Leak Set to Show Off Skills at NFL Combine



When University of Florida quarterback Chris Leak stepped away from the tape measure three weeks ago at the Senior Bowl, his height was announced for everyone to hear. Five feet, 11.7 inches. Supposedly, as the story goes that's making the rounds, one NFL scout commented that if Chris Leak was 6-foot-4, he'd be a first-round draft pick. Chris Leak, who threw for 11,213 yards and 88 touchdowns in four years at Florida, has been getting an education the last few weeks in how the NFL does business. He's especially been educated about the NFL's system of measurables in which teams like quarterbacks who are at least 6-foot-3.

At a couple of hairs under 6-foot, Chris Leak knows he has to make up the difference in other areas.

Because of that, he hasn't had much time to sit back and relax after he led the Gators to a 41-14 win over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 8. He'll be at the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins today in Indianapolis, Ind.

"This is what you want to do," he said last week after a workout at Disney's Wide World of Sports. "This is what you work for, to be in the draft."

He's banking on his mobility, ability to read defenses and make decisions and maturity will offset the three inches of height he lacks.

"How the game's evolved is for the quarterback to be mobile, to throw the ball, read defenses and be able to beat teams with your arms and your legs," he said.

While he wasn't asked to run at Florida, he demonstrated that he can when it's needed.

He also got some encouraging words at last month's Senior Bowl from Norv Turner, who was hired this week as San Diego's new head coach.

"Norv Turner told me a lot of good things and gave me a lot of confidence," Chris Leak said. "He said I have a bright future at the next level, and he said he thinks I have all the ability to play there and be successful.

"All the height things, he said I have plenty of height. He said I don't' have to worry about that. Being able to read defenses and pick up offenses, he said I did a great job of that. Coming from somebody who's coached as many Super Bowl quarterbacks as he has and someone who's had the success he's had in the NFL, that gives you a lot of confidence."

After the Senior Bowl, Chris Leak headed to Disney where he and several have worked with Tom Shaw, a strength and conditioning expert who prepares players for the combine.

The combine is where Chris Leak can make an impression not only with his arm and athletic skills but with his intelligence and maturity. More than 300 players who attend the combine are not only weighed, measured and timed, they are tested for general intelligence and interviewed extensively by every NFL team.

"We tell them everyday how hard the combine is," said Shaw, a former conditioning coach with New England. "It's the four days of interviewing and the testing, the physicals, it's everything."

Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor, who works with Shaw every year at his camp, said he's been impressed by what he sees from Chris Leak and that NFL teams may be moving away from looking only at the measurables.

"Drew (Brees) isn't tall. (Doug) Flutie isn't tall. (Jeff) Garcia isn't tall," Taylor said. "You can name five or six (smaller quarterbacks) who are starting. You have to look at what the guy did on the field. They say the video doesn't lie, and he's been successful.

"Once Chris Leak gets into the right system, he's going to be straight."

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