NFL Combine 2013: Schedule, invite list, workouts & drills explained

The 2013 NFL Combine is officially upon us. The event now frequently called the "Underwear Olympics" brings together most of the best college talent that will enter the 2013 NFL Draft. There will be some players that slip through the cracks, and there will be plenty of players that do not participate in all the workouts this week. But for now, this is what we've got. Check below for the full schedule of events as well as a full list of events.

40-yard dash

I view the 40-yard dash as a little ridiculous considering no NFL player is ever going to be running a straight 40-yard route in shorts and a t-shirt. Nonetheless, it remains in place. I think they should at least make them wear pads, but what are you gonna do? It does give some measure of speed and explosion as players are measure at 10-, 20- and 40-yard intervals.

3-cone drill

Players are looking to make quick directional changes at a high speed. Here is a basic rundown of the drill:

A player runs five yards to the first cone and turns back, then runs around the second cone before weaving around the third cone at the top of the 'L' and comes back to finish at the second cone. The quick drill is a display of a player's ability to quickly change direction and keep momentum going around corners.

Broad jump

A player obviously will never just be broad jumping in a football game, but it does provide some reference to a player's lower body strength.

The broad jump is a test of a lower body strength in which prospects must jump from a standing position and go forward as far as they can with both feet, landing with both feet without falling down. The test combines the explosiveness and power of a prospect's lower body strength with their balance to stay standing without falling down.

Vertical jump

This one is seemingly straight-forward:

A player's reach is measured before the jump and the prospect then jumps flat-footed to hit as many flags above them as possible. The player is then given a second opportunity to hit more flags and best his previous jump.

While jumping ability is nice and the ability to win jump balls in the end zone can depend on your natural jumping abilities, the true test of the vertical jump is to see how much lower body strength and explosion a draft prospect can generate.

Bench press

The bench press is a tricky one because even though it shows upper-body strength, players with short arms have a bit of an advantage in getting the weights pumped all the way up.

The display of upper-body strength is most important for players in the trenches that need to show ability to swim, rip, disengage, pancake and cast off opposing lineman with their arms and torso. However, a player with many reps also shows endurance and the ability to consistently push throughout the drill, another potentially attractive quality to NFL scouts and coaches.

Shuttle run

This tests a player's lateral quickness. The player starts in a three-point stances, runs five yards to his right, touches the line, runs ten yards to his left, touches the line, pivots and runs five more yards to finish. With this drill, and really any of the other drills, I've love to be in a team's war room as they're discussing the results of these.

Here is the full schedule of events starting today and lasting through February 26.

DAY 1 ARRIVALS*: Group 1 (PK, ST, OL), Group 2 (OL), Group 3 (TE)

DAY 2 ARRIVALS*: Group 4 (QB, WO), Group 5 (QB, WO), Group 6 (RB)

DAY 3 ARRIVALS*: Group 7 (DL), Group 8 (DL), Group 9 (LB)

DAY 4 ARRIVALS: Group 10 (DB), Group 11 (DB)

Here is the full invite list: