Out with the old, in with the new. Lucas Oil Stadium sits behind the rubble of the RCA Dome. This is the first year the NFL Combine takes place within the new stadium. OLine, TEs and Kickers start the workout session. Rob Bruggeman and Seth Olsen from Iowa participate on Saturday.Outland Award winner from Alabama, Andre Smith is creating the most headlines on the opening day. Smith admitted to scouts that he hasn't worked out and declined to take part in the important bench press. Then he followed that up by being a no-show for workouts the next day. It is tought to figure out how an individual with so much potential as well as his future riding on this one-time interview could take it so lightly. NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes predicted this error in his ways could cost up to $10 Million dollars.
Watching the combine is like watching the draft. It can be addictive. Especially for someone like me who knows athletes competing as well as coaches, scouts and video personnel who conduct the event. In one OLine drill at the combine shown on the NFL Network, there were many involved I know or met. Juan Castillo, OL coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and father of Hawkeye Football freshman Greg, Mike Devlin, former Hawkeye OLineman and current asst. OL coach of the NY Jets, as well as Bob Eckberg, Video Director of the Green Bay Packers. (I hope to find video and post later).
