I met John Carbon online about a year ago, and three things stuck out in my mind. To start with, I don't ever want to have to coach against him; second, his grasp of the Gap-8 and his innovations for the defense are going to make him the middle school equivalent of Buddy Ryan, and third; when he makes a post on drafting, you better listen.

The last draft day that John attended sounded like an NFL combine and didn't conclude until almost four in the morning. The next time your assistants complain that your meetings are too long, let them know about the league John coaches in.

This article is reprinted by permission of Coach Carbon. The copyright on this article is held by Coach Wade in Coach Carbon's name. You may only make copies of this article for personal or team use without express written permission of the original author.

~D.

I was over at the Varsity draft and got to learn their power rating system. Seems simple and most everything is within the math.

They followed a NFL combine type system. Just wanted to show you how the NFL combines grade players.

Physical Tests & Measurements
(Kickers & Punters do not perform 40, bench, VJ or short shuttle run)

40 yard dash
The 40 yard dash is a measure of straight ahead speed. Each player is timed in the 40 yard dash twice. The best time is used for scoring purposes. Timing is done by pro scouts. This drill is filmed.

225 lb. Bench Press (we used 100LB)
The 225 pound bench press is a measure of upper body strength. Each player completes as many repetitions as possible.

20 yard Short Shuttle
The 20 yard short shuttle is a measure of quickness. Each player is timed twice, once to the left and once to the right. Both times are scored. This drill is filmed.

Vertical Jump
The vertical jump is a measure of lower body strength. The test is conducted using the VerTec measuring device. Each player jumps twice. The highest jump is scored. We used a yard stick and some common sense.

Height & Weight
Height and weight measurements determine a player's size. Height is measured to 1/8th of an inch accuracy. Weight is measured to the nearest pound.

Full Body Video Portrait
The video body portrait provides a visual image of a player's body type and build. Players are filmed from the front and back wearing shorts only. A frame capture from the video body portrait is included in each player's Online Player Profile. (we did this and it helps-I am not sure if this is legal with the youngsters)

Position Drills
Players demonstrate position skills during one-on-one drills. The offensive player in the passing drills selects his routes from a set list of choices.

All position drills are filmed and kept in the SCOUT CAMP Video Library for inclusion in custom videos requested by pro team personnel. This portion of the combine is not factored into the combine grade.

Quarterbacks
QB's are filmed in isolation performing 3,5 and 7 step drops and then throw to all RB's, TE's and WR's in the one-on-one passing drill.

Running Backs
Compete against Linebackers in man coverage during the one-on-one passing drill.

Tight Ends
Compete against Linebackers in man coverage during the one-on-one passing drill.

Wide Receivers
Compete against Defensive Backs in man coverage during the one-on-one passing drill.

Linebackers
Cover Running Backs and Tight Ends in man coverage during the one-on-one passing drill.

Defensive Backs
Cover Wide Receivers in man coverage during the one-on-one passing drill.

Lineman
All lineman are first timed in the 10yd and 20 yd dash. They then perform several cone drills to evaluate foot speed and quickness. Finally, linemen compete one-on-one during the Run Block/React drill and Pass Rush/Block Drill.

Punters
Punters perform two punting drills; the Baseline Strength Test and Random Selection Scenario Test. During the Baseline Strength Test, punters are measured for hang time, distance and get-off time on a total of six punts over two rounds. During the Random Selection Scenario Test, punters are tested on their ability to perform six different types of punts during two rounds (Direction Right, Direction Left, Deep Center, Deep Nose Over, Straight Pooch, Float Pooch). Top punters in these tests may be asked to perform additional punts.

Kickers
Kickers perform kick-offs and Field Goals. During kick-off tests, kickers will be measured for hang time, location and distance on three consecutive kicks. During FG tests, kickers will be be asked to kick 8 FG's over four rounds at randomly selected distances from 30 to 55 yards. The most successful kickers may be asked to perform additional FG's and KO's.

Grades at the regional combines are based on a 5-10 scale. The table below assigns classifications to each of the five grade ranges.

Grade Description Player Type
9.00-10 Player significantly exceeds minimum pro standard. Pro Player
8.00-8.99 Player meets or exceeds minimum pro standard. Pro Prospect
7.00-7.99 Player scores slightly below minimum pro standard. Potential Pro Prospect
6.00-6.99 Player scores below minimum pro standard. College Level Player
5.00-5.99 Player scores significantly below minimum pro standard. Below College Level

Minimum Pro Standards
For each graded category the minimum pro standard equals a grade of 8.00. Performances better than the minimum pro standard will achieve a score between 8.01 and 10.00, while performances below the minimum pro standard will fall between 7.99 and 5.00.

The tables below provide the minimum pro standards by position for each combine test.

Pos Ht Wt 40 Shuttle Bench VJ
QB 6' 1" 200 4.90 4.50 10 28
RB 5' 10" 185 4.65 4.35 12 30
FB 5' 11" 220 4.75 4.35 14 28
WR 5' 11" 180 4.65 4.29 8 30
TE 6' 2" 230 4.85 4.55 18 28
CB 5' 10" 180 4.60 4.29 10 30
S 5' 11" 190 4.70 4.29 10 30
OLB 6' 1" 220 4.80 4.50 18 28
ILB 6' 1" 230 4.85 4.50 18 28
DE 6' 2" 270 5.00 4.60 20 26
DT 6' 3" 275 5.20 4.75 24 24
NT 6' 2" 275 5.20 4.79 24 24
OG 6' 2" 275 5.15 4.79 24 24
OT 6' 3" 275 5.25 4.79 24 24
C 6' 1" 275 5.20 4.79 24 24

Grade Categories
Height and weight measurements and the results of the four physical tests determine a player's score in each the four test grades; Size, Speed, Quickness and Strength.

Size Grade is based on Height/Weight Measurements
Speed Grade is based on BEST 40 Time
Quickness Grade is based on BOTH Shuttle Times
Strength Grade is based on Bench Press AND Vertical Jump Results

The four athletic test grades are averaged to arrive at a player's Final Test Grade (FTG). Players with an FTG equal to or greater than 8.00 are Pro-Rated.

FTG is based on Average of Size, Speed, Quickness and Strength

Ok, all you have to do is apply this to youth level.

This year I will be in a very good position to win it all. I have 14 starters back from last year. I am tempted to not pick any older kids in the draft and only pick the good 12's and 13's. I have drawn up a plan that I follow every year in the draft. I make two lists, one for linemen and one for DB/backs. I then rate on speed, size and weight, and 1-5 on talent. We then take a formula that combines fact with a subjective component that takes age, weight, speed, and talent to give a rating.

Let me explain the system. I coach in the 12-14 level. These gives me 3 age levels to which we give a value. The younger kids (12}will be with us for the next three years so that has added value so we give these kids 10 points. The 13's 5 points and the 14's 0 points. We give the 14's no points because the learning curve is longer than their time at this level.

We then take the speed component and weight and divide that up to get what we call "hit power ratio". This is just the kids 40 time converted to MPH multiplied by his weight then divided by 100. So a kid that runs the 40 in 5.0 seconds and is 145LB has a ratio (16.36 mph x 145lb)/100= 23.722 This can be compared to a kid that runs the 40 in 5.0 seconds and weighs 100 pounds (16.36 mph x 100)/100= 16.36

Here comes the subjective component. Talent is something we all as coaches can see by the way the kid runs, passes, catches, his aggressiveness, and his smarts. You can make your own list but you must give it a number value. Lets say that you rate them at each of the above levels with excelent=2, good=1 and unsatisfactory=0. This means that a kid with excellent as his talent level is a 10 out of 10.

In this system we have you have 3 values to be considered. The age, the hit ratio, and the talent. So in my case this kid is a 13 so he gets 5 points and a 10 in talent. The same hit ratio as above. His rating is 5 + 23.722 + 10= 38.722 This can be compared to a 14 year old that has the same speed and talent 0 +23.722 +10= 33.722. The higher the number the most benefit you get from him.