Willie Henry and Graham Glasgow Combine Results

Submitted by Space Coyote on

We've looked a bit at Glasgow's numbers. He measured in quite well for an interior OL, and his test scores, while not great, likely won't hurt him either.

Glasgow

Measureables

Height: 6'6

Arm Length: 33 5/8"

Weight: 307 lbs

Hands: 10 3/4"

Discussion here

Tests

40: 5.13 (9th)

Bench: 23 Reps

Broad Jump: 106" (13th)

3 Cone Drill: 7.63 (13th)

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.63 (12th)

Essentially, solid showing, but not a standout athlete. Glasgow certainly didn't hurt his draft stock, likely helped it a little with his measureables and maybe even a little with his test results. Solid showing. Would like to see a little more upper body strength. Still think he ends up at Guard at the next level.

Henry

Measureables

Height: 6'3"

Arm Length: 33 3/8"

Weight: 303 lbs

Hands: 10 7/8"

Tests

40: 5.00

Bench: 28 Reps (11th)

Vert: 30.5"

Broad Jump: 110"

3 Cone: 7.57 sec

20 yard shuttle: 4.53 sec

Henry has very good length and huge hands for what is a squaty body, so basically, the prototype for a DT. While he didn't place as a top performer in a lot of places, he was competing against DEs as well, so that's not a huge surprise. Overall, I think Henry performed well, but clearly didn't stand out in an otherwise stacked DT field. He's probably going to go around the mid-rounds if I had to guess.

*Note: I didn't watch any of the combine, so if people have other comments based on what they saw, this is a good place for that info. I'm just going off of the pure results here and what we've seen previously on film.

Space Coyote

February 29th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

His combine results may have improved a little bit, but it would have been fairly marginal, and taking age into consideration, likely wouldn't have impacted his draft status much.

Now, coming back could have improved his draft stock by performing better on the field; namely, more consistently. His biggest issue was facing cut blocks (I don't think he was good at identifying them and then getting his hands in a position to counter them) and consistency (he gets lazy sometimes with his technique on a down-to-down basis). Both of those could have improved, and he could have further improved his technique and down-to-down dominance and gone really high.

On the other side, if he didn't improve a lot, his draft stock could fall because he isn't maintaining the level of improvement he's shown so far throughout his career. Right now he has a trend, and generally, that trend has a nice slope to it, combined with a nice ceiling. But if that slope goes down, then so too does the ceiling potentially, which hurts his draft stock.

And on the other side of that, this year's DT group is loaded. Lots of really good prospects. You have a guy like Collins from Nebraska probably going after Henry, but may have more upside but has significantly higher down-to-down variance bringing his draft stock down. A weaker group may have resulted in him going higher.

So it's really not so clear cut. I don't think it was a bad decision based on where he's projected to go and where I would guess he'd go if he came back (probably around the same spot, so better to get to the second contract earlier).

petered0518

February 29th, 2016 at 10:34 AM ^

Thanks for the update, I appreciate you writing it up here.

It is a bit of a tangent but I think the 225 for reps at bench is a dumb test for the lineman. At the number of reps the guys are able to do, it has a strong endurance aspect rather than strength. I know those two concepts are somewhat related here (I'm sure a guy with a 400lb bench can almost always rep more than a guy with a 300 bench) but I don't think there is that much significance to being able to bench 225 30 times versus 35 times.

I think for lineman I think they should test for reps at a much higher weight. Maybe 315 or something like that. I'd bet that Henry would test better in an absolute test of strength as opposed to a rep contest.

Pepto Bismol

February 29th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^

But I'd also say that the endurance aspect could be just as relevant.  Is he going to die after a series and lose his push or can he maintain effort for a 10-play drive?

I have no clue what they're trying to get out of the test.  Just playing devil's advocate.

In reply to by Pepto Bismol

Space Coyote

February 29th, 2016 at 10:53 AM ^

The issue with increasing weight is that then you're increasing injury risk, especially because a lot of these guys don't necessarily display great technique on the bench. 225 is a bit of an endurance test. Yes, there are supposed curve fits that say "you do this many reps, that means your max is this", but those aren't very accurate (from my own experience, at different times in my life I've been able to life 225 x amount of times and had widely different max weights).

There is a repetative component that applies to the game itself, as Pepto stated, both from play-to-play and in some ways in the play itself (though those multiples would be seen at a higher weight as well). Most likely, it's just a hold over that hasn't changed from the past, they want to keep tests standard both from position-to-position and year-to-year (so they can compare to other players), and so it's stuck.

The combine is far from perfect, and if I was running it there are certainly things I'd change. But there are bits and pieces to take from everything as well, none of it is irrelevent.

EastCoast Esq.

February 29th, 2016 at 10:41 AM ^

Can you post the splits on the 40's? I remember the commentators saying that, with offensive linemen especially, the 10 yard split is more important than the 40 time. Because that's about as far as offensive linemen go most of the time.

Space Coyote

February 29th, 2016 at 11:03 AM ^

The 10 yard split shows the get off (acceleration) so is important, particualrly for linemen. 1.75 10 yard split is pretty good for a guy his size, and shows on film. But again, it's not an eye-popping split. It's pretty in line with how the rest of his combine went.

For instance, other B1G DTs (and a few other guys people may be familiar with):

Collins had a 1.77

(Day: 1.69)

Heath: 1.77 (should move inside; add weight)

Lowry: 1.70

(Nkemdiche: 1.72)

Johnson: 1.86 (NT)

Latham: 1.87

Thomas: 1.73 (should move inside; add weight)

Valentine: 1.78

Ward: 1.77

Zettel: 1.66 (great time; should move inside, probably 3-4 DE)

Some of those guys are NT, some are DE/DT tweeners that I think fit better inside. Henry is a true DT already, so it's a strong time, but not elite, elite.

FauxMo

February 29th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^

I really hope Glasgow has a great career. Henry too, of course, but Glasgow is a great story - from walk-on almost off the team for off field issues, to NFL starter...

DrMantisToboggan

February 29th, 2016 at 10:49 AM ^

Henry should not fall past the 3rd round and should be competing for a lot of PT right away. Just has to work on getting cut. Glasgow looks like 4th round or later, but shouldn't have a problem making the squad that drafts him. 

Michigan4Life

February 29th, 2016 at 7:57 PM ^

is Henry has late 2nd to early 3rd round grade which means he's a borderline starter but definitely a quality rotational player.  Like you said, the depth of DT is unreal and that will push several players down.  I've heard that it's the deepest DT class in years so Henry picked a hell of a time to declare.  They think Henry is likely get picked at 3rd/4th round, not because of his talent/draft grade but because of the DT class depth.

I've heard several different opinions on who's the top DT in the draft. It's either Andrew Billings, Sheldon Rankins, Vernon Butler, Jarran Reed or A'Shawn Robinson.  You may notice that Robert Nkemdiche is missing. Despite the athleticism and talent, he doesn't play up to it and is very inconsistent. Throw in big time off-field issues, he may not get drafted at 1st round.

Bigku22

February 29th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

I don't claim to know his financial situation but I think he got some bad advice or is just made a poor decision coming out. This is the most stacked DT class I can ever remember and one of the best at any position group of the last 5-10 years. I believe if he stayed and had another impactful season just by not being lumped in with this years DT class he would have guaranteed himself top 3 rounds with a shot at first round of high second. You become a lot more expendable (and get a much lower rookie deal) when you fall past the third. Obviously best of luck but with these results he seems more like a 4th-5th round guy IMO.

OldMaize16

February 29th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^

He's 22 and and gets another year at making at least 6 figures. I say he made the right choice, you have to play your self into your second contract no matter where he's drafted. He's getting the clock ticking sooner

CoverZero

February 29th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^

Football is not an olympic sport.  Testing a player on Bench Press, or an OL running a 40 is nothing more than a "general" reporting of a particular skill....one that may not ever transfer to actual football skills.

Both Willie Henry and Glasgow's game is built on explosion and drive strength from the lower half of the body which cant be measured on one drill or measure.

Perkis-Size Me

February 29th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^

True, but unless you actually get these guys out there in pads and start playing scrimmages or holding actual games (which will never happen because none of these guys will risk injury), the Combine is really more of a "well this is the best option we have" kind of deal.

It's an imperfect science to be sure, but short of playing actual games, what else could they do?



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TheReal_GR3

February 29th, 2016 at 2:55 PM ^

I think one thing the is missing is how teams actually use these numbers to evaluate prospects. As most of you know these test and drills are all used with game tape, practice video, interviews and feedback from coaches/friends/high school coaches/teammates/trainers to develop a team draft profile. Each team views these differently based on needs and scheme. Someone stated about that the bench press was a poor measuring stick... This depends on how you use it. If you think a 28 rep bench compared to a 35 rep bench tells you which player is stronger than yes it is worthless but no team uses it that way. What they are looking for is does a player reach a certain threshold... Each team is different but for example Henry is seen a a power rushing DT. Teams see power and strength in tape so anything above say 25 only confirms what they believe and unless he dropped near 40 reps at which point a time starts to think he might be stronger than we thought is good. Teams also look at arm length based on position and scheme a NT can be 32 with no issues while 32 as a DE is a major red flag. Check the 10-yard spot, good but not great but since film tells you he gets off the ball quick there is no concern there. Running a 5 flat also tells you something, he is in shape. It show his conditioning is probably in a good place and that he can hustle. The very and broad jump are also explosive measuring tools. Similar to a SPARQ rating most teams have a formula to help measure a players athleticism and explosion for their positions, height and weight. These numbers are all a valuable part of the equation. The bench press for one is a good indication of who has been in the gym. No you don't need it to be strong but if Henry had gone out and down only 20 or less reps now you are going back to the film and you are asking questions about his work ethic.