[Vern Gambetta]

Vern Gambetta on February 3, 2009 at 3:30 am #15314

Combine training makes the player highly adapted to a few movements that really have no impact on their ability to play the game. Furthermore the movements in the combine tests bear very little resemblance to what actually happens in the game. So what are they doing? Now every sport is going to testing combines. Rumor has it that even Major League Baseball will have a combine. Has anyone ever take

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[BIONIC86]

BIONIC86 on February 3, 2009 at 11:10 am #77444

I agree.

Wat medical would u like 2 see? Sum sort of endocrine panel?

[Mike Young]

Mike Young on February 3, 2009 at 12:27 pm #77446

If you used endocrine profile as a combine replacement test I can only imagine we’d see guys roiding out of their mind just to get the testosterone equivalent of a 4.2 forty yard dash.

ELITETRACK Founder

[BIONIC86]

BIONIC86 on February 3, 2009 at 12:32 pm #77447

LOL

Yeh but that would be silly.

But it would be good to see the endocrin panels of a athletes as they develop through the age groups getting stronger faster fitter.

What they look like when they are peaking?
What they look like when they are in a platau?
what they look like when they overtrain?

then you could guide your planning for volume, density and intensities of training.

[Chris Sole]

Chris Sole on February 3, 2009 at 2:28 pm #77455

What! I think benching 220lbs for max reps is totally relevant to the game. Haha… the combine is the poorest attempt at talent identification in any sport

[Mike Young]

Mike Young on February 3, 2009 at 5:36 pm #77472

LOL

Yeh but that would be silly.

But it would be good to see the endocrin panels of a athletes as they develop through the age groups getting stronger faster fitter.

What they look like when they are peaking?
What they look like when they are in a platau?
what they look like when they overtrain?

then you could guide your planning for volume, density and intensities of training.

I would bet my life that it would happen. Guys dope now to get faster 40 yard times and VJs in the combine. Imagine if the test was a direct measure (like T:E ratios) rather than an indirect measure (40 yd, SLJ, etc.).

That would be a complete failure…especially given the NFLs track record for monitoring PED use.

ELITETRACK Founder

[Mike Young]

Mike Young on February 3, 2009 at 5:37 pm #77473

I would LOVE to see a correlational analysis on combine results and football stats or even pro-bowl appearances. I’d guess that there is no clinical or statistical relationship at all.

ELITETRACK Founder

[tcnj28]

tcnj28 on February 4, 2009 at 8:41 am #77501

I work at one of the premier combine franchises in the country. While I do agree that some of the drills are a waste, I wouldn’t say all of them are. It is to get a baseline for how athletic someone is. There are a lot of players in the NFL that aren’t great football players but they are such gifted athletes that they can make the team. They test how high you can jump, how quick you are, and how fast you are. The 225 test is very stupid because they use it as a strength indicator and we all know that maxing out on reps doesn’t show pure strength. The NFL is obviously a league with great ATHLETES, and thats what the combine helps show. Who is a great athlete. If you have a kid in college who was a great cornerback. Now when he tests at the combine, he runs a 4.65. He probably isn’t going to translate very well into the NFL considering it is a mostly about speed. Are there exceptions? Of course. But I wouldn’t say the combine is a waste.

[halflapper]

halflapper on February 6, 2009 at 3:14 am #77559

I agree with the last post that some of the drills are good, if they are assessed in the right manner. The combine is a test of overall athleticism and that is it. The NFL, just like every other sports organization is always looking for the best athlete it can get. So for me the agility tests and the jumps (power tests) are indicators of how an athlete can perform. With this being said, the combine in and of itself can never be the sole criteria for a great player, but it can allow you to better rank them according to your needs.

[Chad Williams]

Chad Williams on February 6, 2009 at 3:58 am #77562

I would be interested in seeing how the combine correlates over . . .

Here is a story: When I was a GA, there was an athlete named Domnique Rodgers, from Tennessee State, who practiced one day before the Indoor Conference Meet. He then went on to win the 60m dash, LJ, HJ, and Triple. His marks were 6.7x, 25, 6’10 and 50′. Pretty sick for one practice. Then fast forward to the NFL combine where this guy absolutely tore it up with his raw ability. He went first round in the draft. Last week during the Superbowl, there was a pass break-up where one the Steelers was a sure-fire touchdown and a guy by the name of Rodgers-Cromartie came in and made one of the sickest plays I have ever seen. It was probably blown coverage, but you can’t teach closing speed and athleticism like that. So the combine may have some merit.

[Carl Valle]

Carl Valle on February 6, 2009 at 4:10 am #77565

When 4.8 corners make it as undrafted free agents get rid of the combine. The combine tests athletic abilities and the tape shows football ability. Remember that some guy from eastern tech will look like a freak when playing in some tiny conference on film. Besides coaches help those become better football players. Keep running the combine but they need to upgrade it a bit. 225 bench test is a joke but injuries could happen. I propose no lift tests.

[Mike Young]

Mike Young on February 7, 2009 at 3:18 pm #77664

I would be interested in seeing how the combine correlates over . . .

Here is a story: When I was a GA, there was an athlete named Domnique Rodgers, from Tennessee State, who practiced one day before the Indoor Conference Meet. He then went on to win the 60m dash, LJ, HJ, and Triple. His marks were 6.7x, 25, 6’10 and 50′. Pretty sick for one practice. Then fast forward to the NFL combine where this guy absolutely tore it up with his raw ability. He went first round in the draft. Last week during the Superbowl, there was a pass break-up where one the Steelers was a sure-fire touchdown and a guy by the name of Rodgers-Cromartie came in and made one of the sickest plays I have ever seen. It was probably blown coverage, but you can’t teach closing speed and athleticism like that. So the combine may have some merit.

I think that the combine (or a modified version of it) could be very valuable but as it stands the athlete you mentioned is far more an exception than anything else. There are more guys who were similar to him (beasted the combine) and did NOTHING in the NFL.

ELITETRACK Founder