Path to the Draft: 3/10 - 3/12

(Posted 4/7/10) Since I'm almost a month behind on Path to the Draft recaps, and the show's getting pretty damn repetitive anyway, (how many teams have they NOT recommend draft Earl Thomas or Jared Odrick?) it's time for the condensed version.

Path to the Draft notes for the March 10 - March 12 shows:

* Pro days: Alabama - Rolando McClain (who didn't participate at the Combine) ran in the 4.6s, looked natural and fast in drills. Revealed he has Crohn's disease. Should still go at the top of the first round. Terrance Cody weighed in at 348, 22 less than his Senior Bowl weight, 6 less than his Combine weight. Shooting for 340 by the draft. OG Mike Johnson had a strong showing. Javier Arenas still unable to work out due to hamstring.

Oklahoma State - Russell Okung did the full set of drills and looked flawless. Should be a serious consideration for Detroit's second pick overall.

Cincinnati - Mardy Gilyard ran faster than he did at the Combine. Scouts were more impressed with Tony Pike today than they were at the Combine. Has to improve velocity on his passes and drive the football better.

Nebraska - not much news. Suh didn't run. Scott Kennedy opined he needs a better, quicker punch. He gets stood up a lot but makes up for it with athleticism, running the play down from behind.

Clemson - also not much news. Spiller skipped his 40, not that speed is a concern with him.

Ohio State - Thaddeus Gibson improved his 40 time to 4.59. Third round prospect. Akwasi Owosu-Ansah, a corner from Indiana Pa., ran two sub-4.4 40s at 207 lbs. He's a terrific returner with 3rd-round talent who will probably go in the 4th or 5th.

* Team needs: Vikings at 30 - their radio play-by-play man suggested they will mostly draft for depth. Likes Devin McCourty for his special teams dimension, plus they have injury problems in their secondary.

Jets at 29 - the publisher of Jets Confidential expects them to draft defense, mentions Jared Odrick and McCourty. LaDainian Tomlinson will be a good fit and they don't expect a team to ante up the picks for Leon Washington. They like their young receivers. Show panel tosses out Golden Tate, Everson Griffen and Jerry Hughes as additional possibilities.

Chargers at 28 - Hank Bauer says they need NT, CB and absolutely RB, though he would be surprised if they took a RB early because of their success with late-round RBs Sproles and Turner. Recommends they take Mount Cody. Mike Mayock tosses out Ryan Matthews, Earl Thomas and Brandon Graham, though he says no way Graham is still on the board by that point.

* Top inside linebackers (after McClain): Sean Weatherspoon - Showed he can play ILB at the Senior Bowl, and he wants to play there because that's where the action is. Showed coverage ability at the Combine.

Brandon Spikes (who I don't like) - He's a football player. Smart, instinctive, does the dirty work and has a nasty disposition. Ignore the workout numbers with Spikes.

Apparently a Penn State booster, Michael Lombardi recommends all 3 Nittany Lion linebackers. Sean Lee's coming off an ACL injury and has his best football ahead of him. Navarro Bowman's the best of the 3 overall. Josh Hull had one of the best shuttle times in the draft, should help a team out on special teams and has an awesome pornstache.

* Miscellaneous wisdom. Jason Pierre-Paul, Taylor Mays and Virginia safety Kam Chancellor were named the top boom-or-bust players. Could be big hits, could be significant busts. Mays and Chancellor both have the size to be credibly converted into WLBs. Pierre-Paul has all of 7 career starts. Maurkice Pouncey, Eric Berry and Joe Haden were named the most pro-ready players, despite significant concerns raised about Haden's speed at the Combine. Pouncey missed 1 game his whole college career. Lombardi mock drafted Sam Bradford to the Rams and Jimmy Clausen 4th to the Redskins, comparing Clausen favorably to Mark Sanchez while parroting well-known concerns about his leadership and work ethic. Mayock moved Trent Williams up to his #3 OT. Off-field issues are causing Anthony Davis to slip. Four tackles could go in the top 9. Though probably not registered sex offender Tony Washington of Abilene Christian. Though note: ACU's in the Lone Star Conference, which has already supplied the Rams with K.C. Asiodu and Keith Null. Finally, Denver is reportedly looking at every QB in the draft and can be expected to draft one somewhere.