bubba9497
February-20th-2005, 03:16 PM
Scouting combine is NFL's final exam
Workouts can make or break draft status but don't always tell all
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/stories/022005dnsponflcombine.4bd44.html
Starting Wednesday, the NFL's power center will move from New York to Indianapolis.
It's the NFL's version of the SAT.
If players can pass the tests, they could become instant millionaires in April. If they run a half-step slower or measure an inch too short, their NFL dreams could be over.
"I was wearing my four-year-old Adidas shoes that had all the nylon falling out of them and working out every time a scout came through," said Vann McElroy, who had a nine-year NFL career before becoming a certified agent in 1995.
In the last 10 years, the business of preparing for the combine has grown dramatically. Most players no longer stay at their colleges to train. They are getting specialized training in Bradenton, Fla., Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta, looking for any edge in lowering a 40-yard dash time a hundredth of a second or taking a vertical jump from 35 inches to 36.
The cost can run past $10,000 for the individual training. It's part of the recruiting tool used by agents to sign clients.
"There's a lot of hype involved with people claiming they can do things they really can't do," said Dallas-based agent Drew Pittman. "I think the main thing is guys are in the right environment for them and can work as hard as they can work."
Anderson and McClellan have trained players since 1985, helping shape more than 50 first-round picks.
In addition to the working on lowering 40-yard dash times, bench pressing 225 pounds, boosting vertical and broad jumps and mastering shuttle and cone drills, prospects work through football-specific drills with former NFL players.
Most draftees spend roughly six weeks training.
"It's almost become a beauty contest," Anderson said, "so you try and pretty that picture up. It's good to see a kid drop his 40 time or his short shuttle and increase his numbers, but at the end of the day, the most pleasure I get is watching the player have success on the field."
Two of Anderson's projects are running back Marion Barber III, who ran for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns at Minnesota last season, and cornerback Eric Green, who had eight interceptions in his career at Virginia Tech.
Both are considered second-rounders, but a good showing in Indianapolis or at their school workouts could enhance their status.
Green has been in Phoenix since Jan. 9, working out twice a day, five days a week. If his hamstring is healthy, he hopes to run a 4.35-second 40.
He is aware of the other top-rated corners, such as West Virginia's Adam Jones and Miami's Antrell Rolle, but he is more concerned about how he performs.
"It's really helped my strength and my stamina," Green said. "I've done a lot with my footwork and the combine drills. And it's really motivating being here with the other guys because we're all working for one goal, and that's to be our best."
There is also a mental side to the preparation. Ken Herock, who spent more than 30 years in the NFL as a personnel executive, runs a program for about 75 players about dos and don'ts when interviewing with teams.
It's as simple as sitting up straight and making eye contact.
"I used to have players come in the room with me and the head coach, and we'd sit down and talk to them," Herock said. "When it was done, the coach would say, 'I don't want that son of a gun. Something's missing.' I figured I could fix that if I could get a guy to say the right things ... to present himself the right way."
Herock, who has offered the service the last four years, puts the players through a five-hour presentation that includes video training and a mock interview.
"If you have two players who are very similar in production and athletic skills, how do you separate them?" Herock said. "If one of them comes in with his hat turned the wrong way and isn't dressed the right way, and the other guy comes in and is a perfect gentleman, you'll say that's the guy."
Like a lot of players from bigger schools, Green has talked with former teammates. Former Hokies D'Angelo Hall and Kevin Jones went through the process. When Green received a 500-question test from the New York Giants at the Senior Bowl, he was ready.
"You have to treat every team like that's the team that's going to draft you," Green said.
From Anderson to agents to Herock to scouts, the determining factor in drafting a player is supposedly ability. Players either have it or they don't.
"It's all overshadowed by the studying of the tape and how well he played for his college team," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said.
Most of the time.
"As soon as the combine is over, just watch the talk," McElroy said. "All of a sudden everybody will be excited about this guy or everybody will be dogging this guy. It's kind of funny to watch."
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com
Workouts can make or break draft status but don't always tell all
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/stories/022005dnsponflcombine.4bd44.html
Starting Wednesday, the NFL's power center will move from New York to Indianapolis.
It's the NFL's version of the SAT.
If players can pass the tests, they could become instant millionaires in April. If they run a half-step slower or measure an inch too short, their NFL dreams could be over.
"I was wearing my four-year-old Adidas shoes that had all the nylon falling out of them and working out every time a scout came through," said Vann McElroy, who had a nine-year NFL career before becoming a certified agent in 1995.
In the last 10 years, the business of preparing for the combine has grown dramatically. Most players no longer stay at their colleges to train. They are getting specialized training in Bradenton, Fla., Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta, looking for any edge in lowering a 40-yard dash time a hundredth of a second or taking a vertical jump from 35 inches to 36.
The cost can run past $10,000 for the individual training. It's part of the recruiting tool used by agents to sign clients.
"There's a lot of hype involved with people claiming they can do things they really can't do," said Dallas-based agent Drew Pittman. "I think the main thing is guys are in the right environment for them and can work as hard as they can work."
Anderson and McClellan have trained players since 1985, helping shape more than 50 first-round picks.
In addition to the working on lowering 40-yard dash times, bench pressing 225 pounds, boosting vertical and broad jumps and mastering shuttle and cone drills, prospects work through football-specific drills with former NFL players.
Most draftees spend roughly six weeks training.
"It's almost become a beauty contest," Anderson said, "so you try and pretty that picture up. It's good to see a kid drop his 40 time or his short shuttle and increase his numbers, but at the end of the day, the most pleasure I get is watching the player have success on the field."
Two of Anderson's projects are running back Marion Barber III, who ran for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns at Minnesota last season, and cornerback Eric Green, who had eight interceptions in his career at Virginia Tech.
Both are considered second-rounders, but a good showing in Indianapolis or at their school workouts could enhance their status.
Green has been in Phoenix since Jan. 9, working out twice a day, five days a week. If his hamstring is healthy, he hopes to run a 4.35-second 40.
He is aware of the other top-rated corners, such as West Virginia's Adam Jones and Miami's Antrell Rolle, but he is more concerned about how he performs.
"It's really helped my strength and my stamina," Green said. "I've done a lot with my footwork and the combine drills. And it's really motivating being here with the other guys because we're all working for one goal, and that's to be our best."
There is also a mental side to the preparation. Ken Herock, who spent more than 30 years in the NFL as a personnel executive, runs a program for about 75 players about dos and don'ts when interviewing with teams.
It's as simple as sitting up straight and making eye contact.
"I used to have players come in the room with me and the head coach, and we'd sit down and talk to them," Herock said. "When it was done, the coach would say, 'I don't want that son of a gun. Something's missing.' I figured I could fix that if I could get a guy to say the right things ... to present himself the right way."
Herock, who has offered the service the last four years, puts the players through a five-hour presentation that includes video training and a mock interview.
"If you have two players who are very similar in production and athletic skills, how do you separate them?" Herock said. "If one of them comes in with his hat turned the wrong way and isn't dressed the right way, and the other guy comes in and is a perfect gentleman, you'll say that's the guy."
Like a lot of players from bigger schools, Green has talked with former teammates. Former Hokies D'Angelo Hall and Kevin Jones went through the process. When Green received a 500-question test from the New York Giants at the Senior Bowl, he was ready.
"You have to treat every team like that's the team that's going to draft you," Green said.
From Anderson to agents to Herock to scouts, the determining factor in drafting a player is supposedly ability. Players either have it or they don't.
"It's all overshadowed by the studying of the tape and how well he played for his college team," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said.
Most of the time.
"As soon as the combine is over, just watch the talk," McElroy said. "All of a sudden everybody will be excited about this guy or everybody will be dogging this guy. It's kind of funny to watch."
E-mail tarcher@dallasnews.com