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Josh McCown
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Editor's note: This is the second in a series of journal entries written by Sam Houston
State QB Josh McCown, who is preparing for the upcoming NFL draft on April 20-21. In Part
2, McCown discusses his experiences at the Scouting Combine.
I am Josh McCown, current NFL prospect in the 2002 draft. This is the second account of
my preparation for the draft. Last time, I wrote about the steps I took in getting
prepared for the Senior Bowl. After a productive experience at the Senior Bowl, my focus
turned right back to getting myself physically prepared for the National Invitational Camp
in Indianapolis, better known as the NFL Combine.
As I said in the fist article, I was training in New Orleans with Kurt Hester. I was
also getting quarterback coaching from Nelson Stokley. These days were very long working
with Kurt and Coach Stokley, because they really pushed us to be in the best physical
shape possible for the Combine. Their main focus was to see us be as best-prepared as
possible, and I think we accomplished that. I was joined in New Orleans by Portland State
WR Terry Charles, Tennessee FB Will Bartholomew, Washington S Omare Lowe, Tulane P Casey
Roussel, LSU TE Robert Royal and Kansas DT Nate Dwyer.
We would work hard throughout the week, generally three times a day and throwing twice
a day. We would wake up early and begin the day with a running workout at 8 a.m. until
about 9:45 p.m. and then throw routes with receivers for another hour. After that, we
would eat lunch and be at the workout facility at 1 p.m. to start our weight training. It
would last until about 3 p.m. Some days, depending on stamina, we would go back and throw
some more routes. At 7 p.m., we would return for one last cool-down, in which we would
ride a stationary bike for 20 minutes and do some stretching before heading for the hot
and cold tubs to begin recovering.
Upon arrival at the Combine, I felt fortunate that I had been able to get the mental
aptitude tests out of the way at the Senior Bowl. I was asked to come to the Combine early
by Duke Baab, the director of the Combine. He asked me to throw for drills to help
showcase the talents of other players, such as running backs, linebackers, tight ends and
defensive backs. There were two other quarterbacks that were also brought in to do the
same thing. They were Greg Zolman from Vanderbilt and David Neill from Nevada. I really
enjoyed getting to know these guys because we had a lot of downtime and just got to hang
out in the RCA Dome where the Combine is held.
The Combine is a very tedious process with a lot of time-consuming, repetitive
processes, such as physicals and interviews. We arrived with the offensive linemen and
running backs, which is the first group to arrive at the Combine. After checking into the
hotel, we immediately visited the hospital for medical exams and X-rays. Those tests
lasted two or three hours, and then we came back to complete the Cybex testing. Cybex is a
leg-extension machine that tests your hamstrings and knees for strength. This test is so
rigorous that it is rumored to have an effect on your legs during running drills such as
the 40-yard dash. I really did not feel the effects of it, and I really think they give
you plenty of time to recover to where it does not make a difference. Once the Cybex
testing is complete, they give you an index card listing every team that wants to set up
an appointment to meet with you. From that point, you begin interviewing with teams.
For the standard player, the interviews can get piled up, but for us three quarterbacks
that had an extended stay, we had four nights to take care of them, as opposed to one or
two. The interviews are very important because you want to present yourself in a way that
a team can feel confident about your character as well as your knowledge of the game.
These interviews are very redundant, but you have to treat each one differently. They ask
you many personal questions as well as some football-related questions. For example,
quarterbacks would be asked to draw up routes and concepts in our offenses. It’s just
a way for teams to make sure you know the game and understand what you are trying to do
within your own offense.
The workout was fun, although it seemed like it was never going to happen for us three
quarterbacks. Finally, Sunday came, and we were tested. The first test involves some
stretching, which obviously tests flexibility as well as prepares you for the 40-yard
dash. The 40 is the first major test, and probably in many minds, the most important.
There were 14 quarterbacks, and we were numbered in alphabetical order and split into two
groups of seven. I was in the second group and ran second. I felt really prepared, so I
was not nervous. It is just running. Either you can do it or you can’t. I ran in the
4.5’s on a hand-held clock and 4.60 on the electronic, so I was pleased with my
results. The other tests consisted of the three-cone drill, pro agility, standing broad
jump and vertical. I feel like I tested well in these also. My goal in the vertical was to
jump 40 inches. I reached 38 1/2, which is still very good, but it was the only test where
I did not reach my goal.
The last part of the workout involved throwing, which was my favorite part, although I
did not throw particularly great. We first threw stationary-target drills with some
footwork involved. It was all done individually. Then we went on to service the receivers
in their route-running. We stood in line and threw two balls at a time, so it is very
difficult to establish a rhythm throwing, and nobody really threw great. Everybody just
did about average, with maybe a few above.
The next day, the only thing we had left was to throw to the tight ends and defensive
backs. I threw the ball better on this day, and I threw a lot of balls. Neill and Zolman
both had to fly out early, so I was the only one left to throw to the defensive backs. In
one drill, when the defensive backs are forced to recover on a deep ball, the throw was
about 50 to 60 yards. With around 45 defensive backs and throwing to both sides, I ended
up throwing around 90 deep balls in a row. A lot of people were worried about my arm, but
it was not sore, and I was having fun. I was just glad to be able to help out the
defensive backs so they could also have the best opportunity to perform. For staying late
and helping the DBs the last day, Baab flew me home first class.
To sum it all up, the Combine was a fun experience, and I think I accomplished
everything I needed to do there. It is a good opportunity for some of the lesser-known
guys to step up and make some noise in the draft.
Part 1: Stepping out of the Division
I-AA shadow
Feature story on McCown
Q&A with McCown
Buchsbaum's scouting
report on McCown |
