Pre-Draft work outs overrated

Defensewins · 03-18-2004, 06:24 PM

Pastabelly finally did a half way decent article yesterday:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1755846

He says, "in University of Alabama, wide receiver Triandos Luke's career, he totaled 90 catches, 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns. But in one afternoon at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis last month, he was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.30 seconds, the fastest time for any of the three dozen wide receiver prospects who participated in the event.
That lightning-fast time, along with a 38-inch vertical jump and solid performances in all of the athletic ability drills, certainly commanded the attention of NFL scouts. It probably moved Luke's draft stock up a round...NOT!

The he goes on to say: " Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams, the most notable underclassman to take advantage of the NFL's hastily revisited draft eligibility rules after the Maurice Clarett case, is rumored to cover 40 yards in only about 4.55 seconds. Maybe even 4.6 according to some scouts who have seen him play. But Williams rang up better statistics in '03 alone -- 95 catches, 1,314 yards, 16 touchdowns -- than Luke had for his entire career...

Williams and Fitzgerald, while not possessing the straightline speed of other prospects at wide receiver, have developed skills relative to the position that are viewed as superior. Both players possess the physical dimension now favored by teams, long and lanky and physical, and go after the football aggressively. They adjust nicely to the ball in the air, display exquisite body control, and have Velcro-like hands.
Their football skills, in essence, supercede any questions about their quickness.
“ We time players in terms of straightline speed, but the reality is that our game isn't played in a straight line. So there's a bit of a fallacy there. And our game isn't played unimpeded, like a track meet, where you're just going to run and no one is in your way. ”
—Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe

AnonEmouse · 03-18-2004, 07:27 PM

Exactly why shuttle & cone speeds are important too...

03-18-2004, 06:24 PM	#1
Defensewins Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,749	Pre-Draft work outs overrated Pastabelly finally did a half way decent article yesterday: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=1755846 He says, "in University of Alabama, wide receiver Triandos Luke's career, he totaled 90 catches, 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns. But in one afternoon at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis last month, he was clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.30 seconds, the fastest time for any of the three dozen wide receiver prospects who participated in the event. That lightning-fast time, along with a 38-inch vertical jump and solid performances in all of the athletic ability drills, certainly commanded the attention of NFL scouts. It probably moved Luke's draft stock up a round...NOT! The he goes on to say: " Southern California wide receiver Mike Williams, the most notable underclassman to take advantage of the NFL's hastily revisited draft eligibility rules after the Maurice Clarett case, is rumored to cover 40 yards in only about 4.55 seconds. Maybe even 4.6 according to some scouts who have seen him play. But Williams rang up better statistics in '03 alone -- 95 catches, 1,314 yards, 16 touchdowns -- than Luke had for his entire career... Williams and Fitzgerald, while not possessing the straightline speed of other prospects at wide receiver, have developed skills relative to the position that are viewed as superior. Both players possess the physical dimension now favored by teams, long and lanky and physical, and go after the football aggressively. They adjust nicely to the ball in the air, display exquisite body control, and have Velcro-like hands. Their football skills, in essence, supercede any questions about their quickness. “ We time players in terms of straightline speed, but the reality is that our game isn't played in a straight line. So there's a bit of a fallacy there. And our game isn't played unimpeded, like a track meet, where you're just going to run and no one is in your way. ” —Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe

03-18-2004, 07:27 PM	#2
AnonEmouse The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK Age: 58 Posts: 2,499	Exactly why shuttle & cone speeds are important too...

Pre-Draft work outs overrated

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