The combine’s attendance has noticeably decreased this spring, leading some to claim that Indianapolis is living up to its moniker as “Naptown.” Notes on the quarterbacks who aced this week’s interviews are also included.
We’re jumping right into the Indianapolis exercises.
• There has been a noticeable decrease in the amount of NFL personnel attending the NFL combine. And it goes beyond the well-known roster of well-known head coaches who are absent from Indianapolis. This week, there are fewer people in the city overall, and those who are attending the event are doing so in lower quantities.
The world champions are one such team.
On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs arrived in town with a sizable group of coaches and their whole scouting staff. However, by Thursday afternoon’s midday, the Chiefs had left, except a few men who stayed to assist with the NFL combine personnel’s workouts before the first 40-yard sprint was conducted. Furthermore, there were other clubs whose general manager and/or head coach left well before the players took the field.
Why? Well, this year’s timetable changed once again. Thus, teams completed their official interviews by Thursday noon. The NFLPA’s required agent meeting is conducted by Zoom rather than in person, which means that fewer agents are in town. This also makes it simpler for clubs to schedule such meetings earlier in the week. Additionally, team members will have an equally clear view of exercises from television and the recording as they would from live sessions.
Also, the league has transformed the NFL combine into a circus, and many football fans have moved away from it since they can now get what they need from a distance thanks to technology. Park Avenue has also been instrumental in removing the event from its historical context.
The television cameras in the dome may be panned to the Lucas Oil suite designated for the world champions if the league officials want further evidence.
That one, you know, where nobody is?
• After the official interviews are over, we have some evaluations on a quarterback class that was reportedly excellent in that environment. When the topic of football came up, Caleb Williams of USC came off as a man who was quite at ease and confident in himself. Jayden Daniels of LSU was quiet, self-assured, and intelligent. Drake Maye of North Carolina, who strikes me as an alpha, may have had the finest results I’ve heard. Additionally, J.J. McCarthy of Michigan displayed confidence and moxie consistent with his winning reputation.
Bo Nix of Oregon is a man to keep an eye on in this field, he’s been really good and likable in his interviews. I had heard going into this week that he could truly command a room and benefit himself with teams that depend heavily on quarterbacks.
• It’s encouraging to see Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, who is recovering from a fractured leg, working out on campus before the draft. Everyone I spoke with last week mentioned him as a person who might be an NFL combine freak and expressed disappointment that he wouldn’t be able to showcase it at Indianapolis. It will be interesting to observe his potential in Iowa City.
Some see DeJean, as Malcolm Jenkins and Minkah Fitzpatrick did when they were fresh out of college, as a potentially dominant slot corner/safety type.
• As far as I know, the NFL is considering extending the grounding rule to enable quarterbacks to toss the ball out of the pocket. I don’t like it, though. The most interesting football plays in the game, scramble plays, will likely be replaced with ugly, boring football, in my opinion.
It’s interesting to hear that Bill Belichick couldn’t get a job in 2024, as I’ve been around a lot of coaches and scouts this week. Mike Vrabel is the same. To put it another way, those scouts and coaches don’t believe that’s a very positive picture of NFL owners overall.
• A few individuals have mentioned Josh Jacobs’ potential suitability for Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers. It’s a creative idea. We will assess its viability in a little more than a week, as the team still has to resolve several cap difficulties.
