2011 Scouting Combine Report: Defensive Linemen

As the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine unfolds, I’ll be passing along the rankings of the players that worked out as they relate to Patriots’ needs. Yesterday I brought you the top performers among the runningbacks and any Patriots-related news regarding the position. Saturday, I brought you the top performers among the offensive linemen. Today, the defensive linemen and linebackers ran through the various drills and positional workouts. Defensive end is my #3 need for the Pats, so today’s focus will be on the defensive linemen group as a whole. Tomorrow morning I’ll post the top performers for the linebacker group, which is my #1 Patriots need from a pass-rushing standpoint. For a pretty good explanation of the various workout and positional drills, click here. Here are the top performers among the defensive linemen for the various drills:

40-Yard Dash

1. Dontay Moch, Nevada – 4.44 sec (That’s an AMAZING time for a defensive lineman!)
2. Chris Carter, Fresno State – 4.62 sec
3. Sam Acho, Texas, and Brooks Reed, Arizona – 4.68 sec
4. Jabaal Sheard, Pittsburgh – 4.69 sec
5. Robert Quinn, North Carolina – 4.70 sec

Bench Press

1. Stephen Paea, Oregon State – 49 reps (49 reps!!!! That’s a new Scouting Combine record!)
2. Marvin Austin, North Carolina – 38 reps
3. Bruce Miller, Central Florida – 354 reps
4. Adrian Taylor, Oklahoma, and J.J. Watt, Wisconsin – 34 reps
5. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue , Drake Nevis, LSU, Phil Taylor, Baylor, and Ian Williams, Notre Dame – 31 reps

Vertical Jump

1. Dontay Moch, Nevada – 42.0″ (This ties the recent best among defensive linemen, which was set in 2006 by Mark Anderson, Alabama)
2. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin – 37.0″
3. Allen Bailey, Miami – 36.5″
4. Chris Carter, Fresno State – 36.0″
5. D’Aundre Reed, Arizona – 35.5″

Broad Jump

1. Dontay Moch, Nevada – 10’8″
2. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue – 10’2″
3. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin – 10’0″
4. Cheta Ozougwu, Rice, and D’Aundre Reed, Arizona – 9’11”
5. Aldon Smith, Missouri – 9’10”

3-Cone Drill

1. Sam Acho, Texas – 6.69 sec
2. Chris Carter, Fresno State, and J.J. Watt, Wisconsin – 6.88 sec
3. Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State – 7.01 sec
4. Bruce Miller, Central Florida – 7.05 sec
5. Cheta Ozougwu, Rice – 7.06 sec

20-Yard Shuttle

1. Adrian Clayborn, Iowa – 4.13 sec
2. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin – 4.21 sec
3. Brooks Reed, Arizona – 4.28 sec
4. Cheta Ozougwu, Rice – 4.31 sec
5. Sam Acho, Texas, Ricky Elmore, Arizona, and D’Aundre Reed, Arizona – 4.32 sec

Patriots-related Defensive Linemen News/Notes

• In searching for the next Willie McGinest, perhaps the Patriots should look to his protege: Fresno State’s Chris Carter. Carter was a Top Performer in several drills, and is learning from McGinest the nuances of making the switch from college defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker. Read more about Carter and his tutelage under McGinest here and here.
• The Boston Herald’s blog passes along a video on Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt, where he discusses his respect for the game of football.
• Former Patriots VP of Player Personnel and current Chiefs GM Scott Pioli comments on the depth of edge rushing talent in this draft. The Chiefs run a similar system under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, so what Pioli says in referring to the Chiefs’ outlook on the position can relate directly to the Pats.
• The Patriots’ Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio also lauds the front-7 seven depth in the draft.
• Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston passes along his thoughts on the depth at pass rusher for the Pats in the draft.
• ESPN Boston has a story on Arizona DE Brooks Reed as a potential 2nd-to-mid-round selection for the Pats. Reed played DE in college but projects to OLB in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. There is also a story recounting Reed’s media session and similarities between him and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews, Jr.
• ESPN Boston passes along some analysis from draft guru Todd McShay on Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan’s fit at OLB for the Patriots. The content is from ESPN’s Insider section, which you have to pay for, so it’s good to get this on the cheap. And on the cheap I mean free!
• Staying on the defensive line itself and not projecting guys to OLB, Reiss comments on Ohio State DL Cameron Heyward’s fit as a 3-4 DE, and he likes the fit.
• Comcast Sports Net’s Tom E. Curran came away from the Combine impressed with Cal’s Cameron Jordan, and notes that Jordan is a player that the Patriots have on their radar to play DE in their 3-4.

Later tomorrow morning, the linebackers (not the projected ones) will highlighted in the next Scouting Combine report.