Why doesn't the NFL measure the speed & (1 Viewer)

[Red Apples]

For a league so infatuated with numbers why don’t they keep track of how hard/far a QB throws at the Combine?

All I ever hear is so & so “threw w/ zip”.

Why not put a radar gun on it or see how hard/fast these guys can throw.

Arm strength? Lets go for distance.

If we guess who is stronger by who can lift 225 pounds the most times… lets see who can throw the ball the farthest

Thoughts?

 

[cstu]

They do measure the speed at the combine. I don't know why those numbers aren't readily available, but I occasionally see them posted in articles.

 

[Construction Man Jim]

Yup. They definitely do measure BALL SPEED at the combine:

Peak MPH

Ingle Martin 61

Jay Cutler 60

Brodie Croyle 58

Tarvaris Jackson 57

D.J. Shockley 56

Bruce Eugene 55

Brad Smith 55

Drew Olson 54

Reggie McNeal 53

Erik Meyer 52

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9269912

 

[Phlash]

Marcus Vick Va. Tech 4.42

Nice

 

[diesel7982]

Marcus Vick Va. Tech 4.42

Nice

Lots of practice running from the cops.

 

[-OZ-]

They do measure the speed at the combine. I don't know why those numbers aren't readily available, but I occasionally see them posted in articles.

I'm guessing there's even less correlation between ball speed and success in the NFL than other combine skills.Considering out of the top 10, one is considered a top QB prospect, it seems scouts agree.

Peak MPH

Ingle Martin 61

Jay Cutler 60

Brodie Croyle 58

Tarvaris Jackson 57

D.J. Shockley 56

Bruce Eugene 55

Brad Smith 55

Drew Olson 54

Reggie McNeal 53

Erik Meyer 52

 

[Construction Man Jim]

I'm guessing there's even less correlation between ball speed and success in the NFL than other combine skills.Considering out of the top 10, one is considered a top QB prospect, it seems scouts agree.

Wrong and Wrong. Cutler has shot up draft boards because he has the strongest arm of the big three (Leinart and Young didn't throw at the combine). Croyle will probably be the 4th QB taken and really helped his stock by demonstrating surprising arm strength at the Sr. Bowl and Combine. Also Inge Martin is a legit sleeper (transfered from Florida to Furman) and made himself some money by showing off a live arm.

 

[-OZ-]

I'm guessing there's even less correlation between ball speed and success in the NFL than other combine skills.

Considering out of the top 10, one is considered a top QB prospect, it seems scouts agree.

Wrong and Wrong. Cutler has shot up draft boards because he has the strongest arm of the big three (Leinart and Young didn't throw at the combine). Croyle will probably be the 4th QB taken and really helped his stock by demonstrating surprising arm strength at the Sr. Bowl and Combine. Also Inge Martin is a legit sleeper (transfered from Florida to Furman) and made himself some money by showing off a live arm.

Obviously Cutler is the one I'm referring to.Will Croyle be the 4th QB taken? I'm not so sure.

A sleeper is not a top prospect.

Prove it. Show me the top QBs in this category over the past 20 years and how they've done in the NFL. I know many elite QBs have great arms, obviously. But many strong armed QBs have been busts, if they've even been drafted.

Maybe I'm the only one who values accuracy more than velocity?

EDIT - ok, this probably means more to a QB than the 225 lb. weight lifting competion or 40 time. I just want to know how much of a correlation there is.

 

[BlueOnion]

For a league so infatuated with numbers why don’t they keep track of how hard/far a QB throws at the Combine?

All I ever hear is so & so “threw w/ zip”.

Why not put a radar gun on it or see how hard/fast these guys can throw.

Arm strength? Lets go for distance.

If we guess who is stronger by who can lift 225 pounds the most times… lets see who can throw the ball the farthest

Thoughts?

I think this is a quality question; for instance measuring two things (time ball is in the air and distance traveled). Have the quarterback's throw to a target at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65 yards. The numbers would tell you how much arc a quarterback would have to put on the ball to get the ball a certain distance. This would basically translate to how much time a safety would have to read, react and converge on a potential receiver down the field.For instance, Manning throwing the ball 45 yards on a laser and Doug Flutie having to throw the ball 45 yards with a projectile path mimicing the arch of St. Louis.