NFL Combine

[ram29jackson]

I think the bench is a better measure of work ethic. If a guy shows via his bench press that he's willing to take the time to get stronger, to get better in the weight room, it can only be a positive.

a bench press means even less,its pointless

[DSpydr84]

What kills me is that coming out of a track stance (something that's never done in a game) is probably the most critical part of a 40 yard dash. You can lose a lot of "time" (like .2-.4 seconds which is enormous in a 40) from not having a proper start. That initial burst and reaching top speed before you hit 40 yards is everything.

These guys get coached up on how to come out of a track stance. It's so stupid. Ever wonder how guys can have a shitty 40 but still have great "game speed"? It's because they're not sprinters and couldn't come out of their stance as fast as the guys who ran track

[Senser81]

When the WR's are catching passes, why aren't they wearing helmet/pads? They should at least try to simulate actual playing conditions. I need to see how many passes bounce off Devin Hester's facemask.

In the few years when I would actually follow the combine, it was funny to me how white guys who were fast and/or lifted a ton of weight would derogatorily be called "workout warriors", as in "yeah, he bench pressed 650 lbs, but he's just a workout warrior and won't produce on the field". Justin Smith was one of those guys called a workout warrior, yet years later he is still one of the best run/pass DEs in the NFL. The point isn't that the NFL is racist...the point is that the combine is merely a tool to reinforce existing beliefs...so why bother with it?

[ZoneBlitz]

What kills me is that coming out of a track stance (something that's never done in a game) is probably the most critical part of a 40 yard dash. You can lose a lot of "time" (like .2-.4 seconds which is enormous in a 40) from not having a proper start. That initial burst and reaching top speed before you hit 40 yards is everything.

These guys get coached up on how to come out of a track stance. It's so stupid. Ever wonder how guys can have a shitty 40 but still have great "game speed"? It's because they're not sprinters and couldn't come out of their stance as fast as the guys who ran track

But i believe most players prepare for the combine the same way, or at least they should. So all players should be trained on how to run the 40 most effectively, and end results give a decent measure on how fast players are relative to each other.

[Senser81]

But i believe most players prepare for the combine the same way, or at least they should. So all players should be trained on how to run the 40 most effectively, and end results give a decent measure on how fast players are relative to each other.

Thats nice, but it doesn't really address the issue that "track starts" aren't part of the NFL. What if the NFL combine had a spelling bee, and someone said "well, the Ivy League guys have an unfair advantage in the spelling bee". Would the appropriate response be "everyone has the same time to prepare for the spelling bee"?

I think not.

[Atlas]

Bruce Irvin is eerily similar to the numbers put up by Von Miller at last years combine (bruce was faster, but Von had a better vert)...

[EmpireWF]

Irvin also maintained his speed despite having about 15-20 extra pounds on his frame.

[ZoneBlitz]

Thats nice, but it doesn't really address the issue that "track starts" aren't part of the NFL. What if the NFL combine had a spelling bee, and someone said "well, the Ivy League guys have an unfair advantage in the spelling bee". Would the appropriate response be "everyone has the same time to prepare for the spelling bee"?

I think not.

No one is saying 40 times are a flawless or exact measure of a players speed.

But it gives you a decent idea of how fast a player is. It serves its purpose.

[DSpydr84]

No one is saying 40 times are a flawless or exact measure of a players speed.

But it gives you a decent idea of how fast a player is. It serves its purpose.

What's frustrating though is that a kid can do everything right and be a great player, hit the combine and run a 4.6, and suddenly his stock plummets. Sometimes they still end up getting a chance, but sometimes they don't. The 40 time shouldn't be so heavily weighted in decisions because it has nothing to do with the game.

[ralaw]

I've heard that NFL people use the 40, vertical jump, etc as a way to measure athletic explosiveness. It still doesn't help in knowing whether a player can play football though.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Bruce Irvin is eerily similar to the numbers put up by Von Miller at last years combine (bruce was faster, but Von had a better vert)...

Please tell me this person is a WR, because I need to watch any game he's involved in with Dick Stockton on the play by play.

[Leftwich]

Please tell me this person is a WR, because I need to watch any game he's involved in with Dick Stockton on the play by play.

DE/OLB

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I've heard that NFL people use the 40, vertical jump, etc as a way to measure athletic explosiveness. It still doesn't help in knowing whether a player can play football though.

That is what the countless hours of tape are for...but the combine isn't there to determine whether or not these players can play...they are just data acquiring events.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

What's frustrating though is that a kid can do everything right and be a great player, hit the combine and run a 4.6, and suddenly his stock plummets. Sometimes they still end up getting a chance, but sometimes they don't. The 40 time shouldn't be so heavily weighted in decisions because it has nothing to do with the game.

That doesn't really happen...the idea of a player having a "stock" is just buzz media words...players don't fluctuate like that leading up to the draft.

[Mogriffjr]

Luke Kuechly having a great day...Burfict meanwhile looking slow as shit.