By John Sarianides

Allow me to explain the measurable drills at the combine in layman terms for you.

40-yard dash: The 40-yard dash is more important for skill guys than it is for offensive lineman and defensive tackles. Many people outside of football will question the importance of the 40-yard dash but it is the best barometer we have to judge straight line speed.

Coaches at every level have tried to down play the importance of it but trust me when I tell you. Speed matters and when coaches see sub 4.5 times, it gets their attention.

Bench press: Many strength coaches have deemphasized the bench press in their workout programs in recent years because other than sculpting your chest, many of them don’t believe there are any actual benefits to bench pressing.

I don’t buy that. I think the bench press is an essential lift in football, especially for offensive and defensive lineman.  They extend their arms to engage and disengage more than any other position in the game. The bench press is important in that regard.

It is also a confidence lift. Guys feel better about themselves if they can put up 225 twenty times or more times. Especially lineman.

Vertical jump: The vertical jump measures vertical explosiveness. It is a good barometer to see if skill guys have good short area burst and the ability to play the ball in the air. Contrary to what some people think, it isn’t just about how high you can jump.

Broad jump: The broad jump is another drill used to measure short area explosiveness. Like the vertical jump, it gives coaches an idea of just how explosive an athlete is. It is also a good barometer of muscle development. The further an athlete jumps, the more developed and “twitchy” they are.

3 cone drill: Having the ability to change direction is an essential skill in football. The three cone drill allows coaches and scouts to see just how quickly some athletes can plant, drive and change direction. Some people in the industry have argued that this is the most important drill at the combine today because the game is played more laterally than it used to be.

20 Yard Shuttle run: The shuttle run measures short area quickness and the ability to plant and explode out of a break. It is a universal drill designed to measure an athlete’s ability to accelerate and gain top speed again. Like the three cone drill, it is a good barometer of how well an athlete can transition in and out of their movements.