PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Former NFL general manager and Steelers front-office executive Doug Whaley has worked numerous NFL Combines. He believes there is still value in it even though many NFL teams are not bringing a full staff compliment.
Whaley said during his weekly segment on 'The Fan Morning Show' the Combine is important for the consistent medical reports (guys examined by same doctors) and the interviews.
It's also an opportunity to get to know more about the players. Whaley said you will watch film with these star college athletes and even when you know the reasons for why plays worked or didn't, you want to see how they explain it. Do they take ownership for mistakes? Are they constantly blaming others? Do they fully understand why a play was successful or not? What was a better option?
There is also inside information teams get from their contacts at colleges. It could be personal, relationships with coaches and teammates, classroom work. How do the players react when confronted by issues they probably didn't know you knew about?
"How is he going to respond when he is uncomfortable," Whaley said on 93.7 The Fan.
He remembered one instance in a 15-minute interview with a defensive end prospect at the NFL Combine. This unnamed player has gone on to have a long career in the NFL. Whaley said they were talking football and the question came up, 'what do you love about making a sack'?
"The sack is better than having sex," Whaley recalled. "Then you know this guy really loves ball."
The information gathering begins a year out of when a player is eligible for the Draft. NFL scouts will visit college training camps, then study their play in the season, all-star games, NFL Combine, Pro Days and team interviews.
Those team interviews are critical. They are an expansion of the short time they get in Indianapolis and while they do go over a lot of football. Teams use this time to test the players.
"We would go to a dinner with scouts and if coaches are there, we'd say we are not talking football," Whaley told Colin Dunlap and Chris Mack. "We had this restaurant where we wanted to make sure we had very attractive servers. We also every once and a while, wanted them to mess up an order."
"I wanted to see how they responded. Were they respectful. Were they downgrading to the servers? How did they intermingle with the opposite sex, especially an attractive person that is serving you? The last part of it, we'd ask for your Pandora station."
"We wanted to know what they are like off the field, outside of the building. Get them in the most comfortable setting and see truly what they bring to our team."
All of this doesn't mean there isn't any value to the on-field work. Whaley said there are a few drills he would focus on—broad jump and vertical jump. The reason for those two, they are both about explosiveness.
"This game, and most sports, are all about your core, your hips and your explosion," Whaley told 'The Fan Morning Show'. "Think about the majority of sports you play, that is where your hay is made, your lower body."
Rarely has a player climbed or dropped significantly because of an NFL Combine or Pro Day performance. What it does do is help you stack players or provide tie-breakers when you have similar grades.
Whaley admits about 70% of what is said by NFL general managers and coaches publicly right now is to throw people off the scent. Not full out lying, but why would you give away what you are going to do?
There is something else often accomplished at the NFL Combine that has nothing to do with rookie players. Whaley says it's a great opportunity for representatives from NFL teams to meet with agents, often those who also represent free agents.
It allows you to lay the groundwork for potential deals with that part of the NFL calendar happening in less than two weeks. It would give you an idea of what players make sense or maybe which ones you have no chance with so you can maximize your time when the free agency clock starts.
Corners Wanted
The attention, and understandably so, around the Steelers is all about the quarterbacks. The next position you often hear is offensive tackle. Whaley said the Steelers need to answer their questions at cornerback, whether free agency or in the draft.
"Look at who we have to beat to win the division," Whaley said. "The Bengals. Name me our starting corners right now?"
"Everyone is talking about a tackle, they survived and the offensive line is going to be another year better. No one is talking about corners. I'm telling you, who is going to cover Ja'Marr Chase."
Regardless of past failures at cornerback in recent drafts, Whaley said it has to be a focus. If there is fear of their talent evaluation of college corners, bring in free agents.
Then make sure you save room to lock up safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a long-term deal.
A lot for the Steelers to accomplish in a critical off-season where the man leading it won't be in charge for the 2022 season.
