Standard timing methods lead to mixed 40 results
INDIANAPOLIS -- Now that officials at the NFL Scouting Combine have decided not to use internationally accepted automated timing method in the 40-yard runs this year, the results announced will be the same as ever -- mixed.
Although the times are often referenced as official when released by NFL.com or NFL Network, historically they have really been a mix, with announced times reflecting any one of the six diffferent results each player has.
"We get all six of the results they publish for us at the combine, but like most teams we have our own way of determining what time we use," Washington Redskins general manager Bruce Allen told The Sports Xchange.
Allen explained that there is no such thing as a single, official time as far as teams are concerned. He said some teams use the best time, some use an average and others go with one of the two electronic times. Allen says the times are good reference, but for consistency he prefers yet another method.
"Our own scouts time each run and we go with our own results," Allen said.
Since 1990, combine 40-yard times have included two manual timings and one that was determined by a manual start and an electronic beam at the finish. In those cases, all starts were determined by the player's first motion. Before 1990, all times were entirely manual.
Last year fully automated timing was used as a test at the Combine, but results were only seen by a small committee and The Sports Xchange learned that the fully automated method, known as FAT, is not being used this year.
Here is what happens to get the 40 times at the combine that are revealed:
--Those who participate in the 40 run twice, and on each run they are timed by two hand-held stopwatches and one electronic timer (initiated by hand on the player's first movement).
--Combine data put together for NFL teams includes all six of those times for each player, but no single official time.
The rapid ascent of the combine as a media event has created a lot of misconceptions, especially with the proliferation of live coverage by NFL Network on television and NFL.com online. In recent years, in an attempt to expedite reporting of data, both NFL Network and NFL.com have published 40 times and have not cited the exact source of the announced times, or which of the six was used. times, except to say they are unofficial.
All this is great for fans viewing online or on television, as long as they understand, as the press release states, that the times are "unofficial." Most media will go with those same times until more specific data becomes available.
NFLDraftScout.com closely follows the draft and the combine. Even before NFL.com and NFL Network arrived on the scene, NFLDraftScout.com kept track of the annual results and maintained a list of Combine bests.
In deference to the players, who want to know their berst time, NFLDraftScout goes with the best verifiable -- or listed -- time from the combine unless it is conspicuously skewed from the other times.
This often creates a disparity between times recorded by NFLDraftScout.com and those announced by NFL.com or NFL Network. However, when NFL.com and NFL Network began showing lists of combine bests, those lists reflected the same times used by NFLDraftScout.com.
Below are the best results at the Combine since 2000. For comparison sake, and for something to keep in mind as times are announced the next few days, the 40 times announced during each combine are included in parentheses.
Fastest 40 Yard Dash Times, (2000-2012)
* = Underclassman
Best time (Announced time) -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
4.21 (4.34)- Trindon Holliday, (WR), LSU - 2010
4.22 (4.28)- Jacoby Ford, (WR), Clemson - 2010
4.24 (4.24)- Chris Johnson, (RB), East Carolina - 2008
4.25 (4.30)- *Darrius Heyward-Bey, (WR), Maryland - 2009
4.25 (4.28)- Demarcus Van Dyke, (CB), Miami - 2011
4.26 (4.28)- Jerome Mathis, (WR), Hampton - 2005
4.27 (4.37)- C.J. Spiller, (RB), Clemson - 2010
4.27 (4.27)- Stanford Routt, (CB), Houston - 2005
4.28 (4.33)- Mike Wallace, (WR), Mississippi - 2009
4.28 (4.36)- *Stephen Hill, (WR), Georgia Tech - 2012
4.29 (4.33)- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, (CB), Tennessee State - 2008
4.29 (4.29)- *Fabian Washington, (CB), Nebraska - 2005
4.29 (4.29)- Johnny Knox, (WR), Abilene Christian - 2009
4.29 (4.33)- *Josh Robinson, (CB), Central Florida - 2012
4.30 (4.30)- Yamon Figurs, (WR), Kansas State - 2007
4.30 (4.30)- Darrent Williams, (CB), Oklahoma State - 2005
4.30 (4.40)- Mike Thomas, (WR), Arizona - 2009
4.31 (4.31)- Aaron Lockett, (WR), Kansas State - 2002
4.31 (4.38)- Deon Butler, (WR), Penn State - 2009
4.31 (4.31)- *Justin King, (CB), Penn State - 2008
4.31 (4.31)- Tyvon Branch, (CB), Connecticut - 2008
4.31 (4.34)- *Patrick Peterson, (CB), LSU - 2011
4.31 (4.31)- Santana Moss, (WR), Miami - 2001
4.31 (4.43)- Taylor Mays, (FS), Southern Cal - 2010
4.31 (4.36)- Chris Owusu, (WR), Stanford - 2012
Fastest 10-yard splits (40-yard dash), (2000-2012)
Best time -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
1.40 - *Justin King, (CB), Penn State - 2008
1.40 - Cedric Peerman, (RB), Virginia - 2009
1.40 - Chris Johnson, (RB), East Carolina - 2008
1.41 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, (CB), Tennessee State - 2008
1.43 - Quintin Demps, (FS), Texas-El Paso - 2008
1.43 - Marcus McCauley, (CB), Fresno State - 2007
1.43 - Marcus Walker, (CB), Oklahoma - 2008
1.43 - Tyvon Branch, (CB), Connecticut - 2008
1.43 - Antwaun Molden, (CB), Eastern Kentucky - 2008
1.43 - *DaJuan Morgan, (FS), North Carolina State - 2008
1.43 - Jonathan Zenon, (CB), LSU - 2008
1.43 - Aundrae Allison, (WR), East Carolina - 2007
1.43 - Jonathan Wilhite, (CB), Auburn - 2008
1.43 - Eric Weddle, (SS), Utah - 2007
1.43 - Leodis McKelvin, (CB), Troy - 2008
1.43 - Mike Wallace, (WR), Mississippi - 2009
1.43 - Will Franklin, (WR), Missouri - 2008
1.44 - *Darrius Heyward-Bey, (WR), Maryland - 2009
1.44 - Chris Clemons, (FS), Clemson - 2009
1.44 - Tyrell Johnson, (SS), Arkansas State - 2008
1.44 - Mike Thomas, (WR), Arizona - 2009
1.44 - Kory Sheets, (RB), Purdue - 2009
1.45 - Taylor Mays, (FS), Southern Cal - 2010
1.45 - Leon Hall, (CB), Michigan - 2007
1.45 - Terrell Thomas, (CB), Southern Cal - 2008
Fastest 20-yard splits (40-yard dash), (2000-2012)
Best time -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
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2.40 - *Stephon Gilmore, (CB), South Carolina - 2012
2.41 - Chris Johnson, (RB), East Carolina - 2008
2.41 - C.J. Spiller, (RB), Clemson - 2010
2.43 - Chris Rainey, (RB), Florida - 2012
2.43 - *Fabian Washington, (CB), Nebraska - 2005
2.44 - Karl Paymah, (CB), Washington State - 2005
2.44 - *Patrick Peterson, (CB), LSU - 2011
2.44 - Jacoby Ford, (WR), Clemson - 2010
2.45 - Mike Wallace, (WR), Mississippi - 2009
2.45 - Coty Sensabaugh, (CB), Clemson - 2012
2.46 - Aldrick Robinson, (WR), Southern Methodist - 2011
2.46 - Aundrae Allison, (WR), East Carolina - 2007
2.46 - Roc Alexander, (CB), Washington - 2004
2.46 - Emmanuel Sanders, (WR), Southern Methodist - 2010
2.46 - *Justin King, (CB), Penn State - 2008
2.46 - Taylor Mays, (FS), Southern Cal - 2010
2.47 - Chimdi Chekwa, (CB), Ohio State - 2011
2.47 - Antwan Harris, (CB), Virginia - 2000
2.47 - *Julio Jones, (WR), Alabama - 2011
2.47 - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
2.47 - Brandon Ghee, (CB), Wake Forest - 2010
2.47 - *David Wilson, (RB), Virginia Tech - 2012
2.47 - Devon Wylie, (WR), Fresno State - 2012
2.47 - Trindon Holliday, (WR), LSU - 2010
2.48 - Dunta Robinson, (CB), South Carolina - 2004
Most 225 Pound Bench Reps (2000-2012)
Reps/225 pounds -- Player, (Pos), School -- Year
49 - Stephen Paea, (DT), Oregon State - 2011
45 - Mitch Petrus, (OG), Arkansas - 2010
45 - Mike Kudla, (DE), Ohio State - 2006
45 - Leif Larsen, (DT), Texas-El Paso - 2000
44 - *Dontari Poe, (DT), Memphis - 2012
44 - Brodrick Bunkley, (DT), Florida State - 2006
44 - Jeff Owens, (DT), Georgia - 2010
43 - Scott Young, (OG), BYU - 2005
42 - Isaac Sopoaga, (DT), Hawaii - 2004
42 - Tank Tyler, (DT), North Carolina State - 2007
41 - Terna Nande, (OLB), Miami (OHIO) - 2006
41 - David Molk, (C), Michigan - 2012
41 - *Igor Olshansky, (DT), Oregon - 2004
40 - Justin Blalock, (OG), Texas - 2007
40 - Manuel Ramirez, (OG), Texas Tech - 2007
39 - *Linval Joseph, (DT), East Carolina - 2010
39 - Louis Vasquez, (OG), Texas Tech - 2009
38 - Marvin Austin, (DT), North Carolina - 2011
38 - Tony Pashos, (OT), Illinois - 2003
38 - Russell Okung, (OT), Oklahoma State - 2010
37 - *Haloti Ngata, (DT), Oregon - 2006
37 - *Vernon Gholston, (DE), Ohio State - 2008
37 - Jake Long, (OT), Michigan - 2008
37 - *Wayne Hunter, (OT), Hawaii - 2003
37 - Terrance Taylor, (DT), Michigan - 2009
Fastest 20-yard Shuttle Times (2000-2012)
Best time -- Player, (Pos), School -- Year
3.73 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
3.75 - Dunta Robinson, (CB), South Carolina - 2004
3.76 - Deion Branch, (WR), Louisville - 2002
3.82 - Dante' Hall, (RB), Texas A&M - 2000
3.82 - Carlos Rogers, (CB), Auburn - 2005
3.83 - Kevin Bentley, (OLB), Northwestern - 2002
3.83 - Terence Newman, (CB), Kansas State - 2003
3.83 - Jason Allen, (FS), Tennessee - 2006
3.84 - Justin Beriault, (FS), Ball State - 2005
3.84 - Troy Walters, (WR), Stanford - 2000
3.85 - Rashad Holman, (CB), Louisville - 2001
3.86 - Jason Hebert, (FS), Rice - 2002
3.87 - Randy Fasani, (QB), Stanford - 2002
3.87 - Coy Wire, (SS), Stanford - 2002
3.88 - Ryan Tolhurst, (WR), Richmond - 2002
3.88 - Kevin Curtis, (FS), Texas Tech - 2002
3.88 - Joey Thomas, (CB), Montana State - 2004
3.88 - Kendrick Starling, (WR), San Jose State - 2004
3.88 - Jeff Shoate, (CB), San Diego State - 2004
3.88 - Austin Pettis, (WR), Boise State - 2011
3.89 - Niko Koutouvides, (ILB), Purdue - 2004
3.89 - Charles Tillman, (CB), Louisiana-Lafayette - 2003
3.89 - Markus Curry, (CB), Michigan - 2005
3.89 - Domonique Foxworth, (CB), Maryland - 2005
3.90 - Josh McCown, (QB), Sam Houston State - 2002
Quickest 3-Cone Drill Times (2000-2012)
Best time -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
6.34 - Sedrick Curry, (CB), Texas A&M - 2000
6.42 - Jeff Maehl, (WR), Oregon - 2011
6.44 - Buster Skrine, (CB), Chattanooga - 2011
6.45 - Scott Long, (WR), Louisville - 2010
6.46 - Dane Sanzenbacher, (WR), Ohio State - 2011
6.48 - Carlos Rogers, (CB), Auburn - 2005
6.48 - Rogers Beckett, (FS), Marshall - 2000
6.48 - Terrance Toliver, (WR), LSU - 2011
6.50 - Cecil Shorts III, (WR), Mount Union - 2011
6.50 - Leon Hall, (CB), Michigan - 2007
6.50 - Chris Rainey, (RB), Florida - 2012
6.50 - Chykie Brown, (CB), Texas - 2011
6.51 - Jon McGraw, (SS), Kansas State - 2002
6.54 - *Anthony Gonzalez, (WR), Ohio State - 2007
6.54 - Trindon Holliday, (WR), LSU - 2010
6.55 - *Josh Robinson, (CB), Central Florida - 2012
6.55 - Shiloh Keo, (SS), Idaho - 2011
6.56 - Ben Taylor, (ILB), Virginia Tech - 2002
6.56 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
6.57 - Harry Douglas, (WR), Louisville - 2008
6.58 - Cody Grimm, (SS), Virginia Tech - 2010
6.58 - *Patrick Peterson, (CB), LSU - 2011
6.59 - Malcolm Jenkins, (CB), Ohio State - 2009
6.59 - Curtis Brown, (CB), Texas - 2011
6.59 - Junior Hemingway, (WR), Michigan - 2012
Highest Vertical Jump (2000-2012)
Best jump in inches -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
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46 - Gerald Sensabaugh, (FS), North Carolina - 2005
45 1/2 - Derek Wake, (OLB), Penn State - 2005
45 - Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin - 2001
45 - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
45 - *Donald Washington, (CB), Ohio State - 2009
44 - A.J. Jefferson, (CB), Fresno State - 2010
43 1/2 - Kevin Kasper, (WR), Iowa - 2001
43 1/2 - Kashif Moore, (WR), Connecticut - 2012
43 1/2 - Dustin Fox, (FS), Ohio State - 2005
43 1/2 - Dorin Dickerson, (TE), Pittsburgh - 2010
43 - *Eric Berry, (FS), Tennessee - 2010
43 - Cedric James, (WR), TCU - 2001
43 - Scott Starks, (CB), Wisconsin - 2005
43 - Darius Butler, (CB), Connecticut - 2009
42 1/2 - Nate Burleson, (WR), Nevada - 2003
42 1/2 - Brock Williams, (CB), Notre Dame - 2001
42 1/2 - Jarett Dillard, (WR), Rice - 2009
42 1/2 - Jonathan Carter, (WR), Troy - 2001
42 1/2 - Virgil Green, (TE), Nevada - 2011
42 - Trindon Holliday, (WR), LSU - 2010
42 - *Jon Baldwin, (WR), Pittsburgh - 2011
42 - Boss Bailey, (OLB), Georgia - 2003
42 - Ellis Hobbs, (CB), Iowa State - 2005
42 - Scott Fujita, (OLB), California - 2002
42 - *Vernon Davis, (TE), Maryland - 2006
Longest Broad Jump (2000-2012)
Best jump (feet,inches) -- Player (Pos), School -- Year
11'05" - Justin Fargas, (RB), Southern Cal - 2003
11'05" - Scott Starks, (CB), Wisconsin - 2005
11'04" - Chris McKenzie, (CB), Arizona State - 2005
11'04" - Jerome Simpson, (WR), Coastal Carolina - 2008
11'04" - Terence Newman, (CB), Kansas State - 2003
11'03" - *Donald Washington, (CB), Ohio State - 2009
11'03" - *Julio Jones, (WR), Alabama - 2011
11'03" - Boss Bailey, (OLB), Georgia - 2003
11'03" - Hilton Alexander, (WR), Morris Brown - 2001
11'02" - Jonathan Carter, (WR), Troy - 2001
11'02" - Chris Chambers, (WR), Wisconsin - 2001
11'02" - Cedric James, (WR), TCU - 2001
11'02" - Dekoda Watson, (OLB), Florida State - 2010
11'02" - Anthony Alridge, (RB), Houston - 2008
11'02" - Carl Stewart, (FB), Auburn - 2008
11'02" - Darius Butler, (CB), Connecticut - 2009
11'01" - Pat Watkins, (FS), Florida State - 2006
11'01" - *Stephen Hill, (WR), Georgia Tech - 2012
11'01" - Gerald Sensabaugh, (FS), North Carolina - 2005
11'01" - Will Blackmon, (CB), Boston College - 2006
11'01" - *Josh Robinson, (CB), Central Florida - 2012
11'00" - *David Wilson, (RB), Virginia Tech - 2012
11'00" - *Donte Whitner, (SS), Ohio State - 2006
11'00" - Justin Beriault, (FS), Ball State - 2005
11'00" - *Antonio Cromartie, (CB), Florida State - 2006
