February 26th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^
QBs to throw deep ball. Coaches rather have QB to overthrow and let the WRs run under the ball. If it's underthrown, it's more likely that DBs will make the play on the ball whether if it's CB turning his head around for a INT or PD or S coming over the top to make the play. It's more of Denard's fault for not throwing with enough distance. Fortunately, he is lucky that DBs didn't bother to turn their head around.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
That's true in general, but with a guy like Hemingway, who lacks great speed but has great leaping ability, it may make more sense to underthrow the deep ball.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:13 PM ^
it make more sense to overthrow the deep ball so only Hemingway can catch the ball with his size and leaping ability. Underthrown = bad. Overthrow = good.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
with any consistency. I'm torn about him and the underthrowing though. While I can see it making sense and possibly being part of the strategy with Hemingway, he also did that with our shorter receivers like Gallon. So I wonder if it's strategy, timidness, a combination of both or something else I'm missing.
Either way, Hemingway needs to show that he has some speed and 4.5 is good. He has to be able to show that he can do more than outjumping crappy ND or Big Ten DBs.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
If Hemingway cannot get separation, then on an overthrow, he's not going to be the only guy who can catch the ball. The DB is going to have a chance regardless of whether it's over or underthrown. The advantage of the underthrow is simply that the pass is less likely to be incomplete. Someone will probably come down with it and you expect it to be Hemingway.
Now if you have a guy like Braylon or Manningham, who has the ability to get separation then yes, you definitely want to overthrow it.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:33 PM ^
regardless of WR's ability to separate, it's better to overthrow than to underthrow for the reasons that I stated from above. It's even more likely to get a incomplete or INT if you underthrow the ball rather than overthrow the ball.
February 26th, 2012 at 2:13 PM ^
You're wrong. If you have a guy you are throwing a jump ball to(not a back shoulder throw, that is completely different) you want to throw it in a spot so that he can use his advantages. For Hemingway, that was his large body, hands, and body control. If you overthrow it, you take 2 of those out of the equation. Besdies that, technically, if you "overthrow" the ball you have thrown it past him. 99% of the time, if you throw it beyond the receiever they won't catch it. What you are saying is a perfectly thrown ball is best, which, like, duh.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Leach talks about this in his book. Michigan seemed to do something similar against Notre Dame.
February 26th, 2012 at 4:40 PM ^
which is completely different from over/under throwing the ball in deep passes.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^
faster than what he was given credit for, and then went out and proved it. Way to go, Junior!
February 26th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
also put up 41 reps on the bench. I thought I saw it somewhere yesterday, but its official. He bested the 2nd guy by 9 reps.
Good to see JR, Molk, and Martin killing it at the combine.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:10 AM ^
I'm pretty sure Martin does his bench around 3. I'm guessing he does 47, just shy of the record.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
Mike Martin posted on twitter d linemen go today @ 3:00
February 26th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
The TE from Georgia did more reps than every OL except Molk.
February 26th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
That stuff cracks me up. Yes, bench-pressing 225 pounds as many times as possible in a couple minutes, while you're flat on your back is clearly relevant to a sport in which he'll have to come up from a three-point stance and move a 290-pound DT once per play.
The Combine is so archaic in its evaluative measures, it's hilarious.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:33 AM ^
That's the title on the NFL.com front-age link to the video, though they never mention his mind. Headline writer gone wild. Direct link to video:
It starts with several other linemen, even though they've given away the ending.
EDIT. I swear it didn't take me 8 minutes to write this! Just so it's not redundant, I'll add the commentators' astute statement that it's easier for Molk because he's so small.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
Junior has looked solid in all the drills! Definitely helped himself this weekend! Can't wait to see him in the NFL.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:12 AM ^
Sounds like you are doing a great job in your job interviews!
February 26th, 2012 at 10:13 AM ^
Junior will make great 3rd down, red zone receiver. That 4.5 is HUGE for him, given the concerns about his speed.
All the best to him, he gave us a hell of a season!
February 26th, 2012 at 10:17 AM ^
Off topic of Hemingway but on topic of the combine, RG3 according to Schefter on twitter ran a 4.34
February 26th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
Cleveland Browns fan here. The big question wasn't how fast RGIII is but rather how TALL RGIII is. Have they measured him yet?
February 26th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^
He was measured at 6'2"
February 26th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
It looks like they have and list him as 6'2"
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/robert-griffin,iii?id=2533033
February 26th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
Thanks guys. Then he is definitely the #2 pick in the draft and the Browns will need to move up to get him. But knowing how fond we are of 5th and 6th round draft picks i fully expect us to trade our #4 pick in the draft for the #18 pick in the draft and two additional fourth rounders.
Talk about a perfect fit (Browns and RGII) that will never happen because he Cleveland braintrust is SO sure their 'system" is foolproof they don't need impact players.
February 26th, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^
The browns like the lions have always needed that franchise QB, I think RGIII looks like a great foundation to build upon. I've always had the browns as my AFC team, looking back what a terrible choice of teams I've rooted for: Detroit, and Cleveland.
February 26th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
I'm also a browns fan and hope the RGIII works and and be becomes a brown. The browns drafted well last year, but there are still some big holes at skill positions.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
Junior set the reach mark at 17' 4". Seriously.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
I'm pleading ignorance on this topic, so excuse me if this is a stupid question. Is that good?
February 26th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
When somebody says "seriously" on here, they're being facetious. I was making a joke that Hemmingway jumps very high, which he does. An upper reach of 17'4" would basically mean the dude can fly.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:41 AM ^
As a point of reference: The shotclock above the backboard is about 17' off the ground. If Junior could do that he would be a first round pick simply to "goaltend" field goals.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
I think Junior Hemingway went from sleeper pick, potential steal-of-the-draft to a 2nd round pick.
His biggest knock was his speed, and he ran slightly slower than Michael Floyd, a mid-1st round pick.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
2nd round!?!
Take off the maize and blue glasses.
Hemingway was borderline getting drafted.
He just went for 6th/7th/UFA to maaaybe 4th round. Likely 5th.
He ran a 4.5, not a 4.1. 2nd round? Wow.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
Seconded. I will be happy to bet anyone over/under at the midpoint of round 3 and I'll take the over.
I love me some Jr too guys but let's be real.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
He had a good East/West Shrine week as far as practice. McShay was saying that he was a riser into the 3/4th round range. No shame in that.
February 26th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
with his injury history, how could a team draft him in the 3rd round....4th seems just right with his size and hands
February 26th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
Would agree. 3rd too high, 4th-5th sounds about right.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
I don't think it's crazy, I didn't think Jonas Mouton would of went in the second round. All it takes is one gm to like him not Mel Kiper.
February 26th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
40-yard dash times are great for measuring pure speed but coaches and GM's pay more attention to game tape. A lot of guys are speed demons during drills but don't play as fast in pads. This is probably the reason we are all somewhat surprised by Junior's time. I think he might be a really good pure runner but a touch slower in uniform.
February 26th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
but coaches and GM's pay more attention to game tape
I've long wondered just what value there is in the NFL combine truly is. I read of there being more downside risk than upside -- come in out of shape and slow and it costs, do well and it's expected. I read (such as your post, which I tend to agree with) that coaches and GMs put more stock in game film. Is there an example of someone who went higher in the draft based solely on NFL combine results? Sincere question ... because I myself honestly don't know.
February 26th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^
I would almost guarantee that Vernon Davis improved his draft spot a couple years ago with his 40 time
February 26th, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^
4.38 seconds according to this link. The article also mentions he 33 reps of 225 pounds at the bench. And they do attribute his draft success at least in part to his combine performance.
February 26th, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Darius Heyward-Bey is the only one I can think of. No way he was top 10 without running a 4.2 or whatever it was...
February 26th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
That was another typical Al Davis pick.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
Vernon Gholston is one of those examples. He went sixth in the draft after dominating the combine.
February 26th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
Just wait until his cousin Tom tears up the combine in a few years!
February 26th, 2012 at 3:39 PM ^
6'3" and 266lbs
40 in 4.58
41" vertical ... wow!
10'5" broad
37 reps at bench
Sadly, his NY Jets career didn't pan out. According to this ESPN article, he "will be remembered as one of the biggest draft busts in history."
Ouch.
OT Side Note -- I went to high school with the Texas Ranger's #1 pick in 1977 -- Dave Hibner. Complete bust, apparently. I was Googling around the other day and came across posters on some Ranger's board who still remember and cite Hibner as a wasted draft pick. That's gotta hurt ... can't imagine what it must be like living with that.
February 27th, 2012 at 1:09 AM ^
He ran out of roids shortly after the combine..
February 26th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^
I don't know how it affected his position but I remember Conor Barwin shocking a lot of people at the combine, beyond expectations.
February 26th, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
Tony Mandarich comes to mind. Some of you might be too young to remember him, but coming out of college (MSU) he was all the rage (turns out it was roid rage) due to a great extent to his eye popping numbers at the combine.He weighed over 300 pounds a ran a 4.65 40, had a 30" vertical, and benched 225 39 times (and in those days, 39 times was off the charts). He was taken 2nd overall in the 1989 draft ahead of players like Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders. I don't think he ever even cracked the starting lineup at GB.
The combine results are just another tool, and like any tool, they can be misused. Their value comes in that they provide a numerical way of comparing athletes and that they are objective (he ran a 4.5 40) rather than subjective (he looks kind of slow to me). But as others have pointed out, they don't exactly measure what goes on during play in a game, so they can never replace the subjective analysis of skilled observers of game tape. they can only augment those judgments and help verify or in some cases lead to re-evaluation of players' strengths and weaknesses.