I was channel surfing last evening and came upon a program
called ”Road to the Draft” on the NFL channel. The commentators were talking
about and showing video clips of the Pro days (AKA – Meat Auction) at USC and
University of Texas. They showed five players running the forty yard dash and two pulled
hamstrings. What is wrong with this picture? How many of these guys went to
draft preparation gurus for a quick fix? You have to wonder. How many were
doing the Ham/Glute raise in their training? How much did any of them work on
top end speed where you are most likely to pull a hamstring? The USC players were
terrible on the vaunted Three Cone “agility” test. What does that mean? It was interesting
looking at the muscular development of these guys. Hamstring “posterior chain” obviously
had been emphasized. Big bulky shotened hamstrings, when what you want is long & lean, like
Usain Bolt. Remember hamstring function and architecture. One of the
commentators talked about the ability to bend the knees and play low. Why not
have them do Jim Radcliffe’s Oregon Sway drill and do the ankle range test from
Kelvin Giles PCA book, in about two minutes you will have many answers about where and why they bend the way they do. I know
this sounds like I have all the answers, no way, seeing exhibitions like this
lead me to question conventional wisdom more each day. One thing I do know is
that is the sheep walking mentality where they all follow the flock and keep perpetuating
myths about performance is alive and well.
2 Comments
Ken Vick
There is a huge problem that is being perpetuated by the “Combine Gurus”. I can tell you that first hand because I have been lumped in this category. I had 5 athletes at those schools yesterday including one Texas pulled hamstring.
As for that individual, he went back home after the combine a month ago and I expect there are training reasons that may have contributed to that problem.
There are various clips of the athletes training with us on the networks, and I cringe at times, because they are all shown with no context as to who, when or why. I got a call from someone I knew after they saw a clip with one of my QBs doing hang power cleans with 4 whites on each side. I had to explain I dont have him do those at all right now, it was staged with the camera people when I was off somewhere else.
The combine tests are often a joke for evaluating either a players football skill or their physical abilities. I know this and we try to balance training in a way to get the results needed on these tests, while addressing real needs, and educating athlete about what they will need in the future.
Unfortunately, we have a lot of “trainers” who want to do this high profile crap. Many haven’t taken the time to learn about their field and learn how to coach, while others don’t care and are pure charlitans.
It all goes back to whether or not you are a performance coach who puts their athletes first, or a trainer driven by their own ego.
Ken Vick
Forgot to mention… We often have Draft Prep players come in a freak out that they aren’t doing enough “hamstring” work. No curls, few glute/ham, etc…
Our primary “hamstring” work becomes various skips, straight leg skips/bounds, gallops, straight leg shuffles, and lunges, squats and a few good mornings, rdls.
Always laugh when they walk in and go “where’s the hamstring curl and leg extension machines?” The answer is not in here.