eVERY YEAR NFL SCOUTS SCOWER THE COMBINE FOR THE NEXT GREAT PLAYER, THROUGH INTENSE SCRUTINY OF EVERY COLLEGE PLAYER INVITED. IN THE THEORY It SOUNDS LIKE A FLAWLESS APROACH, BUT IN ACTUALLITY IT COULD NOT BE MORE FLAWED.
scouts obsess over how far a quarterback can throw a BALL, how fast a receiver can run in the 40 yard dash or how many times a linebacker can bench press 225.
But none of these physical tests determine how PLAYERS will play in a real game situation. STILL NFL TEAMS DRAFT OR DIE BY HOW WELL THE PLAYERS PERFORMS IN EACH PHYSICAL TEST.
NOW, THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES DOES NOT HELP A PLAYER BECOME GREAT, BUT IT IS NOT THE END ALL SIGN THAT A PLAYERS WILL BE GREAT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS THAT PLAY A PART IN A PERSON’S GREATNESS.
THE ONLY THING THAT THE PHYSICAL TEST CAN GAGE IS IF HE CAN BE ON PAR WITH THE ELITE PLAYERS IN THE NFL PHYSICALLY. SCOUTS HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO GUAGE TECHNIQUE BECAUSE TECHNIQUE CAN BEAT PHYSICAL ABILITY OR ATLEAST MAKE UP FOR LACK OF PHYSICAL ABILITY.
THIS OBESSION WITH ATHLETICISM HAS BEEN THE REASON FOR MANY SO CALLED BUST IN THE DRAFT.
PRIME EXAMPLE IS KYLE BOLLER, WHO WOWED SCOUTS BECAUSE HE COULD THROW A FOOTBALL 50 YARDS ON ONE KNEE. THE SCOUTS, HOWEVER, THEY FORGOT THE TEST IF HE COULD READ DEFENSES, DOES HE KEEP HIS THROWING TECHNIGUE WHEN PRESSURED BY DEFENDERS.
ALL OF WHICH COULD BE SOMEWHAT DETERMINED BY STUDYING FILM OF HIM AND QUIZING HIM ON RECOGNIZING BLITZ PACKAGES.
SO, UNTIL SCOUTS SHIFT THERE FROM PRIMARILY JUDGING ATHLETICISM, THERE WILL CONITINUE TO BE MORE BUST IN THE NFL.
