Orlando Brown nearly set a 40-yard dash record on Friday at the NFL Combine. Not the good kind.
Brown, considered the best offensive tackle prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft ran an unofficial 5.86 40-yard dash time, which NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock called "a historically bad time."
It, in fact, was a really horrible time. The fifth most horrible time at the NFL Combine since 2003. Unfortunately for Brown, the internet provides receipts.
It's been a bad two days for Brown. The latest HERO Sports Mock Draft had him going 16th to Baltimore in the first round before the Combine. On Thursday he blamed a putrid 14-rep bench press test on his inability to push breath in and out of his lungs.
"I didn't stick to my breathing routine, said Brown. "That's the lowest I have ever done, and I'll redo it at my pro day."
While taking a mulligan on the bench press that many high school linebackers can do is probably a good idea, what is the importance of the 40 and why should his time concern anyone?
Yes it was a really bad 40 time. One could have probably made a run to the fridge,–provided its proximity was nearby–opened said fridge, unopen a beverage of sorts, run back to the couch–or viewing area–and still witness the completion of Brown's run. After it was complete, you could hear an audible "ugh" from Rich Eisen.
The internet and Twittersphere was set ablaze by his 24 hours performance.
Someone needs to explain, however, why 6-7 300-plus grown men are running 40-yard dashes. What possible metric could this provide to decide whether or not Brown will able to fire off his stance to prevent the likes of Von Miller, JJ Watt or Khalil Mack from swallowing up the blindside of the franchise quarterback?
When's the last time you witnessed an offensive lineman being forced to run 40 yards down the field during a game when not pretending to chase an interception being returned for a touchdown?
Asking a lineman to run 40 yards is like asking Usain Bolt to run a marathon. Forcing an o-lineman to be timed running 40 yards is like forcing Sam Darnold to enter a hot dog eating contest. Cornerstone offensive linemen like Brown are not going to be on special teams, chasing guys nearly half their weight all over the field in a feeble Wylie Coyote impersonation.
If they do run farther than 5 yards, it's because they are absolutely dominating their defender into retirement and even then, no coach is going to say, "Geez, Orlando, that was nice, but do you think you could block that defensive end into the safety a little faster?"
No.
Unless the NFL is bringing back the fumblerooski
I doubt anyone in the NFL is taking one out of the Varsity Blues playbook.
There should be more apt tests for these monsters of mayhem.Have an offensive lineman hold on to a yoga ball with a defensive lineman positioned across from him armed with a yoga ball as well and see who gets pushed back the farthest.
While this exercise may seem to have little to nothing to do with football, neither does a lineman's ability to clock a fast 40 time have anything to do with his ability to block. Money says Brown would ace this test, however, and he wouldn't have to focus on his breathing to prove it.
