Freaks of The Combine

It's Spring! What does that mean? Time for the NFL Draft of course. To whet my NFL Drappetite, there is the NFL Combine amuse-bouche. I enjoy the NFL Combine because although there are some position drills, the Combine isn't measuring football skills, it measures the athleticism that translates to football skills. While scouts watch film and speak with coaches to evaluate a football skills, the Combine tests a player's physicality that puts the football skills in perspective and indicates a prospect's NFL-readiness. Not only am I entertained by enormous men squeezed into spandex and forced to run 3-cone drills and do broad jumps, I like discovering the ones who are unexpectedly good at these events. The physical specimen who shine at the combine are known as workout freaks.

Although many freaks will have little impact in the NFL Draft or at the next level, some freaks jump up draft boards and eventually cash in on their measurables because coaches and GMs fawn over their potential and gamble, lured by the promising ego trap that they can coach a freak into a star.

Being labeled a workout freak can be quite lucrative so some prospects go viral to raise their stock. The 6-foot-5 285-pound DT from San Jose State, Jarron Gilbert, not only jumped a 37" vertical and a 10'7" broad at the combine, he jumped out of a pool. The Bears drafted him with the 4th pick of the 3rd round, 68th overall.

Keith Eloi, a speedy WR from Nebraska-Omaha, topped Gilbert (according to his friend) but went undrafted because gimmicks only go so far. The Redskins signed him to the practice squad but he was later released.

To prove once and for all that his vert was superior to that of Gilbert's, the 5-foot-10 WR jumped out of a pool... backwards.

In the end, Cardinals pro-bowler Adrian Wilson set the bar with his freakish hurdle.

Wilson's teammate, Reagan Maui'a, a 6th rounder FB out of Hawaii can't jump that high so he ran though a wall... of sheetrock.

Here are my freaks of the 2010 NFL Draft who are potential targets of the Al Davis reach:

Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland - The 6-foot-6, 314 pounder is a testament to Maryland’s conditioning program seen in the Underarmour commercials. Campbell was a top 10 performer in every category except the broad jump, and led OL in the 40-yard dash. NFL Analyst Mike Mayock touts him as the best-looking offensive tackle [he’s] ever seen in person in [his] life.”

	40	Bench (225 lb)	Vertical	3-Cone	20-yd S
Bruce Campbell	4.85 (1)	34 reps (5)	32” (6)	7.58 (8)	4.69 (10)

(Parentheses denotes rank among position)

Here's his interview:

To put a 4.85 40 in perspective, here is the 40-yard dash attempt of an average person, Rich Eisen.

Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma - At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, this probable 1st rounder and potential top 10 pick showed excellent explosiveness, measuring the highest vertical jump for his position at 34.5-inch, the second fastest 40 at 4.88, the third longest broad jump at 9’5”, and the fifth fastest 20-yd shuttle at 4.63. Very few men that size run a sub-5 second 40 and it's baffling how high he jumped. He could most likely dunk a basketball.

Interview below, quite humble:

To compare him a guy slightly more athletic than Eisen, see Tom Brady’s famed Combine footage below.

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida - Although the 4.72 40 time which was 4th among QBs was a bit slower than expected, Tebow’s other numbers were downright freakish. He led his position in just about every other event including a 38.5-inch vert (1), 9’7” broad (2), 4.17 20-yard shuttle (1), and 11.27 60-yard shuttle (1). These numbers speak to his athleticism but most impressive was his 3-cone drill. Although a time of 6.66 in the 3-cone drill is an unfortunate time for a religious fanatic, it was the fastest time among RBs, 3rd among WRs, and tied for 2nd among DBs. All in all, Tebow clocked the 5th fastest 3-cone drill in the entire combine.

Click for the Tebow interview or watch the extended version about his competitiveness, mechanics and love of chalk talk.

Dorin Dickerson, TE, Pittsburgh - A 6’4” 226 pound athlete who played TE, WR, FB, and LB at Pitt, Dickerson put up numbers that would be Calvin Johnsonesque for a large WR. Unfortunately, Dickerson isn’t quite the pass-catcher Johnson is and will probably end up as an H-Back in the league. But with a bit of polishing, this freak could be a nice find.

	40	Bench	Vertical	Broad	3-Cone	20-yd S
Dorin Dickerson	4.40(1)	24 (4)	43.5” (1)	10’5” (1)	6.96 (3)	4.30 (3)

Here's some film on the guy:

Even though it happens every year, it's dangerous to fall in love with a freak.