The focus of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine shifted to the defensive side of the ball Sunday in Indianapolis.

The defensive linemen, edge-rushers and linebackers took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to showcase themselves ahead of the 2019 NFL draft.

Many eyes were on Ohio State Buckeyes pass-rusher Nick Bosa, who missed most of the 2018 season with a core muscle injury. Bosa’s stock hasn’t dropped much as a result of the injury, and the combine was an opportunity for him to remind coaches and team executives why he’s one of the top players overall.

Michigan’s Rashan Gary, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat were among the other notable defenders to take part in the combine this weekend. 

Below are some of the top performers and a brief recap for the top stars taking part.

40-Yard Dash

Edge-Rushers

Montez Sweat, Mississippi State: 4.41 seconds

Justin Hollins, Oregon: 4.50 seconds

Brian Burns, Florida State: 4.53 seconds

Chase Winovich, Michigan: 4.59 seconds

Jamal Davis, Akron: 4.60 seconds

Defensive Linemen

Rashan Gary, Michigan: 4.58 seconds

Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan: 4.66 seconds

John Cominsky, Charleston: 4.69 seconds

Nick Bosa, Ohio State: 4.79 seconds

Anthony Nelson, Iowa: 4.82 seconds

Linebackers

Devin White, LSU: 4.42 seconds

Gary Johnson, Texas: 4.43 seconds

Devin Bush, Michigan: 4.43 seconds

Blake Cashman, Minnesota: 4.50 seconds

Ty Summers, TCU: 4.51 seconds

Full combine results are available on NFL.com

Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State

Entering the combine, Sweat was already a near-lock for the first round.

He had 22.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in his two years at Mississippi State. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller ranked him as the 12th-best player overall and the fourth-best edge-rusher. Now, Sweat may be trending toward the top 10 following his performance in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs star turned heads after running a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest for a defensive lineman at the combine since 2003, per NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread.

That number is impressive on its own and becomes even more improbable when considering Sweat measured in at 6’6″ and 260 pounds.

Not surprisingly, Sweat was blowing up on social media.

Reading too much into a player’s combine numbers is always a concern. In Sweat’s case, he mostly reinforced why he was already considered one of the elite pass-rushers in the 2019 draft class.

Nick Bosa, DL, Ohio State

Through no real fault of his own, Bosa may not have some serious competition as the consensus best edge-rusher.

Bosa ran a 4.84-second 40-yard dash in his first attempt, narrowly eclipsing his brother Joey’s effort. The younger Bosa got his 40 time down to 4.79 seconds later in the day.

In terms of his other measurables, Bosa had 29 reps on the bench press, reached 33.5 inches in the vertical jump and 116 inches in the broad jump, and finished the three-cone drill in 7.1 seconds. The 2017 first-team All-Big Ten defender looked good in position drills as well.

Sweat certainly overshadowed Bosa in Indianapolis and looks to be one of the biggest winners from the combine. As the draft gets closer, though, people will likely remember why Bosa has been at or near the top of the 2019 draft board for more than a year.

Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

Gary’s numbers don’t accurately convey the impact he made in three seasons at Michigan. He finished with 9.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in 34 appearances.

Not only was Gary an interior defender, but he was also faced with numerous double-teams along the line. The attention opposing teams were forced to direct toward Gary helped make life easier for his teammates in the front seven.

Gary didn’t have to sacrifice and share the spotlight in Indianapolis, and he lived up to the hype, running a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and a 7.26-second three-cone drill. He also bested Bosa in the vertical jump (38 inches) and broad jump (120 inches).

The Athletic’s Vic Tafur remains one of the Gary skeptics:

In general, Gary did nothing to hurt the perception he’s a surefire top-10 pick.

Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

The same applies to Williams.

Williams only started one season at Alabama but made it count. He had eight sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 15 games. He’s the most complete interior lineman in the 2019 class, equally capable of rushing the passer and stuffing the run at the line of scrimmage.

Williams tipped the scales at 303 pounds, so his 4.83-second 40-yard dash beggars belief.

Lil Wayne, whose Young Money APAA Sports signed Williams, reacted to the Crimson Tide star’s impressive run:

Much like Gary and Bosa, Williams didn’t have much to gain at the combine. Miller ranked him No. 2 overall behind Bosa in his big board. But that doesn’t diminish what Williams did in Indianapolis.

In general, the SEC has enjoyed a great combine through the combined efforts of Sweat, Williams and Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who was one of the outstanding players during Saturday’s session.

Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson

Dexter Lawrence’s college career ended in disappointing fashion as he was suspended for Clemson’s two wins in the College Football Playoff.

Things got off to a good start Sunday for Lawrence. He ran a 5.05-second 40-yard dash—no easy feat for a 342-pounder.

However, NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones reported Lawrence suffered a minor quad strain during the run. As a result, he decided to sit out the rest of the combine. According to Jones, Lawrence at least expects to participate in Clemson’s pro day.

The focus of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine shifted to the defensive side of the ball Sunday in Indianapolis.

The defensive linemen, edge-rushers and linebackers took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to showcase themselves ahead of the 2019 NFL draft.

Many eyes were on Ohio State Buckeyes pass-rusher Nick Bosa, who missed most of the 2018 season with a core muscle injury. Bosa’s stock hasn’t dropped much as a result of the injury, and the combine was an opportunity for him to remind coaches and team executives why he’s one of the top players overall.

Michigan’s Rashan Gary, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat were among the other notable defenders to take part in the combine this weekend. 

Below are some of the top performers and a brief recap for the top stars taking part.

40-Yard Dash

Edge-Rushers

Montez Sweat, Mississippi State: 4.41 seconds

Justin Hollins, Oregon: 4.50 seconds

Brian Burns, Florida State: 4.53 seconds

Chase Winovich, Michigan: 4.59 seconds

Jamal Davis, Akron: 4.60 seconds

Defensive Linemen

Rashan Gary, Michigan: 4.58 seconds

Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan: 4.66 seconds

John Cominsky, Charleston: 4.69 seconds

Nick Bosa, Ohio State: 4.79 seconds

Anthony Nelson, Iowa: 4.82 seconds

Linebackers

Devin White, LSU: 4.42 seconds

Gary Johnson, Texas: 4.43 seconds

Devin Bush, Michigan: 4.43 seconds

Blake Cashman, Minnesota: 4.50 seconds

Ty Summers, TCU: 4.51 seconds

Full combine results are available on NFL.com

Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State

Entering the combine, Sweat was already a near-lock for the first round.

He had 22.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in his two years at Mississippi State. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller ranked him as the 12th-best player overall and the fourth-best edge-rusher. Now, Sweat may be trending toward the top 10 following his performance in Indianapolis.

The Bulldogs star turned heads after running a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest for a defensive lineman at the combine since 2003, per NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread.

That number is impressive on its own and becomes even more improbable when considering Sweat measured in at 6’6″ and 260 pounds.

Not surprisingly, Sweat was blowing up on social media.

Reading too much into a player’s combine numbers is always a concern. In Sweat’s case, he mostly reinforced why he was already considered one of the elite pass-rushers in the 2019 draft class.

Nick Bosa, DL, Ohio State

Through no real fault of his own, Bosa may not have some serious competition as the consensus best edge-rusher.

Bosa ran a 4.84-second 40-yard dash in his first attempt, narrowly eclipsing his brother Joey’s effort. The younger Bosa got his 40 time down to 4.79 seconds later in the day.

In terms of his other measurables, Bosa had 29 reps on the bench press, reached 33.5 inches in the vertical jump and 116 inches in the broad jump, and finished the three-cone drill in 7.1 seconds. The 2017 first-team All-Big Ten defender looked good in position drills as well.

Sweat certainly overshadowed Bosa in Indianapolis and looks to be one of the biggest winners from the combine. As the draft gets closer, though, people will likely remember why Bosa has been at or near the top of the 2019 draft board for more than a year.

Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

Gary’s numbers don’t accurately convey the impact he made in three seasons at Michigan. He finished with 9.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in 34 appearances.

Not only was Gary an interior defender, but he was also faced with numerous double-teams along the line. The attention opposing teams were forced to direct toward Gary helped make life easier for his teammates in the front seven.

Gary didn’t have to sacrifice and share the spotlight in Indianapolis, and he lived up to the hype, running a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and a 7.26-second three-cone drill. He also bested Bosa in the vertical jump (38 inches) and broad jump (120 inches).

The Athletic’s Vic Tafur remains one of the Gary skeptics:

In general, Gary did nothing to hurt the perception he’s a surefire top-10 pick.

Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

The same applies to Williams.

Williams only started one season at Alabama but made it count. He had eight sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in 15 games. He’s the most complete interior lineman in the 2019 class, equally capable of rushing the passer and stuffing the run at the line of scrimmage.

Williams tipped the scales at 303 pounds, so his 4.83-second 40-yard dash beggars belief.

Lil Wayne, whose Young Money APAA Sports signed Williams, reacted to the Crimson Tide star’s impressive run:

Much like Gary and Bosa, Williams didn’t have much to gain at the combine. Miller ranked him No. 2 overall behind Bosa in his big board. But that doesn’t diminish what Williams did in Indianapolis.

In general, the SEC has enjoyed a great combine through the combined efforts of Sweat, Williams and Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who was one of the outstanding players during Saturday’s session.

Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson

Dexter Lawrence’s college career ended in disappointing fashion as he was suspended for Clemson’s two wins in the College Football Playoff.

Things got off to a good start Sunday for Lawrence. He ran a 5.05-second 40-yard dash—no easy feat for a 342-pounder.

However, NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones reported Lawrence suffered a minor quad strain during the run. As a result, he decided to sit out the rest of the combine. According to Jones, Lawrence at least expects to participate in Clemson’s pro day.

Palestinians reopen Al-Aqsa gate locked by Israel 16 years ago

The woes of the Los Angeles Lakers have reached season-threatening proportions. 

According to Jeff Sherman of Super Book USA, the Lakers now hold -900 odds to miss the postseason and +600 odds to make the playoffs.  

Interestingly, however, the Lakers still hold surprisingly positive odds to both reach the NBA Finals and win the title this season:

That discrepancy in the odds between the team even making the playoffs and going on a deep run is probably due to LeBron James, who took a pretty mediocre Cleveland Cavaliers lineup to the NBA Finals last year and has reached eight straight Finals. 

It could also be that the books are still getting action from optimistic Lakers fans who are unwilling to lose faith in a LeBron-led team.

But the Lakers have been dreadful of late. They’ve lost 12 of their last 17 games, haven’t won back-to-back games since mid-January and have fallen to 30-33 on the season. They sit 4.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers, the respective seventh and eighth seeds in the Western Conference playoff picture, and are even 1.5 games back of the Sacramento Kings in the postseason chase.

Injuries have played a part, however. The team went just 7-12 when James was out with a groin strain between late December and early February. And in the 16 games Lonzo Ball has missed with an ankle sprain since Jan. 21, the team is just 5-11.

In the six games James and Ball were both sidelined, the team went 2-4.

Ball’s return date remains unclear. On Friday, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reported that the Lakers would re-evaluate Ball’s ankle sprain in one week. There’s little question the Lakers could use Ball back in the lineup.

“We obviously miss another ball-handler, another playmaker,” James said of Ball. “A guy that’s very, very good defensively. With his ability to get a steal and pressure the offensive point guard and then push the pace for us, get into our early offense. So we miss that a lot.”

And without him, the Lakers are in major danger of missing the postseason, too.

Liverpool missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table on Sunday after being held to a goalless draw by Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.  

The first half was a cagey affair with chances at a premium for both sides. Everton offered very little going forward, while Mohamed Salah was twice denied by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Everton improved after the break and saw more of the ball but rarely tested Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Meanwhile, Salah was guilty of wasting another opportunity as the Reds picked up a third successive draw away from home in the Premier League.

Salah’s Lack of Ruthlessness Should Worry Klopp

Jurgen Klopp kept faith with Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Salah in attack, and it was the Egyptian who had the best chances to score at Goodison Park.

Fabinho slid Salah in just before the half-hour mark but Pickford stuck out a strong right hand to save his effort.

Football writer Leanne Prescott felt Salah could have done better:

Another chance followed for Salah on 58 minutes after a strong run forwards by Joel Matip. However, he took a poor initial touch which allowed Seamus Coleman and Pickford to smother the danger.

Miguel Delaney at the Independent said Salah is lacking sharpness:

The Egyptian’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal should concern Klopp as the Reds reach the business end of the season.

Salah has now gone four games without a goal and has managed just four in 11 appearances for the Reds in all competitions since 2019.

He has also been guilty of missing plenty of chances in front of goal:

Liverpool have drawn four of their last six league matches, which has seen them lose their lead at the top of the table and slip a point behind Manchester City.

The Reds have just nine games left to play in the league and badly need Salah to rediscover his goalscoring touch quickly if they are to go on and pip Pep Guardiola’s side to the title.

What’s Next?

Everton return to action on Saturday in the Premier League against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, while Liverpool play a day later at home to Burnley.

This article will be updated to provide more information soon.

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