Mike Mayock (NFL.com) 2010 NFL Scouting Combine: What goes on at the Combine?
Each February, hundreds of the very best college football players are invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Ind., where executives, coaches, scouts and doctors from all 32 NFL teams conduct an intense, four-day job interview in advance of the NFL Draft.
Here is a brief breakdown of the measurable drills:
40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is the marquee event at the combine. It's kind of like the 100-meters at the Olympics: It's all about speed, explosion and watching skilled athletes run great times. These athletes are timed at 10, 20 and 40-yard intervals. What the scouts are looking for is an explosion from a static start. Bench press The bench press is a test of strength -- 225 pounds, as many reps as the athlete can get. What the NFL scouts are also looking for is endurance. Anybody can do a max one time, but what the bench press tells the pro scouts is how often the athlete frequented his college weight room for the last 3-5 years.
Vertical jump
The vertical jump is all about lower-body explosion and power. The athlete stands flat-footed and they measure his reach. It is important to accurately measure the reach, because the differential between the reach and the flag the athlete touches is his vertical jump measurement.
Broad jump
The broad jump is like being in gym class back in junior high school. Basically, it is testing an athlete's lower-body explosion and lower-body strength. The athlete starts out with a stance balanced and then he explodes out as far as he can. It tests explosion and balance, because he has to land without moving.
3 cone drill
The 3 cone drill tests an athlete's ability to change directions at a high speed. Three cones in an L-shape. He starts from the starting line, goes 5 yards to the first cone and back. Then, he turns, runs around the second cone, runs a weave around the third cone, which is the high point of the L, changes directions, comes back around that second cone and finishes.
Shuttle run
The short shuttle is the first of the cone drills. It is known as the 5-10-5. What it tests is the athlete's lateral quickness and explosion in short areas. The athlete starts in the three-point stance, explodse out 5 yards to his right, touches the line, goes back 10 yards to his left, left hand touches the line, pivot, and he turns 5 more yards and finishes.
Ian Rapoport notes Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio has described the Combine experience as "really kind of another game."
"There is a lot of emphasis put on (the combine)," Caserio said at last year’s event, "but the reality is that there is a lot of work that’s been done prior to that, so this is a culmination of things. You’re trying to put the finishing touches together basically on the combine, then there are individual workouts and pro days.
"I would say by this time you have a pretty good idea of who the players are."
TEAM TALK
- Erik Scalavino sends in his Combine Eve report from Indy.
- Paul Perillo reports Patriots DL Ron Brace appeared at a Boston event to encourage children to stay active and discussed how a lockout may affect rehabbing players.
- Patriots Today - Brace speaks to Boston youth. (2.20 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Tom E. Curran sets the pre-Combine scene for us in Indy from a Patriots' perspective.
- Mike Rodak tells us how the Patriots approach the Combine.
- DJ Bean offers us an incomplete list of guys to keep an eye on in Indianapolis.
- Mike Reiss points out the Patriots have the league's top non-Combine team.
- Tom E. Curran wonders if Pittsburgh OL Willie Colon could wind up on the Patriots' radar.
- WEEI mocks the Draft with a pre-Combine effort. Patriots take DE Cameron Jordan (California) at 17 and OLB Akeem Ayers (UCLA) at 28.
- Mike Reiss compares the Patriots vs. Jets when looking at the first three rounds of the Draft over the last five years.
- Mike Reiss analyzes Don Banks' 2nd mock draft, that has the Patriots selecting DE Cameron Jordan and WR Torry Smith.
- Ian Rapoprt discusses Kevin Faulk's plans to continue his rehab in Louisiana at LSU, in the event of a lockout.
- Monique Walker catches up with Ron Brace as he talks about his offseason workouts and NFL uncertainty.
- Frank Mortimer reports how NFL strife may hurt the town of Foxboro.
- Jeff Howe counts down the top 10 NFL rookies from the 2010 season, including Devin McCourty and Rob Gronkowski.
NATIONAL NEWS
- 2011 NFL Combine Live(NFL.com) Watch the Combine on NFL Network as it happens, beginning today at 2:30 ET, or watch all the action live online beginning February 26, at 9 a.m. ET.
- NFL.com Media Guide lists the player groups that will be available for interviews on the days ahead. Today's groups will be OL, K, P, LS and TE.
- Frank Tadych (NFL.com) Ready, set ... Combine. Some initial thoughts after a few hours getting re-acclimated to the Combine.
- Greg Gabriel (Nat'l Football Post) A typical trip to the Combine: What a visit to Indy is like for these NFL prospects.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) The Combine trap: These prospects could be in for a fall down the Draft board.
- Pat Kirwan (NFL.com) Combine offers teams picking in top 10 chance to eye talent.
- Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Draftnik's guide to the biggest issues in class of '11.
- Sam Farmer (LA Times) Labor situation looms over NFL's Scouting Combine.
- MJD (Yahoo! Sports) Draft prospects prepare for Combine by --- Gorilla Attack!
- Adam Rank (NFL.com) Pick six: Top workout warriors at Combine.
- SI Classic NFL Combine stories over the years.
- Don Banks (SI) 2011 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Patriots select DE Cameron Jordan (California) at 17 and WR Torrey Smith (Maryland) at 28.
- Albert Breer (NFL.com) One day to go in mediated labor talks between NFL, union.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Adam Schefter Video: Despite talks, labor progress slow.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Union claims reports of progress are "speculation".
- Gregg Rosenthal (ProFootballTalk) Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum go Hollywood.