The Subtleties of the NFL Combine: Looking beyond just the 40-yard dash

I watched the NFL combine this weekend with greater concentration than usual. I had a couple of positions I was interested in seeing, particularly O-line. I’d also love a big, brawny WR or a Beastmode 2.0, but I’m even more interested in shoring up the secondary where the Seahawks took some hard hits at corner late in the season.

What struck me as I watched the secondary players, edge rushers and linebackers was how tight some of them were in their hips and backs. I expected the occasional drops and some drift in the coverage patterns, but the lack of ability to swivel and shift directions with the hips caught me off guard with some candidates. In some cases it seemed that the taller the candidate, the harder it was for them to get their hips low and move gracefully.

To compare, I went back and looked at the combine tapes for Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman.

Pay particular attention to this Richard Sherman combine tape because it’s an excellent example of a tall corner with great agility.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d816ddd85/2010-Combine-workout-Earl-Thomas

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d81eb31b4/2011-NFL-Scouting-Combine-Richard-Sherman

Contrast this with comments by Bucky Brooks on CB PJ Williams out of Florida:

"P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State: Although he was viewed this past season as the top cover corner at Florida State, Williams needed to impress scouts during his combine workout to cement his standing as a borderline Day 1 prospect. Scouts wanted to see the ex-Seminole run a fast 40 time while displaying exceptional agility, footwork and movement skills in drills. Williams certainly disappointed evaluators with his 4.57-second performance and didn’t look completely comfortable with his turns and transitions in drills. While that is somewhat to be expected based on the amount of press coverage Florida State employed during his three years in Tallahassee, Williams needs to tighten up his backpedal and run faster at his pro day on March 31 to salvage his chances of being a first-round pick come April 30."

I’m focused on this skill, and I think the Seahawks are as well. Spending months teaching a player how to loosen his hips and improve his body mechanics takes away from the player working on routes and coverages. I get that prepping for the combine is a focus on strength and speed, but failure to address agility can really affect a player’s ability to pursue and thus draft position and earning potential. Perhaps Yoga could play a significant role in helping players address the agility issue prior to the combine.

Did you watch the combine? What were your thoughts?

More from 12th Man Rising

Home/Seattle Seahawks Draft