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NFL Combine: The Greatest Non-Event in Sports?

49ersdraft_mediumAh, the annual cattle call. What's not to love about the NFL Scouting Combine? I mean, there's nothing better than watching men run around in skin tight spandex shorts, right......right? Like the Winter Meetings for baseball fans, much is promised at this yearly summit, but much more is written about what might happen, than what actually happens. We all know the most important part of scouting a football player is if he's got a "good bubble". Am I the only one disturbed by how some of these NFL prospect profiles read?

In fact, these young men who participate in the Combine are more likely to hurt their stock than help it. It's no wonder the top Draft prospects don't do anything aside from weigh in and conduct interviews. In many cases, the best a prospect can hope for is to force teams to go back and watch more film. If you're already a top 10 prospect, that's the last thing you want teams to do. Thank goodness scouts are taking more stock in how they see players perform on the field rather than their computer numbers. You see, the eye in the sky never lies.

Take it from San Francisco 49ers area scout Ethan Waugh,

As soon as we are done watching film on a player, we put his name up on our board based on where we think we would select him in the Draft. In most cases, players do not move up and down very far on our board based on things that occur after these meetings. The Combine and pro timing days give us a better understanding of a prospect’s measured athleticism, medical background and his personality, but the most important thing is how well a player performs on film.

This is a common statement from NFL personnel people, even if it's not always the case. If the 49er brass hold true to Waugh's quote, it's a good thing, considering the biggest mistakes made on draft day are on players who measure in with great 40 times or big arm strength. So why the big deal about the Combine? Sure it's nice to see how high a guy jumps or how many times he can bench press 225 lbs. But what scouts are really looking for is a reinforcement of what they see on film. If a guy looks fast on film, they want to see a fast time. When Darren McFadden can't turn the corner on Patrick Willis on film, then Willis runs a 4.4 at the Combine, it all makes sense. When Kyle Boller can throw a ball through the goal posts from the 50 yd line from his knees, but can't hit the broad side of a barn on film, there should be a red flag.

It's been said that the NFL Combine acts as final exam and job interview all-in-one for these college athletes. That second part goes relatively unnoticed. It's the one aspect that you, I or TV cameras are never privy to, and it's probably the most important--interviews and medical exams. There's nothing like looking a man in the eye and seeing what he's all about, face to face. If a prospect blows it, that team might take him completely off their board. No bad habits, old cohorts, arrests, convictions, skeletons in closets, grandpa's hysterectomy, ex-girlfriends, parking tickets, candy stolen from babies,  arthritic knees or facebook photos will go unnoticed.

So, this weekend, when you're undoubtedly watching 24 hour coverage of the Combine on NFL Network, as I will be--remember, the most important stuff, you won't even get a chance to see.

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It's not a particularly exciting aspect

But the one GOOD thing that comes out of the Combine is measuring all the players with the same weight scale and height tape.

And in case those production companies who put out the Draft Previews are reading, I will not purchase any of those rags that DOESN’T have the official Combine measureables.

by Odquest on Feb 16, 2009 10:19 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

A lot of the guys got measured in all-star games, but you’re right, it will be extremely important for those who skipped Senior Bowl and underclassmen.

I never understood those Draft mags that came out after the Combine, yet didn’t have updated listings. I could see if you wanted your mag out first and got it out before everyone else. Most of these magazines are terrible anyway, but if you’re going to put a Draft publication out in March, you better at least get the Combine numbers right, if nothing else.

by briandean on Feb 16, 2009 1:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I am pleased to say I’ve never bothered watching a combine. However, I would argue the NFL should make these measurements mandatory for all draft prospects hoping to enter the NFL. A top guy trying to skip out on his 40 time or bench press always worries the hell out of me. I know the draft prospect wants his money but the teams are taking on a huge financial investment and us fans have to suffer if the pick turns out to be an ESPN, big conference, college system produced, over hyped dud. If Crabtree really runs a 4.7 than at least the buyer has been made aware.

by bignerd on Feb 16, 2009 4:29 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Yeah but how can you force them to be in the combine?

Its not like many of the guys don’t go. If a team is really worried about it they just shouldn’t draft those players. I look at the combine as a part of your resume, you don’t have to completely fill it out but if you don’t then people are going to question why you left some of it blank.

by Brendan Scolari on Feb 16, 2009 10:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

+1

It’s up the player (and possibly his agent) to decide whether a combine workout is appropriate. Teams can choose to pass on a player if they worried about the reasons for skipping the combine. For the most part a player’s evaluation should be done prior to the combine because truthfully the combine shows little about a player’s ability to play football. Maybe if two players rate out about the same before the combine you could use combine results as a tie breaker but it really shouldn’t be used for much more (IMHO).

Don't sweat it. I'm illiterate.

by methodrampage on Feb 17, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

It should be used to help confirm your opinions, not make them.

by Brendan Scolari on Feb 17, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

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