Athlete (2002...) Brandon Cox

[rhineaux]

_ I felt the same way... gee, a bulldozer doesn't do so well in the 40 either. I heard Fox Sports talking about it and they say that it is one of many tests of a lineman's overall mobility. It can assess how quickly he gets off the snap and maintains his position. I can see it to an extent. I am sure there are big men who cannot do a good 40, but get the job done, and visa versa.

I don't think the issue is that smaller, faster lineman are in vogue. There are simply more big men with both size and speed to choose from, and the right combination rules. _

They are right about it being a good representative of how fast you come off of the ball. For a lot of guys, they could add (or actually subtract) a few tenths of seconds off of their 40 times if they didn't ahve to start the race from a set position, i.e. if you let them get a 5-10 yard head start, start timing once they pass the '0' yard mark, and then stop at the 40 yd mark. reason being is that most big guys start slow. They come off the blocks not pushing out like trained sprinters, but more or less standing up. once they get going, they can move pretty good. but the slow start shows that the guy is that much slower coming off the ball, that much slower than the guy he needs to block, etc. If a tackle has to move up field and block a LB, who is already moving around a little bit, and is already probably a few steps faster in the 40, then coming off the ball slow, is not a good thing.

[RaginDave]

I know there was a lot of talk about Brandon signing with the Bears, but I have not heard anything else and he is not listed on any NFL rosters. Any word, on what is going on with him??????

[Turbine]

I could be totally off on this but it is my understandng that Brandon is being given a mini camp tryout with the Bears but is not under contract.

I don't know how that works. I hope they get to see the real Brandon Cox.

[cajunvbmom]

A very reliable source told me today that the Bears organization did in fact look at Brandon Cox however they did not sign him. My source will see if he can get details.