If Mike Shanahan and his Denver Broncos brain trust are reading this, I have a suggestion: Skip the NFL Scouting Combine, starting today in Indianapolis. Just listen to analysts Mike Mayock and Mel Kiper Jr. They have all the answers, and they happily spilled them to us in separate teleconference calls this week.
Mayock predicts the future for NFL Network, and Kiper, who gets as many comments about his hair as he does about his draft forecasts, has toiled for ESPN since 1984. Some of their advice on areas of interest to the Broncos:
Mayock: “An interesting crew. Gaines Adams (Clemson) is considered the elite defensive end in the draft. I’ve got Adam Carriker from Nebraska my No.3 because I think he can match up in any defense.”
Kiper: I like Carriker from Nebraska.
Mayock: “I like Steve Smith from USC, better than Dwayne Jarrett.”
Kiper: Six of the top eight are underclassmen. Calvin Johnson (Georgia Tech) will go in the top three or four. Jarrett is a mid-third-rounder.
Mayock: “Leon Hall (Michigan) is my top-rated corner right now. I think the kid that’s going to blow up is Chris Houston from Arkansas.”
Kiper: Hall was hurt by the Ohio State game and the Rose Bowl.
Both agreed that whoever gets Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson should be very happy.
The prime cut in the draft? This from Mayock: “From a physical skill set perspective, I’ve never seen a college quarterback with more ability than JaMarcus Russell (Louisiana State). He’s 6-foot-6, 260 pounds. He can make every throw. He’s got better touch than you would expect. He’s a guy physically that is without parallel.” The downside: His work ethic.
The combine is closed to the public, even Kiper, but, thanks to NFL Network offering 27 hours of live coverage, we can make our own judgments. The NFL draft takes place April 28 and 29.
FSN Rocky Mountain will carry the 4A and 5A girls and boys championship basketball games, starting at 1:30 p.m. on March 10. The boys 5A game is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. … The Busch 300 NASCAR race from California Speedway is on in primetime Saturday (5:30 p.m., ESPN2) … That didn’t take long: Deposed San Diego Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer is guest analyst on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” “Sportscenter” and “ESPNews” through Saturday. He’ll also participate in a live chat on ESPN.com on Friday … Quotable: “Why wouldn’t a kid want to work out with all 32 teams there?” Mike Mayock on the NFL Combine.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
