NFL Combine Update Thread

[busigator96]

Where is Sandcastle projected?

[GatorAlum_03]

Pretty sure that I saw Jelani Jenkins did 27 reps. That's nuts.

[kalaniocc]

Most ive done is 16 reps. Jelani is a monster

[yellowboy90]

I know this is not UF related but did Bray look huge to anyone else? The guy was like a stick at UT.

[gator1986]

Originally Posted by yellowboy90

I know this is not UF related but did Bray look huge to anyone else? The guy was like a stick at UT.

Like fat? Yes I thought so too! I didn't know if anyone else noticed

[Dreamliner]

Originally Posted by gator1986

The bench press doesn't mean much. Like I said its kind of sad that Reed didn't rep well, but it's not a big deal. What is he going to do? Fall down and bench press and offensive linemen away from the QB? Or catch the pass and rep it out? I understand they like for showing strength, and endurance with muscles, but it really doesn't prove anything. I weigh 190 I can rep 225, 25 times, one thing I can't do or do not have is the playmaking ability reed has, or his football instincts and IQ.

Thank you. Bench press is virtually useless as a measure of athletic performance. Recall that a number of our really big bench pressers never made plays for us.

[magnafides]

Floyd with a 4.87 in his 2nd run... insane for a guy his size.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

The bench press is a decent, standardized and useful measurement of strength for anyone doing a lot of pushing, ie o-line, d-line and sometimes TEs. It translates well to blocking.

[theologator]

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

The bench press is a decent, standardized and useful measurement of strength for anyone doing a lot of pushing, ie o-line, d-line and sometimes TEs. It translates well to blocking.

The question re: bench press is probably a matter of baseline strength & endurance for exactly that, rather than a measure of ability. An in-line blocking TE would be one thing, a Tony Gonzalez-style slot receiving TE another. 16 reps of 225 might be fine for the latter, but 5 wouldn't.

I'm sure that all gets balanced with speed, route running, etc.

My view of Reed is that he's an unpolished, slightly less complete TE of A-Hern's style. He strikes me as a bit more athletic but he's not as savvy, intense or nearly the blocker A-Hern was and is. He has potential, nice upside, but enough of a project to slide down to lower rounds. I hope he gets drafted into a situation that fits him.

The coaches always spoke highly of him for good reason. I did see wow moments.

[Dreamliner]

The bench press is a highly reliable measurement of the ability to press a barbell off one's chest. This cannot be overstated.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Which invokes much of the same muscles involved in pushing, or holding a force pushing against you.

Thus, it's likely the only valuable, quantifiable measurement of "blocking potential." And since the combine is about quantifying things, this should come as no surprise.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by theologator

The question re: bench press is probably a matter of baseline strength & endurance for exactly that, rather than a measure of ability. An in-line blocking TE would be one thing, a Tony Gonzalez-style slot receiving TE another. 16 reps of 225 might be fine for the latter, but 5 wouldn't.

Exactly. And it's generally why nobody cares if a QB or punter can't do more than 4 or 5 reps. But if you're on the o-line, d-line or are a blocking TE, it has a lot more relevance to your job on the field.

[theologator]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner

The bench press is a highly reliable measurement of the ability to press a barbell off one's chest. This cannot be overstated.

Years ago I was out with a friend who had had a bit too much to drink. He went off on a 30-minute rant about how bench pressing was BS and overrated - just in terms of working out in the gym. Just on and on, angry, no one else even tried to interrupt him. He gave a complete and cogent argument laced with profanity and hyperbole.

When he got done, he went silent for a full minute then said, "I'm going to f-ing break 300 if it f-ing kills me." I thought I would die laughing.

He did break 300. Also graduated UF Law & went on to a career in the FBI.

[magnafides]

I never played football, but it seems like blocking would be just as much a function of lower body strength as upper... do they do squats at the combine?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Originally Posted by magnafides

I never played football, but it seems like blocking would be just as much a function of lower body strength as upper... do they do squats at the combine?

It is absolutely, although if you look at the motion, the squat doesn't translate as well in the motion as the bench press does to pushing outward.

I think they used to do the squat and some other lifts, but have since stopped.

[gator1986]

Pushing somebody back on the line is more lower body strength, and core than upper body. If you don't have a great lower body, and high endurance with those muscles your useless, I have seen lots of great o linemen who have these short, FAT arms with basically no muscle definition, but with tree trunk legs, throw defensive linemen back. If they ask you to rep out 225 to me it seems they are just seeing how your muscle endurance is, and your push. But even bench press will not solidify their answers on if you can push back a linemen or not. I used to watch Trent Richardson's workouts, Pouncey twins, Starks, etc and almost all their upper body was lower weight and high rep, when it came to lower body squats, lounges, leg extensions, leg curls, etc etc etc... They would do lots of weight and low reps, because they needed that power from their lower body. It's like in baseball, most baseball players have 2x's the size of legs than arms, and upper body because your swing and your power is all in your lower body.

[GATORAZ]

Bruce Feldman ‏@BFeldmanCBS
Manti Te'o measured in at the Combine much smaller than expected at 241 (was listed this year at 255)

I have said it for awhile LSU's Minter is a better football player he is also bigger

[theologator]

Absolutely, and speed, technique, leverage, assignment discipline, etc. all play into it too. All pieces of a puzzle, some of which will surprise for better I'd worse later.

I marveled at RFN's speed of read & reaction. Yes he is fast and athletic, but he also got moving in the right direction instantly. Those reads have come a touch slower in the NFL for him, which has limited him somewhat.

The various training sites like IMG prepare these guys head to toe for the combine, which skews the evaluation measurements to a degree but also probably sharpens them a lot too.

[theologator]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

Bruce Feldman ‏@BFeldmanCBS
Manti Te'o measured in at the Combine much smaller than expected at 241 (was listed this year at 255)

I have said it for awhile LSU's Minter is a better football player he is also bigger

I agree. Minter was the best LB I saw anywhere all year. His numbers are way better than Te'o on everything except INTs. LSU is losing a ton in this draft.

[GATORAZ]

OnlyGators.com ‏@onlygators
First unofficial 40-yard dash for Florida #Gators LB Jon Bostic at the #NFLCombine - 4.50 seconds.