INDIANAPOLIS – Falcons coach Dan Quinn was fired up about watching the big defenders go through their workouts at the scouting combine on Sunday.
"Jacked to watch these front seven guys get after it today! #Fast &Physical," Quinn tweeted on his way to Lucas Oil Stadium.
He was not disappointed as several of the big defenders turned in spectacular results. Quinn, who has final say over the roster, is looking to add some help for the defense in the draft.
The Falcons hold the eighth overall pick in the draft, which is set for April 30-May 2 in Chicago.
Florida defensive end Dante Fowler, who Quinn coached at Florida in 2012, ran the 40-yard sash in 4.6 seconds, with a blazing 10-yard split of 1.59 seconds.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Quinn studies the first steps of a player to determine if he has a quick take off.
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock compared Fowler to former Georgia standout Justin Houston and Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack.
Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds. He’ll be intriguing to 3-4 teams as an outside linebacker.
Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory, who’s training in Duluth, weighed just 235 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds.
Missouri’s Shane Ray, the SEC’s defensive player of the year, didn’t workout because of a toe injury.
Here's Mayock's ratings of the top five players heading into the combine.
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