A quick look back at the second day of the combine workouts:
- Inside the numbers: Former Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell, who transferred to Alabama State, had solid day. He had a 38-inch vertical jump, lifted 225-pounds 23 times and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds officially. There were some much lower hand-held times of 4.32, which was the fastest of the 220-pound plus running backs.
- He's fast: Kent State running back Dri Archer ran the 40-yard dash in 4.26 seconds. He predicted that he would break Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson's mark of 4.24 seconds.
- He's strong: Georgia Southern running back Jerick McKinnon, of Sprayberry High, lifted 225-pounds 32 times.
- For the record: "I love Blake Bortles. I think he's a franchise quarterback." – NFL Network's Mike Mayock on the Central Florida quarterback prospect.
- Hot topic: South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney told ESPN.com he wants to be traded to the Falcons. "I wish they could trade up for me," he said, "but I hope I don't fall to No. 6. I like Atlanta – a lot. They're pretty good. They've got some guys from South Carolina on the team, also. And it's close to home." Falcons defensive linemen Cliff Matthews and Travian Robertson played at South Carolina. Clowney is from Rock Hill, S.C..
Former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray is taking a pragmatic approach to starting his professional football career.
Murray, the SEC record-setting passer, has met with several teams at the NFL scouting combine, but couldn’t work out Sunday with the rest of the quarterbacks because of the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
He’s not too worried about missing the workouts because he figures that there are 52 game films for teams to review while he’s rehabbing.
Murray meets weekly with famed Dr. James Andrews and hopes to be cleared by April 16 in order to participate in his Pro Day. He plans to do a full combine-styled workout at the UGA Pro Day.
Until then, Murray, who measured at 6-foot ½-inch and weighed 207 pounds, will try to impress teams with his football acumen.
“That’s the goal right now,” Murray said. “I’m pretty much doing everything already, just not full, full speed. We’re continuing to build up, get stronger, get more flexible every day. It feels great, and like I said, by Pro Day….I’ll be good to go.”
Murray said his road to recovery has been tough.
“If I want to be able to participate in Pro Day, I’ve got to grind,” Murray said. “There’s no feeling sorry for myself. …right now, we’re way ahead of schedule.”
Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and Central Florida’s Blake Bortles are considered the top quarterbacks in the draft. Murray is in that second group of quarterbacks.
“(He) could be a third or fourth (rounder),” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “He could be a developmental player.”
Murray has his supporters.
“He’s the all-time passing leader in the SEC and he’s done it in the SEC’s golden era,” said George Whifield, who runs the nation’s top quarterback training school. “He’s faced all of the monsters on the front seven and all of the best secondaries. He’s battled-tested and he’s improved steadily.”
Over his illustrious collegiate career, Murray became the first quarterback in SEC history to pass for more than 3,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. He passed for 3,075 yards and 26 touchdowns with nine interceptions and rushed for a career best 186 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Murray left Georgia as the SEC record-holder for career touchdown passes (121), passing yards (13,166), total offense (13,562) and completions (921).
He injured the knee in the second quarter of UGA’s 59-17 win over Kentucky on Nov. 23 on Senior Night. He had surgery the following Tuesday.
Murray thinks teams can get a good evaluation of his physical skills from his days with the Bulldogs.
“They just have to turn on the tape,” Murray said. “They have a lot of film to analyze and critique, watch and see what they like.”
Murray doesn’t fit the NFL’s old-school prototypical quarterback model, because he’s not 6-5 and 220 pounds.
But in recent years, teams have been open to taking smaller and more mobile quarterbacks. Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who helped guide the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title, fits the new model.
“There is a variety of styles,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “I think it’s great for the league. I think for so long, we were searching to come out of drafts with a handful of legitimate quarterbacks. I think we are seeing that more and more now.”
