Blue 88: 40-yd dash most important to WR, DB

Seahawks WR Golden Tate reportedly ran a 4.42 at last year’s Combine. (AP)

In Tuesday’s Blue 88, Brock Huard explained why the 40-yard dash is so important in evaluating NFL prospects and how a good or bad time can affect the draft stock of some position groups more so than others:

“Not only is it a good measurement, obviously, of the speed and explosion and the athleticism, more importantly it compares you to everybody else. You’re on the same turf. You’re in the same environment with the same clocks. It just gives all of those evaluators the same opportunity to stack you up amongst your peers…

“Really for two position groups more than anybody else. Offensive line and defensive line, not necessarily. Heck, even linebacker. Remember the linebacker from Florida last year (Brandon Spikes) that ran a 5.1 40 at the Combine? Still drafted by the Patriots in the second round and is going to be a very productive player. But for two position groups, your corners and your receivers, it’s incredibly critical that you go out there and you perform amongst your peers at a high level…

“Prince Amukamara in particular – the corner out of Nebraska – if he goes out and he runs a 4.4, he’s going to be a bona fide top-15 pick. If he goes out and runs a 4.6, well all of the sudden some red flags and some real concerns come out. So that 40-yard dash for those corners and receivers is just incredibly important to their draft status.”

Brock also discussed how Cam Newton could be the first pick in April’s draft and why UW students shouldn’t over react to the university’s plans to relocate their seats once Husky Stadium is renovated. You can listen to Blue 88 here.