Combine set to start … Players have begun to arrive as we speak in Indianapolis for the start of the annual scouting combine which just may be the mot important phase of the whole pre-draft process. And we say ‘may be the most important’ part of the draft process because the large majority of players who are ultimately drafted every April are at the combine in February. Indeed, as we reported earlier, fully 85% of the players ultimately selected this coming April will be at the combine, here is the full list of players attending this year’s combine.
The players will be grouped into 4 groups: the first which stars tomorrow are the defensive linemen and LBs; the second includes the defensive backs and TEs; the 3rd includes the QBs, WRs and RBs; and the 4th includes the offensive linemen and kickers. Each group will be in Indianapolis for 5 days of pretty intense activity. The first day includes registration and orientation; the second involves the general medical exam; the 3rd day has the ortho exam, meetings with the NFLPA and media interviews; the 4th – the big day – includes the measurement session as well as the on-field testing and position drills; and the 5th has the bench press. Mixed in with that are interviews with teams as every team is allowed a 15-minute interview with up to 60 combine prospects. For the record, the first group will be on the field for the physical testing and positional drills on Thursday; the second on Friday; the 3rd with the QBs and WRs is on Saturday; with the big uglies saving the best for last on Sunday. As usual the NFL Network will have full coverage beginning on Thursday morning. Several other notes re the combine:
- While the on-field testing including the 40 get most of the media attention, the primary element of the combine has always been the medical testing. Before the advent of the combine, every team had their own doctors check out the players such that they’d literally be glowing from all the x-rays by the end of the process. Also note that players with significant injury issues may be invited back to Indianapolis for follow-up tests in early April.
- Of course, one of the bug-a-boos of the combine is that not every player actually participates in the on-field testing and positional drills as many opt out either because of a pre-existing injury or they opt to wait for their pro day. Needless to say, one of the big questions in Indianapolis this week will be how many of the top QB prospects opt to take part in the passing drills on Saturday. Stay tuned.
- The other part of the combine to note is that most GMs and head coaches will have a press conference with the media over the course of the week. And while few, if any, say much of anything beyond the usual coach-speak platitudes, every once in while there is a morsel of useful information to be learned especially if one pays attention. The other thing that goes on at the combine is that with just about every senior person in the building, teams will be laying some of the preliminary groundwork for future trades and the like.
