By Wes Bunting
Posted March 11, 2009 Email to a Friend Print This ShareThisBehind The Times: The 10 Yard Split
FROM WES BUNTING:
One of the biggest misconceptions that emerge from the NFL Combine each year is the importance of 40-yard dash times. The 40 is the considered the glamour event of the Combine, and every year NFL executives, scouts, draftniks and fans (including me) get carried away by some of the mind-boggling times. This often puts too much value on a player’s ability to run fast more than it does his pure football talent. Am I saying that the testing at the Combine isn’t important? No, but the test needs to be evaluated more from a football-related standpoint.
One of the most important and consistently overlooked measurements at the Combine is the first 10 yards of the 40, known as the 10-yard split. This is simply a measurement to see how fast a prospect can cover 10 yards. It’s great to see how fast someone can run 40 yards, but how often in an NFL game are players required to cover that distance on one play? A more reasonable measurement, and a better indicator of “football speed,” is 10 yards.
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Note: NFL Combine times as a whole have gone down dramatically each of the past couple of years, so the most relevant times are those from the past three years.
A “Great” 10-Yard Split Time (1.55 seconds and under)
Cliff Avril, Lions: 1.50 (2008)
Chris Long, Rams: 1.53 (2008)
A “Good” 10-Yard Split Time (1.56-159)
Gaines Adams, Buccaneers: 1.58 (2007)
Derrick Harvey, Jaguars: 1.59 (2008)
An “Average” 10-Yard Split Time (1.6-1.62)
Kamerion Wimbley, Browns: 1.6 (2006)
Bruce Davis, Steelers: 1.62 (2008)
Below Average 10-Yard Split Times (1.63-1.69)
Charles Johnson, Panthers: 1.63 (2007)
Anthony Spencer, Cowboys: 1.64 (2007)
With an eye toward the 2009 draft class, we can now rank the nation’s top pass rushing DE/OLB hybrids according to their 10-yard split times and break down what each time means.
1. Clay Matthews, USC (6-3, 240), 10-yard split: 1.49
Matthews made the jaws of a couple scouts drop after he posted a time of 1.49 seconds in his 10-yard split. To put it into perspective, only nine cornerbacks at the Combine ran faster. Matthews obviously possesses an explosive first step and gets up to speed very quickly. He’s proven he has the burst to rush off the edge, which is one reason he’s considered among the nation’s top 3-4 outside linebacker prospects.
2. Aaron Maybin, Penn State (6-4, 249), 10-yard split: 1.55
It’s obvious on tape that Maybin possesses an explosive first step off the edge. However, what makes him even tougher to block is his ability to consistently be the first defensive lineman moving off the snap and consistently firing off the ball on time. Maybin didn’t have the 40 time many expected (4.79), but his 10-yard split proved he has the first step to reach the edge.
3. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati (6-4, 256), 10-yard split: 1.57
His 4.59 40 time got all the attention, but Barwin’s ability to coil up in his stance and fire off the ball will make him a success in the NFL. He’s a gifted athlete who has the motor and burst to get after the quarterback. However, his 1.57 split proves he has the first-step explosion to make things happen as a down defensive end.
4. Everette Brown, Florida State (6-2, 256), 10-yard split: 1.58
Brown measured in a bit shorter than expected at the Combine but ran well, even though I expected his split to be a bit faster. However, Brown plays so low that it’s tough for offensive tackles to get a good punch on him. Brown isn’t just a straight-line athlete; his ability to bend and dip around the edge coupled with his burst allows him to create a lot of havoc versus the pass.
5. Clint Sintim, Virginia (6-3, 256), 10-yard split: 1.59
Sintim displays impressive get-off speed for his size and showcases good explosion from a two-point stance. There isn’t much flash to his game, but he has enough burst to be a solid contributor off the edge and get after the passer.
6. Larry English, Northern Illinois (6-2, 255), 10-yard split: 1.64
I worried about English’s ability to coil up and fire out of his stance on film, and his time confirms my suspicions. He consistently comes off the ball too high for my liking, and I don’t think he has the burst to be successful as a pass rushing defensive end. English needs to stand up in a two-point stance to be effective, but his 4.82 40 time doesn’t do much for teams concerned about his ability to play in space.
Overall, the 10-yard split is simply another tool to help scouts determine the caliber of player they’re evaluating. Now, I would not consider the 10-yard split to be the end all of evaluations for pass rushers because there are always expectations and other athletic tests to help evaluate them (short shuttle and three-cone drills). However, when scouting pass rushers, I think it’s critical to put more weight on the 10-yard split than a more attractive 40-yard time.
