DMN: Rick Gosselin: NFL likes to size up prospects

[joseephuss]

I'm 5-7

I played LB at Southwest Texas State (now called Texas State). I wasn't fast, ran the 40 in high 4.5's, but had a nice initial burst and was quick, and my sideline to sideline speed was pretty good. But I had heart and desire, I played every game like it was my last, the coaches knew this, thats why I started for four years.

There were plenty of people with more talent and size than me, heck I was shorter than the punter. My back-up was 6'1" but never started over me. All I'm saying is the NFL measurables are nonsense, they have to take the whole package into account.

There are plenty players in the NFL that dont fit into the measurable criteria that are good players today, this is why I think the combine is garbage.

But the combine isn't used as the sole criteria. Or at least it should not be used for that and I think most teams don't. I think the combine is just a tool used to further compare similar players.

Take two linebackers that were leaders on their teams. They each play for big time football programes, made lots of tackles, made big plays and such. Get to the combine to get true measurements and one is bigger and faster than the other and they both have the same Wonderlic score. Would that not matter?

Measurable are not nonsense unless that is all that is relied upon by talent evaluators. That does sometimes happen, but not really that much. The guys that can play, can play and will play. Guys that are big and fast can also have a lot of heart as well.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Also, teams said when Maurice Clarett was at the combine, it was a bigger turn off that he quit, than the fact that he ran a slow 40

A lot of it is a chance to meet with the guys