By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
You start running and stride, stride, stride, stride, stride . . . you are finished.
From here to there, a distance of 40 yards. Doesn't seem far, and it really isn't, unless you are the one running and you are running inside a domed stadium in front of NFL coaches, general managers and even the occasional team owner.
"It can be intimidating," Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "So much is at stake."
A slow one, and by slow think 5 seconds, can knock a prospect off a draft board.
Five seconds. A fast one, and you are golden.
Run in the mid- to low-4s, and you can get that house with the swimming pool and the indoor basketball court and small theater you've always wanted.
Fabian Washington ran a blazing 40 at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine inside the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, burning up the turf in 4.28 seconds, a time that transformed the Bayshore High product from a projected second-day pick into the 23rd player selected in the 2005 draft and an instant millionaire.
Washington's combine run is legend around Manatee County.
Mike Jenkins has it on a DVD and watches it often.
"That's probably one of the prettier runs I've ever seen," Jenkins said. "I've never seen anyone start like that. He just jumped out of the blocks and kept it going."
Out of the blocks and all the way to the bank.
Jenkins, the Southeast High and South Florida standout, is one of the top cornerbacks in this year's draft, ranked either first or second depending on who is doing the ranking. He, along with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Lakewood Ranch/Tennessee State) and safety Nehemiah Warrick (Bayshore/Michigan State) are at the combine, which started Thursday and ends Tuesday.
The trio will run Tuesday. They know what's at stake.
"I know if I run a real low 40 it can really raise my stock," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "I think about that a lot."
The players participate in other tests of speed at the combine, shuttle and cone drills, but none carry the importance of the 40. "It definitely can help. It's not going to hurt you," said Tom Shaw, who runs Tom Shaw Performance Enhancement at Disney's Wide World of Sports, a camp designed to get prospects faster for the combine.
Jenkins and Rodgers-Cromartie spent the past two months working out with Shaw and about 40 other NFL hopefuls.
Warrick worked out in Atlanta alongside Kenny Phillips from Miami, who is considered the top safety in the draft.
"He's running times that should boost his stock," said Kevin Conner, Warrick's agent.
For a safety, an above average time in the 40 is between 4.53 and 4.55 seconds. The average for a cornerback is 4.4. "Run an exceptional time and you will be compensated," Conner said.
The emphasis placed on the 40 varies from team to team. The Raiders, who selected Washington, love speed.
"They may have an Olympic track team," Shaw said. "They recruit speed everywhere."
The New England Patriots are not quite as enamored with 40 times, according to Shaw, who was the Patriots' strength and conditioning coach on their three Super Bowl championship teams."(Patriots coach) Bill Belichick believes that if you have a guy who runs 4.6 at the NFL Combine in 70-degree conditions on FieldTurf in an enclosed building, when it's 30 degrees, that 4.6 turns into a 4.8. So you have a DB who runs 4.8, now he's a 4.8 guy," Shaw said. Besides, it's tough to determine just how fast a player runs in Indianapolis.
Players run the 40 twice, and they are timed by two stopwatches and an electronic timer that is started by hand. It's not the most scientific measure of a player's speed. Still, every team receives all six times, and it's up to the individual team to determine which is the most accurate - the fastest, slowest or an average of all six.
Plus, coaches and scouts time the runners themselves from the stands. And they also keep an eye on the shuttle drill, where the player runs five yards, changes direction and runs 10 yards and changes direction again to run five more yards.
Mike Gough, who runs Athletic Edge Sports Performance Conditioning in Bradenton, said this drill is every bit as important as the 40.
"Teams want to see a blend of speed and quickness," Gough said.
A good shuttle time should be four-tenths of a second faster than the player's time in the 40.
"That gives them an idea that he has speed straight ahead and the quickness to match that," Gough said.
The fastest 40 time belongs to Bo Jackson, who ran a 4.12 in 1986, when the combine was held at the New Orleans Superdome and the timing was done by hand. Deion Sanders was credited with running a 4.2 in 1989, but some believe it was closer to a 4.28, which doesn't seem like much of an adjustment, unless you are the person compiling a draft board.
"There is a big emphasis on the 40-yard dash because it shows explosiveness," Conner said. "Is it overemphasized? Yes. Can it help you? Unequivocally. Run an exceptional time, and it forces teams to say, 'Wow.' "
But it takes more than "wow" to land in the first round.
Rondel Melendez of Eastern Kentucky ran a 4.24 in 1999 and still lasted until the seventh round when the Atlanta Falcons finally called his name.
"You still have to get kids who can run fast, but they still have to be good football players," Shaw said. "You might give up a tenth of a second to get a better football player." Jenkins knows he can stay at the top of the draft with an impressive 40 on Tuesday, he said he can do better than the 4.4 average for his position. Still, even he knows a fast 40 time has a downside.
"You go out there and run a great 40, a fast 40, and a lot of guys think that makes you a good player, when actually it may be a 4.5, 4.6 guy who is an awesome player, but he doesn't get that recognition because he ran a 4.6," Jenkins said. "It's good and bad, but I don't think that's anything I have to worry about or Dominique has to worry about or anyone else coming out of our area has to worry about, because we produce speed. I don't know why. Maybe it's something in the water."
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
NFL Combine Results
If you are looking for the results of the 2008 NFL Combine we will post them as soon as we get our hands on them, or are wondering how these athletes get the results they get, check out www.combinefreak.com . You will not be disappointed!
Enjoy the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.
Enjoy the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL Combine Shoe Selection
I can't tell you how important the right shoes are for each combine test.
Last week I had two athletes come into train for their pro day. I started teaching them the my techniques for the agility tests. The were slipping and sliding trying to execute the proper technique... But they couldn't... It was frustrating!
I told them they needed to get three different types of shoes for various tests. They said "we wear soccer shoes, we wear them to play in as well". I said my pitch to them that there times would come down one to two tenths with the right shoe. They did not believe me.
Two days later we were back on the field working through technique and there they were with their soccer shoes on. They were slipping around again. Finally one of my other athletes' got frustrated watching them slip and took off his shoes and let one of them wear them. After performing a near flawless L-Cone, running a personal best, the athlete looked at me and smiled and said "you were right, I need to get a pair of these".
I tried to tell them, but sometime people are stubborn and want to make the learning curve even longer.
Let me shorten the learning curve for you. Let me show you what are the best shoes to wear to get the best performance in addition to all my other secrets.
I will give you all the answers right here: http://www.combinefreak.com/
Train Hard!
Mike Gough
http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/
http://www.procombinetraining.com/
http://www.combinefreak.com/
PS: My Speed Ladders are going fast! If you do not have a high quality ladder you should check out my Speed Tools Ladder (http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php)
Last week I had two athletes come into train for their pro day. I started teaching them the my techniques for the agility tests. The were slipping and sliding trying to execute the proper technique... But they couldn't... It was frustrating!
I told them they needed to get three different types of shoes for various tests. They said "we wear soccer shoes, we wear them to play in as well". I said my pitch to them that there times would come down one to two tenths with the right shoe. They did not believe me.
Two days later we were back on the field working through technique and there they were with their soccer shoes on. They were slipping around again. Finally one of my other athletes' got frustrated watching them slip and took off his shoes and let one of them wear them. After performing a near flawless L-Cone, running a personal best, the athlete looked at me and smiled and said "you were right, I need to get a pair of these".
I tried to tell them, but sometime people are stubborn and want to make the learning curve even longer.
Let me shorten the learning curve for you. Let me show you what are the best shoes to wear to get the best performance in addition to all my other secrets.
I will give you all the answers right here: http://www.combinefreak.com/
Train Hard!
Mike Gough
http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/
http://www.procombinetraining.com/
http://www.combinefreak.com/
PS: My Speed Ladders are going fast! If you do not have a high quality ladder you should check out my Speed Tools Ladder (http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
How to have a 40" Vertical Jump
I often get e-mails from many aspiring high school and college athletes out there regarding how to max out on the vertical jump. Over the past two combine seasons I have had over 6 athletes test out over 40" in the Vertical Jump, including the highest ever Vert for a DE at the NFL Combine (42" Mark Anderson).
A great vertical is twofold, you need to master each of the two components: the reach and the jump. Both take skill to master and refine, leading to a great result.
The Reach is critical to you putting up a great score. In my Combine Freak DVD (www.combinefreak.com) I show how to execute the proper reach techniques that will add 4-5" on to your vertical jump.
The Jump mechanics need to be perfect to ensure you are maximizing your explosive power. Often athletes are too mechanical, firing the arms or legs at different times. When jumping you need to get everything firing together to generate maximal force from the floor. Again, my Combine Freak DVD (www.combinefreak.com) teaches you the proper jump mechanics so you can explode through the air.
A high vert takes time and practice. If you commit to the right technique for both the reach and the jump, you too can become one of my Combine Freaks!!!!!
If you have yet to become a Freak, get on the right track www.combinefreak.com
Jump High!
Mike Gough
www.speedtoolsusa.com
www.procombinetraining.com
www.combinefreak.com
PS: My Speed Tools speed ladders are hot! Get yours today right here http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php
A great vertical is twofold, you need to master each of the two components: the reach and the jump. Both take skill to master and refine, leading to a great result.
The Reach is critical to you putting up a great score. In my Combine Freak DVD (www.combinefreak.com) I show how to execute the proper reach techniques that will add 4-5" on to your vertical jump.
The Jump mechanics need to be perfect to ensure you are maximizing your explosive power. Often athletes are too mechanical, firing the arms or legs at different times. When jumping you need to get everything firing together to generate maximal force from the floor. Again, my Combine Freak DVD (www.combinefreak.com) teaches you the proper jump mechanics so you can explode through the air.
A high vert takes time and practice. If you commit to the right technique for both the reach and the jump, you too can become one of my Combine Freaks!!!!!
If you have yet to become a Freak, get on the right track www.combinefreak.com
Jump High!
Mike Gough
www.speedtoolsusa.com
www.procombinetraining.com
www.combinefreak.com
PS: My Speed Tools speed ladders are hot! Get yours today right here http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php
NFL Combine Week
Well all the preparation is just about done, tomorrow the finishing touches will be completed for the NFL Combine.
All those long days will be worth it when my guys hit the turf in Indy. If you are preparing for a combine, are a trainer, or just purely interested in the NFL Combine make sure to watch the Combine on NFL Network starting Saturday.
When training for the NFL Combine, athletes preparation is twofold. Getting back into top condition through intense training, and test technique perfection. Both of these will lead to a great performce in Indy.
When watching the combine on tv watch each athletes technique on how they perform the tests. Watch the differences. Can you tell who trained with me?
After you watch my Combine Freak DVD, you should be able to see my techniques put forth. So become a student of the tests, it will improve your combine performance and make the NFL Combine watching more interesting.
To learn my techniques get the Combine Freak at http://www.combinefreak.com/
Train Hard!
Mike Gough
http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/
http://www.procombinetraining.com/
http://www.combinefreak.com/
PS: My Speed Ladders are going fast! If you do not have a high quality ladder you should check out my Speed Tools Ladder (http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php) Copyright,
Athletic Edge Sports, LLC 2008
All those long days will be worth it when my guys hit the turf in Indy. If you are preparing for a combine, are a trainer, or just purely interested in the NFL Combine make sure to watch the Combine on NFL Network starting Saturday.
When training for the NFL Combine, athletes preparation is twofold. Getting back into top condition through intense training, and test technique perfection. Both of these will lead to a great performce in Indy.
When watching the combine on tv watch each athletes technique on how they perform the tests. Watch the differences. Can you tell who trained with me?
After you watch my Combine Freak DVD, you should be able to see my techniques put forth. So become a student of the tests, it will improve your combine performance and make the NFL Combine watching more interesting.
To learn my techniques get the Combine Freak at http://www.combinefreak.com/
Train Hard!
Mike Gough
http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/
http://www.procombinetraining.com/
http://www.combinefreak.com/
PS: My Speed Ladders are going fast! If you do not have a high quality ladder you should check out my Speed Tools Ladder (http://www.speedtoolsusa.com/agility-ladder.php) Copyright,
Athletic Edge Sports, LLC 2008
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