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Hiller takes big jump forward at combine
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about 10 hours ago
By AARON DORKSEN
Daily Record Sports Editor
Tim Hiller took first place in a broad-jump competition held many years ago while he was a student at Maple Street Elementary School in Orrville.
The setting was a lot different when Hiller won the same event Sunday, leading the way for quarterbacks with a leap of 9-feet, 10-inches at the NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"It sure was good preparation," said Hiller with a laugh, of his grade-school feat.
The much better news for the Western Michigan product and 2004 Orrville High School graduate was that he performed well in all phases of the combine, while being poked, prodded, measured, timed and quizzed over a four-day period.
Of course, there were a lot more important things NFL scouts were looking for than a broad jump.
Throwing was obviously the most important attribute they looked at for quarterbacks. A close second for Hiller was the condition of his knees.
"It really was a grueling, intense couple of days, but I enjoyed it," Hiller said. "There was a lot of intensity.
"I think it went real well. I did what I expected to and even a little better with throwing the football. We were throwing to receivers we haven't worked with before, so obviously timing is a bit of challenge, but I was really pleased with how I threw the ball."
Hiller, who had surgery to repair torn ACLs on both knees during a record-setting career at Western Michigan, was just as pleased with the evaluations doctors gave him.
"Some of my former teammates who had been at the combine told me it's like a meat market and it was pretty crazy," he said. "You walk into a room and there are about six or seven doctors representing all the teams. .. They have your medical history files, x-rays and are talking into tape recorders making verbal notes. At one point I had different doctors tugging on both my knees."
The doctors concluded that Hiller's left knee was a "non-issue," while he was told the right knee had been "repaired very well.
"I got all positive feedback," Hiller continued. "It was great for doctors to be able to feel my knees and see that they're both perfectly fine."
Throughout the baseline of tests, Hiller showed his physical fitness level ranked right with most of the quarterbacks there.
Hiller ran a respectable 4.94 time in the 40-yard dash, while ranking among the leaders in bench press (18 reps of 225 pounds) and vertical jump (32.5 inches).
Many of the top prospects decided to pick and choose tests they wanted to participate in, but Hiller was one of the few quarterbacks to take on all the challenges.
"I did every single test," said Hiller, who was officially measured at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds. "I just wanted to show teams that I'm a competitor. I went into it thinking I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"I hope it bodes well in the future."
Hiller, who never received a grade lower than an A in high school or college, also was pleased with how his mental tests went. He was quizzed on hypothetical game situations by coaches, such as being asked what he'd do on different scenarios of plays that were drawn up.
On the Wonderlic intelligence test, Hiller felt good after completing 48 of the 50 questions in the allotted 12-minute time frame. He hasn't been told what his score was.
Most Web site drafts experts project Hiller being picked in the sixth or seventh round, or possibly even being a free-agent signee.
Hiller said he interviewed with a variety of quarterback coaches and offensive coordinators from various teams and received still more positive feedback.
Although he did not want to specify which teams showed the most interest, among the teams who have been reportedly taking serious looks at Hiller are the Chiefs, Bills, Saints and, his hometown favorite growing up, the Browns.
There is a connection between Hiller and the Browns that was reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Browns president Mike Holmgren coached Ty Detmer, who has been working with Hiller.
Holmgren may see a late-round gem in Hiller, who was highly efficient running a West Coast-style offense at WMU, where he became just the fourth Mid-American Conference quarterback to top 3,000 yards passing in three straight years.
Hiller will get another chance to work out for NFL teams when WMU holds its "Pro Day" March 9.
After months of hard work preparing for the NFL Combine, Hiller said last week flew by.
"It was a great experience, but at the same time I wasn't there for the experience," he said. "I'm trying to make a career of this."
Hiller felt like he gave teams the best job interview he could. He'll find out what they really thought April 22-24 -- when the NFL Draft is held.
Aaron Dorksen can be reached at 330-287-1621 or adorksen@the-daily-record.com
E-mail Story | Print Story | Comments | ShareThis
about 10 hours ago
By AARON DORKSEN
Daily Record Sports Editor
Tim Hiller took first place in a broad-jump competition held many years ago while he was a student at Maple Street Elementary School in Orrville.
The setting was a lot different when Hiller won the same event Sunday, leading the way for quarterbacks with a leap of 9-feet, 10-inches at the NFL Draft Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"It sure was good preparation," said Hiller with a laugh, of his grade-school feat.
The much better news for the Western Michigan product and 2004 Orrville High School graduate was that he performed well in all phases of the combine, while being poked, prodded, measured, timed and quizzed over a four-day period.
Of course, there were a lot more important things NFL scouts were looking for than a broad jump.
Throwing was obviously the most important attribute they looked at for quarterbacks. A close second for Hiller was the condition of his knees.
"It really was a grueling, intense couple of days, but I enjoyed it," Hiller said. "There was a lot of intensity.
"I think it went real well. I did what I expected to and even a little better with throwing the football. We were throwing to receivers we haven't worked with before, so obviously timing is a bit of challenge, but I was really pleased with how I threw the ball."
Hiller, who had surgery to repair torn ACLs on both knees during a record-setting career at Western Michigan, was just as pleased with the evaluations doctors gave him.
"Some of my former teammates who had been at the combine told me it's like a meat market and it was pretty crazy," he said. "You walk into a room and there are about six or seven doctors representing all the teams. .. They have your medical history files, x-rays and are talking into tape recorders making verbal notes. At one point I had different doctors tugging on both my knees."
The doctors concluded that Hiller's left knee was a "non-issue," while he was told the right knee had been "repaired very well.
"I got all positive feedback," Hiller continued. "It was great for doctors to be able to feel my knees and see that they're both perfectly fine."
Throughout the baseline of tests, Hiller showed his physical fitness level ranked right with most of the quarterbacks there.
Hiller ran a respectable 4.94 time in the 40-yard dash, while ranking among the leaders in bench press (18 reps of 225 pounds) and vertical jump (32.5 inches).
Many of the top prospects decided to pick and choose tests they wanted to participate in, but Hiller was one of the few quarterbacks to take on all the challenges.
"I did every single test," said Hiller, who was officially measured at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds. "I just wanted to show teams that I'm a competitor. I went into it thinking I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"I hope it bodes well in the future."
Hiller, who never received a grade lower than an A in high school or college, also was pleased with how his mental tests went. He was quizzed on hypothetical game situations by coaches, such as being asked what he'd do on different scenarios of plays that were drawn up.
On the Wonderlic intelligence test, Hiller felt good after completing 48 of the 50 questions in the allotted 12-minute time frame. He hasn't been told what his score was.
Most Web site drafts experts project Hiller being picked in the sixth or seventh round, or possibly even being a free-agent signee.
Hiller said he interviewed with a variety of quarterback coaches and offensive coordinators from various teams and received still more positive feedback.
Although he did not want to specify which teams showed the most interest, among the teams who have been reportedly taking serious looks at Hiller are the Chiefs, Bills, Saints and, his hometown favorite growing up, the Browns.
There is a connection between Hiller and the Browns that was reported by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Browns president Mike Holmgren coached Ty Detmer, who has been working with Hiller.
Holmgren may see a late-round gem in Hiller, who was highly efficient running a West Coast-style offense at WMU, where he became just the fourth Mid-American Conference quarterback to top 3,000 yards passing in three straight years.
Hiller will get another chance to work out for NFL teams when WMU holds its "Pro Day" March 9.
After months of hard work preparing for the NFL Combine, Hiller said last week flew by.
"It was a great experience, but at the same time I wasn't there for the experience," he said. "I'm trying to make a career of this."
Hiller felt like he gave teams the best job interview he could. He'll find out what they really thought April 22-24 -- when the NFL Draft is held.
Aaron Dorksen can be reached at 330-287-1621 or adorksen@the-daily-record.com