Over 300 athletes will set foot onto Lucas Oil Stadium next Tuesday, to start the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
With every scout, coach, general manager and owner in attendance, the combine is the venue where players hope to make high round draft status. Alabama football head coach Nick Saban has had 18 players selected in the first round since 2009, including four in 2011 and 2012. Of the 10 former Crimson Tide standouts in this year’s event, Saban is expected to have six guys taken in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Listed below is a breakdown of players that need a strong showing at the combine.
Cam Robinson, Offensive tackle
Three years ago, offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandijo took the field for position drills.
Kouandjio was clocked at 5.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, while his efforts in the 10 and 20-yard splits finished near the bottom of the group. Despite being selected in the second round (44th overall pick) by the Buffalo Bills, he’s having a rough time adjusting to the professional game.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Cam Robinson is an exceptional road grader and pass protector.
Fluidity in his movements should not be a hassle; however, scouts will drill him on the mental lapses that occurred in the 2016 season. The Monroe, La., native was flagged countless times for false start penalties, which took the Tide’s offense out of rhythm and stalled drives.
On many occasions, a lack of focus is sometimes the difference between a playoff team and one that’s ready for the next NFL Draft. With defensive linemen and linebackers getting bigger, faster, smarter and stronger, having a mentally sharp offensive lineman is critical to success.
Ryan Anderson, Outside linebacker
After failing to seize dominance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, Ryan Anderson will have another opportunity to crack a first round stock. He’s made a career in generating negative plays—36.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hurries—but his coverage skill leave much to be desired.
Along with having speed in the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, splits and cone drills, Anderson must display lateral quickness in coverage. He can get away with being a solid pass rusher in his first couple of seasons in the NFL; nevertheless, he has to become a complete player at some point.
Tim Williams, Outside linebacker
Tim Williams has the potential to be like Atlanta Falcons linebacker, Vic Beasley.
Beasley, who was taken eighth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, turned in a jaw-dropping performance at the combine. He finished in the top five at his position through all work outs, including placing first in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds) and bench press (35 reps, 225 pounds).
Williams will be prepared physically; it’s the interview process that he needs to nail.
Rumors have recently surfaced concerning Williams’ reported drug usage. Though some media pundits are comparing it to Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory, if Williams can sell himself as a businessman and articulate to scouts—all rumors regarding the situation will desist.
ArDarius Stewart, Wide receiver
People continue to scream “size, size, size” when it comes to ArDarius Stewart and though it’s important, there is more to a wide receiver than size. He brought a certain element to Alabama’s offense last season and he was not in the lineup, Tide fans could tell something was missing.
Steward led the team in receiving yards (864) and touchdowns (eight), while picking up 54 receptions in Alabama’s 2016 Southeastern Conference title year. He’s got speed to burn and for the 6-foot-1, 204-pound target, running a high 4.3 to sub 4.4 in the 40-yard dash is pivotal.
Stewart’s ability to work back to the ball will come in handy, along with displaying smoothness within the route tree. The Fultondale, Ala., native needs strong numbers in each drill, as he looks to break from being a middle-tier weapon (second-to-third round value) in this year’s draft class.
Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback
He’s got the size (6-foot-1, 196 pounds), speed, sound tackling and ball skills to be an elite defender in the National Football League. Humphrey has no issues playing the run—6.5 career tackles for loss—and he’s collected 13 pass breakups and five interceptions in two seasons of action.
Facing the ball and fine tuning his technique in man-to-man coverage are both focal points for Humphrey.
Throughout his tenure at Alabama, he would be in perfect phase to make a play on the ball but failed to get his head turned around. Situations like this resulted in either a pass interference foul or a receiver making the catch. Building recovery speed is another element for Humphrey’s combine list. At times, he’s been susceptible to getting burned on deep ball patterns.
Dalvin Tomlinson, Defensive tackle
He was finally able to enjoy the fruits of his labor a season ago, after having two knee surgeries to start his career. Dalvin Tomlinson recorded 62 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, seven quarterback hurries and a forced fumble, in helping the Tide return to the College Football Playoff for a third straight year. Listed a 6-foot-3 and 312 pounds, Tomlinson accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and registered four tackles for team South.
While he excels as a one to two gap defender in the run game, NFL personnel will look to see more of Tomlinson’s ability to pressure quarterbacks from the inside. Ex-Alabama standouts A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed were better run stoppers than Tomlinson, yet an all-around solid display in the combine could see him taken off boards earlier than both guys were in 2016.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
