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Sure the NFL combine is good theatre but I just can’t get over how unnecessary this whole festival is. First of all, I don’t think the NFL combine should be for Division-I athletes. Or at the very least, I don’t think NFL scouts should invite starters on the division I teams. The NFL combine should be a place for football players who did not receive exposure all season long like the I-AA, Division II, Division III and NAIA football players. Those are the guys you need to run through the drills because you have some misgivings about who you’ve seen them compete against on film. I think those are the athletes that need to be evaluated in the 40 yard dash, vertical jump, 3 cone drill, up and back drill, the go forward and comeback drill, the drop down, get back up and drop down again drill. The lay on your stomach and then run from side to side then turnaround and sprint then comeback drill.
As for the Division I athletes, everything I need to know about a prospect, I can find watching him film. If I watch Darren McFadden split the LSU’s safeties and then outrun their entire secondary for a 60 yard touchdown, running 4.6 at the combine is not going to erase what I saw on film. After my senior season at the University of Miami, I had a scout come in and measure the length from the tip of my pinky to the tip of my thumb. Are you friggin kidding me? Maybe that’s why I wasn’t drafted.
The NFL combine is no more than a glorified Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for athletes. It’s something to do when there’s no football to be played. Take a look at the top 40 times posted at NFL combine from 2000-2007:
4.28 - Jerome Mathis, (WR), Hampton - 2005
4.29 - Stanford Routt, (CB), Houston - 2005
4.29 - *Fabian Washington, (CB), Nebraska - 2005
4.30 - Darrent Williams, (CB), Oklahoma State - 2005
4.30 - Yamon Figurs, (WR), Kansas State - 2007
4.31 - Aaron Lockett, (WR), Kansas State - 2002
4.31 - *Johnathan Joseph, (CB), South Carolina - 2006
4.31 - Santana Moss, (WR), Miami - 2001
4.32 - Kevin Garrett, (CB), Southern Methodist - 2003
4.32 - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
4.32 - Tim Carter, (WR), Auburn - 2002
4.32 - Antwan Harris, (CB), Virginia - 2000
4.32 - *Troy Williamson, (WR), South Carolina - 2005
4.32 - *Chad Jackson, (WR), Florida - 2006
4.32 - Tim Jennings, (CB), Georgia - 2006
4.32 - Jason Hill, (WR), Washington State - 2007
4.32 - *Chris Houston, (CB), Arkansas - 2007
4.33 - Carlos Francis, (WR), Texas Tech - 2004
4.33 - Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin - 2001
4.34 - Domonique Foxworth, (CB), Maryland - 2005
4.34 - Tyrone Calico, (WR), Middle Tennessee State - 2003
4.34 - *Ahmad Carroll, (CB), Arkansas - 2004
4.34 - Dunta Robinson, (CB), South Carolina - 2004
4.34 - B.J. Tucker, (CB), Wisconsin - 2003
4.34 - Ken-Yon Rambo, (WR), Ohio State - 2001
Any of these names blow you away. Santana Moss and Chris Chambers are probably the most notable names on the list and while they performed in the NFL, neither have been able to establish themselves as #1 receivers on any of the teams they have played with. On several others, it may be too soon but even as rookies or 2nd, 3rd year players, they have not been able to make a big splash. There are tons of other players who are not on this list who showed that they were players on the field in college football and by God, they continued to do that in the NFL. Bottom line, if you can play then you can play whether or not you can run fast in some tights and track spikes on turf.
6 responses so far ↓
1 hash // Mar 1, 2008 at 9:00 am
I wasn’t aware that the combine didn’t include non-D. I starters…I guess that I never paid any attention. I completely agree with you that this would be the forum for those players without having the previous exposure to the pro scouts be able to showcase themselves. To me it’s akin to the SAT’s. If you’re going to have a standardized test, then standardize it uniformly.
2 CWilson // Mar 1, 2008 at 10:18 am
I didn’t mean that non D-I starters aren’t invited. I am saying that I think that the combine should be soley made up of guys like non-starters for D-I, DII, DII and NAIA players. In other words, I think the widely publicized college football players from division I football should be excluded from the combine. They have already had many avenues for evaluation.
3 hash // Mar 1, 2008 at 10:27 am
Oh I understand now. Shows you just how much I don’t know about the combine. What you are saying is that you are already familiar with the marquee players of the game from the tapes/footage on hand as opposed to the unheralded players that now have the opportunity or should have the opportunity to showcase their skills..
4 Emil // Mar 2, 2008 at 9:41 am
The combine is a joke. The people who traded slaves, 160 yrs ago or more would be proud of the NFL because it probably resembles that scene. Check their teeth, measure them..I mean come on none of this has a lick to do with playing football.
5 CWilson // Mar 2, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Hash, that’s exactly what I am saying. Give the unexposed players a chance to gain some exposure. There are quality DII and DIII players out there who should get a look at something like the combine.
6 hash // Mar 3, 2008 at 7:41 am
I recall a guy from Holy Cross, an all purpose halfback or something (Gordie Locke?) that used the combine as an opportunity to shine. How did I ever forget that he wasn’t Div I?
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