Falcons Watch Georgia Tight End Charles Battle Blustery Conditions On Pro Day

[falcon057]

Georgia tight end Charles battles blustery conditions on pro day

Orson Charles skipped running the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, raising the importance of his time at Georgia’s windy pro day Monday before NFL scouts.

The tight end who left school after his junior season now would love a do-over after he was clocked at a relatively slow 4.75 on the school’s FieldTurf surface.

“If I could take anything back I would definitely want to run that 40 again to prove that I am like a 4.5, 4.6 guy,” Charles said.

Charles’s fastest time was wind-aided on a day where it blew from 15 to 25 miles per hour with it gusting to more than 30. He ran his second 40 into the wind—an unofficial 4.90.

“The wind kind of killed me,” he said. “I hope they take that into consideration.”

His 40 time would not have been in the top five at the Indianapolis combine and was just behind former teammate and fellow tight end Aron White’s 4.73 on this day, but it was ahead of the 4.89 of Clemson’s Dwayne Allen at the combine.

Charles, Stanford’s Coby Fleener and Allen are considered in the first tier at tight end for the NFL draft, but none are first-round locks.

“You never know how the draft is going to work out,” Charles said. “Two tight ends could go in the first round. Two tight ends could go in the second round. I just want a job to tell you the truth. That’s my whole motto now, I just want a job.”

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Charles was satisfied with the rest of his showing that included a 30 ½ inch vertical jump, 9 ½ foot long jump and catching passes in position drills from former West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown, who had trained with Charles.

Charles did 35 reps on the 225-pound bench press at the combine—the most of any tight end—and position drills, but he said he decided along with his trainer and agent not to run or do agility drills there because he wasn’t “ready for it,” after beginning training late.

Charles ran on Monday in gold-colored shoes, something he picked up at the combine last month.

Several other Georgia players picked up something more valuable in Indianapolis: results they let stand.

That’s why offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, who seemed to solidify his first-round status at the combine, only went through the offensive line drills Monday.

He didn’t try to improve on his 31 reps on the bench press and 5.15 40 time from the combine.

“I was honestly trying to get a 4.8, man,” Glenn said. “I think I did pretty good at the combine with some things. …Coaches want to see what you do in actual football drills and actually what you do playing football, that was more my focus for pro day.”

There were 46 scouts and coaches from NFL teams on hand, only two less than showed up last year when top-five receiver A.J. Green took part.

What was missing this time was well-known NFL TV draft analysts Mike Mayock and Todd McShay. Former Georgia players Justin Houston, Clint Boling and Rennie Curran watched their former teammates.

The only NFL head coach on hand was Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons, who chatted with Georgia coach Mark Richt while the players were being eyed by scouts or assistant coaches from 30 NFL teams. The only teams not represented were Dallas and Chicago.

“You get an opportunity to meet the guys and say hello to them,” Smith said. “We’ve got coaches from our staff who not only watch them workout but get an opportunity to visit with them. Of course, the guys that weren’t at the combine, it’s our first live exposure with them.”

That included defensive lineman DeAngelo Tyson, who was invited and attended the combine, but did not participate because he said he was “medically excluded,” after he arrived.

He declined to say what that medical issue was, but said he was cleared to go on Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 308-pound Tyson may have opened some eyes with a 4.8 40 and 30 reps on the bench press.

“Hopefully I have people interested,” he said.

New Falcons offensive line coach Pat Hill, the former Fresno State head coach, watched Glenn, center Ben Jones and offensive tackle Justin Anderson go through position drills.

The pro day came earlier than usual for Georgia, less than a week after the NFL combine wrapped up.

“That was great,” Jones said. “You stayed in shape and you got a feel for it.”

Cornerback Brandon Boykin hopes to hold an individual pro day in the second week of April after cracking the fibula in his right leg on punt coverage in the Senior Bowl Jan. 28.

The 5-foot-9 Boykin weighed in at 181 on Monday. The only thing he did was the bench press, where he had 16 reps.

He figures he’s at about “85 percent,” recovered from the injury.

“The timing is terrible but at the same time, the combine and the pro day is not the end all and be all,” Boykin said. “I feel like I had a really good career and people know I can do a lot of great things.”

Many of the dozen former Bulldogs who took part in pro day—which also included fullback Bruce Figgins, punter Drew Butler, kickers Blair Walsh and Brandon Bogotay and safety John Knox--will have individual workouts in the weeks leading up to the April 26-28 draft.

Charles said he already has one lined up with the Philadelphia Eagles.

[aerosmith67]

Hopefully this just diminishes his draft stock. Running a 40 is great but game film and coaches film is where it's at. I wouldn't mind this pick up and I'm not a Georgia fanboy.

[vel]

Not surprised Smitty was the only HC there. It's an hour drive. He should be at Flowery Branch right now anyway. So I would be more surprised if he wasn't there.

[Dharma Initiative]

It just goes to show that drafting him in the first 2 rounds is probably reaching. But the GA fanboys think he's a premium talent

[Herr Doktor]

Not going to be a Falcon. Sorry UGA fans.

[iQue]

It just goes to show that drafting him in the first 2 rounds is probably reaching. But the GA fanboys think he's a premium talent

So because a guy doesn't run a fast forty time, he is not a premium talent? This question is not just concerning Orson Charles.

[Dharma Initiative]

So because a guy doesn't run a fast forty time, he is not a premium talent? This question is not just concerning Orson Charles.

Orson Charles, and every other UGA player, gets overrated on here. Are they good players? Yes. Are they special players? Not really.

There are exceptions, but the Thomas Brown's, Akeem Dent's, and Orson Charles's of the world are good but not great players

[Mr Pickle1]

Orson Charles, and every other UGA player, gets overrated on here. Are they good players? Yes. Are they special players? Not really.

There are exceptions, but the Thomas Brown's, Akeem Dent's, and Orson Charles's of the world are good but not great players

Are we talking Marcus Stroud overrated, or A.J. Green overrated? I smell a GT fan. But this isn't the board for that. All I can say is that there's a pretty clear jump in talent from Akeem Dent and Thomas Brown to Orson Charles. Charles is a good to very good starting TE in the NFL. No one is saying he's a superstar. He plays faster than 4.75, and that's obvious to anyone who isn't blind, or a Tech fan.

[isproab]

I like Charles, I still think he is the real deal. Likely a 4.6 guy, I hate that he got up to 251 from a listed weight of 241 during the season. He is just a tad over 6' 2'' and 251 seems like a lot of weight. This should also provide a perfect example of why you should take advantage of an opportunity to run at the combine. If you get a good time, you are done with the 40 for ever. Perfect conditions on a good surface so its apples to apples with everybody else. Just look at what the WR's and RB's did, its a good fast surface, if you run a slow time its because you are slow. A 4.4 guys never runs a 4.6 unless he is just out of shape or hurt. Given that these guys just came off the season they should be in shape still.

[Flying Falcon]

Sorry, but we dont need anymore Georgia boys on the team.

[Dharma Initiative]

Are we talking Marcus Stroud overrated, or A.J. Green overrated? I smell a GT fan. But this isn't the board for that. All I can say is that there's a pretty clear jump in talent from Akeem Dent and Thomas Brown to Orson Charles. Charles is a good to very good starting TE in the NFL. No one is saying he's a superstar. He plays faster than 4.75, and that's obvious to anyone who isn't blind, or a Tech fan.

Marcus Stroud and AJ Green fall under my 'exceptions' remark I made.

And I love how any critical remarks about a UGA player makes someone assume you're a Tech fan. Again, that goes back to this board is too biased to UGA players.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Dharma Initiative

[dirtybirdz10984]

Marcus Stroud and AJ Green fall under my 'exceptions' remark I made.

And I love how any critical remarks about a UGA player makes someone assume you're a Tech fan. Again, that goes back to this board is too biased to UGA players.

doesnt take a genius to figure that one out. seeing both teams play in the same region therefore fans will most likely be fans of both teams. therefore biased.