Bengals take a peek at Pead in UC's Pro Day workout


The Enquirer/Gary Landers
Pro scouts watch as UC running back Isaiah Pead performs during an agility drill during Pro Day activities held at the Sheakley Athletics Center on the University of Cincinnati campus Friday.

Written by
Joe Reedy

After largely staying away from Isaiah Pead during the NFL scouting combine, the Bengals were out in full force during the University of Cincinnati Pro Day Friday at the Sheakley Athletic Center.

Pead stood on his workout marks from the combine but did do position drills as running backs coach Jim Anderson, receivers coach James Urban and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese looked on. Head coach Marvin Lewis did not attend, but director of player personnel Duke Tobin was there.

In addition to receiving drills, Pead also fielded punts under the watchful eye of special teams coach Darrin Simmons.

Said Pead on what Anderson told him during the workout: “He was just talking about every time I step on the field it is a work day. You always come to work and he noticed it here today and told me to continue it when I go to different teams when I work out.”

Pead did say he wanted another attempt at running the 40-yard dash but UC coach Butch Jones and his agent, Rick Smith, discouraged him from doing so. Pead still had the fifth-best time among running backs at 4.47 seconds in Indianapolis.

With the combine and pro day finished, it figures to be a long stretch from now until the draft starts April 28. In the meantime there will be plenty of individual running back workouts, starting with one March 12 with the Browns. The Bengals also will have a workout for local players at Paul Brown Stadium next month.

As for what the Bengals thought of Pead’s workout, they weren’t saying a lot, but Anderson is pleased with this year’s crop of running backs. After Alabama’s Trent Richardson, the best of the rest includes Pead, Miami’s Lamar Miller, Virginia Tech’s David Miller, Boise State’s Doug Miller and Oregon’s LaMichael James.

“It’s a good class. It will be interesting because it has some depth to it, and that’s what is really important,” he said.

Quarterback Zach Collaros had two former UC players and current Bengals on hand for his throwing drills – receivers Armon Binns and Vidal Hazelton. Pead, tight end Adrien Robinson and receiver D.J. Woods also took part.

The consensus was that Collaros had a solid day and displayed a nice touch on the deep balls. He also had no problems working behind center throwing a wide range of passes.

Robinson made the biggest impression with his workouts, with times of 4.51 and 4.58 in the 40. Had Robinson been at the combine, the 4.51 would have been the third-fastest time among tight ends.

“It was very important. This is like a big job interview, and it went well for me,” Robinson said. “I was anxious a little bit, but once I got in the flow things settled down.”

Five players – Evan Davis (ankle), Alex Hoffman (Achilles), John Hughes (hamstring), JK Schaffer (hamstring) and Orion Woodard (leg) – were limited or did not take part.

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