NFL Scouting Combine Invitees Announced

by Ed Valentine on Feb 2, 2011 11:13 AM EST in New York Giants News

The list of invitees to the annual NFL meat market known as the NFL Scouting Combine has been released. The combine is held in Indianapolis from Feb. 23rd - March 1 as NFL teams get close up looks at many of the premier draft prospects.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm not a big fan of the Combine. It is interesting and should be used to gather information, but I think this is a place where scouts and general managers make tons of mistakes. It is a place where they fall in love with "measurables," with how big or fast a guy is, how long his arms are, how much he can bench press, how high he can jump.

Guys always rise and fall based on these characteristics, and it makes me shake my head. Yes, some of these physical skills can be translated into certain skills on the football field, but much of what you see at the Combine tells you what kind of athlete a guy is -- not what kind of football player he is.

For that, you have to use your eyes. Watch the games, watch the films. See what kind of instincts a guy has. Does he make the right play? Does he make the tackle? Is he where he should be? Is he mistake-prone? You can't judge those things at the Combine, and for me they are more important than how many reps a guy can do on the bench press.

-- Here is the full list of invitees

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Agreed, the measurables need to be measured,

so the combine and its drills are needed. But yeah, too many GM’s fall in or out of love with a guy because of his performance at the combine. I just hope JR, TC and their staffs dont fall into that trap. I have heard, however, that the interview process is extremely important to the Giants at the comblne. And I’m fine with that.

But watch a guy play on tape. Thats where you’ll figure out what kind of player he is. (obvious, I realize, forgive me)

Ed, what degree of influence do you think the measurables have on the Giants when evaluating players?

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Feb 2, 2011 12:18 PM EST reply actions

think of it this way

If player A runs a 4.35 40 (a real blazer) and person B runs a 4.55 40 (slowish for a DB or WR, decent for a LB), that is considered a substantial difference in that measurable. However, if player B figures out where he needs to go one second earlier than player A (assuming player A ever does figure that out), player B is at that spot six tenths of a second sooner if that spot is 40 yards away and even better if the distance is shorter. Six tenths of a second is four yards at a fast running pace, or, the difference between tackling the ballcarrier or running after him. Of course if player A is equally clever, then that extra speed matters. The better player every time, i say!

by NortheastKingdom on Feb 2, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Excellent post

I totally understand what your saying and it makes alot of sense. Just factor into your thinking that this is done in shorts, w/o thinking about and actually playing football while you are running or jumping at the combine. Football speed is sometimes a little bit harder to measure. Watch the tape.

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Feb 2, 2011 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Nicks runs a horrible 40

But he can run with the football

by ct17 on Feb 2, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Ideally

You want guys who have the measurables and the instincts. If you can’t have both, I will take instincts and heart.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 2, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

Great perspective

Northeast Kingdom.

Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange

by bigbluethruandthru on Feb 2, 2011 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Measurables

I have thoughts on that, but I think I am going to put them together in a full post.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 2, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

The interviews

to me seem like the most important piece. I also get tired of hearing some player who had dominant statistical seasons in college told he’ll drop a round or two because of tenth’s of a second on his non- pad wearing straight line sprinting speed. Or a player like Darius Heyward-Bey, who is a junk receiver, shooting up the boards because he’s a track star.

Your First Ever Pinstripe Bowl Champions- The Syracuse Orange

by bigbluethruandthru on Feb 2, 2011 12:26 PM EST reply actions

Cant be said much better than that thru and thru

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Feb 2, 2011 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

If Al Davis wasn't picking for the Raiders

DHB would have been one of the last receivers chosen in the first round, if in the first round at all. Davis just likes the speed.

All you hear about is the past, the past... the past is the !@#$ing past, this is the present.
THIS IS TEMPORARY! A CHAMPIONSHIP IS PERMANENT
-Michael Strahan

by Willgfass on Feb 2, 2011 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

Beckum did more bench presses than any other TE

And look what happened so far. Nada.

And still cannot block.

All the Giants should play like Mark Bavaro.
Tom Quinn Must Go!
On second thought, let's not blame players or coaches, they are not responsible. The unsupportive fans are to blame.

by UnknownJintsFan on Feb 2, 2011 1:46 PM EST reply actions

More bench presses

Yet, he isn’t strong enough to block at the point of attack. Classic example of how it does not translate. Bryan Kehl was always the best athlete the Giants had among linebackers, but he can’t play. He doesn’t have the instincts or the aggressive nature.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 2, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

I did not know that

He doesnt look like he would be the strongest TE. Perfect example of measurables not translating.

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Feb 2, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

sorry for the redundancy

"Just when I thought you could'nt be any dumber, you go and do this... AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!

by tommy d. on Feb 2, 2011 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

A lot of centers were not invited

Half of the guys considered top 10 centers were not invited. So we won’t get a good look at our prospects there.

by ct17 on Feb 2, 2011 2:26 PM EST reply actions

I do like watching the drills

When the guys are in shorts and a tanker you can see how fluid their hips are on drops. You can see if a receiver attacks and catches the ball or let’s it come to him. You can see the OL footwork and QB delivery. It think that is some good stuff. You can see more at a guys pro day but it is hard to have top scouts at every pro day.

by bigblue777 on Feb 2, 2011 3:40 PM EST reply actions