Alabama notes: Saban wants changes to NFL combine

Alabama had nine players invited to last month’s NFL combine, but there was one player left off that caught a few eyes.

Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker, who participated in the Senior Bowl, didn’t make the list as 18 other quarterbacks were invited.

“Oh man, I don’t wanna get started on that,” Coker said Wednesday during Alabama’s pro day. “It’s all good, man. It pissed me off, but hey, it didn’t change my work ethic or the way I’ve been working. Hey, it is what it is.”

Asked about Coker not being invited to the combine, Tide coach Nick Saban said there is a bigger issue at play beyond Coker, whom he said has a lot of “upside.”

“Jake only has one year when he really played and was ‘The Man,’” Saban said. “I think one reason Jake didn’t get invited to the combine wasn’t because of Jake, I think it is because there were 97 juniors who came out. I think that’s an issue and a problem we need to address with the NFL because it’s unfair to some of the seniors because all those guys (juniors) get invited and some of them are not ranked as high as some of the seniors who they (scouts/NFL teams) know more about.”

Coker threw for 3,110 yards and 21 touchdowns to eight interceptions while completing 67 percent of his passes en route to leading the Tide to its fourth national championship in seven seasons. He participated in a throwing workout for scouts on Wednesday.

“I think Jake is going to do just fine,” Saban said. “I think he’s going to need to continue to develop. He’s got a great arm who can make all the throws. For his size he is very athletic, and I think a lot of people are going to like that.”

Henry just needs a line

At 6-foot-, pounds, Derrick Henry is a physical specimen at the running back position. But with that size comes questions about his foot speed, quickness and elusiveness.

Some pundits and scouts have questioned whether or not Henry must be drafted to a team with a certain blocking scheme in order for him to be successful.

But Henry isn’t worried about the critics.

“All I need is a (offensive) line, and I’m good,” Henry said.

CBSSports.com lists Henry among the top 40 prospects, and rates him as the second-best running back in this class. He’s projected to go in the first or second round.

“When you look at Derrick Henry you have to get past the style points and style issue,” Saban said. “He’s a unique guy with a unique style. He’s got great length, he’s got a great stiff arm, he’s really hard to tackle, and he’s really, really fast. He can catch the ball. He’s a really good receiver. And he can block. So if you don’t have this sort of pigeonhole perception of what a running back needs to be, and you can get past all that and just look at the production, you’ll be wise in terms of how you look at Derrick Henry and what his performance will be for you down the road.”

The Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the Tide to a national championship.

Saban praised Henry’s physical attributes while also touching on his competitiveness.

“I think it is unique and I think he has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt playing against some great competition that he’s a very productive, effective players in a lot of ways,” Saban said. “I don’t think he can improve his draft status by coming back to college, so I think he is doing the right thing in what he is doing. And I also believe he is going to be a very, very good player.”

Mayock, Saban on Ragland

With the NFL moving more and more toward pass heavy attacks, nearly every player on defense is being asked to cover opponents in space.

At Alabama, linebacker Reggie Ragland excelled during his two years as a starter. But coming out of college, scouts wondered if Ragland could be an every-down linebacker.

Throughout the pre-draft process, Ragland has turned some heads with his speed and athleticism.

“Yeah I do. He’s a little different, though,” said NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock when asked if Ragland could play three downs in the NFL. “A lot of the league has fallen in love with some of the undersized faster linebackers, but there’s always a place for a 247-pound guy that comes down hill like that.”

Ragland weighed in at 248 pounds during Alabama’s pro day. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash, but participated in individual position drill for scouts.

Saban said Ragland could surprise people at the next level with his pass rushing ability.

“Reggie is a really good athlete. He’s got great size. He can thump you,” Saban said. “He’s got a lot of lower body explosion and power, but yet he’s a good player in space. He’s very athletic. He’s very instinctive. And he’s got some pass rush abilities, which we didn’t really develop here because he didn’t play that position for us and we had other guys who sort of did that pretty well for us. I think that’s an area that people will be surprised and how they’ll be able to develop him as a pass rusher as well.”

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Alabama notes: Saban wants changes to NFL combine."