NFL Combine 2012: Why 40-Yard Dash Has Become Marquee Event

For some reason watching guys run fast is always intriguing. Whether in the 100-meters at the Summer Olympics or the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, we, as a culture, love to watch speedy guys run fast. I really can't explain why, but it's a lot of fun.

It has gotten to the point where average joes watching at home can break down exactly why a given prospect's time was slower than another. Maybe he got out of his crouch too quickly, or he didn't run through the tape. It's stuff we can notice on our own without being scouting experts. 

Some will say that the 40-yard dash isn't even that important, since football players rarely run 40 yards in a straight line anyway. Some think a player's agility in the three-cone drill is far more important. That may be true, but trust me when I say there are things about how a player runs "the 40" that tell you a lot about his ability.

Scouts don't just notice the overall time when a guy runs the 40-yard dash, they also pay attention to how well he runs each 10-yard segment. That can tell you how quickly he gets up to full speed, how fast he is out of his break and how well he maintains his speed down field.

That is a wealth of information that can separate players from each other.

Another aspect to remember is that scouts are almost completely aware of the abilities of the top prospects in the draft. They have watched enough film to know exactly what to expect at the Combine. But guys who haven't received a lot of hype can jump into the conversation, by showing great speed during their workouts.

Speed can't be taught and you can do a lot of things with a guy who possesses the trait. First off, you can make him a return man, or a flier on kick coverage. If he's an offensive player, you can work him into game plans using reverses. 

You can develop a fast guy into a solid football player, whereas you can't really take a slow, great football player and make him fast. 

So, when players line up to run the 40-yard dash at the Combine this weekend, and you're asking yourself why it is so entertaining, just remember that it actually matters.