"He's a man," said Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards. "He's got something you can't teach. He has an arm where you can't take it easy on him. With most quarterbacks, they start going to the defense's left, and you don't expect them to throw it back across the field over the top."

Yahoo Sports' Jason Cole was there to record coaches' comments on Russell. "Russell can do that," said Edwards. "He's dangerous for a defense. He scares you because he can throw it deep without having to use his legs."

Russell has been projected as the No. 1 draft choice this year and there is talk the Oakland Raiders will draft him. However, several experts say Raiders owner Al Davis may not want to spend the money Russell will command as the top draft choice and could trade down and get a player and former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn with the eighth or ninth selection in the first round.

The coaches were amazed at Russell's 6-6 frame, 260-pounds, long arms and size-14 shoes.

"The ball looks like a seed in his hand," said San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan.

Russell and his agents have decided not to work out or throw during the Combine and will wait until the LSU players perform for the coaches and scouts to perform in Baton Rouge.

"Sometimes you're bigger than most of the defensive guys where I come from at the college level," Russell told the media and coaches. "It's a lot of fun when you've got big guys trying to tackle you and you're really not falling. You're still able to make plays. I'm bigger than most of the guys out there."

With the exception of most offensive and defensive linemen, that will continue to be the case in the NFL.

Russell can throw the football at the length of the field.

"I started playing football at age six, and I've been playing quarterback ever since," said Russell, "I was always bigger and taller than the other kids. I was always able to throw it pretty far."

"You can't just tackle this guy with the first defender who comes after him," said Edwards. "It's not going to happen. He's too much of a load. You see how he still makes plays after the defense starts to hit him."

Russell improved drastically this past season as a junior. He completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 3.129 yards, a school record 28 touchdown passes with only 8 interceptions.

He finished his college career by being named the Sugar Bowl MVP after outdueling Quinn. He also ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency.

"This guy is unreal," added Edwards.

SAINTS NOTES: The Saints have allocated four players to NFL Europe: defensive tackle McKinley Boykin, defensive end Willie Evans, safety Chris Reis and linebacker Cornelius Wortham. They will fight to make the roster at training camp in Jackson this summer.