NFL 2015 Scouting Combine News: The Most Important Drill?
It is once again time for the annual NFL Scouting Combine held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. A lot of NFL fans and pundits refer to this as the "Underwear Olympics" as the NFL network gets huge ratings by broadcasting a good number of the 2015 draft eligible players being put through drills.
Over the last decade or so fans and others have become fixated on one drill in particular and that is the time in the 40-yard dash. Even though football players rarely run 40 yards in a straight line, this drill still holds a special place in the hearts of NFL fans.
The only real reason for that is speed is the one thing that cannot be coached. If a guy doesn't perform well in the bench press a team drafting him gets him with their strength and conditioning coach and they work at it. Speed is one of those things one has or doesn't.
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While fans and some team covet speed above all else the most important "drill" taking place this weekend is the one on one interviews. For the draft eligible players this is a chance to impress a NFL General Manager enough that his owner is willing to write a check for millions of dollars. The second most important "drill" is the medical examinations where teams can find out if there are any red flags for their young prospects.
The drills are important but any team basing draft day decisions on the Scouting Combine isn't doing their job correctly. Those kinds of decisions should be made off of live viewing and/or game film. That point was underscored by comments made by Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grison.
"The actual interview with the player we feel is incredibly important," Pro Football Talk reported. "It is where you find out how the player fits in so many ways from primarily a mental and character standpoint. Every year there is a guy who walks through the door that just brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm that is tangible and you make note of those types of strong interactions."
