NFL Combine Drills 2012: The 5 Most Important Drills

Not every drill is created equal.

There is no job interview quite like the one you go for in the NFL. They find out every last detail of your entire existence, both physically and mentally. With millions of dollars on the line, it’s understandable why they would.

When you get past all of the mental tests and height/weight measurements, there are five drills that stand out as the most important to evaluate.

40-yard dash

It’s more than just the final result for scouts. The time is recorded at the 10- and 20-yard marks as well. This is a way to gauge the acceleration in the first eight or so steps. After that it’s the transition to top-end speed. It’s incredible how much detail can go into a drill that takes no longer than six to seven seconds.

With how often you have to stop and start running in the NFL, this is an essential tool for scouts to evaluate.

Bench press

There are no excuses with this one. How many times can you rep 225 pounds?

It’s the easiest event to analyze because of the simplistic nature, but it goes a long way in determining the top lineman in the entire draft.

It also singles out the wide receivers and running backs that may not have taken their weight training very seriously in college.

Broad jump

This is more important than the vertical jump because of the horizontal burst that is so important in the NFL. The key word is explosive here. It combines all of the power that is possessed in your legs into one drill.

Three-cone drill

Three cones are placed in an L-shape and the player sprints five yards to touch the ground before turning the corner to hit the next one.

It’s all about turning the corner and that is absolutely essential for defensive pass-rushers. It’s a terrific way to gauge the agility of every player, but especially the big guys.

20-yard shuttle run

Some call it the 5-10-5 because you burst five yards to the right, 10 yards to the left and five yards to the finish line.

This gives a scout the opportunity to see a prospect’s ability to accelerate, decelerate and switch direction. It’s a great measurement to see how fluid their hips are and how quickly they can change direction on a dime.

This is a huge drill for defensive backs and safeties.