While the league tries to make it as scientific as possible using precise measuring techniques, standardized questions multiple tests, I still feel that this exercise is a bit of a crapshoot.
Why? Well here are a few reasons:
-Jerry Rice ran an unimpressive 4.7 second 40 yd. dash
-Maurice Clarett ran a 4.72
You know the rest, Jerry Rice, arguably the best receiver in the history of the league, Mo Clarett never made a regular season NFL roster. Sure, you can bring up the fact that Mo was a crazy person who loved "to get his goose on" and Rice was a ridiculously hard-working player who tirelessly worked on his routes and had the intangibles.
Second case in comparison- Peyton Manning v. Ryan Leaf. Coming out of the combine they were neck-and-neck. I can remember that in Indy, many, myself included didn't know which way the Colts would go and most thought both would both be fine, if not great NFL QBs. Well, the combine couldn't measure the rage in Leaf's heart nor could it foretell the beautiful relationship that would blossom between Manning and Harrison.
Closer to the Purdue family, many, myself included, wondered aloud if Drew Brees might be a "system quarterback" back in '01...and he slipped to the second round and made the rest of the league wonder "what in the hell were we thinking"...Brees isn't an imposing guy, physically, he isn't the fastest guy...but the guy is a leader and a winner. They don't have a test for those traits yet.
Alright, back to Purdue in '08.
The write ups about Avril & Keller talk about their impressive physique and muscle tone...and both mention their soft, large hands (you know what they say about guys with, nevermind)...conversely, Dorien Bryant is all but laughed at for the shape of his chest, his small frame and his work ethic. Keglar, who must have been busy the day everyone was supposed to assess his assets, is reviewed as a guy whose gym numbers don't translate well on the field.
Honestly, I agree with all of the statements, except the hands part...but would love to find out, if you know what I mean.
Keller absolutely blistered the rest of the TEs with his field day results...and his stock is now soaring. Conversely, it looks like Bryant might now go undrafted and have to earn his way onto a roster a la Vinnie Sutherland.
So while not all guys coming out of college can look like this (the guy on the left, mind you):
and some look like this:
(no, that's not bobby mcferrin)My point is, it takes a pretty wise old sage to predict the future...My wish as the draft draws closer is that all Purdue players involved find homes in the NFL and have long, productive careers...but not for the Patriots.
Basketball Notes
Alright, the last seven days sans Purdue basketball have got me Jonesin' pretty hard to see the Boilers. First off, I still have the bad taste in my mouth from the IU loss, but also, I simply can't wait to see what unfolds with this young group of "new veterans".
Reports out of God's country tell us that our Boilers have been focusing on defense...and intensely, at that. That's good, because the way this team tends to shoot from the field at times, they need as many possessions as possible and defense makes that happen.
Here's the deal, nobody thought our Boilers (click the link and watch the 5:00 video, if you have a chance...a lot of respect for the Boilers) would string together 11 wins in a row during the Big Ten season, but they did. I'm all for these guys starting up another similar winning streak.
If my math's right, at the end of such a streak, they'd be Big Ten regular season champs, Big Ten Tournament champs and the run would come to an end in San Antonio...Not bad for a bunch of guys that will all be back next year.
Back in early January, I got a chance to talk to Cuonzo Martin while attending a high school basketball game at my alma mater. I told him, I loved the team and couldn't wait 'til next year...he responded, "What about this year?" I thought it was just rah-rah rhetoric, especially with the taste of the Wofford loss still lingering in my pallet. I was wrong and they knew something I couldn't have predicted.
As Matt Painter says, "Why not us, why not now?"
Basketball Notes
Alright, the last seven days sans Purdue basketball have got me Jonesin' pretty hard to see the Boilers. First off, I still have the bad taste in my mouth from the IU loss, but also, I simply can't wait to see what unfolds with this young group of "new veterans".
Reports out of God's country tell us that our Boilers have been focusing on defense...and intensely, at that. That's good, because the way this team tends to shoot from the field at times, they need as many possessions as possible and defense makes that happen.
Here's the deal, nobody thought our Boilers (click the link and watch the 5:00 video, if you have a chance...a lot of respect for the Boilers) would string together 11 wins in a row during the Big Ten season, but they did. I'm all for these guys starting up another similar winning streak.
If my math's right, at the end of such a streak, they'd be Big Ten regular season champs, Big Ten Tournament champs and the run would come to an end in San Antonio...Not bad for a bunch of guys that will all be back next year.
Back in early January, I got a chance to talk to Cuonzo Martin while attending a high school basketball game at my alma mater. I told him, I loved the team and couldn't wait 'til next year...he responded, "What about this year?" I thought it was just rah-rah rhetoric, especially with the taste of the Wofford loss still lingering in my pallet. I was wrong and they knew something I couldn't have predicted.
As Matt Painter says, "Why not us, why not now?"
9 comments:
Another 11 game winning streak you say? I can certainly live with that as well.
Maybe the IU loss will remind htem they are mortal and toughen them anymore.
I just gotta say, I recently stumbled upon Boiled Sports and I love it. It's rare to find a Boiler blog period, let alone one that'll give me a good laugh at times. Keep up the good work fellas.
Why oh why hasn't Dorien taken the last 2 months to bulk up and prepare for this?
Dorien is more interested in picking up girls at Brother's.
anonymous, come back any time...get a screen name; we've got quite a few regulars who are all as goofy as the authors of the site...Good guys/gals.
Matt & Scotty- I've got a friend who's built similarly to DB; we used to lift together. In a six-month period, I bulked up and was seeing real results...Sure, I used protein powder and bars to help out, but my friend didn't like the taste of whey. Maybe Dorien likes junk food too much and just doesn't like the gym. All that said, he'd better learn quickly to like it.
Travis, I'll be honest, I don't think our Boilers have a snowball's chance to rip off another 11...I've been wrong all season though. He fellas, do you see that??? I'm challenging you again. Prove me wrong!
From the Indy Star...
Receiver Dorien Bryant, however, had what was described in a Pro Football Writers Association pool report as an "erratic workout" Sunday. He had some drops and let the football get too close to his body instead of catching it with his hands. He stumbled twice.
On his final drill, where players run full speed for 10 yards then cut to the right sideline, Bryant lost his footing and tumbled to the ground.
He was stronger in the gauntlet drill, catching 6-of-7 passes with one bad drop, according to the PFWA report. The next time, he was much more relaxed and caught the ball more with his hands, getting rid of it, staying in stride and catching the next pass.
It's sad, isn't it? That nothing about Bryant is at ALL surprising to any of us? He's got alligator arms, way too big of an ego, he's too small, too arrogant, too entitled (esp for someone who really hasn't done ANYTHING) and my most vivid memories of Dorien are of him fumbling the ball. He did that a lot, often in critical times.... good riddance and have fun on somebody's practice squad.
i don't think there are too many sports-related events that i care less about than the nfl draft, except perhaps the combine.
as mentioned, the combine has shown that it does not really predict how a player performs in the NFL - in fact, you could argue the same for the draft (see: manning vs. leaf). the fact that espn wastes an april weekend on that crap greatly disturbs me; then again, they may have nothing else to show.
Well said jmoney.
Don't forget his disappearing acts in big games either.
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