If Nolen can come close to 30 reps with 27+ with a 40 time in the 4.9s, with good splits then I'm good and think he'll be fine.
If he cranks out 29-30+ reps with a a 40 in the 4.8s or lower, and good splits then I'm all in.
I've never been he'll bent on any combine drill as an indicator of a players talent whether it's a 40, split, cone drills or the bench press.
Yet the Bench Press is a usually a solid indicator of physical strength and overall work ethic. I'm usually fine is a player can fall within a status quo based on their position. Imo any ineman be it offensive linemen or interior defensive linemen should be able to put up at least 25 reps.
I start raising eyebrows at these drills when a player exceeds or falls below the norms. When any DT at 285 pounds or heavier runs a low 4.8 forty or then I'm definitely taking a closer look at that player. If that DT runs a sub 4.8 you'd be nuts not to be intrigued. For the most part though, any 1 GAP DT that runs a 40 that's in the 4.9s with good spits should be fine.
When a DT puts up 30 reps or more I definitely believe that should be taken serious. However if a DT puts up anywhere between 25-30 reps with excellent lower body strength then they should be fine. At the same time when a 300 pound NFL lineman has the upper body strength of a JV football player(Dexter/Pickens/Amegadjie) to me that's concerning.
I know there are plenty of acceptions to any norms or train of thought in a league with just under 1,700 players, yet people who claim the BP means nothing for certain positions are kidding themselves if they fail to grasp how any linemen with excellent upper body strength to work off from excellent lower body strength/anchor andna naturally low pad level has a significant one up on an opponent who is either or.
Seems like alot of Poles linemen either have the a$$ of a tank and the upper body punch of a rubber chicken or they can bench press a Cadillac and forgot there's a thing called squat day.
