R.J. Oliver's NFL Draft Diary -- April 10, 2006
- R.J. Oliver's NFL Draft Diary
- April 10, 2006
It felt good to finally get back on the field running football drills. I was only able to do lifting and jumping drills for Arizona State’s first pro day, but for the Sun Devils’ second pro day on March 29, I was able to do the running drills the NFL teams and scouts want to grade.
They timed me in the 40-yard sprint, the cone drills and the pro agility drill.
My time for 40 was in the 4.5s, which is about what I expected to run. Normally, I wouldn’t be happy with a 4.5, but since I’m still rehabbing, I’m hoping it shows the scouts that my rehab is progressing on track.
I’ll be ready for the start of mini-camps and training camp. My foot felt good on all my breaks. I just have to keep working.
A 4.5 time is still fast for most cornerbacks. When I’m fully fit, I can run in the high 4.3s or low 4.4s. Only about 10 percent of the cornerbacks can run in the 4.3s. That’s something I’m hoping the teams and scouts take into account when they grade my March 29 workout.
The cone drill is to test your for your quickness and explosiveness. The scouts want to see how quick you are at coming out of breaks and changing directions. They place three cones in an L shape and you have run five down and back loops.
The pro agility drill, sometimes called the short shadow, is another test of your quickness. You run five yards to your right, 10 yards to your left and five yards to your right.
There isn’t much more for me to do between now and until NFL Draft Day April 29-30.My agent, Kris King, sent off my numbers to the teams and now we’re waiting for feedback. He also talks to teams.
The one thing we want teams to know is that although I had some bad luck with injuries the last couple years of my college career, if you look at my entire high school and college career you’ll realize I’m not an injury-prone athlete. I want teams to know my body will hold up.
At this point, you really don’t know anything unless you’re projected as a high first-round draft pick. And even they can’t be sure where in the first round they’ll get drafted.
For people in my situation, it’s just a waiting game. You have to stay patient and see what team likes what they see in you.
A guy like me has to remember it takes just one team that likes what they see in me and I can fit in on their roster.
That team might feel like they’re taking a chance on me, but I can promise the front office, the coaches, the veterans and the fans that they’ll get from me everything I’ve got in me to reach my dream of playing in the NFL.
