For pro hopefuls attending the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, the process is a dizzying array of physical exams, mental testing, interviews with prospective employers and finally several on-field drills. All of these individual parts will help to solidify opinions which have been formed over at least two years by NFL teams.
Some players, like Wisconsin T Joe Thomas, are not worried about the Combine process - he is identified by many NFL draft sites as a top-five pick. For others such as Whitworth TE Michael Allan - the only Division III player at the Combine - it's a chance to make an impression by posting numbers that compare favorably to those Division I-A players in his position group.
"I think I've improved on all the drills, but in my offseason training, I was focusing on getting myself ready for an NFL season," said Thomas about his approach. "I'm not as much worried about getting a tenth better on this drill or that drill because that's not going to help me next season. I noticed about guys that played at Wisconsin or at other schools was that in the offseason, they go down to Houston or Phoenix or Florida to train and they lose focus on what they're really doing in their offseason, preparing themselves for an NFL season and not just trying to run a good 40 or something like that."
Allan caught 53 passes for 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns n 2006 and got much-needed exposure at the East-West Shrine Game. Now, in the bright lights of the Combine, the opportunity to turn a head or two in the stands, is his goal.
"I know I can run some fast times and I know I can jump high," Allan said about his Combine skills. "Once I do that, it will backup my weight and height. So once I do the numbers I?m capable of doing, I think I'?ll be right there. I know I can run in the 4.6 area, and I believe that's fast enough to get some legitimate attention."
Akron quarterback Luke Getsy, who spent his press conference with a few media members while the rest were focused on Ohio State WR Ted Ginn, Jr. on the other end of the Combine's media room, says that the off-field work is the most important for him.
"I think the interview process is going to be huge for me to let these coaches and GMs get inside my head and see that my knowledge of football is definitely my strongest point," he said. "I'm going to go on the field and show them I've got all of the physical tools as well, just show that I can be an elite quarterback in the NFL."
Notre Dame T Ryan Harris remarked on the medical process at work in Indianapolis.
"Each team and their team of doctors has the right to look at you," he said about his physical exams. "Each team and their doctors will look at you. Anything you've had, and I'm talking about anything, they will X-ray it and they'll make sure they know anything about any slight injury."
DAY 1 NOTES: According to NFL officials, over 320 players will participate in the Combine...the media out-number the players as 400 total credentials will be issued by the NFL PR department...Combine officials spent most of Wednesday reading the RCA Dome field for the various agility and position drills along with the 40-yard dash.
