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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Combine time

It's the most important job interview many of these young men ever participate in.

The NFL combine is set to kick off and will provide plenty of intrigue a news.

How important is the combine?

Last year, for example, 85 percent of the 253 players selected in the draft participated in the scouting combine. That 85 percent number has been pretty constant over the past few years.

That doesn't mean a combine invite is a ticket to the NFL. There were 328 players invited last season. But only 65 percent of those players were selected in the draft.

Teams have learned their lesson over the years. Nobody wants to draft the next Mike Mamula, a player who has become synonymous with being a combine stud and Sunday dud.

Most teams use the combine to reinforce things - both bad and good - that they already knew about a player.

If you had a third-round grade on a player, you're not going to necessarily downgrade him to a seventh-round or undraftable grade simply because he didn't run or jump as high as you expected.

In fact, the most important part of the combine is actually the player interviews.

For the most part, NFL coaches haven't had any interaction with these players. To this point, it's only been the scouts - and that contact is on a limited basis.

The scouts visit schools throughout the late summer and fall, but only get to watch practices or film. They may or may not get an opportunity to sit down with a player and talk for five minutes.

Teams will get that chance at the combine.

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:01 PM

    I hope jarvis jones medical condition lets him slip to 17

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  2. Anonymous2:41 PM

    The more I read about Damontre Moore, the more I like the while more I read about Ansah the less I think he will fit into our scheme.. Here's to hoping a pass rushing stud slips down to the Steelers at #17. Weirder

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous2:42 PM

      Weirder things have happened

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  3. Anonymous3:18 PM

    I agree that Jarvis jones would be the best pick for us. He's played in and dominated SEC competition. Relentless pass rusher who is also stout against the run. Fingers crossed.

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  4. Jarvis Jones no longer has a medical condition...he was cleared medically last.

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  5. Anonymous5:48 PM

    Here's to a pulled hammy before Thursday! ��

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  6. Jones might have been cleared to play college football, but an NFL team looking to invest millions in him might not give him the same passing grade on his neck condition.

    He's an outstanding player, but he's going to get a lot of pokes and prods this week.

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  7. Anonymous9:22 PM

    I don't understand the Mike Mamula thing. Mike Mamula worked out great ... but was also a stud in college. Mamula wasn't drafted based on his workout numbers, he was drafted based on his college production.

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  8. But he was drafted much higher than where he was slotted to go before the combine. He was looked at as a second to third rounder before the combine. Skyrocketed to the top of the first round after his great workout.

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  9. Remember, Philadelphia gave up the 12th pick and two second rounders to move up and get Mamula

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  10. Dale,

    Do you think the Steelers will go after Steve Breaston? It would make a lot of sense with his familiarity with Haley's offense, return ability, hometown kid, etc. He probably would come in real cheap too, but obviously the Steelers have to get their cap situation straightened out first. Thoughts? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete