Wisconsin offensive tackle Tyler Marz, quarterback Joel Stave and outside linebacker Joe Schobert participated in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this weekend with the hopes of improving their draft stocks in advance of the NFL Draft in late April. Their performances yielded mixed results.
Marz started things off with the offensive linemen Friday, measuring in with arms a little on the short side at 33.5 inches which, along with the rest of his combine results, could indicate a move to guard at the pro level.
His 40-yard dash clocked in at 5.54 seconds, the fourth-slowest among all players at the combine. His 10-yard split of 1.92 seconds was also slow, but not as terrible as his full 40 time. Marz also only put up 19 reps on the 225-pound bench press, tied for the fifth-lowest among offensive linemen. Two wide receivers put up more bench reps than him.
Marz’s 99-inch broad jump and 27.5-inch verticle were on the lower end of the spectrum, further showing a lack of explosiveness needed to play tackle in the NFL. Overall, he looked slow and stiff, which may have hurt his draft stock more than anything. Ultimately, teams care less about the actual numbers and more about how the player looks, and Marz didn’t look great.
Stave, on the other hand, turned some heads with his performance. He ran a respectable 4.8 40, faster than mobile quarterbacks like Cardale Jones and Vernon Adams, and had the third highest vertical jump at 33.5 inches.
In passing drills, Stave showed good timing and ball placement, although his footwork still looked a little sporadic. He was able to connect on a number of deep throws to receivers he never previously worked with, including former rival Ohio State QB turned WR Braxton Miller.
Joel Stave connects on the deep ball with Ohio State WR Braxton Miller pic.twitter.com/gY1YXOrWKK
— DailyCardinal Sports (@Cardinal_Sports) February 27, 2016
Joel Stave connects on the deep ball with Ohio State WR Braxton Miller pic.twitter.com/gY1YXOrWKK
— DailyCardinal Sports (@Cardinal_Sports) February 27, 2016
The Badger who might have had the best combine showing is Schobert. He put up 22 reps on the bench press, tied for fifth-most among linebackers, and his 4.76 40 was very respectable. Like his quarterback, though, he made the most money with his on-field drills.
Schobert looked very fluid in bag drills, and he is a guy NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock would describe as “more quick than fast.” His hips swing effortlessly and he showed the lateral movement skills NFL teams love to see from linebackers.
The Wisconsin edge rusher might be better off playing weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense in the NFL, or even inside in a 3-4, and his combine performance showed he’s capable of playing a number of positions at the next level.
Performances at the scouting combine rarely have drastic impacts on where a player gets drafted, but Schobert and Stave helped themselves out this weekend, while Marz lost some money. All three will have an opportunity to show themselves to NFL teams again at Wisconsin’s pro day March 9.
