Clocking 40 times for Kuechly, Burfict
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Clocking 40 times for Kuechly, Burfict
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
It was the linebackers' turn to run today at the combine in Indianapolis, and a couple prospects turned in performances that will be of interest to Eagles fans.
Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, while Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict clocked in at 5.09.
Prior to the combine, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said he was looking for Kuechly to run 4.7 or better.
"He's the most instinctive pass defender that I've ever seen as an inside linebacker coming out of college football," Mayock said today. "The kid's a top-20 lock right now."
Cal's Mychal Kendricks had the fastest time for a linebacker at 4.47. North Carolina's Zach Brown was second at 4.50. And Kuechly was third.
Meanwhile, Burfict didn't help himself, clocking the worst time of the 29 linebackers who ran today.
"He's a guy that flashes two or three times a game with big hits, but his run-pass instincts, ability to get to the football on an every-snap basis, to me, are below average," Mayock said of Burfict.
I'll have more on Kuechly's combine experience later in the week in our Draft Diary series.
And if you missed it from earlier today, I wrote about the Eagles' trade chips in the event that they want to move up in the first round of April's draft.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
AHHH you guys make me laugh. Nobody knows who the Eagles are going to pick. I do find all the Mamula posts funny but Kuechly is not him and Burfict proved him self no more than a 4th round pick with his comments and outstanding 40— urbnasty- Everybody don't get your hopes up when the draft comes, because Andy Reid has never drafted a player Mayock or the Fans have recommended— Titanic
- @TongueWagger, right— Titanic
- Would be shocked if FAT ANDREW AND HOWARD WEINER ROSEBUD picked a linebacker in the first round.— Pete60
- This is where all the sofa kings think they are NFL gm's, as if there is a lock on any player, remember Rick Mirer, Tim Couch and so on. There is no team in the NFL that doesn't make bad picks. people on here think the Eagles are the only team in the NFL that has them. As for players like JPP, sometimes it's luck, remember Tom Bradey wasn't taken till the 7th round but i'm sure all you genius's knew he was going to be a star. There are plenty of 1st and 2nd round bust's throught out the NFL, not just on the Eagles, just as there have been stars from the later rounds, there are no guarantees in drafting so stop thinking you are smarter than NFL scouts and coaches.— Fat-Andy
- I guess you can say that Burfict is not the Burfict choice at linebacker!— watsonmr
- Who knows what they will do. Kuechy DOES know how to play football, and now he's added the weight to his frame to get himself over 245, and according to interviews he did earlier in the combine he's made himself faster. So much for the knocks on him before the combine. He's a worker. For those of you just blindly putting the word Burfict out there, take note; Mayock(who I trust more than the other pundits) has been knocking the ASU LB since the outset, has been proven right again in his assessment of this guy. He's not smart, cannot get off blocks at the point of attack, he's slow, and he has NO accountability(ie;"I blame the coaches for my speed"). To pick this guy would be a HUGE mistake. The way the Eagles like to move around in the draft, if they don't pick up a stud FA and don't pick Kuechly.....Youch! Jeff Lurie should fire the lot of them.— bbohannon
- Hugh Douglas was a cool dude? Yeah, real cool, like when the Eagles made him an "ambassador" (how pretentious is that?) and showing his diplomatic skills, he started a fight with Terrell Owens. Real cool, urbnasty.— mo123
- dmanphilly -- You're right! The game isn't played by 40 times, but it sure as hell is played by instinct and ability... Kuechley has both and Burfict does not. Simple as that. Anyone who would take a sub-par player just looking to make the highlight reels over a more athletically gifted and hugely more instictive player is just not dealing with reality. Go watch just a little bit of film on these two. Kuechley wins hands down.— Herc142
- Kuechly just moved himself up and won't be there at 15...not like the Eagles were going to draft him anyway. I'm sure there's an undersized DL from WTH State that led the NAIA in sacks that the Eagles will jump on instead.— Only in Philly...
- I have heard that he's the next Mike Mamula :) lol— FetchDixon
- No way Kuechly lasts until the eagles pick. He's a 3 down LB who can play all 3 positions. How many of THEM are in the draft?
As far as Burflict goes, Ozzie Newsome and his staff in Baltimore are some of the best talent evaluators in the NFL and there's no way they waste a first round pick on Burflict. I'll take that bet.— dlivesay
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