cutlerfan
02-26-2008, 09:29 AM
At Combine, Bennett looks fast, consistent
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802250336
Former Vandy star posts 4.48 in 40, drops just one pass
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Earl Bennett has been working out in Atlanta with speed guru Chip Smith. On Sunday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, the former Vanderbilt receiver shaved a bit off his 40-yard dash time.
When he talked to the media Friday, Bennett said he expected to post a time under 4.50 seconds. He came into the combine with 4.52 on his resume and leaves with a time the NFL posted at 4.48 and one scout said was 4.52.
Bennett had to feel pretty good about the rest of his workout, too.
He caught 22 of 23 passes thrown by a group of quarterbacks that included UT's Erik Ainge, Louisville's Brian Brohm, Hawaii's Colt Brennan, LSU's Matt Flynn, Washington State's Alex Brink, Delaware's Joe Flacco and USC's John David Booty.
Titans scouting coordinator Blake Beddingfield, who historically has paid extra attention to college players close to Nashville, said Bennett's workout served to confirm the reputation he built in three seasons with the Commodores, during which he became the SEC's all-time leading receiver.
"He had a good workout," Beddingfield said. "He was solid in the receiving drills and he ran well. I thought he'd run a 4.55 or a 4.58, so a 4.52 is right on par. He's one of those steady receivers most teams like.
"He'll line up outside eventually, immediately in the slot and he's a possession guy who will move the chains, and he'll probably do that for seven or eight years."
Bennett, currently projected as a third-round pick, will run a lot of short routes in the NFL. His best speed is early, according to the times the league posted — he covered the first 10 yards of his 40 in 1.51 seconds, tied for third-best among the receivers.
He bench-pressed 225 pounds a total of 15 times. The best count for a wide receiver was 24.
Smooth, confident
This was the second year NFL writers were allowed to view some of the quarterback and receiver workouts. Bennett went second in most drills and looked smooth throughout.
Earlier in the combine, he measured in at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. On the field with his group, he looked a bit broader and boxier than many of his lanky compatriots.
His lone drop came on the fourth pass of the first gantlet run, where receivers run across the field turning to catch
10-yard passes thrown from both sides.
The pass Bennett couldn't handle was thrown by Flynn and looked like it got on
Bennett quickly.
Otherwise, he kept a good rhythm, caught balls in frame and didn't waver off course at all. On the second gantlet run, he made a nice adjustment to pull the final pass from Brink, negotiating the sideline as he pulled the ball off his hip.
Sometimes when asked to make sharper cuts, he seemed to go a little too wide. One drill required receivers to make a sharp out cut at 10 yards, going around a cone at the numbers and heading for the sideline.
In that drill on the left side, he made a nice adjustment to a throw from Booty, turning to pull it in. Later, when the drill was done on the right side, he rounded the cut as he prepared for Brohm's pass.
Most players caught the ball about 12 yards downfield. Bennett might have been 3 yards deeper.
Good showing
Beddingfield didn't see any red flags.
He said he thinks Bennett is in good shape heading for his pro day and the draft.
"He showed consistency like he did over his college career," Beddingfield said. "Everything you see on film, he proved again in his workout."
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802250336
Former Vandy star posts 4.48 in 40, drops just one pass
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Earl Bennett has been working out in Atlanta with speed guru Chip Smith. On Sunday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, the former Vanderbilt receiver shaved a bit off his 40-yard dash time.
When he talked to the media Friday, Bennett said he expected to post a time under 4.50 seconds. He came into the combine with 4.52 on his resume and leaves with a time the NFL posted at 4.48 and one scout said was 4.52.
Bennett had to feel pretty good about the rest of his workout, too.
He caught 22 of 23 passes thrown by a group of quarterbacks that included UT's Erik Ainge, Louisville's Brian Brohm, Hawaii's Colt Brennan, LSU's Matt Flynn, Washington State's Alex Brink, Delaware's Joe Flacco and USC's John David Booty.
Titans scouting coordinator Blake Beddingfield, who historically has paid extra attention to college players close to Nashville, said Bennett's workout served to confirm the reputation he built in three seasons with the Commodores, during which he became the SEC's all-time leading receiver.
"He had a good workout," Beddingfield said. "He was solid in the receiving drills and he ran well. I thought he'd run a 4.55 or a 4.58, so a 4.52 is right on par. He's one of those steady receivers most teams like.
"He'll line up outside eventually, immediately in the slot and he's a possession guy who will move the chains, and he'll probably do that for seven or eight years."
Bennett, currently projected as a third-round pick, will run a lot of short routes in the NFL. His best speed is early, according to the times the league posted — he covered the first 10 yards of his 40 in 1.51 seconds, tied for third-best among the receivers.
He bench-pressed 225 pounds a total of 15 times. The best count for a wide receiver was 24.
Smooth, confident
This was the second year NFL writers were allowed to view some of the quarterback and receiver workouts. Bennett went second in most drills and looked smooth throughout.
Earlier in the combine, he measured in at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds. On the field with his group, he looked a bit broader and boxier than many of his lanky compatriots.
His lone drop came on the fourth pass of the first gantlet run, where receivers run across the field turning to catch
10-yard passes thrown from both sides.
The pass Bennett couldn't handle was thrown by Flynn and looked like it got on
Bennett quickly.
Otherwise, he kept a good rhythm, caught balls in frame and didn't waver off course at all. On the second gantlet run, he made a nice adjustment to pull the final pass from Brink, negotiating the sideline as he pulled the ball off his hip.
Sometimes when asked to make sharper cuts, he seemed to go a little too wide. One drill required receivers to make a sharp out cut at 10 yards, going around a cone at the numbers and heading for the sideline.
In that drill on the left side, he made a nice adjustment to a throw from Booty, turning to pull it in. Later, when the drill was done on the right side, he rounded the cut as he prepared for Brohm's pass.
Most players caught the ball about 12 yards downfield. Bennett might have been 3 yards deeper.
Good showing
Beddingfield didn't see any red flags.
He said he thinks Bennett is in good shape heading for his pro day and the draft.
"He showed consistency like he did over his college career," Beddingfield said. "Everything you see on film, he proved again in his workout."