On Saturday, the first workouts for the NFL Scouting Combine begin. This is the season where we get a heavy dose of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. They provide us with the insight on these players, from the good to the bad. Mike Mayock, of the NFL Network, will add a no-nonsense approach to his top draft picks and those that are flying under the radar. Fans and media-types are enamored by the blazing 40 times these kids run and also the super-athletic players. But what do we truly gain from knowing a kid runs a sub 4.30, or better yet what do the 32 NFL teams take away from the combine?
NFL personnel attend the combine to see what these players look like in person and the interview process. Of course, they like to see them perform in the drills, but the 40 time is not the essential component to the days spent at the combine in Indianapolis.
There will be teams that fall in love with the Chris Johnsons, Reggie Bushs, or Darrius Heyward-Beys of the world. But what does the 40 yard dash determine? It shows that a kid has either good or bad straight line speed. A top-end 40 time is not going to help a corner cover a wide receiver better or be better in zone coverage, and it is not going to help a running back with running in-between the tackles, his balance, or agility.
Every position has important pertinent drills specific to that position, but the three-cone drill and the shuttle drill are more important to teams. The three-cone drill measures a player’s agility, fluidity of his hips, and his quickness, which is important to how he transitions from one movement to another. The shuttle drill measures the player’s acceleration, his first step speed and his lateral quickness. This allows teams to see how quick these players reach optimal speed for whatever purpose and how they control their body coming out of different movements.
The Oakland Raiders are a team that falls in love with the most athletic and fast guys but this comes with a disclaimer: off the field issues or low football IQ. We know that Al Davis is going to make whatever decision his heart desires but this has not produced on the field success for his franchise.
As NFL teams push forward, they are looking for athletes that have no prior baggage that will be detrimental to them and then eventually the team. Teams will use the combine to cover every psychological factor of each player. They really want to get to know these players and not only from a football standpoint but what kind of human beings are these kids. We should see more stories like Myron Rolle (Rhodes Scholar) than the kids involved in robberies and altercations.
As you get comfy on your couch with your beer in hand and popcorn on your lap, forget about the 40 times and look at the other drills and make your assessment based on how these kids test in them. A glamourous 40 time doesn’t mean anything, just look at Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, any arguments? I didn’t think so.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Is the 40 time that important?
On Saturday, the first workouts for the NFL Scouting Combine begin. This is the season where we get a heavy dose of Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. They provide us with the insight on these players, from the good to the bad. Mike Mayock, of the NFL Network, will add a no-nonsense approach to his top draft picks and those that are flying under the radar. Fans and media-types are enamored by the blazing 40 times these kids run and also the super-athletic players. But what do we truly gain from knowing a kid runs a sub 4.30, or better yet what do the 32 NFL teams take away from the combine?
NFL personnel attend the combine to see what these players look like in person and the interview process. Of course, they like to see them perform in the drills, but the 40 time is not the essential component to the days spent at the combine in Indianapolis.
There will be teams that fall in love with the Chris Johnsons, Reggie Bushs, or Darrius Heyward-Beys of the world. But what does the 40 yard dash determine? It shows that a kid has either good or bad straight line speed. A top-end 40 time is not going to help a corner cover a wide receiver better or be better in zone coverage, and it is not going to help a running back with running in-between the tackles, his balance, or agility.
Every position has important pertinent drills specific to that position, but the three-cone drill and the shuttle drill are more important to teams. The three-cone drill measures a player’s agility, fluidity of his hips, and his quickness, which is important to how he transitions from one movement to another. The shuttle drill measures the player’s acceleration, his first step speed and his lateral quickness. This allows teams to see how quick these players reach optimal speed for whatever purpose and how they control their body coming out of different movements.
The Oakland Raiders are a team that falls in love with the most athletic and fast guys but this comes with a disclaimer: off the field issues or low football IQ. We know that Al Davis is going to make whatever decision his heart desires but this has not produced on the field success for his franchise.
As NFL teams push forward, they are looking for athletes that have no prior baggage that will be detrimental to them and then eventually the team. Teams will use the combine to cover every psychological factor of each player. They really want to get to know these players and not only from a football standpoint but what kind of human beings are these kids. We should see more stories like Myron Rolle (Rhodes Scholar) than the kids involved in robberies and altercations.
As you get comfy on your couch with your beer in hand and popcorn on your lap, forget about the 40 times and look at the other drills and make your assessment based on how these kids test in them. A glamourous 40 time doesn’t mean anything, just look at Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, any arguments? I didn’t think so.
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