Workouts vs Game Tape

[SCP]

Gimme that big old ugly guard at 14, please.

[Kevin Greene]

Gimme game tape on a guard.

However his refusal to do a 40 or bench makes me wonder who his agent is.

Problem?

I like the Combine for the measurables, and another pressure packed test controlled by the NFL.

Teo comes out of this looking like shyt, bad 40 and whined about pressure.

Can you say 3rd round to the Bengals?

[LinvilleGorge]

He ran the 40. Slow as poo. 5.49

But, one thing's for sure - who gives a flying fug what an OG runs in the 40. For that matter, any lineman except for perhaps a speed rushing DE. NFL linemen simply don't run 40 yards. It's an irrelevant stat for those guys. Straight line speed does not matter for a lineman.

[Swaggasaurus]

Ask the Irish defense whether or not Warmack numbers are a concern. Game tape all day.

[Montsta]

I go by which guys have cool hair and tattoos. I've yet to pick a good player using this method.

[MadHatter]

IMO, workouts are to confirm what you saw on game tape. If the tape says the guy's a beast and he works out like a beast, you've got an elite prospect. If the tape shows nothing special, but the guy works out like a freak, then you go back to the tape and re-evaluate. Was he in a scheme that didn't fit his skill set? Did you miss something the first time you watched the tape? Or, is the guy just a workout warrior and not a football player?

The opposite is true for guys who look like a beast on tape, but then don't show it in workouts. You go back to the tape to see if he was maybe just in the perfect scheme to utilize his skills while hiding his weaknesses. Was it weak competition? Is he not taking the process seriously? If he isn't taking it seriously and isn't showing up prepared, that's a huge red flag IMO. The Combine is the biggest job interview of a football player's career. He should absolutely take it seriously and come 110% prepared and ready to show his best in the drills and in the interviews. What is that guy going to do when he starts banking fat NFL paychecks? Does he have the drive to stay hungry or is he going to get fat and happy? .

I totally agree with you up to a point.

If you have a guy that shows up for the combine ill prepared, out of shape, etc.... you need to address his work ethic and dedication from this.

This is the biggest job interview that these guys will ever have. If it is not worth busting your ass to prepare for, how can you know that the guy will apprach the NFL like a professional.

Too many fans over rate the combine.....but it definitely serves several purposes for the coaches and staff.

[CanadianCat]

Listening to alot of scouts talk on this the combine is a tool used to eveluate players. Basically its really beneficial for kids that didnt play in the top tier confrences as it allow them to get on the same level.

The biggest value to the combine is the player interviews. This more than anything impacts their draft 'stock'

BTW isnt it a bit degrading that at the beginning of the combine all the player get 'herded' on to a stage in their underware to have pictures take of them. Its like when you buy cattle...

[CanadianCat]

Also seems like for coaches, agents and GM's the combine serves as a big meet a greet. Its probably as important for scouts and NFL staff for networking as it is for draft prospects.

Combine makes for decent TV in the offseason.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I think you just use it as another avenue of evaluation. Game tape and interviews obviously being much more important. But if you worry that guy that looks slow on tape, and then he looks slow in workouts, you might just have to chalk up that he's slow.

[jamos14]

Also seems like for coaches, agents and GM's the combine serves as a big meet a greet. Its probably as important for scouts and NFL staff for networking as it is for draft prospects.

Combine makes for decent TV in the offseason.

Agree about the meet and greet. Very similar to the MLB's winter meetings.

[CarolinaNCSU]

The combine is a dog and pony show that offers little IMO, although some info can and should be gathered there about guys.

As a whole though, judge a guy by what he does on the field. You go primarily by combines, and you're the Raiders.

[BigBeezy]

the combine is apart of the draft process.it should confirm what you see on tape,or make you go back to see if you missed something.

This. Some players just don't test well but perform well on the field. With that said, the combine is important because it gives teams another chance to learn more about their potential investments. The heavy lifting, however, is done through watching game film, practices, etc.

The players that test well, or don't test well even, will just make the personnel guys go back and study their film that much closer.

[Matthias]

The only staff that cares about a o-lineman's 40 time, is one that expects their lineman to run down guys who forced a turnover and going the other way with the ball. Other than that, o-lineman don't run 40 yards at any given time.

[Darth Biscuit]

Linville has a point... I like it explained that way.

The combine shows you how seriously the guy is taking things. Game tape is where it's at but a bad showing at the combine is a red flag. A good showing at the combine for a guy that didn't look great on tape isn't as telling imo.