Brandon Graham predicts he will run a 4.5 second 40-yard dash

[Tribal Warfare]

A quickie chat with Brandon Graham

Maybe the Dolphins draft Rolando McClain because everyone loves the guy and everyone says he's going to be a star. Maybe they take Eric Berry (if he's there) because they need a playmaking free safety. Maybe they reach for a nose tackle or a wide receiver.

I still love Michigan's Brandon Graham.

Have I made that point to you guys enough this week? Even as the adoption papers are being drawn up, I wanted to share with you yet more reasons I think this star DE-OLB from Michigan is the real deal and should be considered at No. 12 overall -- contrary opinions from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay and all the other draft pundits notwithstanding.

I direct you to this interview Graham did with Scout.com during Senior Bowl week -- before he went off and won the game MVP award with five tackles and two sacks.

In the interview Graham says a couple of things that caught my attention:

He expects to run in the 4.5s at the Indianapolis Combine next week. And he loves the idea of playing 3-4 outside linebacker.

"Oh yeah, I feel real good," Graham says about dropping in coverage. "I've been working on my hips, working on my drops every day in practice for Michigan ... With a little coaching from the NFL guys, I believe I can get it done."

Graham has no shortage of confidence. And he couples that with something of a chip that dares naysayers to disbelieve he can do whatever he sets out to do. That's why he says he wants to run in the 4.5s at the Combine.

"I'm excited because I like it when people doubt me," he says. "That's just a challenge and I like challenges and I'm going to try to fulfill it. And if I don't, then I gave it my all and that's all I can say."

One thing Graham has shown in all his games and all the practices at the Senior Bowl was a seemingly infinite desire. He wants to be good. He wants to improve. He wants to get to the quarterback. He wants to be an NFL star.

"[I'm] just trying to show that my motor's always going," he says, "I love football and I want to make plays and sack the quarterback."

You combine want-to and talent and you know what you have?

A very good NFL player.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by philfree

Oh c'mon man you've got a better response then that. You're the one who is making assumptions about the thought process involved in Browns drafting. Was he a 5th round pick I don't remember exactly. IMO to think they drafted a guy in the 5th round as specificly a RT is nothing more then an assumption. Now if you have some real infor of Haley or Pioli stating that Brown was drafted as a RT only prospect then I'll respect that. Alot of RTs in college end up guards in the NFL don't they? That being the case I would think that the thought process was two fold in regards to Brown. I don't know that 100% though. Stands to reason in my mind none the less.


PhilFree

We're all making assumptions.

But the fact is, ther were more athletic, versatile linemen available when Brown was drafted.
They worked him at RT, had him listed on the website ther until about the second week of camp.

After his first day at guard, his position was changed on the website.

[philfree]

Originally Posted by milkman

We're all making assumptions.

But the fact is, ther were more athletic, versatile linemen available when Brown was drafted.
They worked him at RT, had him listed on the website ther until about the second week of camp.

After his first day at guard, his position was changed on the website.

Fair enough. Maybe they liked his size, 335 is a big man. Maybe they should make him a NT./jk

PhilFree

[Blick]

I think it's certainly possible that the Chiefs drafted Brown to be a guard all along. They just wanted to see if he could play RT. It's not like we don't need a RG too and it's not like we used a high pick on the guy.

Were there more athletic linemen available? Absolutely. But, athleticism for an offensive lineman isn't as important as size, strength, intelligence, and technique (no particular order).

Brown has the first 3 attributes and they can teach him the last one.

[Willie Lanier]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

Big fan, but don't see it. Not a 4.5. I hope he runs like a 5.1 and drops all the way to our 2a.

I could not agree more, (although 4.8 seems more within the realm of possibility) I could care less about what his shorts & t-shirt speed measures at, he is explosive and powerful.

In what may appear a hypocritical stance, I also pray Taylor Mays slides to us, because a physical freak with his desire for greatness is a true rarity. His film is satisfactory, but not spectacular. However, the value of a talent of his caliber with the will to improve himself is uncommon.

[chop]

NFL network just said his best time was 4.69.

[L.A. Chieffan]

not very fast but i think he put a shit ton of reps at the bench press

[warrior]

Originally Posted by L.A.Chieffan

not very fast but i think he put a shit ton of reps at the bench press

31 reps---for Brandon Graham

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by chop

NFL network just said his best time was 4.69.

Good. Maybe he will slip to the 2nd round, but I doubt it.