Offseason? No Such Thing as the NFL Combine Begins

The National Football League Combine begins this week in Indianapolis and for those of you desperate for some football you’re about to get your wish. While this isn’t competitive football, it is highly competitive as every player there seeks to improve his draft position. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s business as usual with one exception. They are in need of someone to play the most important position on the field yet this combine probably doesn’t have that person.

The Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 27 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET): Defensive linemen, linebackers
Friday, Feb. 28 (3 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET): Defensive backs, tight ends
Saturday, March 1 (1 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET): Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs
Sunday, March 2 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET): Offensive linemen

Anyone suggesting the Steelers will pay “more attention” to one day versus others doesn’t understand the process. They will do their due diligence on every position and every player that fits what they’re looking for with little prejudice. Will they talk to more quarterbacks than usual? Maybe but that doesn’t mean they won’t talk to outside linebackers or tight ends where they seem quite happy at the moment.

It’s important to remember that the interviews and the scouting aren’t just about the Draft. They are also about the future. There will be plenty of guys who the Steelers love yet won’t be able to draft. But… if they ever become available then you have plenty of information to base things on.

The Combine is far more than what we see taking place on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium. There are medical checks in which players will literally be checked out head to toe. Previous injuries are evaluated and there are even mental health evaluations too. Players are literally under a microscope and with everything they will go through the most important part of the whole week may be the interviews.

These used to consist of some fairly basic questions. Now? These are in-depth and insightful queries into the mind and personality of each player. There’s more than just stuff about the game and on-field situations. Players will be asked about their families, childhoods, failures and successes as people, not just as football players. When this week ends, players will be as exhausted mentally as much as physically.

For those of us watching it will be an opportunity to evaluate for ourselves who increased their stock and who didn’t. More importantly who do we feel increased their chances of becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler.