2-27-12: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Combine

More combine updates, Cardinals news, and stuff from around the rest of the NFL.

Judging Character
Talent is important, but so is the fit a player will have in the NFL

Word From the Birds Blog - The idea of adding at wide receiver
As this year’s crop of wide receivers run their 40s here at the NFL combine, it’s as good time as any to note that, yes, the Cardinals will look at the position this offseason. (And as a side note, 40 times don’t mean as much as you’d think. Nice to have speed, but Jerry Rice reportedly ran a 4.71 at the combine. Larry Fitzgerald was a 4.63. Both turned out OK, in my opinion.)

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Will NFL like Burfict's answers?
Former ASU linebacker Vontaze Burfict is being asked some difficult questions at the combine regarding his behavior both on and off the field in college. How he answers those questions likely will have a huge impact on where he is drafted. I don't think Burfict will help himself if he answers them the way he handled questions during Sunday's press conference.

Patrick Peterson, recruiter and talent scout - NFC West Blog - ESPN
NFL teams can at least partially thank Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson for delivering one of the top prospects at the position to the 2012 draft. Morris Claiborne credits Peterson, his former LSU teammate, for converting him from the enemy ranks: offense.

Draft prospect takes cue from Dockett - NFC West Blog - ESPN
California defensive lineman Trevor Guyton knew plenty about the Arizona Cardinals before meeting with them at the NFL scouting combine. Guyton, coached at Cal by former Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, has been watching Darnell Dockett tape for the last couple seasons.

Arizona Sports News:

Burfict says he’s "misunderstood" | ProFootballTalk
Until Cowboys owner Jerry Jones can find a way to finagle cameras into the player-team interview sessions, we’ll have to settle for the things a player says at the Scouting Combine when meeting with the media. Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict had his chance to talk on Sunday.

NFL News:

‘Endbackers’ are among the toughest reads in draft projections | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo! Sports
With more NFL teams running base 3-4 or 5-2 defensive fronts in recent years, and given the success of pass-rushing outside linebackers (we'll call them "endbackers" for short), in those schemes, you might be surprised to learn that NFL teams generally have a difficult time scouting and finding the next James Harrison, Tamba Hali, or Clay Matthews among the defensive ends and outside linebackers in the college ranks. Because so few college teams play 3-4 defense as a base concept, and many are just catching up to the concept of hybrid defenses, it's a guessing game when projecting for success at that position -- especially when looking at high-round prospects.

Quick impressions from inside NFL combine - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few thoughts after watching select quarterbacks and wide receivers work out inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday morning:

Which WRs shined, faltered in late session - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Quick thoughts after a second session watching quarterbacks and receivers at the NFL scouting combine in Lucas Oil Stadium:

VIDEO: Robert Griffin III Runs 4.38, 4.41 40-Yard Dashes At 2012 NFL Combine - SBNation.com
A lot of NFL writers were bashing the comparisons between Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton because they didn't feel it was fair to compare Griffin to a "running" quarterback. Turns out, it was unfair to Griffin because Newton's too slow. Griffin ran a 4.41 in his first attempt and a 4.38 in his second attempt at the 40-yard dash in the 2012 NFL combine, the fastest time by a quarterback in 12 years. By comparison, Newton ran a 4.60 in his fastest time last year.

VIDEO: Andrew Luck Runs 4.59 40-Yard Dash At 2012 NFL Combine - SBNation.com
After watching Robert Griffin III post the second-fastest 40-yard dash time for a quarterback in the last 25 years just two hours earlier, Andrew Luck, who is trying to stave off Griffin as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April, posted an impressive time of his own, running his 40 in 4.59 seconds in his second attempt.

NFL Combine: Robert Griffin III Explains Why He Didn't Fully Participate - SBNation.com
The NFL Draft Combine has lost its luster over the years because a lot of the top prospects don't fully participate in all of the drills. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock called out Robert Griffin III and his decision not to throw this week, and unsurprisingly, the Baylor Bears quarterback was ready with a solid answer.

ANIMATED: Robert Griffin III Dusts Cam Newton, Andrew Luck Jumps High - SBNation.com
Robert Griffin III's putting on a show at the 2012 NFL Combine, and his exhibition has included a blistering pair of 40-yard dashes that have him ranked among the fastest quarterbacks in recent Combine history. But NFL Network showing Griffin running "against" a ghost version of Cam Newton from the 2011 NFL Combine gives a sense of just how fast the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is.

NFL Combine 2012: How Fast Is Robert Griffin III, Really? - SBNation.com
After running an unofficial 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the 2012 NFL Combine, it's fair to ask just how fast Robert Griffin III is in historical context. He was by far the fastest quarterback at the combine this year so far (other quarterbacks will run throughout the day). He's got the third-fastest time among all players behind Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill (4.3) and Miami's Travis Benjamin (4.37).

NFL Combine 2012 Results: Running Back 40-Yard Dash Times - SBNation.com
Sunday is a big day for the 2012 NFL Combine since it's when the offensive skill positions work out. The 40-yard dash is one measurable in particular that can mean boom or bust for an NFL hopeful. The running backs posted official 40 times on Sunday, which are all listed below.

ANIMATED: Vick Ballard's 40-Yard Dash Needs Work - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
The 40-yard dash is typically uneventful. Sure, it's a chance to see athletic freaks barrel down the field at a breakneck pace. But as far as highlights go, there just isn't much. That is, until Vick Ballard came along.

ANIMATED: Rich Eisen Chased Down By Elite Quarterbacks - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Robert Griffin III is fast. In fact, he's very fast, as we were once again reminded on Sunday. Cam Newton, who ran last year, and Andrew Luck: also very quick! The three all ran sub-4.6 40-yard dashes, with Griffin clocking the fastest time. But this is the NFL combine and things get a little boring between sessions. The NFL Network crew has to do something, and that something typically involves ridiculing Rich Eisen. We know Eisen is not fast, as evidenced by his annual running of the 40, but he is excellent for some entertainment.