COLUMBUS, Ohio — The day is coming when the only relevant 40-times will involve frat boys racing to see who can chug a bottle Olde English 800 the fastest. Every Steelers’ fan who wants his team to make more informed choices in the NFL Draft should rejoice.
For decades, 40-yard dash times have been an important component in talent evaluation. We are bombarded with these times in the months leading up to the draft. The NFL Network covers these spectacles at the scouting combine like they are an Olympic event. Never mind that players rarely run 40 yards unfettered in straight lines during a game or take to the field in tight-fitting Spandex sans helmets and pads.
How many mistakes on draft day have been made by front offices placing too much credence in 40 times? Fortunately, GPS tracking is starting to make clubs less reliant on them. Almost all pro and college players are now equipped with wearable technology, allowing teams and scouting departments to chart velocity and agility in game situations.
How quickly can a running back get to top speed? What is the deceleration rate of cornerbacks and receivers when they go into their breaks?
Asked when data tracking might become more relevant than 40 times, one NFL talent evaluator told me, “ it’s coming — next three years.” An NFL scout said 40 times remain useful, but that GPS tracking will only become more important as years of data is collected and compared.
There is a difference between running fast and playing fast, and it’s the latter which is more vital. An athlete with high football IQ and anticipatory skills often plays faster. The GPS should be able to quantify that soon enough.
Having savvy data analysts on staff who can help interpret the numbers for coaches and general managers is going to be valuable.
The 40-yard dash probably won’t disappear anytime soon. Fans and media members enjoy watching and reporting on it. What would a modern-day combine be without Rich Eisen galloping down the track?
Let the traditionalists have their moment, but in the age of wearable technology time is not on their side.
YOUR TURN: Do you think 40-yard dashes will remain a crucial component in evaluating talent, and why?
