The Fantasy Footballers Combine Challenge
Our beloved Fantasy Footballer hosts (Andy, Mike, and Jason) will be testing their skills, wit and athletic prowess on Tuesday, August 9th while participating in a number of NFL combine drills. Who will be deemed a “workout warrior”? Who will surprise with some patented “old man strength”? And who just needs to stick to sitting behind the mic?
After doing some in-depth research and talking to a number of high-profile and yet also under-the-public-radar scouts, we decided to dive into highlight tape and share some of the “uncapped potential” oozing from some of their scouting profiles.
Make sure you tell us in the comments and on Twitter: Who do you think will take home the crown as Combine Champ or Combine Chump?
40-yard dash
The main event measuring overall straight line speed. While Cardinals RB Chris Johnson’s 4.21 is the top official NFL combine record, Bo Jackson’s time are still the stuff of legends as he reportedly clocked in at an unofficial 4.12 in 1986.
Scout’s take: “Hands down has to be Holloway… I remember him as “White Lightning” from his high school playing days for his pure breakaway ability. Kid could’ve been great. Unless he stumbles out of the gate, we’re all expecting him to beat his previous record of 4.42….Mike and Jason have some innate dad speed that could be unleashed but might also force the timers to get a cold beverage during their sprint.”
Bench press
Used as a test of strength and stamina, in which athletes lift 225 pounds as many times as possible. WWE Star Brock Lesnar once did 44 reps while the record is 51 set by DT Justin Earnest in 1999.
Scout’s take: “Can’t quite figure out Mr. Double-Stuffed. Jason could boom-or-bust in this competition. He either seems to have the build of an Olympic class weight lifter… or perhaps a competitive food eater. Either way this seems like it’s Mike’s event to take home. He wrote the book on “Old Man Strength” and just needs to hold off Andy and his Peyton Manning-esque noodle arms.”
Vertical jump
A measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standing still position. Kansas City’s Chris Conley holds the record at 45”.
Scout’s take: “The voice of public opinion might lead you to believe that since Andy is the tallest of the crew this would be his event to shine in. Word is out on whether his vertical is as good as advertised. We have grainy home footage of his middle school days that leads many scouts to think he’ll walk away with this event easily. Mike’s voice clearly can hit the highest pitch in terms of vertical ability. Remember Yogi Berra once said that baseball [sports in general] is 90% mental and the other half is physical. So yea…”
Broad jump
Measuring distance covered leaping from a standing position. Cowboys safety Byron Jones is the current record holder of 12′ 3″.
Scout’s take: “I’ve been scouting this event for a long time…never before have I looked at it as the broad jump. So I’m taking weight into consideration with these 3 as much as length. Jason’s weight distribution could give him the upper hand while all Mike needs is to pack on a few pounds before with his patented pizza and wings combo.”
3 cone drill
Measuring a player’s agility as three cones are placed five yards apart from each other forming a right angle. Current record holder at the combine is WR Jeff Maehl in 2011 at 6.42 seconds.
Scout’s take: “While some would think this requires elite agility, I’ve looked mostly at Geometry grades as evaluating these ‘mathletes’ comes down to who can take the right angle best and who can count to three… Mike’s computations are off the chart. He shows quickness, resourcefulness and an overall determination we’ve not seen in this event for years. The only worry is the beard… Will this slow Mike down?”
Team Interviews
A team is allowed to interview a player within a 15-minute interval asking a variety of questions related to their past, maturity, leadership tendencies, and decision-making ability
Scout’s take: “Look for Jason to wow his prospective interviews with his likable personality, fluid and sometimes inventive use of the English language, and overall zest for life. Some teams have contacted us and expressed some deep concerns and question marks in regards to Mike’s “Hitman” nickname. The same can be said of Andy’s “Reaper” nickname. The guys need to put the past behind them.”
The Wonderlic Test
Intelligence test used to assess the aptitude of prospective draft picks for learning and problem-solving. Cowboys CB Morris Claiborne famously once scored a 4, the lowest ever. Colts RB and TFFB favorite Frank Gore only tallied a 6 while Ryan Fitzpatrick, former Harvard grad, and Ravens TE Ben Watson both came in at a whopping 48.
Scout’s take: “I like Andy’s chances to score slightly above Frank Gore. Let’s just say he’s got a low floor. I’d bet my entire scouting career on Mike, who seems to be thinking on another level most of the time compared to the rest of the group. He could shatter the Wonderlic All-Time mark if he just channels his inner super powers.”
The TFFB combine is taking place on Tuesday, August 9th. The video is a reward to supporters over at JoinTheFoot.com Join the official community of fantasy football players and support the show! Get an EXCLUSIVE episode each week with #FootClan only questions as well as access to #FootClan member leagues. Don’t miss out on all the action!