Since nobody is interested in hearing my breakdown of every player, so I'm simply going to mention observations from watching individual drills by group. Day 2 is unofficially the “skill position” day at the combine seeing the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers trying to impress. This is generally considered the most interesting because you see most of the fastest 40 times of the whole combine
Quarterbacks
40 yard dash
This event means a lot to some of these guys and virtually nothing to others. Mobile QBs need to put up decent times to show that their speed translates to the next level. If you're a pocket passer, none of the teams will care if your slow, considering that Marino, Manning and Brady aren't exactly burners. Jake Locker ran an unofficial 4.52 (both times) which would blow away most of the NFL's “mobile” throwers. His final, official time was 4.59 matching that of Cam Newton. Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech ran a very impressive 4.51 and Colin Kaepernick of Nevada ran a 4.53 which qualifies both as elite NFL QB speed.
Wonderlic
The Wonderlic results are never really officially released, but they generally leak out for a fair number of players. I was unable to track down this year's tests, but they may become available within the week. QB is one of the few positions where this really matters since it's the most cerebral position on the field. Anything above 30 at QB should be considered good enough, it's not necessarily a red flag if you score below (Peyton Manning scored a reported 25), but those guys need to prove they really know football.
Throwing Drills and Footwork
The majority of drills focus on the WRs so the QBs were not fully covered by the TV cameras. Some of the footwork drills were shown, but due to the proliferation of the spread offense almost half of the QBs are still developing their 5 and 7 step drops. Ryan Mallett throws impressive ball, the release is very powerful and comes out sharply with a tight spiral, but you always wonder if the skills will translate at the next level.
Other notes
Ryan Colburn of Fresno State looks like Steve Young not stylistically, but physically, in terms of stature. Cam Newton and Jake Locker were impressive in all of the agility, quickness and speed drills yet both are still questionable in the throwing accuracy and game reading department.
Wide Receivers
40 yard dash
While every position runs the 40 it is most important for WRs considering that they are the only ones that frequently run that far in a straight line, especially those who are being looked at as special teamers. Their weren't any absolute stunners this year, but Edmond Gates of Abilene Christian, Ricardo Lockette of Fort Valley State and Julio Jones of Alabama all ran sub-4.4, which is still exceptional.
3 Cone Drill
This is a good measure of quickness and agility along with the 20 and 60 yard shuttles. Players that excel here tend to have the ability to run sharp, crisp routes. While not always as explosive they tend to make good slot receivers. Jeffrey Maehl of Oregon finished 1st or 2nd in all of these events, only losing to Boise State's Austin Pettis in the 20-yard shuttle. In recent years, success in these events hasn't necessarily been a good thing considering that none of the top performers have excelled at the next level.
Vertical Leap/Broad Jump
Both jumps give you an idea of a guy's range. Performing well in these events demonstrates an ability to get to more balls. When a big vertical pairs with a 6'3”+ WR you have a guy that provides a foot of vertical separation from the majority of NFL defensive backs (think Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald). This year's big vertical came from Jonathan Baldwin of Pittsburgh who is 6'4” and leapt 42”. Julio Jones' broad jump was 4” further than any of the other WRs at a phenomenal 11'3”.
Route Running and Catching Drills
Leonard Hankerson of Miami showed poor hands throughout the drills (particularly his first gauntlet run), but that doesn't always hurt draft stock because certain teams get obsessed with the “height, weight, speed” players.
Other notes
Edmund Gates has character questions, which seems par for the course at WR, but most of those guys don't have fathers that have been convicted of murder. It makes him look like a real Bengals or Jets kind of guy where he'd fit right in with their respective rap sheets. Julio Jones and AJ Green are largely considered the top 2 WRs and extremely likely going in the 1st half of the 1st round. Going into the combine AJ Green was ranked as the #1 positionally, but based on Jones' measurables its likely that he jumped over Green on a few draft boards.
Running Backs
40 yard dash
Da'Rel Scott of Maryland ran a stellar 4.34 which paced the RBs with Mario Fannin of Auburn trailing close behind with a 4.38. Despite this, 40-yard dash is not a critical drill for RBs because it only gives you an idea of their breakaway speed. On the other hand, the 10 yard split provides a strong indication of initial burst which is crucial coming out of the backfield. The FBs participating as part of this group have almost no interest in 40 time because they make their living on running power and blocking strength.
3 Cone Drill
Quickness, hip flexibility and lateral mobility can all be shown by the 3 cone drill. Typically smallish runners and 3rd down back types perform well here. Ray Rice has the record in the last 5 years with a 6.65s, but Graig Cooper of Miami and Roy Helu of Nebraska ran 6.66s and 6.67s. Other top performers in recent years include Ahmad Bradshaw, Jahvid Best and Jamaal Charles. Cooper and Helu also finshed top 2 in the 20-yard shuttle
Footwork and Running Drills
There seemed to be a sharp delineation between the short and tall RBs. Most guys under 5'11” excelled in the mobility and lateral quickness department, while most the taller guys struggled. Jacquizz Rodgers looks like Ray Rice in both stature and running ability, I don't know enough about his catching ability to know whether he'll be a big factor in the passing game going forward. Damien Berry of Miami ran one of the drills incorrectly, which demonstrates a lack of concentration that may cause problems at the next level.
Other notes
Based on the shear number of guys with fully tattooed arms, I think RBs lead the league as a group in tattoos/person, barely edging out the WRs. Roy Helu of Nebraska set RB records in the 20-yard and 60-yard shuttles for the years since the NFL combine has been televised (2006-present), so if he doesn't make it as a runner he could always go the special teams route. Ingram dropped about 15 pounds to slim down and quicken up, but in my opinion he looks too slender right now to work as a power runner in the NFL. He also has a tendency to make a lot of noise and do a lot of grunting when he's running.
Quarterbacks
40 yard dash
This event means a lot to some of these guys and virtually nothing to others. Mobile QBs need to put up decent times to show that their speed translates to the next level. If you're a pocket passer, none of the teams will care if your slow, considering that Marino, Manning and Brady aren't exactly burners. Jake Locker ran an unofficial 4.52 (both times) which would blow away most of the NFL's “mobile” throwers. His final, official time was 4.59 matching that of Cam Newton. Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech ran a very impressive 4.51 and Colin Kaepernick of Nevada ran a 4.53 which qualifies both as elite NFL QB speed.
Wonderlic
The Wonderlic results are never really officially released, but they generally leak out for a fair number of players. I was unable to track down this year's tests, but they may become available within the week. QB is one of the few positions where this really matters since it's the most cerebral position on the field. Anything above 30 at QB should be considered good enough, it's not necessarily a red flag if you score below (Peyton Manning scored a reported 25), but those guys need to prove they really know football.
Throwing Drills and Footwork
The majority of drills focus on the WRs so the QBs were not fully covered by the TV cameras. Some of the footwork drills were shown, but due to the proliferation of the spread offense almost half of the QBs are still developing their 5 and 7 step drops. Ryan Mallett throws impressive ball, the release is very powerful and comes out sharply with a tight spiral, but you always wonder if the skills will translate at the next level.
Other notes
Ryan Colburn of Fresno State looks like Steve Young not stylistically, but physically, in terms of stature. Cam Newton and Jake Locker were impressive in all of the agility, quickness and speed drills yet both are still questionable in the throwing accuracy and game reading department.
Wide Receivers
40 yard dash
While every position runs the 40 it is most important for WRs considering that they are the only ones that frequently run that far in a straight line, especially those who are being looked at as special teamers. Their weren't any absolute stunners this year, but Edmond Gates of Abilene Christian, Ricardo Lockette of Fort Valley State and Julio Jones of Alabama all ran sub-4.4, which is still exceptional.
3 Cone Drill
This is a good measure of quickness and agility along with the 20 and 60 yard shuttles. Players that excel here tend to have the ability to run sharp, crisp routes. While not always as explosive they tend to make good slot receivers. Jeffrey Maehl of Oregon finished 1st or 2nd in all of these events, only losing to Boise State's Austin Pettis in the 20-yard shuttle. In recent years, success in these events hasn't necessarily been a good thing considering that none of the top performers have excelled at the next level.
Vertical Leap/Broad Jump
Both jumps give you an idea of a guy's range. Performing well in these events demonstrates an ability to get to more balls. When a big vertical pairs with a 6'3”+ WR you have a guy that provides a foot of vertical separation from the majority of NFL defensive backs (think Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald). This year's big vertical came from Jonathan Baldwin of Pittsburgh who is 6'4” and leapt 42”. Julio Jones' broad jump was 4” further than any of the other WRs at a phenomenal 11'3”.
Route Running and Catching Drills
Leonard Hankerson of Miami showed poor hands throughout the drills (particularly his first gauntlet run), but that doesn't always hurt draft stock because certain teams get obsessed with the “height, weight, speed” players.
Other notes
Edmund Gates has character questions, which seems par for the course at WR, but most of those guys don't have fathers that have been convicted of murder. It makes him look like a real Bengals or Jets kind of guy where he'd fit right in with their respective rap sheets. Julio Jones and AJ Green are largely considered the top 2 WRs and extremely likely going in the 1st half of the 1st round. Going into the combine AJ Green was ranked as the #1 positionally, but based on Jones' measurables its likely that he jumped over Green on a few draft boards.
Running Backs
40 yard dash
Da'Rel Scott of Maryland ran a stellar 4.34 which paced the RBs with Mario Fannin of Auburn trailing close behind with a 4.38. Despite this, 40-yard dash is not a critical drill for RBs because it only gives you an idea of their breakaway speed. On the other hand, the 10 yard split provides a strong indication of initial burst which is crucial coming out of the backfield. The FBs participating as part of this group have almost no interest in 40 time because they make their living on running power and blocking strength.
3 Cone Drill
Quickness, hip flexibility and lateral mobility can all be shown by the 3 cone drill. Typically smallish runners and 3rd down back types perform well here. Ray Rice has the record in the last 5 years with a 6.65s, but Graig Cooper of Miami and Roy Helu of Nebraska ran 6.66s and 6.67s. Other top performers in recent years include Ahmad Bradshaw, Jahvid Best and Jamaal Charles. Cooper and Helu also finshed top 2 in the 20-yard shuttle
Footwork and Running Drills
There seemed to be a sharp delineation between the short and tall RBs. Most guys under 5'11” excelled in the mobility and lateral quickness department, while most the taller guys struggled. Jacquizz Rodgers looks like Ray Rice in both stature and running ability, I don't know enough about his catching ability to know whether he'll be a big factor in the passing game going forward. Damien Berry of Miami ran one of the drills incorrectly, which demonstrates a lack of concentration that may cause problems at the next level.
Other notes
Based on the shear number of guys with fully tattooed arms, I think RBs lead the league as a group in tattoos/person, barely edging out the WRs. Roy Helu of Nebraska set RB records in the 20-yard and 60-yard shuttles for the years since the NFL combine has been televised (2006-present), so if he doesn't make it as a runner he could always go the special teams route. Ingram dropped about 15 pounds to slim down and quicken up, but in my opinion he looks too slender right now to work as a power runner in the NFL. He also has a tendency to make a lot of noise and do a lot of grunting when he's running.
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