Nfl Combine 3 Cone Drill Times
- Nfl Combine 3 Cone Drill Times
- What Is The 3 Cone Drill Nfl Combine
- Nfl Combine 3 Cone Drill Times
- Best 3 Cone Drill Nfl Combine 2020
“The 3 cone drill is the single most important drill at the combine, plain and simple,” an anonymous scout told CBS Sports. “Regardless of position, I want to know how the player performs. Christian McCaffrey's time is the fastest by any running back in the 3-cone drill over the last 20 years. James Anderson tied for the third-fastest linebacker time from 2000-present.
40-yard dash
Why it matters: For wide receivers and running backs, breakaway speed can be the difference between a modest gain and a game-changing play (just check out Jerry Jeudy's film). A measurable combination that NFL evaluators pay close attention to for cornerbacks is length (height and arms) and 40 speed. Safety is another position to keep an eye on, particularly for players who will be asked to cover a lot of ground in the deep middle of the field. The chart below shows the most desirable times, the average combine times over the past five years and the times that should raise a red flag for evaluators.
Past standout: Seahawks WR DK Metcalf. At 6-foot-3, 228 pounds, we knew the Ole Miss stud was a physical freak. But then he broke the internet with a blazing 4.33 40 at last year's combine in one one of the most impressive performances I've seen. Seattle stole Metcalf at the end of Round 2, and he had a great rookie season, catching 58 passes for 900 yards and seven touchdowns.
Vertical jump
Why it matters: The vertical can be an important indicator for wide receivers, tight ends and cornerbacks, but don't forget about running backs and defensive ends. This drill is a great judge of a player's lower-body explosiveness and ability to create power from the ground up.
Past standout: Giants RB Saquon Barkley. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft had an injury-plagued 2019 season, but you can't deny his lower-body power when healthy. Barkley posted a 41-inch vert two years ago, which was best among the running backs. And he did it at 233 pounds. Barkley wasn't that impressed, though. 'It wasn't my best,' he said afterward.
20-yard shuttle
Why it matters: It's not a coincidence that most of the positions listed below are on defense. Being an NFL defender is all about reaction: How quickly can you diagnose a play, come to a stop and explode toward the ball? And the 20-yard shuttle showcases a player's body control as he is changing directions.
Nfl Combine 3 Cone Drill Times
Past standout: Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. The 4.11-second 20-yard shuttle Kuechly posted in 2012 is just outside the outstanding range above for inside linebackers (4.07 and below). That kind of short-area quickness, in combination with Kuechly's outstanding recognition skills, helped turn him into a five-time All Pro before he retired earlier this year. Next stop ... Hall of Fame?
Broad jump
Why it matters: I like to see how offensive linemen and skill players perform in the broad jump. You need good lower-body explosiveness, power and flexibility to anchor in the trenches. It's also a good way to separate which offensive linemen have the athleticism to play tackle. The top four broad jumpers of the past five years among O-linemen were drafted to play tackle.
Past standout: Eagles OT Lane Johnson. Remember when Johnson blew up at the 2013 combine? His broad jump was 118 inches. That's comparable to an above-average mark from a running back -- and he did it while weighing 303 pounds. Johnson's performance proved to scouts that he had the lower-body power to develop into a good left tackle.
What Is The 3 Cone Drill Nfl Combine
Three-cone
Why it matters: This drill is all about assessing a player's ability to change directions quickly, bend and accelerate. Defensive backs and pass-rushers are good players to keep an eye on. Of course, a lot goes into being an elite edge rusher, but most of the NFL's best register outstanding times in the three-cone.
Past standout: Broncos OLB Von Miller. The Super Bowl 50 MVP completed the three-cone in 6.70 seconds in 2011, tied for the third-best mark among linebackers over the past six years. And that confirmed what teams saw on tape: a freak athlete who wreaked havoc off the edge.
Bench press
Why it's important: The bench tests upper-body strength by seeing how many times players can put up 225 pounds. Let's be honest: While it may be the most fun to watch, the bench press is the least important of all these non-football-related drills. But it does provide insight into the upper-body strength of an athlete, which tends to apply most to interior offensive and defensive linemen. There's also some small correlation for cornerbacks (for press-technique purposes).
Nfl Combine 3 Cone Drill Times
Past standout: Rams DT Aaron Donald. The Pitt product showed off his raw strength at the 2014 combine, putting up 35 reps on the bench. That is tied for the second highest among all defensive linemen over the past three years. Donald, of course, has developed into one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.
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Illustration by Todd Detwiler
The three-cone drill, 3-cone drill or L-drill is a test performed by American football athletes. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts. It is most commonly seen at the NFL Combine in preparation for the NFL draft but is also an important measurement for collegiaterecruiting. While not as highly regarded a test as the 40-yard dash, it is still an important barometer used by team personnel to compare players. It is especially pertinent in the evaluation of Pass Rushers who must be able to maintain acceleration while working around Offensive Line players.[1]
The drill[edit]
Three cones are placed five yards apart from each other forming a right angle. The athlete starts with one hand down on the ground and runs to the middle cone and touches it. The athlete then reverses direction back to the starting cone and touches it. The athlete reverses direction again but this time runs around the outside of the middle cone on the way to the far cone running around it in figure eight fashion on his way back around the outside of the middle cornering cone. Athletes are timed for this whole procedure. This drill is primarily used to determine a player's agility.[2]
References[edit]
- ^'3 Cone Drill'. NFL.com. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^Pete Williams (2007). The Draft: A Year Inside the NFL's Search for Talent. Macmillan. ISBN9781429910019.