Gentlemen, Start your engines!! … The much-anticipated on-field testing and positional drills ares set to get underway in just a few minutes at the scouting combine in Indianapolis with the offensive linemen and RBs scheduled to go through their paces. The NFL Netork is covering it live; we’ll also be posting the major highlights throughout the day. Of course, the physical testing such as the 40 aren’t quite as meaningful for the offensive linemen, but they still provide some useful information because in the end what NFL teams are looking for is fast, athletic players and that’s what these tests ultimately measure. In fact, with the OL the ten-yard splits may be more important than the actual 40-times, although we tend to think that at least for LTs, a 40-time something in the area of 5.15-5.20 is something of a red line. However, things should heat up when the RBs hit the field later today when guys like Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Ronald Jones and the Georgia twins – Nick Chubb and Sony Michel – run. Indeed, NFL teams are really keen to see what Barkley, currently the consensus #1 non-QB prospect, times in the 40. If he can break 4.5 seconds running at 233 pounds he will really cement pressure on teams to take him very early, especially if he can get down close to 4.4. Stay tuned!
