Amari Spievey is going to shock the world.

It’ll be another few weeks before he can deliver on his words at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the Hawkeye cornerback wanted to put the scouts on notice. After being asked for a prediction on his forty-yard dash time, Spievey stated, “In the 4.4′s, or lower. All the times they have on me I ran with turf toe… people think I can’t run because of that during the Penn St. game. I was just over-confident and cheated the route, he didn’t do anything the rest of the game.“

Confident is definitely a word that one could assign to Amari Spievey. “I want all of them [NFL Receivers] – the Randy Moss’, the Terrell Owens’, Ochocinco’s. Whoever is lined up against me I want to show I can make a play.” One NFL corner that has been able to deal with those elite receivers is Charles Woodson, who Amari has been studying and feels like he can draw a comparison to. “I’ve been watching Charles Woodson a lot, he’s physical at the line and always in the position to make plays.”

Chris Doyle (Iowa Strength Coach) is one of the guys that has put Spievey in position to make plays. After crediting Coach Doyle for running a great program, Spievey predicted that he will stand out at a few events at the combine. “Jumping. Coach puts a big deal of time into working on explosion, exercising the core. I’ll impress in the broad jump, vertical, and the forty.”

Another Iowa coach that has helped Spievey’s progress has been defensive coordinator Norm Parker. “You can’t just be a cover guy at Iowa. We have to set the edge, I will never shy away from contact. I’m not going to just let the linebackers make the play. I’m going to make that tackle. Coach Parker expects us to do our job, be dependable, reliable. I expect the same at the next level.”

When asked about his highlight from his career at Iowa, Spievey answered, “That game in the Metrodome last year. I’d always wanted a pick-six, and QB’s don’t always throw to my side. It was good to get my hands on the ball and make a big play.”

A few pick-sixes for the Patriots would shock the world as well, hopefully Amari Spievey can exchange the black and gold for the red, white, and blue during the 2010 NFL Draft.

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Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho (6-5/330)

An incredibly talented offensive guard that moves like a ballerina and hits like a truck. Even better, he played his college ball at Idaho and LOVES cold weather. I think Foxboro would be a great home for Mike — let’s make it happen.

We’d like to thank Becky at the U of Idaho offices and Mike himself for allowing us to take time from his training and answer a few questions.

I miss the cold weather. You can just stay home and put on triple layers of blankets and go to sleep. (Mike’s currently Training in California)

Some scouts have stated that while you have had a great year, it has come against sub-par competition. How would you respond to this?

It is true. I wanted to go against Anthony Davis, who is the best defensive lineman in our conference. If I would have gone against ACC or Pac 10 teams I don’t think it would have made a big difference; just competition-wise. I’m going to play the Senior Bowl against the best of the best, which is always good. If I adapt to that level of playing then I’ll be OK. It’s just a matter of how you know the game and how you compete.

Any certain players that you’ve played against that you feel will follow you to the NFL?

D’Anthony Smith (Louisiana Tech), Kevin Basped (Nevada), Carl Ihenacho (San Jose State), Kyle Wilson (Boise State), Kyle Winterswyk (Boise State).

Your athleticism seems to be a strength in your game, is pulling and getting out on screens a high point of your game?

It’s usually the runs – like head-to-head run inside zone run. That’s a strength of my game. My movement off the ball is pretty good.

Mike, right now we have you going to the Patriots in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft — how would that make you feel?

A blessing. It would be a dream come true.

Okay, last question Mike. Pretend that I’m a GM interviewing you at the NFL Combine, tell me why you would be the best prospect to draft for my football team.

Because I work hard and I’m very competitive in all aspects of the game. I’m very physical. I will make your team be better is what I’m offering.

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Chris Marinelli, OT, Stanford (6-7/300)

Sometimes the best things are close to home. Chris Marinelli, who grew up just south of Boston and whose family currently resides in Braintree, just might fit that description.

The Patriots value versatility at all their positions, something that Marinelli excels at. “It really depends on the team. I’m willing to play anywhere that it helps my team compete for the Super Bowl. I’m most comfortable at right tackle, but I’ve played left, some guard, and even tight end in tackle-over sets.”

Chris is currently at the East-West Shrine Bowl, where he is matched up against some of the better Senior college defenders. When asked who the toughest d-lineman he’s went up against, he stated, “Jeff Fitzgerald of Kansas State, great hands guy, never stops.”

Overall, Chris has felt that the Shrine Bowl experience has been very useful. He stated that something he feels that he can improve is his response to an opponent’s bull rush. “I need to keep tight hands, sit down on the guy… For offensive tackles, I’m one of the more nimble guys out there, I don’t have much problem with the finesse moves.”

Scheme-specific to the Patriots, I asked Chris if he’s ever made the corner block on the WR screen before. Although they did have the play in the Stanford playbook, they never ran it. He has ran the play at Shrine Bowl, finding it fun to “get out there and hit the little guy before he has a chance to make a move.” Chris does have extensive experience in pulling on runs from the tackle and guard positions.

When asked what made Chris Marinelli a great draft pick, he related that, “You want to draft someone that is going to help you win. I’m a team leader, I lead by example. I do things the right way, in the film room, meeting room, and weight room. I work relentlessly, and my attention to detail is important. I have never been the most talented, but I’ve always put out the most effort.”

That sounds like a Boston/Foxboro type of work-ethic to me. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, as he’s been a Patriots fan for a long time. When asked what it would be like to don a Patriots uniform some day, Chris beamed, “It would be incredible, it would allow me to keep all my allegiances back home. None of my people would have to root against me. I have lots of pride there, and it would be quite an honor.”

The honor just might be all ours.

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Donald Jones, WR, Youngstown State (6-1, 210)

Sometimes throwing up is a good thing.

Donald Jones found that out on his first day of training for his professional career with Mike Gough of Athletic Edge – the same trainer that helped Sebastian Vollmer last year. Jones related “I’ve never really been trained before. No disrespect to Youngstown State, but we really just lifted weights. There wasn’t any speed training.”

According to Jones, Gough has put him through conditioning and speed drills, while also working up his skills for positional drills at the combine. When asked whether that can translate to the field, Jones was adamant that it would, he felt that we was already getting used to being faster.

That’s bad news for teams that sleep on Jones during the upcoming 2010 NFL Draft. The only knock on the two-time All-Conference YSU Penguin has been his lack of top-end speed. Scouts have praised his elusiveness, his hands, and his crisp, although simple, routes. He impressively caught 77 balls for 790 yards and six touchdowns, in a run-first offense.

When pressed whether he has run more complicated routes and schemes in the past, Jones stated that he, “ran sight-adjustments all the time at Juco (Lackawanna CC). My QB and I were always on the same page. At YSU, we ran sight-adjustments some games, and didn’t others. We were mainly in the spread offense, no huddle.”

Hailing from the Northeast, Jones is somewhat of a Ravens fan. “Yeah, I probably could have you guys out last week.” That’s the kind of confidence I like. When asked what the difference was between the FCS college game and the NFL, Jones adeptly answered that, “The speed of the game is so much faster, and the guys are smarter. They watch a lot more film.”

Donald noted his work-ethic, “I’m the first one in, last one out”, and leadership (two-time Captain at YSU) as the traits that would make him the best pick for the Patriots.

Like we said earlier, teams had better take notice of this on the rise small-school prospect. Otherwise, they might be the ones feeling nauseous later.

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