2016 Combine

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

40 times don't tell you anything you can't already see by watching tape. When good scouts watch tape they can see who plays fast enough. They're not looking for who can reach a higher top speed in a straight line, they're looking for guys who get to spots faster than anybody else.

Let's say you're at the combine and you're expecting a LB to run a 4.9 and he runs a 4.6. All that should tell you is that maybe you need to go back and watch the guy's tape again. If he's faster than you thought at getting to spots, maybe you bump him up on your board. But if he's slow getting to the spots then you discount the 40 time as track-generated nonsense and leave him nice and low on your board.

In other words, the 40 time shouldn't be telling you anything you don't (or couldn't) already know.

"I'm looking for football players."
- Scot McCloughan

So you watch football games to find football players. The combine is stupid.

I would suggest it also works in reverse. If a guy plays like 4.6 but times out at 4.9, perhaps you go back and see if the level of competition or scheme was making him look better. If so, maybe you knock him back a round or two.

Same principle though. Look at the tape. Confirm what you see with measurables. When the two are out of whack, adjust accordingly (which may include no adjustment).

Also, just read recently that invitees are getting very savvy about the interview process and that, because of that, it is harder and harder to get good information out of this once very useful evaluation tool.