Combine Thread...
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2020 NFL combine: Do you know the drill?
By Dane Brugler Feb 26, 2020
Some label the combine as nothing more than the “Underwear Olympics,” but as legendary NFL scout C.O. Brocato, who invented the three-cone drill, once told me: “Those who don’t value the combine, don’t know how to properly use it.”
Using the step-by-step guide from the scouting handbook below is a detailed breakdown of each athletic test, including a player to watch in each category and what NFL scouts think about the drills.
40-Yard Dash
This test is used to measure vertical speed and acceleration.
1. Player starts in a 3-point stance.
2. After player hears, “You can go” from the Director, he must hold for a 2-count before running.
3. No rolling starts. No quick starts.
4. Timer will start watch when player’s down-hand separates from the surface.
5. Player will run the 40-yard dash twice.
6. After running the 40-yard dash, players return to player holding area near starting line.
NFL Scout’s take: “These kids train religiously for the event that it’s lost some importance in my mind. It’s almost as much about technique than speed. The results still matter, and I’ll pay attention, especially for receivers and DBs, but functional speed is much more important.”
Who should shine?
Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Ruggs owns the easy speed that allows him to accelerate with ease down the field. He set the class 7A Alabama state record in the 100-meters (10.58) in high school and that blur speed translates to the football field. Ruggs is expected to run in the 4.3’s, but he has a legitimate chance of reaching the 4.2’s.
Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah
Not many athletes can claim to be the 100-meter state champ in two different states, but that is what Guidry did, starting his prep career in Texas and finishing in California. He has the top-end speed to compete with Ruggs for the fastest 40-yard dash this year.
Who needs a strong time?
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson is a seasoned route-runner who attacks defenders at the stem to work his way to open space. But he isn’t a burner who will simply blow by NFL defensive backs with speed. Jefferson doesn’t need to run a 4.45, but in a stacked wide receiver class, a 4.52 time will look a lot better than 4.57.
Antoine Winfield Jr., DS, Minnesota
Winfield is a smart, opportunistic player with the instincts to go big-play hunting. But his below-average size and speed leave very little margin for error in NFL coverage. How he runs in the 40-yard dash will be important.
The average 40-yard dash results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
10-Yard Split
The first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash, this test is used to measure initial quickness and burst. Steps are the same as the 40-yard dash.
NFL Scout’s Take: “The 40 matters more for some positions, not so much for others. But the 10-yard split is a universal measurement. I don’t care if it’s edge rusher or center, I want guys with twitchy reflexes and reactive athleticism more than just stride speed. This is my favorite drill for pass rushers.”
Who should shine?
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
One of the most explosive athletes in this year’s class, Queen should post an impressive time in his initial 10-yards. He should be well below the league average at linebacker (1.61) and might get close to another former LSU linebacker, Deion Jones, who had one of the fastest 10-yard splits (1.52) at the position in recent years.
Who needs a strong time?
A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
One of the most important times this week will be Epenesa’s 10-yard split. A heavy-handed pass rusher, he wins with power and savvy more than pure speed off the edge. Epenesa doesn’t need to test like an elite athlete, but he just can’t test like a below-average athlete. A 10-yard split under 1.65 would be good, but anything under 1.60 would be great for him.
The average 10-yard split results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
Short Shuttle
This test is used to measure agility and lateral movement.
1. While facing the Drill Director, player starts in a 3-point stance with legs straddling the line equally.
2. Player must have hand squarely on the start line and hold the position for 2 seconds.
3. After player hears, “You can go” from Director he may start drill.
4. Player will run to the right line 5 yards away and touch the line with right hand. Player will then sprint 10 yards to the left and touch the line with left hand.
5. After the last line touch, player will sprint through the finish line, which is the starting point of the drill.
6. All players will complete one run to the right and one run to the left. (2 attempts)
7. Down hand is same as running direction. Left hand to the Left – Right hand to the Right.
8. It is the responsibility of the player not to slip and adjust to the surface.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Short-area quickness is essential in our game. Can you brake and balance? Can you recreate your burst in the opposite direction? The long shuttle is more about endurance, but the short shuttle helps expose the rigid, out-of-control dudes.”
Who should shine?
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
A polished route runner, Jeudy does a masterful job shifting gears with his start-stop quickness. That should translate to a drill that measures the ability to stop on a dime and burst in the other direction.
John Reid, CB, Penn State
An underrated Day 3 prospect, Reid reportedly posted a 3.97 in the short shuttle at Penn State. Anything under four seconds is an elite time, regardless of position.
Who needs a strong time?
Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
A smooth-moving big man, Cleveland doesn’t have ideal length or power for the position, but his athletic skill is his ticket to NFL success. If he posts a time under 4.50, that would put him in exclusive territory with athletic NFL tackles like Anthony Castonzo (4.40) and Taylor Lewan (4.49).
The average short shuttle results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
Vertical Jump
This test is used to measure lower body explosion and leaping ability.
1. Director will measure 18 and/or 24 inches down from the bottom marker on the Vertec and place a piece of tape at each mark.
2. Player will stand with his right side (ankle, hip, shoulder; left side if left-handed) against the Vertec and extend his arm upward as far as possible.
3. Director will extend the Vertec to the top of the players’ extended hand at the top edge of tape and tighten in place. The bottom marker will represent 18 or 24 inches for that player.
4. Player starts jump with both feet planted on the ground.
5. Player may swing arms and dip knees.
6. Players may not shuffle feet before take-off as this will result in a scratch and jump will not count.
7. Player attempts 2 jumps touching the highest slat-marker on the Vertec from the floor.
8. That mark represents the players’ vertical jump.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Higher you can jump, the better. But it’s more of a threshold drill. As long as you jump at a certain level depending on position, you’re fine. The best numbers in this drill don’t tell me much.”
Who should shine?
Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
A track stud growing up and through high school, Simmons will shine in several drills, especially the jumps. He was the state champion in the long jump in his junior and senior years in high school, showing the lower body springs to hit the high notes.
Who needs a strong result?
Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Offensive linemen don’t jump, so why would his vertical matter? Because it helps measure lower body explosive traits, especially for a bigger body like Becton, who tips the scales at 365 pounds. Anything above 30 would be an elite result for him.
The average vertical jump results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
Broad Jump
This test is used to measure lower body explosion and balance.
1. Each player receives two attempts at the Standing Broad Jump.
2. Players must start with both feet/toes totally behind start line for valid jump.
3. Players may swing arms and bend knees prior to jumping.
4. Upon landing, player must maintain control, landing balanced with both feet planted.
5. Upon landing player may also fall forward, but not backward.
6. Jumps are measured from the heel of the foot nearest to the initial jump line.
7. Jumps are measured to the nearest whole inch.
8. Results are recorded in feet and inches jumped.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Our data says it’s pointless. Obviously, the better number, the better athlete, but in terms of predicting success on the field, it doesn’t predict much.”
Who should shine?
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Reagor could be the answer to most of these categories. He should run in the 4.3’s and post above-average times in the shuttles. But the jumps are where his explosiveness should really shine. As a senior in high school, Reagor set the nation’s best mark in the long jump, winning a state title.
Who needs a strong result?
Geno Stone, DS, Iowa
A smart, assignment sound player, Stone is the type of defender who won’t make many mental mistakes, but he is undersized with only average speed. Strong numbers in the jumps would boost his chances of being drafted in the top-12 picks.
The average broad jump results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
Three-Cone Drill
This test is used to measure agility, flexibility and change of direction.
1. Cones are set 5 yards apart forming an “L” shape.
2. Player will start the drill in a 3-point stance.
3. With player in start position Drill Director will release player by saying “You can go”.
4. Director will start the stopwatch the instant the player’s hand separates from the surface.
5. The player will sprint forward 5 yards touching the line and returning to the start line touching that line before running around the cones.
6. Player must touch lines with Right Hand.
7. When running around the cones, the player will maintain outside leverage until the last cone. On the last cone, the player will circle around the cone before returning to the finish line.
8. The player will again maintain outside leverage while running around the cones on his way back to the finish line.
9. Player may not touch cone or place hand on surface when making turn around a cone.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Unlike the shuttles, which use hard stops, the three-cone is about continued momentum and ease of movement. If the only drill we did in Indy was the three-cone, I’m not sure too many would complain. We have plenty of research that confirms its legitimacy.”
Who should shine?
Kyle Dugger, LB/S, Lenoir Rhyne
Dugger moves more like a cornerback than a safety or linebacker with his fluid redirection skills. He posted a 6.70 three-cone last spring, which would compare favorably with other top times at the position like Harrison Smith (6.63) and Budda Baker (6.76).
Who needs a strong time?
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
An upright, straight-line athlete, Hodgins needs to introduce better sink in his route-running to get himself open vs. NFL-level athletes. A three-cone time under seven seconds would give evaluators optimism that he can do that.
Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
With his motor and aggressive hands, Weaver beat up tackles in the Mountain West, setting the conference’s all-time record for sacks. But can he bend? If Weaver posts a sub-seven second three-cone, he will create buzz for himself.
The average three-cone drill results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
225-pound Bench Press
This test is used to measure upper body strength (bench press strength, not functional strength)
1. Warm up at 185lb bench or pushups if desired
2. Keep both feet on the ground
3. Keep buttocks on the bench.
4. Fully extend arms on every repetition.
5. DO NOT bounce the bar off their chest
6. DO NOT short-arm the repetition.
7. Fouls will result in the deduction of a repetition
8. Director counts the player’s repetitions.
9. Total number of repetitions is recorded, minus deducted repetitions, if any
Target reps depend by position, but general rule of thumb: 25+ is above average, 15-25 is good, 15 or less is below average.
NFL Scout’s Take: “The bench press tells us way more about a kid’s effort in the weight room than his functional strength. I’m surprised we still do it.”
Who should shine?
Simon Stepaniak, OG, Indiana
According to Bruce Feldman’s Freak List, Stepaniak lifted 225 pounds 41 times on the bench press. Over the last five years, DT Harrison Phillips (42 reps) was the only combine participant to reach 40 reps on the bench press.
Who needs a strong result?
Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
A long, lean athlete, Dantzler doesn’t have ideal play strength for the NFL. Can he reach 15 reps on the bench?
By Dane Brugler Feb 26, 2020
Some label the combine as nothing more than the “Underwear Olympics,” but as legendary NFL scout C.O. Brocato, who invented the three-cone drill, once told me: “Those who don’t value the combine, don’t know how to properly use it.”
Using the step-by-step guide from the scouting handbook below is a detailed breakdown of each athletic test, including a player to watch in each category and what NFL scouts think about the drills.
40-Yard Dash
This test is used to measure vertical speed and acceleration.
1. Player starts in a 3-point stance.
2. After player hears, “You can go” from the Director, he must hold for a 2-count before running.
3. No rolling starts. No quick starts.
4. Timer will start watch when player’s down-hand separates from the surface.
5. Player will run the 40-yard dash twice.
6. After running the 40-yard dash, players return to player holding area near starting line.
NFL Scout’s take: “These kids train religiously for the event that it’s lost some importance in my mind. It’s almost as much about technique than speed. The results still matter, and I’ll pay attention, especially for receivers and DBs, but functional speed is much more important.”
Who should shine?
Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama
Ruggs owns the easy speed that allows him to accelerate with ease down the field. He set the class 7A Alabama state record in the 100-meters (10.58) in high school and that blur speed translates to the football field. Ruggs is expected to run in the 4.3’s, but he has a legitimate chance of reaching the 4.2’s.
Javelin Guidry, CB, Utah
Not many athletes can claim to be the 100-meter state champ in two different states, but that is what Guidry did, starting his prep career in Texas and finishing in California. He has the top-end speed to compete with Ruggs for the fastest 40-yard dash this year.
Who needs a strong time?
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Jefferson is a seasoned route-runner who attacks defenders at the stem to work his way to open space. But he isn’t a burner who will simply blow by NFL defensive backs with speed. Jefferson doesn’t need to run a 4.45, but in a stacked wide receiver class, a 4.52 time will look a lot better than 4.57.
Antoine Winfield Jr., DS, Minnesota
Winfield is a smart, opportunistic player with the instincts to go big-play hunting. But his below-average size and speed leave very little margin for error in NFL coverage. How he runs in the 40-yard dash will be important.
The average 40-yard dash results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| 40-Yard Dash | |
| QB | 4.80 |
| RB | 4.54 |
| WR | 4.49 |
| TE | 4.66 |
| OT | 5.12 |
| iOL | 5.25 |
| EDGE | 4.71 |
| iDL | 4.98 |
| LB | 4.58 |
| CB | 4.45 |
| SAF | 4.52 |
10-Yard Split
The first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash, this test is used to measure initial quickness and burst. Steps are the same as the 40-yard dash.
NFL Scout’s Take: “The 40 matters more for some positions, not so much for others. But the 10-yard split is a universal measurement. I don’t care if it’s edge rusher or center, I want guys with twitchy reflexes and reactive athleticism more than just stride speed. This is my favorite drill for pass rushers.”
Who should shine?
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
One of the most explosive athletes in this year’s class, Queen should post an impressive time in his initial 10-yards. He should be well below the league average at linebacker (1.61) and might get close to another former LSU linebacker, Deion Jones, who had one of the fastest 10-yard splits (1.52) at the position in recent years.
Who needs a strong time?
A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
One of the most important times this week will be Epenesa’s 10-yard split. A heavy-handed pass rusher, he wins with power and savvy more than pure speed off the edge. Epenesa doesn’t need to test like an elite athlete, but he just can’t test like a below-average athlete. A 10-yard split under 1.65 would be good, but anything under 1.60 would be great for him.
The average 10-yard split results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| 10-Yard Split | |
| QB | 1.68 |
| RB | 1.59 |
| WR | 1.56 |
| TE | 1.62 |
| OT | 1.79 |
| iOL | 1.82 |
| EDGE | 1.63 |
| iDL | 1.73 |
| LB | 1.61 |
| CB | 1.57 |
| SAF | 1.58 |
Short Shuttle
This test is used to measure agility and lateral movement.
1. While facing the Drill Director, player starts in a 3-point stance with legs straddling the line equally.
2. Player must have hand squarely on the start line and hold the position for 2 seconds.
3. After player hears, “You can go” from Director he may start drill.
4. Player will run to the right line 5 yards away and touch the line with right hand. Player will then sprint 10 yards to the left and touch the line with left hand.
5. After the last line touch, player will sprint through the finish line, which is the starting point of the drill.
6. All players will complete one run to the right and one run to the left. (2 attempts)
7. Down hand is same as running direction. Left hand to the Left – Right hand to the Right.
8. It is the responsibility of the player not to slip and adjust to the surface.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Short-area quickness is essential in our game. Can you brake and balance? Can you recreate your burst in the opposite direction? The long shuttle is more about endurance, but the short shuttle helps expose the rigid, out-of-control dudes.”
Who should shine?
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
A polished route runner, Jeudy does a masterful job shifting gears with his start-stop quickness. That should translate to a drill that measures the ability to stop on a dime and burst in the other direction.
John Reid, CB, Penn State
An underrated Day 3 prospect, Reid reportedly posted a 3.97 in the short shuttle at Penn State. Anything under four seconds is an elite time, regardless of position.
Who needs a strong time?
Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
A smooth-moving big man, Cleveland doesn’t have ideal length or power for the position, but his athletic skill is his ticket to NFL success. If he posts a time under 4.50, that would put him in exclusive territory with athletic NFL tackles like Anthony Castonzo (4.40) and Taylor Lewan (4.49).
The average short shuttle results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| Short Shuttle | |
| QB | 4.28 |
| RB | 4.29 |
| WR | 4.22 |
| TE | 4.35 |
| OT | 4.73 |
| iOL | 4.67 |
| EDGE | 4.34 |
| iDL | 4.57 |
| LB | 4.28 |
| CB | 4.17 |
| SAF | 4.18 |
Vertical Jump
This test is used to measure lower body explosion and leaping ability.
1. Director will measure 18 and/or 24 inches down from the bottom marker on the Vertec and place a piece of tape at each mark.
2. Player will stand with his right side (ankle, hip, shoulder; left side if left-handed) against the Vertec and extend his arm upward as far as possible.
3. Director will extend the Vertec to the top of the players’ extended hand at the top edge of tape and tighten in place. The bottom marker will represent 18 or 24 inches for that player.
4. Player starts jump with both feet planted on the ground.
5. Player may swing arms and dip knees.
6. Players may not shuffle feet before take-off as this will result in a scratch and jump will not count.
7. Player attempts 2 jumps touching the highest slat-marker on the Vertec from the floor.
8. That mark represents the players’ vertical jump.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Higher you can jump, the better. But it’s more of a threshold drill. As long as you jump at a certain level depending on position, you’re fine. The best numbers in this drill don’t tell me much.”
Who should shine?
Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
A track stud growing up and through high school, Simmons will shine in several drills, especially the jumps. He was the state champion in the long jump in his junior and senior years in high school, showing the lower body springs to hit the high notes.
Who needs a strong result?
Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
Offensive linemen don’t jump, so why would his vertical matter? Because it helps measure lower body explosive traits, especially for a bigger body like Becton, who tips the scales at 365 pounds. Anything above 30 would be an elite result for him.
The average vertical jump results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| Vertical Jump | |
| QB | 31.5 |
| RB | 35 |
| WR | 36 |
| TE | 34.5 |
| OT | 30 |
| iOL | 28.5 |
| EDGE | 34.5 |
| iDL | 31.5 |
| LB | 37 |
| CB | 38 |
| SAF | 36.5 |
Broad Jump
This test is used to measure lower body explosion and balance.
1. Each player receives two attempts at the Standing Broad Jump.
2. Players must start with both feet/toes totally behind start line for valid jump.
3. Players may swing arms and bend knees prior to jumping.
4. Upon landing, player must maintain control, landing balanced with both feet planted.
5. Upon landing player may also fall forward, but not backward.
6. Jumps are measured from the heel of the foot nearest to the initial jump line.
7. Jumps are measured to the nearest whole inch.
8. Results are recorded in feet and inches jumped.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Our data says it’s pointless. Obviously, the better number, the better athlete, but in terms of predicting success on the field, it doesn’t predict much.”
Who should shine?
Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Reagor could be the answer to most of these categories. He should run in the 4.3’s and post above-average times in the shuttles. But the jumps are where his explosiveness should really shine. As a senior in high school, Reagor set the nation’s best mark in the long jump, winning a state title.
Who needs a strong result?
Geno Stone, DS, Iowa
A smart, assignment sound player, Stone is the type of defender who won’t make many mental mistakes, but he is undersized with only average speed. Strong numbers in the jumps would boost his chances of being drafted in the top-12 picks.
The average broad jump results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| Broad Jump | |
| QB | 09’04” |
| RB | 09’11” |
| WR | 10’01” |
| TE | 09’11” |
| OT | 08’08” |
| iOL | 08’08” |
| EDGE | 09’10” |
| iDL | 09’01” |
| LB | 10’03” |
| CB | 10’04” |
| SAF | 10’04” |
Three-Cone Drill
This test is used to measure agility, flexibility and change of direction.
1. Cones are set 5 yards apart forming an “L” shape.
2. Player will start the drill in a 3-point stance.
3. With player in start position Drill Director will release player by saying “You can go”.
4. Director will start the stopwatch the instant the player’s hand separates from the surface.
5. The player will sprint forward 5 yards touching the line and returning to the start line touching that line before running around the cones.
6. Player must touch lines with Right Hand.
7. When running around the cones, the player will maintain outside leverage until the last cone. On the last cone, the player will circle around the cone before returning to the finish line.
8. The player will again maintain outside leverage while running around the cones on his way back to the finish line.
9. Player may not touch cone or place hand on surface when making turn around a cone.
NFL Scout’s Take: “Unlike the shuttles, which use hard stops, the three-cone is about continued momentum and ease of movement. If the only drill we did in Indy was the three-cone, I’m not sure too many would complain. We have plenty of research that confirms its legitimacy.”
Who should shine?
Kyle Dugger, LB/S, Lenoir Rhyne
Dugger moves more like a cornerback than a safety or linebacker with his fluid redirection skills. He posted a 6.70 three-cone last spring, which would compare favorably with other top times at the position like Harrison Smith (6.63) and Budda Baker (6.76).
Who needs a strong time?
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
An upright, straight-line athlete, Hodgins needs to introduce better sink in his route-running to get himself open vs. NFL-level athletes. A three-cone time under seven seconds would give evaluators optimism that he can do that.
Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
With his motor and aggressive hands, Weaver beat up tackles in the Mountain West, setting the conference’s all-time record for sacks. But can he bend? If Weaver posts a sub-seven second three-cone, he will create buzz for himself.
The average three-cone drill results for the top-30 NFL players at each position
| Three-Cone Drill | |
| QB | 7.03 |
| RB | 7.05 |
| WR | 6.93 |
| TE | 7.12 |
| OT | 7.73 |
| iOL | 7.67 |
| EDGE | 7.15 |
| iDL | 7.40 |
| LB | 7.10 |
| CB | 6.92 |
| SAF | 6.95 |
This test is used to measure upper body strength (bench press strength, not functional strength)
1. Warm up at 185lb bench or pushups if desired
2. Keep both feet on the ground
3. Keep buttocks on the bench.
4. Fully extend arms on every repetition.
5. DO NOT bounce the bar off their chest
6. DO NOT short-arm the repetition.
7. Fouls will result in the deduction of a repetition
8. Director counts the player’s repetitions.
9. Total number of repetitions is recorded, minus deducted repetitions, if any
Target reps depend by position, but general rule of thumb: 25+ is above average, 15-25 is good, 15 or less is below average.
NFL Scout’s Take: “The bench press tells us way more about a kid’s effort in the weight room than his functional strength. I’m surprised we still do it.”
Who should shine?
Simon Stepaniak, OG, Indiana
According to Bruce Feldman’s Freak List, Stepaniak lifted 225 pounds 41 times on the bench press. Over the last five years, DT Harrison Phillips (42 reps) was the only combine participant to reach 40 reps on the bench press.
Who needs a strong result?
Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
A long, lean athlete, Dantzler doesn’t have ideal play strength for the NFL. Can he reach 15 reps on the bench?
| Bench Press | |
| QB | – |
| RB | 19 |
| WR | 14 |
| TE | 22 |
| OT | 27 |
| iOL | 28 |
| EDGE | 25 |
| iDL | 29 |
| LB | 20 |
| CB | 16 |
| SAF | 17 |
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The NFL combine 40-yard dash isn’t everything, but plenty goes into training
By Ian McMahan Feb 26, 2020
This week, hundreds of NFL prospects will run the most important 40-yard sprints of their careers. Though opinions vary on importance, one thing is for sure.
Everyone’s watching.
“First of all, the NFL has become speed-centric,” said Leigh Steinberg, agent to a record eight No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft. “The most dramatic effect of any of the tests is someone that runs a fast 40. Does the 40 define whether or not the wide receiver can catch a pass? Does it define whether or not the DB can guard somebody? The league has gone crazy and the effect for players at certain positions that run a rapid 40 is to dramatically, instantly escalate their draft status.”
However, what we are watching isn’t football, it’s a mini-Olympics sandwiched between two football seasons.
A fast 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL combine does not mean a player can play football. Good players are generally faster, but faster players aren’t necessarily good. Acing the tests at the combine — 3 cone drill, 40-yard dash, 225 lb. bench press, vertical jump, broad jump and shuttle runs — does not directly translate to football success. So, drafting players solely on the basis of a fast 40-yard time isn’t the recipe for team building, at any position.
Despite that, speed always plays in the NFL.
“I think that when I read things in the media there’s even a huge misconception of the 40,” said Pete Bommarito, owner of Bommarito Performance Systems. “Everyone is trying to tie in the 40-yard dash to football performance. To me it’s an obvious waste of time argument, it doesn’t matter. If somebody has bad film but runs a good 40, it’s not like their stock is going to go up.”
But for some athletes, especially those that playing against less accomplished athletes at smaller colleges or in lesser known conferences, NFL decision makers need to be able match athleticism to what they see on film. That’s where the 40 can help people move in the draft.
“It’s just a good measuring stick,” Bommarito said. “If the player tests better than the teams think, it forces decision makers to go back and watch more film. If the film is good the stock goes up. If the film is not good, the stock doesn’t go anywhere. But it has nothing to do with ‘wow he’s got speed, I think he can play football even though his tape sucks.’”
The other factor, always present in football, is the wear and tear and injury of a long college football season. Game film might look good, but players might be a half a step slower at the end of the season because they’re tough and played through injury. The combine and pro days are a more accurate assessment of where a player stands when they are healthy, six to eight weeks after the season ends.
“Let’s say at the end of the season, every player is at 75 percent, just from the wear and tear of the sport,” Bommarito said. “But you don’t feel it in football because everybody you are playing with or against is also at 75 percent.”
For Bommarito, physical tests at the end of the season wouldn’t be as useful. “I don’t care if you’re Usain Bolt or the best sprinter in the world, put them through a football season and those times will be different than the times they ran in the Olympic finals. So, if an Olympic sprinter that doesn’t need to get in football train wrecks every Saturday can’t even do it, how is an NFL player with a real football body and real football injuries supposed to do it?”
Because of that, the first goal of pre-combine speed training is to slow down and recover. Combine preparation programs include physical therapy, massage and nutrition to address the bruises, strains and sprains of the season. Trying to sprint a fast 40-yard dash with an ankle that doesn’t bend or a swollen knee isn’t the recipe for success. You can play with pain, but you can’t train and sprint with pain.
So, because of these varied needs, combine training becomes a full-time job. And it needs to be, not only to recover from the season but also to be immersed in a new style of training. After all, running on a football field is not the same as sprinting on a track, so players have to train differently from what they are used to.
“There are hundreds of variables inside of each athlete that we are trying to monitor to create the right situation for that athlete to perform as optimally as possible,” said Brent Callaway, program director for pro/elite sports at EXOS. “So whenever they come in we will try to uncover as much of that information as possible.”
Olympic sprinters have years to prepare for important races. Football players have eight weeks, necessitating a lot of work in a short period of time. Some of that is learning the technique of sprinting, some getting stronger and more explosive for the start of the 40-yard sprint.
“Our training starts with a four-week foundation block, where the goal is movement quality and patterning,” Callaway said. “Weight room work is concentrated on correcting compensations and asymmetries. They do strength training and sprint sessions, multiple per day.”
Following that is a max strength/heavy loading phase that lasts for a couple of weeks. Then a power taper and finally a speed taper, during which the mechanical aspects of speed and technique training are continually honed. Callaway and EXOS look to improve stride length and stride frequency, the two components of speed, especially in those athletes with little track experience.
“Stride length is occasionally very short, and those athletes depend on stride frequency to get around the field,” Callaway said. “We use corrective exercises to give athletes a new range of motion that complements putting more force into the ground from the strength and power training.”
Meaning that speed can be improved by giving an athlete a longer, more powerful stride with the same or higher turnover. Though theoretically athletes have the ability to accelerate up to and exceeding 65 meters, that’s in track sprinters. Football players are for the most part amateur sprinters, Callaway explained, making the first half of the 40-yard dash, during which the athlete accelerates the most, the portion most ripe for improvement.
Part of the difficulty with preparing for the combine is the short time frame for massive change. Everybody has a potential that they can run. The question is, can you realize that peak genetic potential in six or eight weeks? Do it right and athletes might be able to shave two-tenths of a second off 40-yard times in eight weeks, sometimes as much as four-tenths of a second.
“Most of my training is speedwork,” said Malcolm Perry, one of the running backs invited to the combine. “My biggest drill is the 40-yard dash so most of my training is focused on that. It’s the biggest thing for me going into combine. But there is a little strength and power training in there as well as a lot of position work. This (training) has been pretty new, in high school we didn’t focus on combine-specific drills.”
Perry, an option quarterback at Navy, will try to switch to running back or slot wide receiver in the NFL. While just trying to maximize his speed potential, Perry will aim for a 4.5 second 40-yard or faster. “So, trying to balance going as hard as I can with taking care of my body,” he said.
As in every sport, an industry of enhancement exists for all aspects of training and recovery. Some, like Normatec or Hyperice, have products geared toward recovery from training, while others, like VKTRY carbon fiber insoles, aim to improve sprinting and jumping performance. Even with scientific evidence behind each product, wading through what works and what doesn’t is up to players, agents and strength and conditioning specialists.
However, the most important quality for combine training might not be physical. When asked what he wished every athlete knew before beginning training, Callaway doesn’t hesitate. “I think if an athlete doesn’t trust enough, it takes too long to buy in, and then we are behind the 8-ball. If there is one thing that I would encourage an athlete to do is find a reputable program that checks all of the boxes and trust them from the beginning. If you’re 60 percent in, you’ll only get 60 percent of the results.”
By Ian McMahan Feb 26, 2020
This week, hundreds of NFL prospects will run the most important 40-yard sprints of their careers. Though opinions vary on importance, one thing is for sure.
Everyone’s watching.
“First of all, the NFL has become speed-centric,” said Leigh Steinberg, agent to a record eight No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft. “The most dramatic effect of any of the tests is someone that runs a fast 40. Does the 40 define whether or not the wide receiver can catch a pass? Does it define whether or not the DB can guard somebody? The league has gone crazy and the effect for players at certain positions that run a rapid 40 is to dramatically, instantly escalate their draft status.”
However, what we are watching isn’t football, it’s a mini-Olympics sandwiched between two football seasons.
A fast 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL combine does not mean a player can play football. Good players are generally faster, but faster players aren’t necessarily good. Acing the tests at the combine — 3 cone drill, 40-yard dash, 225 lb. bench press, vertical jump, broad jump and shuttle runs — does not directly translate to football success. So, drafting players solely on the basis of a fast 40-yard time isn’t the recipe for team building, at any position.
Despite that, speed always plays in the NFL.
“I think that when I read things in the media there’s even a huge misconception of the 40,” said Pete Bommarito, owner of Bommarito Performance Systems. “Everyone is trying to tie in the 40-yard dash to football performance. To me it’s an obvious waste of time argument, it doesn’t matter. If somebody has bad film but runs a good 40, it’s not like their stock is going to go up.”
But for some athletes, especially those that playing against less accomplished athletes at smaller colleges or in lesser known conferences, NFL decision makers need to be able match athleticism to what they see on film. That’s where the 40 can help people move in the draft.
“It’s just a good measuring stick,” Bommarito said. “If the player tests better than the teams think, it forces decision makers to go back and watch more film. If the film is good the stock goes up. If the film is not good, the stock doesn’t go anywhere. But it has nothing to do with ‘wow he’s got speed, I think he can play football even though his tape sucks.’”
The other factor, always present in football, is the wear and tear and injury of a long college football season. Game film might look good, but players might be a half a step slower at the end of the season because they’re tough and played through injury. The combine and pro days are a more accurate assessment of where a player stands when they are healthy, six to eight weeks after the season ends.
“Let’s say at the end of the season, every player is at 75 percent, just from the wear and tear of the sport,” Bommarito said. “But you don’t feel it in football because everybody you are playing with or against is also at 75 percent.”
For Bommarito, physical tests at the end of the season wouldn’t be as useful. “I don’t care if you’re Usain Bolt or the best sprinter in the world, put them through a football season and those times will be different than the times they ran in the Olympic finals. So, if an Olympic sprinter that doesn’t need to get in football train wrecks every Saturday can’t even do it, how is an NFL player with a real football body and real football injuries supposed to do it?”
Because of that, the first goal of pre-combine speed training is to slow down and recover. Combine preparation programs include physical therapy, massage and nutrition to address the bruises, strains and sprains of the season. Trying to sprint a fast 40-yard dash with an ankle that doesn’t bend or a swollen knee isn’t the recipe for success. You can play with pain, but you can’t train and sprint with pain.
So, because of these varied needs, combine training becomes a full-time job. And it needs to be, not only to recover from the season but also to be immersed in a new style of training. After all, running on a football field is not the same as sprinting on a track, so players have to train differently from what they are used to.
“There are hundreds of variables inside of each athlete that we are trying to monitor to create the right situation for that athlete to perform as optimally as possible,” said Brent Callaway, program director for pro/elite sports at EXOS. “So whenever they come in we will try to uncover as much of that information as possible.”
Olympic sprinters have years to prepare for important races. Football players have eight weeks, necessitating a lot of work in a short period of time. Some of that is learning the technique of sprinting, some getting stronger and more explosive for the start of the 40-yard sprint.
“Our training starts with a four-week foundation block, where the goal is movement quality and patterning,” Callaway said. “Weight room work is concentrated on correcting compensations and asymmetries. They do strength training and sprint sessions, multiple per day.”
Following that is a max strength/heavy loading phase that lasts for a couple of weeks. Then a power taper and finally a speed taper, during which the mechanical aspects of speed and technique training are continually honed. Callaway and EXOS look to improve stride length and stride frequency, the two components of speed, especially in those athletes with little track experience.
“Stride length is occasionally very short, and those athletes depend on stride frequency to get around the field,” Callaway said. “We use corrective exercises to give athletes a new range of motion that complements putting more force into the ground from the strength and power training.”
Meaning that speed can be improved by giving an athlete a longer, more powerful stride with the same or higher turnover. Though theoretically athletes have the ability to accelerate up to and exceeding 65 meters, that’s in track sprinters. Football players are for the most part amateur sprinters, Callaway explained, making the first half of the 40-yard dash, during which the athlete accelerates the most, the portion most ripe for improvement.
Part of the difficulty with preparing for the combine is the short time frame for massive change. Everybody has a potential that they can run. The question is, can you realize that peak genetic potential in six or eight weeks? Do it right and athletes might be able to shave two-tenths of a second off 40-yard times in eight weeks, sometimes as much as four-tenths of a second.
“Most of my training is speedwork,” said Malcolm Perry, one of the running backs invited to the combine. “My biggest drill is the 40-yard dash so most of my training is focused on that. It’s the biggest thing for me going into combine. But there is a little strength and power training in there as well as a lot of position work. This (training) has been pretty new, in high school we didn’t focus on combine-specific drills.”
Perry, an option quarterback at Navy, will try to switch to running back or slot wide receiver in the NFL. While just trying to maximize his speed potential, Perry will aim for a 4.5 second 40-yard or faster. “So, trying to balance going as hard as I can with taking care of my body,” he said.
As in every sport, an industry of enhancement exists for all aspects of training and recovery. Some, like Normatec or Hyperice, have products geared toward recovery from training, while others, like VKTRY carbon fiber insoles, aim to improve sprinting and jumping performance. Even with scientific evidence behind each product, wading through what works and what doesn’t is up to players, agents and strength and conditioning specialists.
However, the most important quality for combine training might not be physical. When asked what he wished every athlete knew before beginning training, Callaway doesn’t hesitate. “I think if an athlete doesn’t trust enough, it takes too long to buy in, and then we are behind the 8-ball. If there is one thing that I would encourage an athlete to do is find a reputable program that checks all of the boxes and trust them from the beginning. If you’re 60 percent in, you’ll only get 60 percent of the results.”
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 120,237
From the GM’s Eye: Welcome to the combine, the bias capital of the NFL
By Michael Lombardi Feb 26, 2020
It’s combine week in the NFL, which means hand sizes, 40 times, interviews and free-agent gossip will dominate the news emanating from Indianapolis. Head coaches and general managers will hit the interview circuit to talk about their plans for the new season in a media session … which is just a sparring match between a media trying to get information and the teams unwilling to give away their secrets. The combine process began to help teams prepare for the draft. In theory, getting over 250 prospects in one setting, with physicals and mental testing, will allow clubs to gain more information on their potential players, thus ultimately making better decisions about how they pursue and draft those players. It looks perfect on the blackboard. But in reality, it hasn’t worked as planned — in fact, the combine might actually hurt draft preparation, not help. It fails not because of how the combine flows or the workouts or interviews, but because NFL teams don’t always understand how bias affects our decision-making process … and Indy is the bias capital of the NFL.
The medical testing does, indeed, help, and is the one part of the combine that delivers practical, reliable information. Each team’s medical staff can examine the players, place a medical-grade on each, then continue to monitor their grade. It’s science; therefore, there is no pre-determined bias or agenda within their grades. The doctors don’t care or even know how talented the players they are examining are; they only care about their long-term viability of maintaining their health. Sure, they might know some of the players from watching football on Saturday, but they will have no problem giving a star player a failing grade if the player lacks the medical certainty. They stay true to their profession; they don’t have a bias — unlike some of the NFL executives.
Now, at times, NFL executives (including me) will try to put words into a doctor’s mouth, attempting to have a player’s grade enhanced because the injury has created a variance in the marketplace. Take Myles Jack from Jacksonville by way of UCLA. Jack was a dynamic player at UCLA, but during his last year there, he tore his ACL, which kept teams from grading him correctly. The Jags got exceptional value in the second round — a variance that worked in their favor. Injuries often create these variances, but not because the doctors don’t grade them correctly.
Whenever making decisions in any aspect of our personal or business lives, we need to understand the procedures that enable us to stay on course. Eliminating bias is the first step. (And bias is certainly not limited to the NFL, it happens across all sports). Most NFL teams don’t realize this, but biases kill more NFL drafts than any other factor. When all 32 NFL teams converge on Indy, they enter into a melting pot of bias, from team members talking to other teams, to network influencers, to agents selling their players, to the media, and finally, their own preconceived ideas. If Berkshire Hathaway president Warren Buffett ever came to observe the goings-on in Indy he would just laugh, as the combine violates most principles Buffett adheres to when making decisions.
Self-serving bias is the first one teams must overcome. Before the combine begins, every NFL team has a pre-determined view of the players. They come to Indy after month-long meetings about each player with a strong opinion of their athletic and football skills. They love to brag about how they have their draft board all set; they won’t allow any non-football drills to hurt anyone’s draft ranking. They believe in their ability to evaluate. Their confidence is admirable, yet not always consistent. Their self-serving bias and overt positivity about their ability to predict the future is the first step toward making mistakes. It’s natural because bias is rooted in psychological tendencies that influence the subconscious. We all do it; we believe we cannot be wrong; therefore, of course, we must be right. After an individual workout, teams will claim they don’t allow the results to alter their evaluation. They might say, ‘We don’t care what happens in Indy, all we care about is the medical and background testing.’ This mentality is a self-serving bias, because, as we all know, the 40-yard-dash does play an important role in talent evaluation. While it might not be the be-all and end-all, it does matter if there’s a corner who cannot run well or an offensive lineman who struggles to broad jump or a defensive lineman who lacks an explosive run time. Those things can impact their performance on the field when they play at a higher level, and so their draft seeding will be affected. Remember, the draft is a value-added proposition. Since money is involved in every draft slot, the talent must match the money. It’s not complicated once you understand that the money and the talent need to be in harmony.
We all go crazy for fast 40 times or kill players for slow ones, yet the whole sum of the parts needs examination. Not one test can make or break a player, especially since most of them will be re-tested in the coming months. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s hand measuring at nine inches did not affect his ability to dominate in college, but it has become a story, and so it will fuel the bias meter. This happens all the time. We tend to cling onto one test, good or bad, for the basis of our decisions. And each time we do, we are proven wrong over time.
The second bias: confirmation bias, which occurs when teams want to confirm what they think; therefore, they share their information with outside members to validate their belief. Indy is the perfect place for confirmation bias to soar. It will happen all over the town, from inside the dome, to St Elmo’s, to Steak’n’Shake. Information gets out, not because people are disloyal, but because they want to confirm their bias. Before they head to Indy, teams tell their scouts or coaches to protect their information while finding out as much as they can. General managers want information coming in, not going out, because they think the more they know about what others believe, the better their draft preparations will be. They don’t realize that information is fueling their biases, not helping their decision making.
For example, a scout might say, “Hey, I was talking to team A, and they love Player X.’ That will then prompt his team to re-evaluate Player X. Or a team might love Player B and then talk to another team who hates Player B, which then causes the team to question its original evaluation.
How do you think the draft experts on television get information on other teams? They share what they know with the team — not necessarily the specifics, but rather in general terms. Teams might call a draft expert and say, “What do you hear about Player Y?” The expert will say all he knows at that moment, but will also know the team must like player Y. Before long, Player Y’s name is hot. Teams love to hear that other teams are thinking the same way as them — even if both teams might be wrong.
The confirmation bias extends to the team’s evaluation of their own needs. Let’s say Team A and Team B are discussing trades. Once Team B expresses an interest in Team A’s player, all sound reasoning goes out the window because Team A begins to second-guess whether it should be giving up that player. For example, if the Patriots want to trade for a player on another team, does this indicate a misevaluation of the player by his current team because the Patriots are interested in him? Most times, teams will question their own judgment based on other teams’ interest.
For this combine, the Broncos and the Rams kept most of their organizations at home. They minimized the number of people traveling to Indy, which is proactive and smart. With the tapes of each player’s workout available as well as the medicals, the number of people attending Indy only adds to the two types of biases that often kill drafts. Plus, with the current set-up of meetings along with workouts only happening in the evening, there is too much wasted time for team members. Many would be better off staying at home watching their opponents’ tape and studying college players rather than wasting a day in the hotel room.
The general manager and the coach must be keenly aware of the two biases and work diligently to reverse-engineer their decisions. When you reverse engineer, you constantly ask yourself why the player you’re interested in might fail, no matter how excited you are about the person or how great you think they are. For example, why might Greg Robinson, who was drafted second overall in 2014, fail? You’d look at his character and footspeed, and then you’d make sure he can perform despite those issues before taking him. If someone can withstand the reverse-engineer test, then they have been evaluated without bias and can stand alone.
When you examine the bad drafts in any sport, some form of bias is the root cause. And since Indy is the place that enables bias to grow, the combine can oftentimes be more harmful than helpful for teams preparing for April’s draft.
By Michael Lombardi Feb 26, 2020
It’s combine week in the NFL, which means hand sizes, 40 times, interviews and free-agent gossip will dominate the news emanating from Indianapolis. Head coaches and general managers will hit the interview circuit to talk about their plans for the new season in a media session … which is just a sparring match between a media trying to get information and the teams unwilling to give away their secrets. The combine process began to help teams prepare for the draft. In theory, getting over 250 prospects in one setting, with physicals and mental testing, will allow clubs to gain more information on their potential players, thus ultimately making better decisions about how they pursue and draft those players. It looks perfect on the blackboard. But in reality, it hasn’t worked as planned — in fact, the combine might actually hurt draft preparation, not help. It fails not because of how the combine flows or the workouts or interviews, but because NFL teams don’t always understand how bias affects our decision-making process … and Indy is the bias capital of the NFL.
The medical testing does, indeed, help, and is the one part of the combine that delivers practical, reliable information. Each team’s medical staff can examine the players, place a medical-grade on each, then continue to monitor their grade. It’s science; therefore, there is no pre-determined bias or agenda within their grades. The doctors don’t care or even know how talented the players they are examining are; they only care about their long-term viability of maintaining their health. Sure, they might know some of the players from watching football on Saturday, but they will have no problem giving a star player a failing grade if the player lacks the medical certainty. They stay true to their profession; they don’t have a bias — unlike some of the NFL executives.
Now, at times, NFL executives (including me) will try to put words into a doctor’s mouth, attempting to have a player’s grade enhanced because the injury has created a variance in the marketplace. Take Myles Jack from Jacksonville by way of UCLA. Jack was a dynamic player at UCLA, but during his last year there, he tore his ACL, which kept teams from grading him correctly. The Jags got exceptional value in the second round — a variance that worked in their favor. Injuries often create these variances, but not because the doctors don’t grade them correctly.
Whenever making decisions in any aspect of our personal or business lives, we need to understand the procedures that enable us to stay on course. Eliminating bias is the first step. (And bias is certainly not limited to the NFL, it happens across all sports). Most NFL teams don’t realize this, but biases kill more NFL drafts than any other factor. When all 32 NFL teams converge on Indy, they enter into a melting pot of bias, from team members talking to other teams, to network influencers, to agents selling their players, to the media, and finally, their own preconceived ideas. If Berkshire Hathaway president Warren Buffett ever came to observe the goings-on in Indy he would just laugh, as the combine violates most principles Buffett adheres to when making decisions.
Self-serving bias is the first one teams must overcome. Before the combine begins, every NFL team has a pre-determined view of the players. They come to Indy after month-long meetings about each player with a strong opinion of their athletic and football skills. They love to brag about how they have their draft board all set; they won’t allow any non-football drills to hurt anyone’s draft ranking. They believe in their ability to evaluate. Their confidence is admirable, yet not always consistent. Their self-serving bias and overt positivity about their ability to predict the future is the first step toward making mistakes. It’s natural because bias is rooted in psychological tendencies that influence the subconscious. We all do it; we believe we cannot be wrong; therefore, of course, we must be right. After an individual workout, teams will claim they don’t allow the results to alter their evaluation. They might say, ‘We don’t care what happens in Indy, all we care about is the medical and background testing.’ This mentality is a self-serving bias, because, as we all know, the 40-yard-dash does play an important role in talent evaluation. While it might not be the be-all and end-all, it does matter if there’s a corner who cannot run well or an offensive lineman who struggles to broad jump or a defensive lineman who lacks an explosive run time. Those things can impact their performance on the field when they play at a higher level, and so their draft seeding will be affected. Remember, the draft is a value-added proposition. Since money is involved in every draft slot, the talent must match the money. It’s not complicated once you understand that the money and the talent need to be in harmony.
We all go crazy for fast 40 times or kill players for slow ones, yet the whole sum of the parts needs examination. Not one test can make or break a player, especially since most of them will be re-tested in the coming months. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s hand measuring at nine inches did not affect his ability to dominate in college, but it has become a story, and so it will fuel the bias meter. This happens all the time. We tend to cling onto one test, good or bad, for the basis of our decisions. And each time we do, we are proven wrong over time.
The second bias: confirmation bias, which occurs when teams want to confirm what they think; therefore, they share their information with outside members to validate their belief. Indy is the perfect place for confirmation bias to soar. It will happen all over the town, from inside the dome, to St Elmo’s, to Steak’n’Shake. Information gets out, not because people are disloyal, but because they want to confirm their bias. Before they head to Indy, teams tell their scouts or coaches to protect their information while finding out as much as they can. General managers want information coming in, not going out, because they think the more they know about what others believe, the better their draft preparations will be. They don’t realize that information is fueling their biases, not helping their decision making.
For example, a scout might say, “Hey, I was talking to team A, and they love Player X.’ That will then prompt his team to re-evaluate Player X. Or a team might love Player B and then talk to another team who hates Player B, which then causes the team to question its original evaluation.
How do you think the draft experts on television get information on other teams? They share what they know with the team — not necessarily the specifics, but rather in general terms. Teams might call a draft expert and say, “What do you hear about Player Y?” The expert will say all he knows at that moment, but will also know the team must like player Y. Before long, Player Y’s name is hot. Teams love to hear that other teams are thinking the same way as them — even if both teams might be wrong.
The confirmation bias extends to the team’s evaluation of their own needs. Let’s say Team A and Team B are discussing trades. Once Team B expresses an interest in Team A’s player, all sound reasoning goes out the window because Team A begins to second-guess whether it should be giving up that player. For example, if the Patriots want to trade for a player on another team, does this indicate a misevaluation of the player by his current team because the Patriots are interested in him? Most times, teams will question their own judgment based on other teams’ interest.
For this combine, the Broncos and the Rams kept most of their organizations at home. They minimized the number of people traveling to Indy, which is proactive and smart. With the tapes of each player’s workout available as well as the medicals, the number of people attending Indy only adds to the two types of biases that often kill drafts. Plus, with the current set-up of meetings along with workouts only happening in the evening, there is too much wasted time for team members. Many would be better off staying at home watching their opponents’ tape and studying college players rather than wasting a day in the hotel room.
The general manager and the coach must be keenly aware of the two biases and work diligently to reverse-engineer their decisions. When you reverse engineer, you constantly ask yourself why the player you’re interested in might fail, no matter how excited you are about the person or how great you think they are. For example, why might Greg Robinson, who was drafted second overall in 2014, fail? You’d look at his character and footspeed, and then you’d make sure he can perform despite those issues before taking him. If someone can withstand the reverse-engineer test, then they have been evaluated without bias and can stand alone.
When you examine the bad drafts in any sport, some form of bias is the root cause. And since Indy is the place that enables bias to grow, the combine can oftentimes be more harmful than helpful for teams preparing for April’s draft.
Chocolate Lab
Mere Commoner
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When Mayock was still on TV you could Bingo that in the first four minutes.
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- Apr 7, 2013
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- 53,046
Yeah it's kind of shitty. You know some guys there won't get any formal interviews because of it. I don't really get the point of cutting it back.
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I don't either. Doesn't make sense to me. If anything they should increase them. The interview is one of the most important things about the Combine.
jsmith6919
Honored Member - RIP
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I'm watching