Elite prospects in the bench press and the 40 tend to have m

ore NFL success than those who excel in the cone and shuttle drills." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomFiled under:Panthers 2019 NFL DraftWhen evaluating edge rushers at the combine Youth Torrey Smith Jersey , focus on the bench press and 40-yard dashNew,21commentsElite prospects in the bench press and the 40 tend to have more NFL success than those who excel in the cone and shuttle drills.ESTShareTweetShareShareWhen evaluating edge rushers at the combine, focus on the bench press and 40-yard dashMatthew Emmons-USA TODAY SportsThe Panthers have a long list of roster holes to fill and an effective pass rusher from the edge is right at the top. The NFL Combine, which is right around the corner, will tell the team a lot about the 2019 edge draft class. Utilizing data from Football Reference I did some basic data analysis to see which combine drills predict the best defensive ends and edge rushers. At a high level, I looked at combine results between 2010 and 2015 to see how elite performers in the 40-yard dash, bench press, 3-cone drill, and shuttle run went on to perform in the NFL (click the links to see the players’ names). I removed broad jump and vertical jump because they didn’t seem to be good predictors of future success. You can read this article to learn more about what each test measures.By “elite performers” I’m specifically referring to the 10 overall best performances in each event between the entire period of 2010 through 2015. Players drafted in 2016 or later were excluded because they are still relatively early in their careers. While I know this is subjective Stitched Torrey Smith Jersey , I gave each of the Top 10 performers in each drill a rating of “stud”, “starter”, “contributor”, “depth”, or “bust.” You can see the names and ratings of each player here. Here are the results:Player ratings by combine resultEventStudStarterContributorDepthBustEventStudStarterContributorDepthBustAgain, I know these ratings are subjective on my part, but it’s at least directionally correct based on what we’ve seen from each of these players throughout their careers. Based on these results, players with elite 40 times and bench press results have had much more success in their careers than the 3-cone drill and shuttle run leaders. Some of the “studs” among the Top 10 fastest 40 times include Jadeveon Clowney (4.53), Ziggy Ansah (4.56) Youth David Mayo Jersey , Danielle Hunter (4.57), and Robert Quinn (4.62). “Starters” include Nick Perry (4.55) and Alvin Dupree (4.56).The “studs” from the bench press are J.J. Watt (34 reps), Everson Griffen (32), Ryan Kerrigan (31), and Olivier Vernon (31). Nick Perry (35) is the only “starter” as well as the only player to appear among the Top 10 for both 40 times and bench press.Impressive, Mr. Perry. Meanwhile, the “busts” among the elite 3-cone drill performers are Jake Bequette, Michael Buchanon, Jackson Jeffcoat Stitched David Mayo Jersey , and Ryan Wintersyk. The “busts” from the shuttle run also included Jeffocat and Bequette plus Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Jamie Blatnick. The only “stud” from the 3-cone drill and shuttle run was J.J. Watt. Speaking of Watt, he was also the only player to be in the Top 10 in at least three different events. He’s basically a freak of nature. As the Panthers get ready for the 2019 draft they would be wise to land a stud who can get pressure off the edge. Recent history tells us they would do well to take a hard look at players who excel in both the 40 and bench press in making this happen. Newfound stability in the front office may lead to continued success on draft day."It’s only one year in, but the Carolina Panthers’ 2018 draft class is already looking like a home run. D.J. Moore, Donte Jackson, and Ian Thomas are a promising group of young athletes who are poised to become multi-year starters at their respective positions. Hitting on three out of eight picks might not seem like a good rate, but it is far better than the Panthers have been averaging for years. Factor in that five of those picks were in the fourth round or later, which are more akin to lottery tickets, and you could say that fans have every reason to be happy with the 2018 draft.Some of you are going to complain about Rashaan Gaulden here. Some of you should let that go. For one thing, the jury is still out on him Youth Greg Van Roten Jersey , even if the evidence doesn’t favor optimism on his behalf. For another, it’s one pick in an otherwise stellar class. The Panthers could be better right now for a different pick. They aren’t and the 2018 draft is well finished by this point. There are no take backs. Let’s move on.The quality of that draft after the most tumultuous period in the history of the Carolina Panthers is a great sign of things to come. For all that we complain about general manager Marty Hurney’s draft history —his boom or bust nature is as legendary as it is terrifying— we have to acknowledge that his leadership combined with the scouting department he inherited from Dave Gettleman improved the roster from 2017 to 2018.Gettleman stole away a couple of his lieutenants after the draft, but the Panthers scouting department was not pilfered by him or other teams during the rapid changes at the higher levels of the organizations. A few guys got promotions and a few new voices were brought in, but the promising thing is that the bulk of the talent that led to last year’s draft class has been retained.Consistently good draft classes start with consistently good scouts. 2019 presents the Panthers with the opportunity to prove they have those. The draft is about projection and hope. It is the idea that there is untapped greatness both in sight and hiding under rocks, all of which is waiting for your favorite team to take advantage. It’s how some teams become good and why so few stay that way. It’s why that consistency matters.The Panthers aren’t going to draft Pro Bowlers with each of their seven picks. Every Thomas is always balanced by one or more Gauldens. The 2019 draft probably won’t propel this team to Super Bowl LIV. But another three rookies that are talented enough to win starting jobs in the NFL would be a good start. The reason behind that start will probably be Carolina’s very recent stability.