Pay Very Little Attention to the 40 Yard Dash:
I know, it’s a lot of fun. Rich Eisen is funny to watch running down the field in his suit and tie. It’s even funnier to watch big offensive and defensive linemen run it. And even I was impressed when Chris Johnson ran it in 4.24 seconds, in his days before becoming “CJ2K”. However, in truth, it is very irrelevant.
Do players run down the field in a straight line? Not very often. Offensive linemen certainly don’t. They need a quick burst within a five-yard area, to explode into their opponent. Defensive linemen need a quick jump off the line and strength to fight off their opponent. Even wide receivers don’t run that way very often. Typically, they are hand-fighting with opposing defensive backs, and never getting into a full sprint. It happens once in a while, but not enough for it to mean very much.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. Watch it. It’s exciting to watch guys run really fast. But don’t let it impact your judgment of the player. It means nothing.
Next: Position Relevant Numbers