Epenesa- Combine

LicThawk said:
Well benching doesn't show that much true, but it also isn't all about chest strength. If it was it would be call "highest bench." It involves a lot of core strength to put that weight up repeatedly over numerous reps. if you wanted to try to block a guy that pushes up 225 1 time and is tired, or a guy that does it 30 times, who would you choose? He is going up against some of the strongest people on earth. I must matter some.

It may reflect ones ability to play every down with high level consistency or the need to take some off.
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I'm in 40s and before my shoulder bursitis set in a few months ago, I could do multiple reps of 225. If a 22 year old guy who wants to play in the trenches can only put up 225 once, he should not be in the NFL.

That said, guys who have long arms are typically not good at benching. But to play rush end the way the League is now, you want the guy with long arms because he is better at tipping the ball and being able to get a paw on the QB than some guy with T-Rex arms who can bench 225 another 5-10 times.
 
okeefe4prez said:
This. Like. +1.

When you go to a NFL game and see how fast the guys who play on the right side of the defense can get off the snap and close it is amazing. I don't give a shit what a lineman runs in the 40 because he ain't asked to run 40 yards most of the time.
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I think the fact that he was relatively better and finished higher in the standings in the shorter cone and shuttle runs is a good outcome for a DEnd.
 
John Belushi still holds the 40 yrd dash NFL Combine record. Look at Epensa in the white tank top behind him in last place.


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I’ve been hearing he compares very well to interior lineman and poorly to edge rushers. He’s a unique talent who needs a smart staff to use him correctly.
 
AJ lost some money last weekend, hate to say.

Makes me wonder, did he prepare at all for the combine? Do guys run practice 40s to try and improve their times. I would bet Nate did so.
 
hawkinn3 said:
I’ve been hearing he compares very well to interior lineman and poorly to edge rushers. He’s a unique talent who needs a smart staff to use him correctly.
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The NFL could see a new breed of "contain" specialists as the QBs become more athletic and AJ could be in that crop of players. We might see defenses where guys have to be really good at contain to keep guys in the pocket so the DTs can try to make the play. AJ is really good at that, but it will take a GM willing to take a risk to make something like that work.
 
okeefe4prez said:
I'm in 40s and before my shoulder bursitis set in a few months ago, I could do multiple reps of 225. If a 22 year old guy who wants to play in the trenches can only put up 225 once, he should not be in the NFL.

That said, guys who have long arms are typically not good at benching. But to play rush end the way the League is now, you want the guy with long arms because he is better at tipping the ball and being able to get a paw on the QB than some guy with T-Rex arms who can bench 225 another 5-10 times.
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When I was semi seriously working out your typical world class bodybuilder was in the 5'7-5'10 range. Taller bodybuilders had long arms which worked to their disadvantage not only with actual lifts but also because it presented the illusion of less muscle mass.

This was 15-25 years ago when Lee Haney and Dorian Yates were winning Mr. Olympia titles. Maybe it's different now with modern nutrition and "medicine".
 
When one prepares to apply to a major college, you present three things: ACT/SAT, GPA and interviews/resumes. All three count coming from different directions. One below average input doesn't knock you out of the running.
 
Combine numbers matter to some degree, but the smart GMs get it.

Plenty of players over the years had less than stellar combine numbers but went on to have great NFL careers. By the same token, there is a wasteland of spandex warriors that barely got a sniff of the league. The first round pick of the Packers last season - Rashad Gary - had great combine numbers and on paper looks like a beast, but his lack of football awareness and instincts has made him a bust so far. I didn't like the pick at the time, and like it even less now. In fairness, he still has time to put it together, but I just don't think he's got it above the shoulders.

AJ may drop to some degree, but teams recognize that he has great technique and smarts. Unless he looks awful at the pro day, I would expect him to be picked somewhere in the late 20s of the first round.
 
I'm sticking with my original pick of #27 to the Seahawks, especially given his combine performance.
 
I agree with Rob, he will be fine and likely still in the first round. Tape trumps the underwear Olympics. That said, I have always wondered if AJ was better suited to be a 3-4 DE rather than a 4-3. He seems to have a frame a bit heavy for a typical 4-3 DE. 290 with quicks and stuffing ability perfect for a 3-4 technique.
 
The oddest aspect of these #s to me is that around the football building he's always been referred to as "an athletic freak". Those combine #s are not freakish in any way.
 
okeefe4prez said:
I'm in 40s and before my shoulder bursitis set in a few months ago, I could do multiple reps of 225. If a 22 year old guy who wants to play in the trenches can only put up 225 once, he should not be in the NFL.

That said, guys who have long arms are typically not good at benching. But to play rush end the way the League is now, you want the guy with long arms because he is better at tipping the ball and being able to get a paw on the QB than some guy with T-Rex arms who can bench 225 another 5-10 times.
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I've been battling bursitis in my elbow. Doesn't seem to ever go away. Sucks.
 
5.04 is bad. Most high school skill players will be between 4.7-5.0. I would think the teams that are interested would test him again. Just doesn't seem right he would be off the mark that far.
 
I'll post the link if I can find it again, but I was reading a combine analysis online that said while the overall numbers weren't great, the tape is so much more important and there's plenty of that to examine. More importantly, it said, they talked to some offensive linemen who said AJE was easily the hardest defender to play again.

Watch the film and talk to the guys that have to go against him.

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I wonder how many first round draft picks have finished in last place in any category at the combine.
 
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