Dear Todd McShay:

First, let me start by saying I have enjoyed and appreciated your work on scouting college prospects for the NFL Draft in years past.
I think you bring a good opposing view at ESPN to your counterpart, Mel Kiper Jr.
But, I need to strongly object to a statement you made on Thursday during an episode of Sportscenter.
Here is what you had to say about former Central Michigan quarterback, Dan LeFevour:
“Dan LeFevour is stiff in his upper body, he’s not accurate, he has no idea about the pro style passing game, he is indecisive, and I don’t think he’s a good leader. I know he won a lot of games at a middle-level school, but Dan LeFevour should be a fifth or sixth round draft pick.”Now I am not going to argue on your assessment of where LeFevour fits into the NFL Draft. You have seen a lot more film on college and NFL quarterbacks and have talked with a lot more professional scouts than I have. I trust your opinion there.
But, I couldn’t disagree more with you statement on LeFevour as a leader. To make a broad statement like that is simply asinine.
I know you feel LeFevour is an overrated prospect, and that is fine, but stick to what you know. Evaluate him as a quarterback and his mechanics. Don’t act like you know him on a personal level and don’t think that watching him on film or in a game gives you an idea of how to evaluate him as a leader.
I am pretty sure that there are 20,000 plus people in the Mid-Michigan area that would like to explain to you why LeFevour is a good leader and at least 10 other guys that took the field with him on Saturdays that would like to strongly disagree with you.
Would a poor leader find a way to win three conference championships?
Would a poor leader find a way to win two bowl games?
Would a poor leader hold every major passing and scoring record at his college?
Would a poor leader score more touchdowns than any other player in Division 1 college football history?
Would a poor leader guide his team to its first ever top 25 ranking in school history?
Now maybe a guy that was a one-hit wonder and did well in one season could get by without leading his team, but LeFevour is not that guy.
I have watched with my own eyes as LeFevour emerged as a true leader for Central Michigan, on and off the field. He has dedicated his time and energy to making his team the best it could be through his efforts and the efforts of his teammates.
He has offered advice and friendship to many on his team and earned their trust and respect by leading by example.
Just being a freshman that stepped on the field in his first college game and winning over a huddle that featured a future NFL first round draft pick in Joe Staley is sign enough that LeFevour knows how to command a huddle and be a leader for his team. Not to mention, there hasn’t been one instance of off the field issues in four years as the face of a program.
But, I guess that’s not leadership.
If you think LeFevour won’t be a good NFL quarterback or isn’t worthy of an early round pick, I won’t argue with you. You know your stuff there. But, don’t take a cheap shot to try and strengthen your argument. It only discredits you as a professional.
I hope LeFevour does well in the NFL but I also know that he has a lot of work to do to become a franchise quarterback. I think he would admit the same.
But, what I do know, and what I know through four years of covering LeFevour, is that a team couldn’t ask for a better leader for their franchise if he becomes their starting quarterback.

Sincerely,
Drew Ellis

By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer

After weeks of criticism from the national media, Wednesday was time for Dan LeFevour to do what he does best, throw the football.
LeFevour worked out his arm as part of CMU’s Pro Day at the Indoor Athletic Complex after choosing not to throw during the NFL Combine late last month.
Scouts from 22 different NFL teams were on hand to watch LeFevour and other CMU seniors from the 2009 team show their skills in hopes to set up a future in the NFL.
LeFevour only took part in throwing as he displayed his ability to take snaps under center, show improved footwork, and complete a variety of throws of difference distances and angles.
LeFevour threw a little over 60 passes, completing all but seven of his throws.
“I think it went pretty well,” LeFevour said of his workout. “I am very critical of myself so I felt it could have went better. I missed a few throws early on and didn’t feel I was as sharp as I was a few days ago, but I still feel I did well. I wish I could do it over again, but that is just what kind of person I am.”
LeFevour focused on being able to roll out of the pocket and make throws across his body and also his ability to hit deep targets and sideline routes. He also exhibiting his ability to hand the ball off under center.
All scouts in attendance were focusing on LeFevour during the event with teams from Cleveland, Seattle, Kansas City, Carolina, and Minnesota seeming to do the most note taking during the workout.
“I think the scouts wanted to see how I flowed under center and I even took some one-handed snaps just to show that I have been working hard on that,” LeFevour said. “I think they just wanted to see that I could make all of the throws quarterbacks need to make. I was glad that I could show them what I have been working on and how I have progressed.”
Kansas City and Seattle spoke in length with LeFevour following the workout and Carolina has a private workout schedule with LeFevour in the upcoming weeks.
There wasn’t a lot of praise for the performance from scouts, but most of the them. keep their evaluations to themselves as they don’t want to give any teams an idea of their interest level in a player. LeFevour’s deep ball throws looked to lack velocity but his short throws were primarily on target.
Charlie Weis, the new Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator, wouldn’t comment on what he thought of LeFevour’s performance but did state that he was at the Pro Day to see LeFevour.
Following his Pro Day LeFevour still felt good about his prospects of being drafted in the first three rounds.
“I am going to be watching the whole draft and I am hoping to be taken somewhere in the first two days of the draft,” LeFevour said. “But, I will be in no way disappointed if I am drafted between the fourth and seventh round. I am just looking for an opportunity to play in the NFL.
One of the other main attractions Wednesday was wide receiver Antonio Brown, who improved his 4.5 40-yard dash time from the NFL Combine by running a 4.45 on Wednesday, according to ChippewaCountry.com.
Brown also took part in LeFevour’s workout by catching passes and showing his route running ability.
“My routes looked really crispy, I had good burst out of my breaks, had good acceleration out of my cuts, and I had a great day catching the ball and a great 40,” Brown said. “Overall, it was a great day.”
Minnesota, Detroit, and Miami were among some of the teams that spoke with Brown on Wednesday, with the Dolphins going so far as to taking him out to Kelly/Shorts Stadium to work him out individually.
“I have plans to go in the second round,” Brown said. “I have a lot of workouts scheduled and I don’t want to say who they are with, but I feel if I go later than the second round, the team is getting a steal. I bring so much to the table.”
Two others that had solid showings were wide receiver Bryan Anderson and cornerback Josh Gordy.
Anderson posted a 4.49 40-yard dash to help his draft prospects as his speed was a big concern for NFL scouts. Anderson also ran a 6.36 in the 3-cone drill, which would have been one of the top times in the NFL Combine.
Josh Gordy showed his speed by running a 4.32 and 4.35 in the 40-yard dash. Gordy also ran a 6.68 in the 3-cone drill to earn some high praise from scouts.
“I just wanted to come out and perform well and set the bar higher for myself,” Gordy said. “I feel pretty good about how I did. This was my chance to just test well and give myself a chance for the future.”
Defensive end Frank Zombo also took part in workouts, running a 4.71 and 4.69 in the 40-yard dash and a 7.05 in the 3-cone. Zombo also did 23 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press.
Zombo took part in LeFevour’s workout as well, running routes as a tight end, and a few scouts worked him out as a tight end, including Kansas City. Zombo played tight end in high school and came to CMU as a tight end before moving to defensive end.
The NFL Draft will start on Thursday, April 22. The first round will take place that night with second and third rounds taking place on Friday, April 23 and the final four rounds taking place on Saturday, April 24.

Pro Day wrapped up this morning and many of the players are still doing interviews with respective teams, but here are some observations and notes from the workout:

- Most if not all NFL teams were represented. Kansas City had three people there along, including Charlie Weis. I tried to talk to him to ask him what they were looking for from LeFevour, but he wouldn't comment, but he did say that he was there to see Dan.
- The teams that seemed to be taking the most notes during LeFevour's throwing session were Kansas City, Carolina, Minnesota, and Cleveland. Kansas City and Seattle spoke with him on the field following the throwing. All of those five teams seem to have quarterback issues except for Kansas City, who just put a lot of money into Matt Cassell last year.
- Antonio Brown was getting a lot of attention. He was speaking with scouts from Minnesota, Oakland, Detroit, and others. The Miami Dolphins took him outside to do a workout after the main workouts were over. He improved on his 40-time, running around a 4.4. He feels like if he goes after the second round, the team is getting a "steal".
- Josh Gordy had impressive numbers. He ran a 40-time in the 4.3's and his agility drills looked solid. His speed could get him a post draft workout.
- Bryan Anderson ran around a 4.45 for a 40-time. That isn't too bad and was a big question mark for him.
- Frank Zombo worked out a lot at tight end and Kansas City was very responsive to him. He came to CMU as a tight end and his physical size is right where it needs to be to play tight end. His route running looked solid and his hands were good.

I will have more in tomorrow's Morning Sun but just wanted to pass those thoughts along.

CMU held another spring practice on Saturday. The team was indoors because of the cold weather. Plenty of recruits were on hand to watch the action and speak with the coaching staff afterward.

Here are a few notes from the practice:
-Add Jake Olson to those not practicing because of injuries. He didn't practice on Thursday either, but I couldn't identify him among the players because he didn't have a number on. Linebacker Kyle Zelinsky is also among the injured that are wearing red during the spring.
-With Olson out, Rocky Weaver and Eric Fisher are at the tackle spots with the first team with Darren Keyton and Matt Kanitz at the guards and Colin Miller at center.
-Paris Cotton was back at practice today and getting reps mixed in with the other backs. Volny and Tipton still seem to be getting the most looks though.
-Taylor Bradley is back with CMU and practicing, he has been practicing at wide receiver though, where he originally started. He was getting a lot of deep ball throws and he may be the guy CMU turns to the go down field in the passing game. Bradley showed a lot of promise as a receiver his freshman year, so this could be a nice move back for him.
-Vince Agnew had a couple of nice plays during 11-on-11 drills. He batted away a couple of passes and had a near pick-six that he dropped.
-Redshirt freshman Shamari Benton is getting a lot of reps with the second team defense at linebacker. He is playing the hybrid/nickel back spot that Tim Brazzel played most of last season. I was impressed with his play during practice and also how much weight he has put on since the fall. Benton was a kid that I wasn't sure was going to be able to make it through his first season early on, but now he looks to be doing well and in position to see the field this year.
-In the quarterback competition, Ryan Radcliff clearly looks to be the best option. He has the strongest arm and seems to make the best reads. Derek Rifenbury struggled with taking snaps, as he fumbled the snap twice. A.J. Westendorp has a nice arm and throws a pretty ball, but his delivery is very different and I think it leads to him telegraphing his throws. His delivery takes more time and it keys the secondary in to where the ball is going. He had a number of passes broken up for that reason today in my opinion.
-The funniest moment of the practice was during field goal practice and one of the kickers swore after missing an attempt. Dan Enos grabbed the kid and said "Hey, we don't talk like that here. My kids are here. We have recruits here. We don't talk like that." Given the previous regime and the language they used, that is quite a difference in practice procedure.
-Dan LeFevour and Antonio Brown were at practice today. I got a chance to talk with LeFevour for a minute and he sounds optimistic about how his draft prep is going. He has some personal workouts lined up in the coming weeks and his pro day should be highly attended by NFL scouts. He felt the key to his pro day will be his arm strength and mechanics, as he has made some slight corrections to his throwing motion. Allen Ollenburger will be his center during the workouts. LeFevour added that he would like to go to a team where he has a chance to play early in his career, but also has a veteran on the squad that can help mentor him and bring him along.
-I spoke with Radcliff following practice and will have a story on him in Sunday's paper. I also spoke with QB Coach Jay Johnson about the quarterbacks.

CMU holds another practice Tuesday, I will pass on some more notes then.

By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer

Dan LeFevour has excelled at making the most out of every opportunity.
His improbable four-year campaign as starting quarterback of the Central Michigan football team left him as one of the all-time greats in the program’s history. All he needed was the chance.
Now, as he ventures into his NFL future, LeFevour is facing a new challenge, but again, he is doing his part to make the most of the opportunity.
With the NFL Combine beginning today and running through Mar. 2 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. LeFevour will take part in interviews with scouts and representatives from all 32 NFL teams while also taking part in drills and exercises.
But, what LeFevour won’t be doing is what the scouts really want to see, throwing the football.
“I will be doing everything there is to do, I just won’t be doing any throwing or passing drills,” LeFevour said. “I will be going through interviews, taking the tests, doing the 40-yard dash, the shuttle, everything they ask but throwing.”
So why is LeFevour waiting to throw until his CMU Pro Day on March 24?
“At the combine I would be asked to throw with receivers I have never thrown to or have any chemistry with,” LeFevour said. “I feel like I want to have my pro day focused on just throwing. I want to be in my familiar surroundings throwing to guys that I have always thrown to. I want to make sure that I am comfortable when I throw for the scouts and I don’t have to worry about other factors and working with receivers that I haven’t worked with before.”
Though his arm won’t be on display, his character and personality will be this weekend, which can be just as important.
“As a quarterback, you want to interview well and you need to be able to present yourself well,” LeFevour said. “Teams want to know that you are capable of being a leader and that you can command a huddle, so that will be important for me to show.”
LeFevour will also test his agility and athleticism as he takes part in the shuttle drill, the high jump, and the always popular 40-yard dash.
“I think doing well in the 40 would help,” LeFevour said. “I don’t want to set myself up for failure and expect to run something like a 4.5 or 4.6, but I have been improving on that in training and I think posting a 4.7 is reasonable for me.”
Getting a chance to go through practices at the Senior Bowl has also helped LeFevour prepare for the combine, as he has already been through some of the rigors that come with this weekend.
“The Senior Bowl was a great opportunity and it helped quite a bit in my training and preparation,” LeFevour said. “I feel very thankful to have been able to play in that and go through the whole week. I feel more prepared for the combine because I went through that experience.”
While LeFevour hasn’t been told by teams where they see him fitting in this year’s draft, he is optimistic about increasing his value this weekend.
“I think every team has a different opinion, but nobody wants to show their cards and give away their strategies,” LeFevour said. “Nobody has really told me where they think I will be drafted, so I am just going in hoping that I can make a good impression and perform well.”
LeFevour will join fellow teammate, Antonio Brown, as the lone Chippewas at the combine. LeFevour is hoping Brown can also leave a good impression in Indianapolis.
“I hope he does his best because I know his best is better than a lot of guys,” LeFevour said of Brown. “Antonio is an incredible player with a lot of talent and I just hope he can display that and set himself up for a promising future.”

*On a side note, I got a chance to do some work with The Scores Report, an online blog spot, on LeFevour. Check out the article here.

By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer

The past few weeks have felt like an entire football season for members of the Central Michigan football team.
With all the whirlwinds of a coaching change while trying to prepare for the GMAC Bowl on Jan. 6 against Troy, the Chippewas needed a break.
The players got the break for the holidays and had a chance to unplug from the rigors of college football, but returned to the grinds on Monday with the bowl game now just a week away.
“I think the guys have been dealing with it very well,” CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour said of the distractions. “This is the second time through this for some of us and the young guys, this is their first time with something like this. The older guys are trying to help the younger guys through this and coach (Steve) Stripling has been doing a great job of preparing the team, so there hasn’t been a lot of change.”
The players will continue practice this week before leaving for Mobile, Ala. on the weekend. With the changes in the coaching staff, the players’ focus has been on winning for the team.
“We know that we are playing for each other,” CMU defensive end Frank Zombo said. “We are having a good time and Coach Stripling has made it a really enjoyable experience for all of us. I think all of the seniors are really trying to soak in these last days that we have together.”
Butch Jones’ departure to Cincinnati was a hard time for many of the players, but there has been closure to the situation as Jones returned to Mt. Pleasant before the holidays and spoke with the team.
“He is obviously a Chippewa and he cares a lot about Central Michigan,” LeFevour said of Jones. “But, when someone is trying to take care of your family for many years and offering you a substantial raise, you have to at least look at it and see if it is what is best for your wife and kids. You can’t blame him and he will always be a Chippewa to me.”
Jones also hosted a number of the players to his home for dinner before leaving once and for all for Cincinnati.
“Coach Jones is a class act,” Zombo said. “He (left CMU) the best way he possibly could. We understand that he has to take care of his family. I really do believe that he does love us and he is still going to be there for us. We all have his new number and we are all going to stay in touch.”
The lingering cloud of an uncertain future with a new head coach is not affecting the seniors on the team, but LeFevour and Zombo understand what the young players are feeling right now as they went through the same emotions three years ago.
“The guys just need to trust Mr. (Dave) Heeke,” LeFevour said. “He did a great job last time in picking a head coach and I guarantee there are some very qualified candidates out there for this job. The guys just need to trust in him and know he will do a good job for them.”
While they can’t control the coaching hire, the seniors are doing all they can to make sure the young guys are staying focused on the GMAC Bowl and not thinking about anything else.
“The young guys are probably feeling like it’s nearly the last day of school and they have the rest of the summer off,” LeFevour said. “But this game is important to them and important to us older guys too. This is a chance to leave our legacy and everyone needs to make the most of every opportunity because you never know when your last one is going to come.”
LeFevour will be playing in his final game with CMU next Wednesday, but the senior is doing all he can to enjoy each moment until the game is over.
“I am not looking to get this game over with. I am looking forward to playing it, but not looking forward to being done here,” LeFevour said of his last game. “This year has been the most fun I have had here in my career. I love these guys. I love these seniors. I love this place. I am trying to cherish every day that I have left.”

*Also on a side note Antonio Brown filed his papers to be evaluated for the NFL Draft weeks ago. Once he hears back on where he is being gauged to be drafted, it will give him a better idea on whether he should leave CMU early.

About a month prior to the 2009 NFL Draft, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper held an online chat where he talked about 2010 quarterback prospects. After mentioning Oklahoma's Sam Bradford as the top prospect, Kiper then mentioned Tim Tebow of Florida and then threw out Dan LeFevour as a 10-15 pick in the first round.

This past weekend, Kiper again referenced LeFevour and reiterated his feelings on LeFevour. He mentioned Dan a few times on national television and gave him some more love in a post-draft chat, referring to him again as a 10-15th pick prospect in the first round of next year's draft.

It should be noted that other draft analyst, Todd McShay of Scouts Inc., felt LeFevour was more of a day two selections (3rd-7th rounds).

In my opinion, and I like Dan a lot, he has a good head on his shoulders, but I find it hard to believe that any NFL is going to put their franchise in his hands. If Graham Harrell of Texas Tech goes undrafted because he didn't run a "pro-style" offense, then where does that put LeFevour. CMU's offense is as far from a pro-style offense as you can get.

Dan's strengths are his intelligence, his poise in the pocket, his accuracy on short passes, and his running ability. But, in the NFL, LeFevour's running ability isn't going to get him very far. It will help in avoiding sacks, but an NFL team is not going to go with a draw call with Dan.

Dan's ability to throw the long ball would be a question and his ability to take the snap from under center would also be an issue. I am sure those are things he can work on during the year, but again if Harrell's amazing throwing ability didn't cut it, why would LeFevour's?

Obviously how things pan out this season will impact Dan's draft prospects, but I would still be shocked to see him anywhere in the first round next year. I think Dan can do some good things in the Wild Cat formation, but as a full-time quarterback taking all the snaps, I just don't see it right now.