So February, or as my brother and I refer to as the worst month due to the lack of interesting sporting events, has brought the nation to the point of airing nationally the NFL scouting of potential draft picks for next season. The different skill challenges provides some great entertainment and potentially a good time waging bets over what the 40 yard dash time will be for the players. But honestly, why is there a speed test of 40 yards? Most plays during the game are 10-20 yards at most, unless you are a wide receiver or a safety. So why then are those linebackers, defensive ends, and quarterbacks judged on their ability to have 40 yard speed?
The 40 yard dash started as a test for football players because the average distance of a punt is 40 yards and hangs in the air for 4.5 seconds. Coaches and scouts wanted to make sure the guys could make 40 yards in that time so they could make sure who they sent out there could make it down field to position themselves to execute the tackle.
While this is a great test for those players who are placed on special teams/wide receivers/safeties/running backs, are they the best measure for those defensive ends or quarterbacks? Shouldn't players of different positions be evaluated differently based on the most efficient means of the odds of situations they will find themselves in? How important is it for RG3 to really run a 4.3?... or what ever he ran in Indy.
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