INDIANAPOLIS— Banners hanging from light posts all over the city are decked out with the NFL logo and even the Indianapolis airport had multiple signs welcoming participants to the NFL’s premier scouting event.

Thursday things start to heat up inside Lucas Oil Stadium where offensive linemen, tight ends and specialists go through medical examinations, have their measurements taken and start interviewing with NFL teams. The first physical event they complete isn’t until Friday when they start with the bench press.

Luke Joeckel measuring up to the expectations

Good tackles are hard to come by and many draft experts believe Texas AM’s left tackle is worthy of being the top overall pick. He’s listed at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, though those numbers could change a bit once his measurements are taken on Thursday.

However, if teams decide to draft based on need rather than best available, there’s a very strong possibility the Philadelphia Eagles could end up landing Joeckel with the fourth overall pick. The Outland Trophy winner left college a year early and unless he flops at the combine all indications are that whoever selects him is getting a strong, reliable tackle who can make an impact right away.

Matt Stankiewitch starting off on a strong note

Penn State’s center had a good day at the East-West Shrine Game last month where his performance helped improve his stock. Thursday marks the second phase of that process as he’ll be sized up and interviewed by several teams.

Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin takes a snap from center Matt Stankiewitch during a practice session following the team’s annual media day.
JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News

 

Stankiewitch was listed as 6-foot-3, 301 pounds at Penn State though he came in a half inch shorter than his listed height at the East-West Shrine Game. He’s worked with Strength and Conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald since the season ended and Stankiewitch says he’s in tip-top shape.

Whether or not that’s different than his fitness level at the Shrine Game remains to be seen.

The question that throws a player off his game

Talking to NFL scouts and personnel members, they say it happens all the time. Players go into their team interviews having prepared, some even hiring folks to help them improve their interview techniques. All the preparation can go by the wayside after a team catches them off guard.

Some scouts said players are “too nervous” for this portion of the combine and those nerves make them sound robotic and so well prepared that their responses come off as phony. Others, they say should’ve spent more time preparing because they’ll be asked about their off-field habits if they’re a player with a track record. Some will even be sent to the board to draw up a few plays, something that some weren’t expecting to do.

It’s the biggest job interview of each athlete’s life and for many of them it’s also their first ever interview.

Ohio State’s Stoneburner preparing to help himself

Tight end Jake Stoneburner didn’t have the type of season that would garner him anything earlier than a fifth or sixth-round pick. Sixteen catches for 269 yards and four touchdowns isn’t exactly enough to put him over the top, especially considering he’s two-to-three inches shorter than many of the tight ends projected ahead of him.

Stoneburner will need to prove that he’s better than what Urban Meyer used him for last season. Also, he’ll have to try to explain that last offseason’s arrest after urinating in public and running from police was a one-time deal. Surely that will make for a tense interview.

Grace under (media) pressure

None of these players will face the type of media scrutiny that Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o will face later this week, but their composure will be tested. Sitting through rounds of interviews is mentally taxing and then having to answer many of the same questions to media members won’t be the easiest thing to do.

However, cameras will be rolling and those who stay relaxed and consistent with their answers will then be able to start turning their focus toward Friday’s activities where they face psychological testing, the bench press and more team interviews.