Ohio State Football: We’ll soon see which linemen can run a ‘fast’ 40

I look forward to the NFL Combine every year to see how Ohio State football players perform but some of the drills just don’t make sense.

Many Ohio State football players have improved their draft stock over the years by putting up fast times in the 40, but why do offensive linemen and defensive tackles have to get timed in the sprint? Does it really matter if they run a 4.9 or 5.2?

We will soon find out how fast the big guys run at the NFL Combine though.

It may make sense to see how fast a defensive end can run the 40. He often will line up outside of the tackle on one hash mark and chase the ball carrier to the other sideline. But it’s rare when a 300 pound lineman on either side of the ball runs 40 yards, and when they do it’s usually in these situations.

The first one is celebrating a touchdown with a teammate, and he won’t be running full speed. Then, on occasion an offensive lineman will make a block or a DT makes a tackle 40 yards downfield, but that’s because a ball carrier was juking defenders along the way and it took him eight seconds to get that far.

Another thing, why gauge an offensive lineman’s vertical? Is that to see if he can jump high enough to block his own team’s kick if he’s on special teams? Did Ohio State lineman Michael Jordan improve his draft stock with a 32.5 vertical?

Now, why do wide receivers have to bench press?

I know receivers have to be strong enough to win the hand fighting that goes on with cornerbacks and safeties. But will pushing weights in the air prove you can do that?

What if K.J. Hill has two fewer reps than expected? Will scouts and general managers put more importance in that than his 201 receptions for 2,332 yards and 20 touchdowns during his Ohio State career?

Now don’t get me wrong, I love to see how well Buckeyes perform at the NFL Combine every year. But I do think drills players at certain positions have to go through are just plain stupid.