Packers at the Scouting Combine: ILBs must have good short-area quickness

We continue to rack up a list of physical tools that the Green Bay Packers appear to look for as we examine the current roster for their Scouting Combine results over the past several years. As we do the same for the inside linebacker position, we find that one quality among all others appears to be a primary trait that GM Ted Thompson looks for: quickness.

As measured by the 3-cone drill and shuttle drills, quickness refers more to change-of-direction and acceleration rather than pure speed. And the three inside backers on the Packers’ roster who went to the Combine came in among the best players at the position in those drills.

Although that is a trend for the players Green Bay has drafted, it even held true with the one mid-season addition to the position - Jordan Tripp.

One other interesting item in this list is that not a single one of the remaining players on the inside started his career as an outside linebacker and was moved to the interior. That transition took place with Carl Bradford, and could do so again with Clay Matthews, but all four inside backers on the roster now played there in college and began their professional careers at that position.

Blake Martinez (2016)

• Size: 6’2”, 237 lbs, 31-5/8” arms, 10-7/8” hands
• 40 time: 4.71
• Bench press: 22*
• Vertical: 28.5”
• Broad jump: 113”
• 3-cone: 6.98*
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.20*
• One interview with Tex from APC

Jake Ryan (2015)

• Size: 6’2”, 240 lbs, 31” arms, 9-3/8” hands
• 40 time: 4.65
• Bench press: 20
• Vertical: 34”
• Broad jump: 120”
• 3-cone: 7.11
• 20-yard shuttle: 4.20
• 60-yard shuttle: 11.65*

Jordan Tripp (2014)

• Size: 6’3”, 234 lbs, 30-3/4” arms, 9-5/8” hands
• 40 time: 4.67
• Bench press: 22
• Vertical: 37.5”
• Broad jump: 120”
• 3-cone: 6.89
• 20-yard shuttle: 3.96*

Not invited to Combine: Joe Thomas (2014)