Thread: Thinking outside the box on the NFL combine

[size=12pt]Thinking outside the box on the NFL combine[/size]
By Jeff MacGregor
Page 2
Updated: February 23, 2009

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

"AngloVike" wrote:

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

He's really really fast, sign him!
I bought stock in the Nike vision team.

"Prophet" wrote:

"AngloVike" wrote:

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

He's really really fast, sign him!
I bought stock in the Nike vision team.

you're lucky.. I could never sign the form to buy stock as I kept dropping the pen, even though it was right in front of me

"AngloVike" wrote:

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

True, but game film has its faults as well and its hard to get a lot of live time watching these guys.
Like mooch kept saying yesterday, just because a kid shows up and down performances on film doesn't mean he's not a performer, just means you need to do more research on him to find out why the performances were up and down.

Its a hard process to pick these guys and largely a crapshoot, the orgs that figure it out and get consistent production from their draft classes definitely deserve their kudos.

Combines are also good for the ego centric coaches that think they can form anyone into a player and are looking for the one thing they can't coach, athleticism.

"tastywaves" wrote:

"AngloVike" wrote:

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

True, but game film has its faults as well and its hard to get a lot of live time watching these guys.
Like mooch kept saying yesterday, just because a kid shows up and down performances on film doesn't mean he's not a performer, just means you need to do more research on him to find out why the performances were up and down.

Its a hard process to pick these guys and largely a crapshoot, the orgs that figure it out and get consistent production from their draft classes definitely deserve their kudos.

Combines are also good for the ego centric coaches that think they can form anyone into a player and are looking for the one thing they can't coach, athleticism.

You're right on that and I'd expect teams to look at both game film and live games as well to get a good feel for performances.

One thing I do like to see is who decides that they don't want to do certain drills at the Combine and then elect to have private workouts instead. That often says a lot about character and attitude than anything - only time I'll cut someone slack for that is if they are coming off an injury and need an extra couple of weeks to fully recover

"AngloVike" wrote:

"tastywaves" wrote:

"AngloVike" wrote:

It would seem to me that the best way to judge a football player is to watch him play football.

How many people, especially fans forget this basic premise and then end up getting moist over the latest 'star' that emerges from the Combine with top rankings in the different disciplines

True, but game film has its faults as well and its hard to get a lot of live time watching these guys.
Like mooch kept saying yesterday, just because a kid shows up and down performances on film doesn't mean he's not a performer, just means you need to do more research on him to find out why the performances were up and down.

Its a hard process to pick these guys and largely a crapshoot, the orgs that figure it out and get consistent production from their draft classes definitely deserve their kudos.

Combines are also good for the ego centric coaches that think they can form anyone into a player and are looking for the one thing they can't coach, athleticism.

You're right on that and I'd expect teams to look at both game film and live games as well to get a good feel for performances.

One thing I do like to see is who decides that they don't want to do certain drills at the Combine and then elect to have private workouts instead. That often says a lot about character and attitude than anything - only time I'll cut someone slack for that is if they are coming off an injury and need an extra couple of weeks to fully recover

Yea, looks like they are afraid of lowering their ranking so they elect out.
I don't blame them for doing it if they believe it helps their draft ranking (especially the really highly ranked guys), but for an NFL team it casts some doubt.

I learned something this year on the first day of the combine.......

It was originally intended for the coaches/staffs to meet players they were interested in and then run them through the medical process........

Some of the writers comments seem to indicate why it has grown into what it is today.

I for one watch it for the simplest of reasons.....I don't watch college football and it allows me to put a face to a name on scouting reports that I read this time of year.

Of course, since the discovery of Youtube, I don't seem to focus on that as much as I do some of the more trusted talking heads comments.

Absolutely love the crew NFLN has working the combine this year.
The dynamic that Gruden and Mooch bring to the analysis of a Mayock is outstanding.
;D

"Marrdro" wrote:

I learned something this year on the first day of the combine.......

It was originally intended for the coaches/staffs to meet players they were interested in and then run them through the medical process........

Some of the writers comments seem to indicate why it has grown into what it is today.

I for one watch it for the simplest of reasons.....I don't watch college football and it allows me to put a face to a name on scouting reports that I read this time of year.

Of course, since the discovery of Youtube, I don't seem to focus on that as much as I do some of the more trusted talking heads comments.

Absolutely love the crew NFLN has working the combine this year.
The dynamic that Gruden and Mooch bring to the analysis of a Mayock is outstanding.
;D

Gruden is pretty good, and I like them having Charles Davis there to keep Mayock in line.

Primetime today!

"Don't go out of bounds. There's no money out there!"

"jessejames09" wrote:

"Marrdro" wrote:

I learned something this year on the first day of the combine.......

It was originally intended for the coaches/staffs to meet players they were interested in and then run them through the medical process........

Some of the writers comments seem to indicate why it has grown into what it is today.

I for one watch it for the simplest of reasons.....I don't watch college football and it allows me to put a face to a name on scouting reports that I read this time of year.

Of course, since the discovery of Youtube, I don't seem to focus on that as much as I do some of the more trusted talking heads comments.

Absolutely love the crew NFLN has working the combine this year.
The dynamic that Gruden and Mooch bring to the analysis of a Mayock is outstanding.
;D

Gruden is pretty good, and I like them having Charles Davis there to keep Mayock in line.

Primetime today!

"Don't go out of bounds. There's no money out there!"

I wasn't a huge Deon fan when he played mostly because of his antics.
Now I am kindof liking his new found role for some of the younger kids.

Very refreshing to see the Vets helping out like that.

Can't wait to hear his DB breakdowns this year.