NFL Combine Thoughts

Remember when I talked about the NFL putting stock in conferences and whatnot? Well, lest we forget, the NFL also puts an enormous amount of stock in the NFL Draft Combine. So, this article is going to take a bit of a look at some of the most important numbers from this past week’s 2012 NFL Draft Combine.

By far, the most important number from this past weekend was 3.41. Why, you ask? That, my friends, was the 40 yard dash time from Robert Griffin III, also known as the fastest 40 time since Michael Vick, also known as the sound of NFL GM’s giggling like 7 year old girls. We knew that RGIII was fast, but the numbers help bring a whole new level of excitement. If Griffin can make a lasting impression at his Pro Day, there will be zero questions about him being the 2^nd overall pick, and a lot of people will make noise about him supplanting Luck as the no. 1 pick overall.

Speaking of Luck, I want you to look at a set of numbers comparing two players.

4.67 40 yd dash, 36’’ vertical, 10’4” broad jump, 6.8 s cone drill

4.56 40 yd dash, 35” vertical, 10’6” broad jump, 6.92 cone drill

These two players seem really similar, yes? Well the first set of numbers is Andrew Luck’s results from the Sunday QB Combine session, and the second set is that of Cam Newton’s from 2011. These numbers are very, very similar. Yes, Newton was a bit faster, but these numbers basically mean that the two athletes are almost identical. Think about that. Luck, who is supposed to be the most impressive football prospect in the last 15 years, is just as good of an athlete as an NFL QB who set rookie records and stamped his name in Carolina Panther history. To some, that will make Luck even more attractive of a pick than he already is.

To look at some other impressive facts/numbers from this past weekends exhibition:

• Luke Keuchly, BC: He is the highest rated linebacker in this year’s draft, and he cemented his status with a really solid showing in the combine. He ran 3^rd fast 40 yd dash, had the 6^th most reps on the bench press, and showed a 38’ vertical. Impressive numbers for an impressive player.

• Stephen Hill, GT: This WR did not see many footballs thrown his way last season, as Georgia Tech ran the triple option offense and led the FBS schools in rushing yet again. But, he did show the athletic abilities of a stand out wide receiver. He ran a 4.36 40 yd dash, showed a 40 inch vertical, and jumped 11’1” on the broad jump (tied for longest at the combine). He obviously will need some work refining his craft, but all of the athletic abilities are there.

• Matt Kalil, USC: Everyone agrees that this Lineman will be a top 5 draft pick. He showed rather well, running a 4.99 40 yd dash, 30 reps on the bench, and putting up the 2^nd fastest time on the 3 cone drill. This impressive blocker has all of the tools to be a wonderful lineman for an up and coming team for a lot of seasons.

Those are only a few of the important numbers that NFL scouts and GMs took away from this past week, but you can look at all of them yourself if you just visit NFL.com/combine. Take a look and tell me what impressed you about the NFL combine.