NFL Combine 2012 Results: Why 40-Times Are Overrated for Linemen

Every year at the NFL scouting combine, no drill is more scrutinized by the media or generates more discussion by fans than the 40-yard dash, as the times registered by players in "the dash for cash" cause tectonic shifts in draft boards across the National Football League.

However, for the players most likely to cause tectonic shifts on the gridiron, the 40-yard dash is probably one of the least important exercises that takes place in Indianapolis, as "offensive lineman" and "sprinter" aren't generally words you see mentioned in the same sentence very often.

This isn't to say that speed (relatively speaking) isn't an asset for offensive linemen, especially for teams that employ a zone blocking scheme that emphasizes quickness up front over brute strength. And when a zone blocking team such as the Kansas City Chiefs sees a player such as guard Adam Gettis of Iowa run the 40 in less than five seconds, it no doubt helps that player's stock, especially if, as in Gettis' case, the player is a lesser-known commodity.

However, it's folly to suggest that the less than stellar 40 times turned in this year by players such as All-American guard David DeCastro of Stanford (5.43 seconds) or Iowa State tackle Kelechi Osemele (5.36 seconds) mean much of anything, as these linemen are "road graders", and bulldozers aren't generally known for their top end speed.

There are even more accurate barometers of a lineman's quickness. For example, a solid time in the 10-yard split (such as the 1.76 seconds number turned in by Georgia guard Cordy Glenn) or good showing in the three cone drill (such as DeCastro's time of 7.30 seconds) is much more indicative of the sort of agility and burst necessary to be a successful offensive lineman in the National Football League than the 40-yard dash.

And in any event, speed does you no good up front if you have no strength, so it's essential that the big uglies come up big in the bench press like DeCastro did this year with 34 reps.

So, while the 40-yard dash at the combine may give folks something to talk about every year, it definitely shouldn't be the center of discussion where offensive linemen are concerned, as there are (please forgive the pun) much "bigger" needs to address.