Bernard Pollard, team leader?

[htismaqe]

Did anybody else hear the interview on WHB this morning?

I was pleasantly surprised out how much he seems to have matured over the last year. He really sounds grounded and ready to go. He seems to have a really good grasp on the team concept and what it means to be a leader on the field and off.

[Chiefnj]

I was wrong - they did run at the combine.

Here was Gil Brandt's analysis last year - safeties ranked 10 - 14.

10. Bernard Pollard, Purdue (6-1 5/8, 224, 4.61)
Pollard worked out at the Combine, but didn't lift or do the shuttles. He ran his 40s in 4.57 and 4.63, had a 361/2-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-11 long jump. At Purdue's Pro Day on March 10, Pollard had a 4.11 short shuttle, 6.88 three-cone drill, and did 18 lifts. He was a defensive back and wide receiver in high school that also played basketball and ran track. Pollard played as a true freshman for the Boilermakers in 2003 and started 12 games. Started 12 games in 2004 and 11 in 2005. Pollard, and most of the Purdue defense, didn't play well this past season, but he has the size needed for the position. He is a very good hitter that will punish people, but not all the time (inconsistent). He was suspended for three days prior to the first game in 2005, but still has a lot of talent. Could even be a weakside linebacker for some teams that run a 4-3 defense.

11. Eric Smith, Michigan State (6-1, 209, 4.64)
Smith had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran his 40s in 4.57 and 4.69, had a 40-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-6 long jump, 4.10 short shuttle, 6.89 three-cone drill, and had 21 lifts. He turned in a 3.97 short shuttle at the Michigan State Pro Day on March 18. Did it all in high school, playing defensive back, quarterback, running back and wide receiver. Was a medical redshirt in 2001 with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Started five games at free safety in 2002, and nine games in 2003 at strong safety. Started 22 games over the past two years. Smith has good size for the position. He is a smart player with good instincts and good, but not great, athletic ability. Has had a lot of injuries and will have trouble keeping up with speedy players.

12. Greg Blue, Georgia (6-21/4, 215, 4.65)
Blue had a complete workout at the Combine. Ran his 40s in 4.61 and 4.70, had a 371/2inch vertical jump, 10-foot long jump, 4.28 short shuttle, 7.09 three-cone drill, and did 16 lifts. He played defensive back and returned kicks in high school. Also played on the basketball team. Redshirted in 2001 at Georgia, played, but did not start in 2002, and became a part-time starter in 2003 at free safety. Started every game in 2004 and '05. Blue has the size you want for the position. He is a good tackler, but only has average hands. Not a real instinctive player and has average coverage skills. Some question his ability to play in the NFL, but he could contribute on special teams.

13. Antwan Marsh, Pikeville (6-13/4, 216, 4.51)
Marsh was not invited to the Combine, but he worked out March 8 on campus. He ran his 40s in 4.50 and 4.51, had a 31-inch vertical jump, 9-foot-11 long jump, 4.28 short shuttle, 6.97 three-cone drill, and did 11 lifts. Started school at a junior college in Mississippi, playing outside linebacker. Spent the last two seasons at Pikeville in Kentucky as both a wide receiver and a defensive back. Marsh is an outstanding athlete at this level with nine interceptions the past two years. Caught 18 passes for four touchdowns in 2005. Some teams might want to take a chance on this guy.

14. Jarrad Page, UCLA (6-0 3/8, 239, 4.65)
Page had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran his 40s in 4.63 and 4.67, had a 38-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-7 long jump, 4.14 short shuttle, 6.68 three-cone drill, and put up 14 lifts. At 239 pounds, he is actually 14 pounds lighter now than from the Combine. Page was drafted in the fifth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002. He started 10 games as a true freshman, which was the most starts for a freshman safety in 25 years at the school. Started a total of 46 games in his four-year career for a good program. The former minor league baseball player definitely has the athletic ability. Totaled nine interceptions at UCLA.

[bdeg]

They were both projected SS's.

[bdeg]

Beat me to it.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj

At 239 pounds, he is actually 14 pounds lighter now than from the Combine.

Damn either that's wrong or Page was a BIG safety during his collegiate career. I mean both him and Pollard are playing at 220-225 right now, correct?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by morphius

I don't know, I heard an interview with him a few weeks ago, and while he did seem grounded and said all the right things, but you can't be a leader until you show it on the field as a starter. I guess I don't even think of someone as a leader anymore until they can actually show me something.

I know this is bad, but I hope we don't take him off of special teams, he was easily one of the best ST players I have seen from the Chiefs in a long time.

Hence the reason the title of the thread ends with a question mark.

Alot of the discussion in this thread seems to be centered around the idea that Pollard IS a leader, which I never suggested.

I was pondering the idea, aloud, of whether or not he COULD BE a leader.

[shaneo69]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I was pondering the idea, aloud, of whether or not he COULD BE a leader.

I'm gonna go ahead and say no, just to throw it out there.