The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is in full swing, with the first group of prospects hitting the field for position drills on Friday. That group included special teamers, offensive linemen and tight ends. Saturday’s group features quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs.
NFL Combine 2015: Running back drills
The off-tackle drill is the most important position-specific drill for running backs at the NFL Combine.
That group arrived in Indianapolis on Wednesday and has gone through medical examinations, interviews, measurements and the bench press. Thirty-six of those players in action on Saturday are running backs, including big names like Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley and Duke Johnson.
But what kind of drills will they be going through? First, the running backs will go through the usual drills that most players experience, including the 3-cone drill, 40-yard dash, shuttle run, vertical jump and broad jump. But there’s also some drills that only the running backs take part in.
The main drill is the off-tackle drill, which starts with a running back taking the hand-off from a coach, and from there moving quickly over a series of bags on the ground. He has to get his knees up high enough with each step and keep his eyes straight ahead when doing this drill. At the end of the bags is a coach holding a bag, and he’ll lean the bag either left or right. The back has to cut in the opposite direction of the bag before turning upfield to finish.
You can find a nice demonstration of this drill at NFL.com, featuring Mike Mayock.
Players to watch
Ameer Abdullah: While Abdullah is noted for being under-sized, he’s got the college production to back him up and he’ll be looking forward to putting up a top tier showing at the combine. He put up 3,301 yards and 28 touchdowns in his final two seasons with the Huskers, and how he performs everywhere will be huge to where he’s drafted. He’s not expected to be a burner in the 40 yard dash, but if he exceeds expectations there it could push him up far in the NFL Draft.
Melvin Gordon: The value of running backs is all over the place in the NFL today, but if any back is considered likely to go in the first round, it’s Wisconsin’s Gordon. He put up 2,587 yards in 2014, the second most in FBS history. He’s a solid all-round back who needs a decent showing everywhere to keep his name at the top of the list.
T.J. Yeldon: The Alabama back is 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds ... he’s quick for his size, but nobody is quite sure what his top-line speed will be. The 40-yard dash will be the most important thing for him, and it could decide whether he’s one of the top three backs taken in the draft or if he falls out of the top five.
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