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NFL hopefuls Nate Lyles (left) and Chris Long run through a drill for coaches and scouts yesterday in Charlottesville.
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BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
CHARLOTTESVILLE--
Al Groh has constantly preached versatility at Virginia.The Cavaliers head coach's mind-set could pay off for Chris Long and Branden Albert in next month's NFL Draft.
Long, a star defensive end, worked out at linebacker yesterday at Virginia for 49 NFL scouts, including one head coach--Scott Linehan from the St. Louis Rams.
The pro timing day workout came one month after Long performed at his natural position at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
"I did d-line at the combine and I thought I'd show [the scouts] linebacker today," Long said. "It's just to show versatility. I feel I can do anything they want me to do defensively. I just have to work at it."
Long is expected to be a top five pick in the draft, and perhaps the Cavaliers' second No. 1 overall selection in their history, joining Bill Dudley in 1942.
Long never played linebacker at Virginia, but as the Cavaliers prepared for the Gator Bowl, he practiced there under Groh's tutelage.
"Coach Groh and I had about five sessions to practice," Long said. "It's been pretty easy stuff to pick up, but when the bullets are flying, it's going to be another thing."
Groh and Long did linebacker drills together yesterday in front of the NFL scouts. Groh said yesterday's workout was important to show that Long can catch and change direction.
"We clearly saw him do those things," Groh said.
Long said he weighed in at 267 pounds yesterday, but that he'd willingly go up or down depending on where he'll play in the NFL.
Groh said Long can play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL on a "play-to-play basis" but that it may be a challenge for him to play an entire season there. He called it a "grind."
That's why it's important Long can play another position.
Linehan and the Rams are certainly interested with the No. 2 overall pick after the Miami Dolphins choose first. St. Louis runs a 4-3 scheme.
"We would probably spend most of our time having him play defensive end," Linehan said. "He would have his hand on the ground most of the time, but what's great about him is he can play anywhere. He moves around so much in the system. His versatility is his strength."
Albert's is, too. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. rates him as the No. 1 offensive guard in the draft. However, he also started two games at left tackle last season when Eugene Monroe was injured, and did well.
Albert (6-foot-7, 315 pounds), who left school as a junior, only performed position drills yesterday. He spent nearly all his time with Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel. Albert said he and Bugel formed a bond at the combine. The Redskins pick 21st in the draft, two spots ahead of where Kiper slotted Albert to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I think a lot of people like the versatility," Albert said. "I can play both [guard and tackle]. If somebody goes down, I can replace another guy. So I think that's helping my stock out."
Long and Albert were among 11 Virginia senior performers at pro timing day yesterday, not including former players Kai Parham and Ryan Best (who transferred to Liberty). Safety Nate Lyles had the most impressive showing. He placed ahead of all his teammates in the bench press (22 reps), 40-yard dash (4.46) and vertical jump (36 inches). He said he expects to be an undrafted free agent. Tight end Tom Santi improved his 40 time from a 4.76 at the combine to a 4.57 yesterday.
He said he was more comfortable on Virginia's campus than he was at the combine.
"You're really cattle there," Santi said of the combine. "It's just a big meat parade. But out here, we're on our home turf. We've got all the guys around. So this was just fun to be out here."
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
