Real

“Birds aren’t real” is definitely a conspiracy theory that has gained popularity online in the last few years. While it’s unclear if Reiman actually believes that pigeons aren’t real or if he was just joking around with the media, this story has already taken the Combine by storm.

 

 

 

@RieseDraft

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Illinois TE Tip Reiman a firm member of “Birds Aren’t Real” movement.

“Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?”

“How do we know that power lines aren’t pigeon recharging stations?”

the hard hitting moments of the combine

10:19 AM · Feb 29, 2024

Reiman played four years with the Fighting Illini and caught 41 passes for 420 yards and five touchdowns throughout his career. He’s a big, rugged blocking tight end who projects to be a Day 3 NFL Draft selection. He measured at 6-foot-4, 273 pounds, and proved in the Shrine Bowl that he can be a competent pass catcher for his size.