What are the big things that matter from Day 3 of the 2019 NFL Combine, the defensive ends, defensive tackles and linebackers.
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The 2019 NFL Combine continued with the defensive ends, defensive tackles, and the linebackers. And they could all move.
5. These Linebackers Can MOVE
UCF’s Shaquem Griffin and Wisconsin’s Leon Jacobs each broke the 4.5 mark in the 40 last year. Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers was the only one who did it in 2017, Ohio State’s Darron Lee was the only one under the mark in 2016, and over the last ten years of combines from 2006 to 2015, just 11 linebackers ran a 4.5 or better.
This year?
Four linebackers – Montez Sweat of Mississippi State, LSU’s Devin White, Michigan’s Devin Bush, and Gary Johnson of Texas – destroyed 4.5 by going 4.43 or better. Two more – Minnesota’s Blake Cashman and Oregon’s Justin Hollins – ran a 4.5.
In all 15 linebackers were 4.6 or faster. Again, to keep doing this, just two were there or faster in 2013, two hit that in 2014, and eight hit the mark or were stronger 2015. Five in 2016, two in 2017, and then came the spike with 14 in 2018.
It’s part of the new world of football with the athletes being moved where needed, and with the greater emphasis on speed over bulk.
Whatever. The linebackers out there on Sunday could really, really move.
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