SOURCE: The State

This article details the explosion of combine training programs across the United States and explores if it is worth it or not. Elitefts.com Inc is a leading provider of education and equipment to many of these facilities so there is no doubt to us that it's not only worth it but a necessity.  Here are some of the more interesting pull quotes from this article.

Agents pay upwards of $20,000 to send a player to one of dozens of pre-draft workout facilities for as many as six weeks leading to the combine. Many of the training centers are in warm-weather states like Arizona, Texas, California and Florida.

Minter, the head coach at Campbell, visited one of the newer facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo., and came away impressed. “It’s unbelievable,” he said.

Minter, the Panthers’ second-round pick in 1997 who spent his entire 10-year career with Carolina, says agents that aren’t aligned with a respected training center risk missing out on prospects.

---

“It’s all relative because they’re all getting the same benefit now. Each season it’s relevant to that season,” Baalke said. “But I think historically, when you look back and try to compare it, it’s a little more difficult because they are so much better prepared to come in now and run a good 40.”

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he’s no longer surprised when a player runs a fast 40 or rips through a quick shuttle drill.

“You have total knowledge that they are well-groomed, if you will, in the drills that are going to be run. Therefore you’re not really that surprised when they do well in them,” he said. “But the differences are still there. The times are different. The executions of the drills are different and all those things are recorded and compared.”

 

The takeaway to us is simple.  Years ago, when most of the athletes were not being prepped properly for the combine those who were could jump a few rounds based on great numbers.  Today is not the same. In today's world it has become "expected" that all athletes have been prepped so those who are not could actually drop a few rounds because of it.

The question then falls back on the recruiters and how they view this?

Do they see those who have not sought out this extra guidance and coaching  as not willing to do what it takes to be great?

Do they feel they have a poor work ethic?

One the other side of the table are the trainers and these facilities.

If you  one of these trainers are you doing your job keeping up with new technology and skills to better prepare these athletes?

Have you developed the name a reputation for agents to pay you?

Does your facility look like a facility an agent would want to pay you 20K to train one of their clients?

To read the entire article click the link below.

Explosion in NFL combine training makes teams cautious of ‘workout warriors’

We would love to know your thoughts below.

P.S. - Having been around this in one form or another for the past two decades the MOST important factor on getting recruited is still ,and will always be, the ability and potential to play the game. You can create an athlete that will DOMINATE the combine but if the kid sucks on the field he will not get picked up.