With Takeo Spikes in his mid-thirties, and 2011 second-round pick Jonas Mouton a total unknown, the San Diego Chargers could be looking to add an inside linebacker through the draft this April. One prospect who had been a favorite of Chargers fans was Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict. But after his poor performance during workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine today, Burfict would be lucky to picked in the third round.
Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline wrote the following about Burfict:
The downward spiral continues for Burfict. He did not break 5 seconds in the 40, posted some of the worst vertical and broad jumps from the linebacker group and did not participate in position drills. Entering the season Burfict was considered a top 10 talent, but he's since fallen into the last day of the draft.
Given his perceived character concerns in addition to today's failure, Burfict may not be able to recover in time and become a premium draft pick. Two years ago Florida Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes ran in the five-second range in the 40-yard dash at the Combine, and he was still picked in the second round by the New England Patriots. Spikes' case was much different than Burfict's, however, as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has an affinity for University of Florida players and often picks them too high in the draft. Burfict probably won't benefit from such a liking by any current head coach in the NFL.
On the other hand, Burfict falling to the fourth round or later could work out real well for the Chargers. In spite of his terrible outing today, football isn't played in shorts, and there are no 40-yard dashes during the 60-minute contests. Burfict has shown on numerous occasions he is a dynamic talent--and one of the fiercest tacklers on the gridiron--but lacks direction off the field and in preparation. Knowing all of that, the disaster he experienced today should not serve as a surprise to anyone. And with Takeo Spikes on the Chargers' roster, a great mentor is in place to show Burfict how to be a true professional. Moreover, as Brandon Spikes has shown in New England's defense, running slow in the 40-yard dash doesn't mean a linebacker can't succeed in the 3-4 scheme. Burfict should still be on the Chargers' draft board in April.
Contrarily, there were several other inside linebacker prospects who excelled in today's drills:
Mychal Kendricks, California: Melvin Ingram's workout with the defensive linemen was one for the ages, and Kendricks' showing with the linebackers wasn't far behind. The Pac-12 defensive player of the year led the linebackers in almost every testing category: His 40 time of 4.45 seconds was the fastest, his vertical jump of 39.5 inches the highest and broad jump of 10-feet, 7-inches the longest. Kendricks carried his momentum through the drill session, looking quick and explosive in every task. Kendricks' sub-6-foot height means he won't be a player for everyone, but a creative defensive coordinator will turn him into a productive pro.
Luke Kuechly, Boston College: Questions about Kuechly's speed and athleticism preceded the combine. He answered his critics in dynamic fashion, running both of his 40s in the mid 4.5-second range. His vertical jump of 38-inches and broad jump of 10-feet, 3-inches graded among the better marks from today's linebackers. He was smooth opening his hips in coverage drills and was able to get great depth on pass drops. Kuechly did not display a smooth change of direction and some will question his pursuit skills, but on the whole it was a great performance by the Boston College junior.
Demario Davis, Arkansas State: Davis looked like the complete package, testing well and appearing very athletic during position drills. He timed 4.58 in the 40, touched 38.5 inches in the vertical jump, 10-feet, four-inches in the broad jump and completed 32 reps on the bench. Later in the workout Davis showed good speed and quickness moving in every direction as well as solid ball skills in coverage drills. He's a bit of an unknown outside the scouting world, but don't be surprised if Davis pops into the late part of Round 3.
James-Michael Johnson, Nevada: Johnson turned in a complete workout today and was effective on all fronts. He started with 40 times in the mid 4.6-second range. His marks of 37 inches in the vertical jump and 10-feet, 4-inches in the broad jump were also impressive. During drills Johnson looked every bit as athletic as his testing numbers indicate and moved swiftly across the field. He appears to be a complete linebacker who can defend the run or pass in the NFL.
Zach Brown, North Carolina: Brown was quick in the 40, timing as fast as 4.45 seconds on a number of watches after tipping the scales at 244 pounds. He flashed ability during drills, but seemed stiff and off balance at times. Despite that, the size/speed ratio and his game film make Brown a Top 25 choice.
Ryan Baker, LSU: It's tough to claim a linebacker who struggled to run 4.85 seconds in the 40 improved his draft grade, but that's what Baker did. Forty aside, he looked athletic and efficient in drills and was often applauded by coaches on the field.
Brown and Kuechly are first-round talents, so they probably won't be heading to San Diego--considering the Chargers will most likely pick an offensive lineman or a pass-rusher with the 18th overall selection. The rest could be options in Round 2 or beyond, though.
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