Great work, Pat.
I love what Zibby told the coach, John Lott, who was conducting the bench press testing. I have grown very tired of that obnoxious jerk grandstanding every year at the Combine. He always yells "Come on Rudy" to the Notre Dame players, and while he probably has decent intentions, it really is a slap in the face to use the name of a one-play walk-on to exhort a four year starter like Zibby. Hopefully the moron strength coach will remove that from his tired repetoire.
Sullivan responded to non-Latina coaching at the Senior Bowl by playing like a fifth year senior/fourth year starter should play. His forty time is abysmal, although if there is one position that truly relies on quicks and smarts rather than in-line speed, it is the center position. His bench, of course, is beyond atrocious, especially considering Zibby completed 4 more reps while weighing about 100 pounds less.
Obviously, Laws and Zibby are hard workers, and they performed well at the Combine. Carlson probably was suffering from the aforementioned virus, and should be able to get his 40 time down an entire tenth of a second, while finding 5 more reps on the bench. A fifth year senior tight end of his size and caliber should be stronger than he showed, and Bozo Mendoza's program should get all of the blame if Carlson, a notoriously conscientious worker, continues to exhibit subpar strength at the on-campus pro day. He should be a huge star at the next level, and some team will probably get a "steal" when drafting him. I wouldn't be surprised if Bill Parcells and Company make him a Dolphin sooner than either Mayock or Kiper expect him to go.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 8:50 am | #

Good stuff as usual Voice.

I love how the first knock on T Laws is always his height, yet he measured taller than Sedrick Ellis at the combine.
Tony Spilotro | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:40 am | #

I just shake my head in disgust when I see Sully's numbers at the combine. Mendoza is a complete fraud.
true2nd | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:47 am | #

I think you somehow overlooked by numbers, Pat:

40 dash: 5.23
225lb bench: .5 (the "down" half)
Vert. jump: 18"
Domer Guy | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:58 am | #

PS - I blame Mendoza for my performance as well.
Domer Guy | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:59 am | #

I figured out the problem with our strength training -- all of our guys must be working out with the basketball team. Notice the one category everyone excelled at was vertical jump. Who know, maybe we would have won the free throw shooting contest too.
JM | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 12:24 pm | #

IIRC, when Mendoza was brought in, he stressed moving from the brute strength approach of his predecessor to stressing explosiveness instead, prescribing a number of Olympic-style lifts as part of the players' routines. The relatively poor bench press numbers but strong vertical jump and shuttle times may be a reflection of that.

(Except, of course, for Laws who kicked ass at everything -- arguably because he found his own strength coach to prepare for the Combine.)
Lujack City | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 12:30 pm | #

That's basically the premise of my next post Lujack City.

To me, the bench numbers aren't a reflection of lack of effectiveness as much as a sign of what is emphasized and what is not in the training. It is that good thing? I think we could argue either way.

It would be interesting to find out where certain players were starting from in order to see their development at ND.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 1:07 pm | #

Lujack,

Interesting approach by Mendoza, but it sure doesn't seem to be working for the OL. I think I would rather have some guys who just run over the DL.
JM | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 1:57 pm | #

Ahh, just saw your comment Pat. I will be looking forward to that post.
JM | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 1:59 pm | #

Is that the same strength coach who repeatedly called Brady Quinn "sunshine" last year during the combine?

I think he means well. He's trying to verbally goad them into achieving some extra push.

(At least he didn't hum that USC march song that haunts my dreams and probably keeps Tom awake at night.)

In any case, if Zbikowski told me to stop calling him something, I would definitely stop calling him that thing.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 2:02 pm | #

From Trevor's blog...

Funny thing happened as I was doing that...the dude that was counting and helping with the bench started getting into it too...and started yelling at me "show em what you got!!", then he pulls out "show em what you got WOLFMAN! Show em WOLF!"...I was like WHAT?

I believe his line to Brady last year was "If you're going be a bear, be a grizzly!"
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 2:40 pm | #

Yes, I remember that grizzly line, too. But I could have sworn I remember him sneaking in a few 'Sunshines' as well.

I assume the thought process is, "How do I get rile up this kid. Hmm...he sure is perty. I'm gonna call him...Sunshine."

Frankly, I wish he was my personal trainer. I think he could get more one hundred and forty-five pound presses out of me than my current trainer, Mr. Joshua -Tree- on- the- Cassette-Walkman does.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 3:36 pm | #

If there is one thing I've learned the last four years of ND football....you never count Zibby out, ever.
shaun | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 3:58 pm | #

Does the Notre Dame Pro-Day follow the same protocols as the NFL Combine? To include interviews and medical reviews? Is it limited to 4th and 5th year seniors, or can former Notre Dame undrafted or unsigned free agents be included or invited? Do all major schools have a Pro-day if they have sufficient candidates who were not selected to attend the Combine? Thanks.
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 5:14 pm | #

Pat, I don't think that the 225 pound bench press rep-to-failure test is administered for anything other than NFL scouting assessments. Therefore I would be surprised if there is any data to compare in order to determine a player's progress over the course of their career. High School combines use the 185 pound rep-to-failure test, and lots of kids never attend one of those, especially blue chippers with nothing to gain.
Generally, players never really start practicing repping out at 225 until about a month or so before they are going to be tested because there is absolutely no point in it. In order to achieve one's best score the test has to be taken while completely "fresh" (not at the end of a workout), and since repping to failure causes exhaustion, due to lactic acid build-up in the pecs and triceps, any decent subsequent workput is pretty much out of the question. Plus, practice is not really going to help make a person better when they perform the test. That's why it is a good test of strength. It basically exposes who's been naughty (slacking off for one's college career)) or nice (busting their ass in the weightroom). The NFL knows that a player can't get serious about improving their strength at the last minute and still perform this test well. To do well, a player needs to already be strong, as well as comfortable handling free weights, which are inherently better as a foundation for building power, mass, balance, and control.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 6:10 pm | #

Subway. I can only help answer one of your questions regarding who ND allows to participate in pro day. Last year, Matt Shelton participated after having been placed on injured reserve by the Patriots the year before and eventually cut. I assume that its up the Charlie who will be invited back but, in the case of Shelton, I think Charlie wanted him there to help field his share of
the 50 or so rapid succession passes that Brady threw.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 6:58 pm | #

Are you Kidding me. A 250+ lineman only lifting 225 for 21 (at a division 1 school, and a 5th year senior to boot)? No wonder why he was getting 'bull rushed' during the season. That is just horrible.

Like to see Zibby try LB.
wd3 | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 7:17 pm | #

Pat and Joe Subway,

What movie does the quote "If yo gonna be a bear, be a grizzly" come from?
T | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:16 pm | #

...it would be interesting to see which of the players that opted for ND during the years that willingham was head coach actually were "recruited" by willingham or were "signed" on by willingham...

...a nuance that the unwavering "dave" and 'lush" will undoubtedly need assistance understanding...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:40 pm | #

...shaun...did you see the 2006 season?...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 10:42 pm | #

...ur sine is what?...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 03.03.08 - 11:40 pm | #

T:

The Cannonball Run.
OC mj | Email | Homepage | 03.04.08 - 1:21 am | #

Voice - I realize high school kids don't test on 225 rep to failure. But I'm sure schools test their freshmen in some manner when they arrive to get a baseline on their strength levels.

I was just saying that in general, it would be nice to have actual strength gain facts to bring to this discussion. As would other information about how limited they have been in working out.

For example, Sullivan missed at least one spring practice session due to shoulder injuries. Have those injuries limited his bench work over the years? I don't know.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.04.08 - 9:31 am | #

I did not know that the bear line was from a movie, and a great one at that.

Nice one by Coach Lott.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 03.04.08 - 9:43 am | #

I didn't know if anyone else had memorized The Cannonball Run lines in college. Ah, those moments of watchin movies and playin techmobowl sure were better than gettin chewed viewing game film during practice.

That's alright, I always wanted to be...

Captain USA!
T | Email | Homepage | 03.04.08 - 1:09 pm | #

Pat,
I believe that most schools still test their players when they report for Fall Camp by having them max out in the bench press, and maybe squats. When I was at ND everyone (incoming freshmen included) had to max out in the bench, squat, and power clean when they arrived for two-a-days and just before going home when second semester ended in May. For returning players, coaches could see how hard guys worked during the Summer, and if they hit their pre-determined goals. For incoming Freshmen, the Fall camp's lifts established where they were strength-wise. Thus we were tested twice per year, in May and August.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 03.04.08 - 7:40 pm | #

....aren't strength qualifications, by definition, a part of the elusive "nasty"?...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 03.05.08 - 9:27 am | #

Strength doesnt necessarily equate to nqsty. Nasty is qn qttitude, has nothing to do with strength. Have seen a lot of big strong guys get run over by someone with a nasty attitude. Michael Stonebreaker comes to mind as does George Streeter and Brandy Wells. Zorich was nasty because of his upbringing, strong too. Don't equate strength with nasty, you may be disappointed once again.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 03.05.08 - 12:09 pm | #

...amazing answer "doug"...your next question..."how many offensive linemen can fit on the head of a pin?..."
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 03.06.08 - 12:29 am | #

Jim, you should come up with some true insight. Or go cheer for your beloved Trojans.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 03.06.08 - 6:59 am | #