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The 2013 NFL Combine is entering its final day, with defensive backs hitting the floor of Lucas Oil Field this morning. With most of the prospects complete, there's one thing this draft will provide, and it's something the Miami Dolphins desperately need. There's no denying that the 2013 NFL Draft will feature speed.
The Dolphins have been coveting speed for years, through multiple coaching regimes. Tony Sparano wanted speed and couldn't find it. Joe Philbin wanted speed last year, and didn't have it. This year, the Dolphins should be able to finally fill that need.
The Combine's 40-yard dash was topped by Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who ran in 4.27 seconds. Behind him were wide receivers Ryan Swope of Texas A&M and Tavon Austin from West VIrginia, along with running back Onterio McCalebb from Auburn.
Arkansas running back Knile Davis came in fifth at 4.37 seconds. Kenny Stills (Oklahoma wide receiver) and Josh Boyce (TCU wide receiver) were a hundredth of a second slower, coming in with times of 4.38 seconds.
After the seven players below 4.4 seconds come 12 more players who broke the 4.5 barrier. Wide receivers all took the next eight slots: Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson (4.42), Michigan's Denard Robinson (4.43), Virginia Tech's Corey Fuller (4.43), Tennessee's Justin Hunter (4.44), Oregon State's Markus Wheaton (4.45), Baylor's Lanear Sampson (4.46), Rutgers' Mark Harrison (4.46), and Georgia's Tavarres King (4.47).
The first defensive player comes in as the 16th fastest player this year (so far), with Zavier Gooden, Missouri linebacker, running a 4.47 second 40.
After Gooden, Lehigh wide receiver Ryan Spadola (4.48), Utah State running back Kerwynn Williams (4.48), and UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin (4.49) round out the sub-4.5 group.
Another 15 players all cleared the 4.55 mark in their drill.
The amount of speed available in this draft is amazing. The Dolphins should be able to upgrade the speed of the team easily, with their first round and multiple second round picks adding weaponry for the offense, as well as shoring up the defense.
And, again, this does not even account for the defensive backs running today.