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The Way We Hear It — draft edition
Wonderlic test results only a piece of the intelligence puzzle
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 21, 2009
E-mail your draft questions to Nolan Nawrocki at ASKquestions@pfwmedia.com. He'll be answering selected questions in an online posting on Wednesday, April 22. Nawrocki also will host a draft-related live chat at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
In recent years, the test has lost its significance to NFL clubs as many players are now prepared for the test from extensive Combine preparation, during which they often see exact copies of the tests to be given.
“We look at it, but we pay little attention to it,” one NFL GM said. “All of these kids are so well-prepared nowadays — the test that carries the most relevance to us is their first test.”
Yet, when comparing the score of the first test that prospects took, usually in the spring entering their senior season or at all-star games, against the score of the test administered at the Combine, far fewer show signs of preparing for the test than in past years. Test results are not expected to vary by more than several points any time two tests are taken; otherwise, outside influences are expected to have influenced the results.
“We look at three gauges of intelligence,” one team executive said. “One, (a player’s) score; two, whether his coaches say he needs reps (to learn); and three, whether intelligence issues show up on tape — how often does (a player) need to be lined up, how often does he appear confused. If he is football-smart or his coaches say he learns well, the Wonderlic score is disregarded. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to play football.”
True to form, many great players through the years have had better football intelligence than book smarts, as Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino reportedly scored a 16 on the Wonderlic, Terry Bradshaw 15 and potential Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb 14.
Following is a breakdown of scores by position as they were taken the first time, then at the Combine, and the difference between the two scores, to show whether preparation or other outside influences may have affected the results. A score of 22/35 means the player answered 35 questions, giving correct answers to 22.
Editor's note: Most underclassmen, who are not allowed to participate in all-star games or to be tested in the spring except before their senior seasons, only took the test once, at the Combine. Thus, “DNT” stands for "did not test."
Results here:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2009/wwhi042109.htm
Wonderlic test results only a piece of the intelligence puzzle
By Nolan Nawrocki
April 21, 2009
E-mail your draft questions to Nolan Nawrocki at ASKquestions@pfwmedia.com. He'll be answering selected questions in an online posting on Wednesday, April 22. Nawrocki also will host a draft-related live chat at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
Georgia QB Matthew Stafford,
Louisville C Eric Wood (right)
The Wonderlic test is a 12-minute, 50-question test commonly given to NFL prospects as a measure of intelligence, designed to test learning and problem-solving skills. Questions increase in difficulty, so few prospects finish all 50 questions, and players are instructed before the test to answer the questions sequentially. The score is the number of questions answered correctly, followed by the total number of questions answered. In recent years, the test has lost its significance to NFL clubs as many players are now prepared for the test from extensive Combine preparation, during which they often see exact copies of the tests to be given.
“We look at it, but we pay little attention to it,” one NFL GM said. “All of these kids are so well-prepared nowadays — the test that carries the most relevance to us is their first test.”
Yet, when comparing the score of the first test that prospects took, usually in the spring entering their senior season or at all-star games, against the score of the test administered at the Combine, far fewer show signs of preparing for the test than in past years. Test results are not expected to vary by more than several points any time two tests are taken; otherwise, outside influences are expected to have influenced the results.
“We look at three gauges of intelligence,” one team executive said. “One, (a player’s) score; two, whether his coaches say he needs reps (to learn); and three, whether intelligence issues show up on tape — how often does (a player) need to be lined up, how often does he appear confused. If he is football-smart or his coaches say he learns well, the Wonderlic score is disregarded. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to play football.”
True to form, many great players through the years have had better football intelligence than book smarts, as Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino reportedly scored a 16 on the Wonderlic, Terry Bradshaw 15 and potential Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb 14.
Following is a breakdown of scores by position as they were taken the first time, then at the Combine, and the difference between the two scores, to show whether preparation or other outside influences may have affected the results. A score of 22/35 means the player answered 35 questions, giving correct answers to 22.
Editor's note: Most underclassmen, who are not allowed to participate in all-star games or to be tested in the spring except before their senior seasons, only took the test once, at the Combine. Thus, “DNT” stands for "did not test."
Results here:
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2009/wwhi042109.htm
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I'm kidding! ...even though it's true! 