A sampling of reactions to the NFL combine workouts by Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey on Sunday in Indianapolis:
***********
GENO SMITH
NFLDraftScout.com’s Rob Rang:
“West Virginia’s Geno Smith was the most impressive of the 14 quarterbacks who threw at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, but he did not provide the sparkling performance to seal up the No. 1 overall pick — or even assert himself as the clear-cut top quarterback.
“Smith impressed early in the day, clocking in at a 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He was also dynamic in the throwing session at times, hitting receivers in stride on passes which require velocity (slants) and touch (verticals, post-corners).
“A few of Smith’s handful of deep balls hung in the air, forcing receivers to slow considerably. He also forced receivers to adjust on several of the shorter routes, including many of the square-ins. Several NFL talent evaluators in the stands were polled following the day’s throwing session. Asked to grade Smith on a 1-10 scale, the passer received an average score of seven.”
NFL Network’s Mike Maycock:
“I saw everything that I saw on tape about Geno, and that is, he flashed everything you want to see in a franchise quarterback on tape during the season. He has a big arm, good arm, he moves well, he can be accurate. Everything I saw on tape I saw here today. He’s a natural thrower; he doesn’t force the ball. What I go back to is I don’t care as much about this – I’m happy he did this because it just shows me he’s not afraid. (Cam Newton did it and he didn’t throw the ball well and he still was the first pick in the draft.) To me, it‟s more important what you see on tape.
“I want to bang the table because I want to like Geno Smith. We interviewed him, I love what he had to say, but there are just too many inconsistencies on tape for me to say that Kansas City or anybody that high should take him. He‟s more of a 20-32 (overall pick player). I’ve said that based on watching six of his games. I’m going to watch the rest of them, but there are just so many inconsistencies with both Geno Smith and the entire quarterback class that I trouble banging the table for any of them.”
NFL Network’s Akbar Gbaja-Biamila:
“I came in here not very sure if Geno Smith should be the No. 1 pick, and that’s just because when you think about a franchise quarterback, there’s a certain image. But he blew me away with his athleticism. He’s a guy who, when you watch film, his athleticism doesn’t show up that well. For him to put up a couple good 40 times, shows he’s a quarterback you can do multiple things with.”
ESPN’s John Clayton:
“On Sunday, the hope of the NFL was for the quarterbacks to step up and claim top-10 draft spots. That didn’t happen. Geno Smith of West Virginia probably did the best of the quarterbacks who worked out, but he didn’t put on a show. When he did a seven-step drop, he had a hop in his footwork that took away from his throws. He wasn’t consistently great, but he showed a strong arm and a lot of promise. That’s the problem with the quarterbacks in this draft class. They continue to prove consistently inconsistent. …
“So where does that leave teams such as Arizona, Kansas City and others in need of quarterbacks? Sunday’s quarterback show could re-open some trade thoughts. It might make the Chiefs more willing to look into a trade for Alex Smith. It might prompt teams such as Jacksonville and the New York Jets investigate the availability of Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn. It also showed that the Bills and Eagles probably made the right moves in sticking with most of last year’s quarterbacks.”
SportsRadio 810 Kansas City’s TJ Carpenter:
“Andy Reid and John Dorsey have been adamant the philosophy of best available player will be followed to the letter of its intent in Kansas City. Even if it means not drafting a quarterback number one overall.
“(Still) I believe the Chiefs’ thinking after watching the quarterbacks throw on Sunday is that Geno Smith out of West Virginia is their primary target at this point. His interview went extremely well and the Chiefs really liked what they saw in workouts and throwing drills at the combine.”
***********
TAVON AUSTIN
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Maycock:
“You’ve heard me say a thousand times probably: fast guys run fast, and it’s not a story. So I expected (Austin) to run fast. But what it does for him is that worst-case to me, he’s a second-round pick. Worst case. If you buy into him as a route runner and toughness, and if you can get him enough touches every game for him, he might be a first-round pick. The NFL has evolved into more and more of a college look — spread the field, get the football in the playmakers’ hands, and that’s what he is. He’s a playmaker, he’s a mismatch. I can only imagine being a nickel [back] or a safety and having to line up across from him in a slot knowing he runs a 4.35, knowing how quick he is. He’s really a difficult matchup and that’s what this league is. So I think all that time does is just endorses exactly what we thought of him on tape.”
NFL Network’s Michael Irvin:
“Sometimes you see speed and it doesn’t convert to football. But Tavon Austin, his speed converts to football in an incredible way.”
ESPN draft analyst Kevin Weidl:
“I think Austin can come in and immediately contribute on special teams as a returner, be that as a fourth or fifth receiver in the slot, and even line up in the backfield. For a creative offensive coordinator I think Austin’s an absolute dream. I think (Sunday) did nothing short of lock down a first-round grade come April.”
ESPN’s John Clayton:
“According to NFL Network times, 30 of the 34 wide receivers who ran 40s clocked 4.5 or better. When the official times came in, 15 were credited with 4.5 times or better, which was still impressive. The big winner was West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin, who not only ran a blistering 4.34, but he caught the ball very well. Austin might have sprinted his way to the bottom of the first round.”
***********
STEDMAN BAILEY
NFL Network’s Mike Maycock:
“Stedman Bailey is really a good football player. There are questions about his size. How fast is he? He’s probably a 4.5 or whatever he is. What I see is an instinctive, smart receiver that catches (the ball). He’s a natural hands-catcher, and because (Tavon) Austin and Geno Smith get all of the attention, he kind of fell into the background. But if you watch him in the red zone on tape and his understanding and knowledge of route running and defenses, he‟s one of the more smarter and instinctive receivers in this draft. I‟d be surprised if he gets out of the third round.”
Gold and Blue Now Wednesday, May 22 
Gold and Blue Now 5-21-2013 
Gold and Blue Now Monday, May 20 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
Oliver Luck Q&A at WVU faculty senate meeting 
Randy Mazey on losing series to TCU 
20
Comments
Larry
Thanks Allan for the update!
February 25, 2013 at 7:16 am | Report comment
polarbear
Great job on the copy and paste. You are a awsome reporter NOT
February 25, 2013 at 7:41 am | Report comment
1olewvufan
Allen, Good Read! What I have taken from the NFL Combine is that WVU has at least 3 players who will become Franchise Players in the NFL, and starting their career in the Fall of 2013.
I think Geno will prove his critics wrong. I believe this because if NFL Scouts were as smart as they thought they were, then players like Dan Marino and Tom Brady would not have been taken in Rounds 7 and 6.
Even after Tevon's performance on Sunday, he too had critics, and after Bailey showed he catching ability, he still has critics. The thing is a player can have great speed, but if he can't catch in taffic what good is he. Tevon has moves to go with his speed and he too can catch. I think a lot of the criticism they are getting has to do with the fact they played for WVU and WVU lost 5-games. And we all know the media has no "LUV" for WVU.
February 25, 2013 at 8:30 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Dude, Dan Marino was a first round pick by the Miami Dolphins.
February 25, 2013 at 9:30 am | Report comment
GregG
Finally, Fungo made a comment that I will have to agree with. Marino was a first round pick, best I can remember he was near the bottom of the QB's but still first round.
February 25, 2013 at 2:05 pm | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Six QB's taken in the 1st round in 1983. Marino was the sixth of the 6 selected, #27 overall. Chosen #1 was John Elway(Balt), #7 Todd Blackledge(KC), #14 Jim Kelly(Buff), #15 Tony Eason (NE), #24 Ken O'Brien(NYJ) and Marino #27.
February 26, 2013 at 9:32 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Marino was the 27th overall pick. There were 28 teams in 1983.
February 26, 2013 at 11:19 am | Report comment
GregG
I would have had to "google" that. I just remembered he was close to last of the QB's. And thats because of hating Pitt.
February 26, 2013 at 2:28 pm |
ralph b
thx for the updates as i had not heard what all the scouts were saying. i know if i was drafting for a team...tavon would not get out of the first round...his combination of speed and football instincts dont come along that often...unlike some of the negative posters on this article. i hope to see more of tavon and less of the other.
February 25, 2013 at 8:43 am | Report comment
Phil M.
I feel the Arizona Cardinals would be Gino's best fit. Alex Smith is going to go to K.C. or the Jets.
Tavon I hate to say it is a true fit for New England. Being a Redskin fan he would be a great repalcement for Santana Moss and would really bolster our special teams.
Stedman could go anywhere. he is the proto-typical NFL wideout.
Great job guys.....
February 25, 2013 at 10:51 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
New York Jets are going to trade up from #9 to obtain Geno Smith. Wait and see.
February 26, 2013 at 9:35 am | Report comment
cutty77
Tavon didn't catch the Ball,he snached the Ball.He looked like a Short Stop they way he caught the ball.Geno blew the other guys away.KC will trade for Alex Smith,which is a mistake but the Chief's are lossers and will continue to be.Geno will be fine.He had better numbers than Luck and RG-3.He has thrown almost 100 TD over his career,and only 22 int.Thats what The NFL People should Like.
February 25, 2013 at 11:51 am | Report comment
Mac
Based on stats he's better than Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Drew Brees...
February 25, 2013 at 12:30 pm | Report comment
Helen5844
I watched Geno, Tavon and Stedman at the combine. I also heard what was said of them. I figured they could not be happy. They just did not want to admit that these three players were the best out there. They will have to admit it once these three show how good they are in an NFL uniform. I am looking forward to seeing all of them play next year.
February 25, 2013 at 1:35 pm | Report comment
polearbear
These media guys dont know anything. That is why the are not NFL scouts or GM's
February 25, 2013 at 2:29 pm | Report comment
JR
Good thing you do. By the way, "don't", not dont and GMs, not "GM's". AT may not know anything, but he can spell.
February 25, 2013 at 7:26 pm | Report comment
george
Like I've said before- the 5 loses appeared now to be a coaching problem...With this much talent , we should have played for the National.............
February 25, 2013 at 2:43 pm | Report comment
GregG
If we would have a defense we could have played for a National Championship. But when your QB throws 6 TD's and your D allows the other team to score 8 TD's, then you can forget about playing for a National Championship.
February 25, 2013 at 3:32 pm | Report comment
Helen5844
If we had had a defense, we would have played in the NC. No QB can put up 10 TDes every game. Sure hope we have a defense next year.
February 25, 2013 at 3:19 pm | Report comment
cutty77
Tyler Killed this Team.His Kicking or lack of kicking cost us 4 games,in spite of the defense,plus Tyler's Punting was 101th in the Country.He was a One MAN WRECKING CREW BY HIMSELF.
February 25, 2013 at 6:24 pm | Report comment