The Fanatic reports from Virginia's football pro day. Let's just say we looked good.
When Virginia held it’s “Pro Day” in mid March, representatives from all but three NFL teams were in attendance as Virginia’s prospects for the 2008 NFL Draft put on a show for their future employers at the McCue Center behind U-Hall. Most came to get a closer look at two highly-regarded Cavaliers, Chris Long and Branden Albert, who figure to be drafted in the first round, but a fair number of scouts put members of our senior class (and two former ’Hoos) through workouts.
Any talk about Cavaliers in this year’s draft begins with Chris Long, our All-ACC, All-American, world-beater defensive end who’s considered the odds-on favorite to be Miami’s top pick come April 26. NFL scouts are very taken with Long’s high-intensity style of play; you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone anywhere who won’t describe him as “a high-motor guy” who goes all-out on every play. And I’m sure I don’t need to remind this magazine’s readership of Long’s fantastic college production, both statistically and with less-measurable contributions—double-teams drawn, running lanes stuffed, quarterbacks’ dreams haunted, and so on.
But it’s his versatility as both a DE for the 4-3 defense and an OLB in a 3-4 that’s really pushing Long over the top as the best prospect in this year’s draft.
But it’s his versatility as both a DE for the 4-3 defense and an OLB in a 3-4 that’s really pushing Long over the top as the best prospect in this year’s draft. 
Long was primarily a down lineman in our 3-4 defense this past year; he played at or around 290 pounds for most of the year and usually lined up across from the opposing tackle, playing the gaps to either side of that tackle against the run and rushing off the edge against the pass. As much as he excelled in pursuit and stood up in coverage, though, there’s been discussion on whether he could line up further outside as a pro. And that’s why scouts representing the draft’s top seven picks came to Charlottesville.
Long had shown up to the NFL’s February scouting combine weighing 275 pounds, and performed very well in drills for defensive linemen there, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier 4-3 defensive end, so Tuesday was all about showing what he could do for the 3-4 teams in the linebacker drills. He weighed in at 267, which was a plus—Shawne Merriman, one of the NFL’s heavier outside linebackers, plays at around 270. (“I can eat as much or as little as they want,” Long quipped.) Coach Groh prefaced the drills by explaining, “This is the sort of thing I would do if I was a linebackers coach, coming here to work him out and see what he can do.”
First were ball drills, where the emphasis was on Long’s ability to “flip his hips” (i.e. change direction smoothly) while backpedaling and react to the throw. Then came a series of technique tests, where Long lined up as a “six- or wide-nine-technique” (outside the tackle’s outside shoulder, where a 3-4 outside linebacker would play up to rush the passer) and displayed quick reactions to Groh’s movements outside or inside. Lastly, Long showed good lateral movement and press-coverage reflexes by lining up across from safety Nate Lyles and sidestepping to stay with him across the field. NFL Network’s Charlie Casserly, the former GM of the Houston Texans, evaluated Long’s performance: “He’s not bad. He’s got enough athletic ability to drop [into coverage]. [He] may need a little work on the hips, but he’ll be fine. The thing I like about him—best I’ve seen, in all the years I’ve scouted—[is] he’s got great hand quickness.”
Teams who run the 4-3 defense are still very interested: Long was watched by scouts from the Rams, Raiders, and Chiefs, as well, and he interviewed with St. Louis head coach Scott Linehan.
Another Cavalier on scouts’ first-round radar is guard Branden Albert, who declared for the draft after an impressive junior season where he saw time at both guard and tackle on the left side and was voted first-team All-ACC and third-team All-America. Personnel from Cincinnati, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and Washington—including Washington assistant head coach Joe Bugel, who coached the “Hogs” of Redskins lore—worked Albert in drills designed to test his potential as an NFL tackle. At an athletic 6-6 and 310 pounds, he fits the physical mold for a big-league tackle; with few doubts about his talent for run-blocking (as anyone who’s watched him pull and pave the way for Mikell Sampson and Cedric Peerman can attest), the scouts in attendance wanted to get a look at Albert’s technique in pass protection.
Cincinnati assistant head coach Paul Alexander started with some preliminary drills designed to test Albert’s footwork and ability to get low in drive blocking, then turned things over to Bugel for a workout that focused on lateral movement and Albert’s sense of when to punch out at an edge rusher. What followed, judging by Bugel’s reaction, was a clinic: “Outstanding! That’s some fantastic footwork!” High praise from someone who knows what it takes to succeed.
Teams who employ the zone-blocking scheme, which focuses on athleticism and technique more than pure strength, were present in full-force: scouts from the Broncos, Panthers, and Texans were eyeing Albert keenly in the run-blocking drills. “[They were trying to] see how he could roll his hips and be explosive as a run blocker,” said Casserly. “He got better as the workout went on.” Having moved steadily up draft boards from a late second-rounder to a surefire first-round pick in recent weeks, don’t be surprised to hear Albert’s name called anywhere from the Broncos’ pick (#12) to the Steelers at #23 come April.
Though Long and Albert were the guys most came to see, scouts were also treated to standout performances from some of Virginia’s less highly-touted prospects. Safety Nate Lyles, a senior whose football career was in doubt after a neck injury almost two years ago, trimmed six hundredths of a second off his previous best in the 40-yard dash, going from a 4.52 to a 4.46 (seconds, of course). He also put up 22 reps of 225 pounds, which was the day’s best at any position, and registered a 36-inch vertical jump that compares favorably with other strong safeties in this draft. “I’m told that four years of work makes the most difference,” said Lyles—and, stellar as his play was for Virginia, he’ll definitely be helped by having those numbers on record when teams are making late-round selections.
Scouts from Carolina, Dallas, and Houston sized Lyles up in drills. Lyles has said that he expects to compete for a roster spot as an undrafted free agent, but the combination of his improved numbers, respected character, and stellar play here at Virginia should be enough to warrant a phone call on the second day of the draft.
Fullback and special-teams ace Josh Zidenberg also caught scouts’ attention with a 34-inch vertical, and his time of 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash. “We’re fortunate to have Long and Albert here,” he said afterwards of the number of scouts present. “Pretty much everyone’s here.” Between the team recognition he received, winning numerous awards for his standout play on kick coverage units, and a notable performance this past Tuesday, Zidenberg should get a shot at a big-league roster spot this summer.
Ex-Cavaliers Kai Parham and Ryan Best were also present and performing. Parham and senior Jermaine Dias participated in drills with Miami’s linebacker coach.
Senior tight ends Tom Santi and Jonathan Stupar were looked at by several teams, performing drills for a scout from the Panthers and being watched closely by the Jets for the 10-yard split of their 40 times, which measures quickness off the line.
After working alongside Albert in the guard drills, Ian-Yates Cunningham was pitted against defensive lineman Allen Billyk in a workout for Indianapolis. Both players, weighing in at under 300 pounds, fit the Colts’ philosophy of sacrificing size for quickness in the trenches.
Chris Gould and Ryan Weigand punted for the Giants’ special-teams coach. Punters, with a few rare exceptions, are brought on for tryouts as undrafted free agents; the Giants’ punter, Jeff Feagles, holds the NFL’s record for most consecutive games but may be considering calling it a career after recently becoming the oldest Super Bowl starter ever.
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