View Full Version : 40 time / short shuttle ratios

03-12-2005, 06:18 PM
Browsing the combine reviews, I came upon something interesting.

One of the most important number comparisions to review when it comes to defensive backs, or linebackers in the 3-4, is their ratio of 40-times to short shuttle times, as if a player's short shuttle should be more than .04 seconds faster than his 40-time, as that means he has both very good straight-line speed, but also excellent agility and movement skills. Example, if a player runs a 4.5 in the 40 than he should run about 4.10 in the short shuttle, so if a player runs a 4.6 in the 40, but then runs a 4.00 short shuttle it means he has better quickness than straight-line speed, while a player that runs a 4.55 in the 40, but runs 4.20 in the short shuttle it means he has good straight-line speed, but struggles when it comes time to change direction, which is just as important if not more when playing behind the line.

The folks at NFL Sirius radio mentioned that Capers was traveling to Wisconsin to see Erasmus James work out, also mentioning that James' had the best 40/short shuttle ratio of the combine.

Do any of the combine threads have statistics of these ratios?

03-12-2005, 08:24 PM
That's interesting. David Pollack had similar times as James in the 40 yard dash, but I thought David Pollack had better times in the shuttle drills. If true, it would mean that he had a better ratio, wouldn't it?

03-14-2005, 08:25 PM
this has nothing to do with ratios, but where does nfl.com get their unoffical 40 times from the pro days? i read a diary by antrel and he said some teams told him they had him at between 4.37 and 4.45. i know they have their own stop watch, but just curious as to what time they use.