THE RESULTS OF THE 1ST ANNUAL
COACH ZAUNER'S COLLEGE SENIOR SPECIALISTS COMBINE
Weather Conditions:
Temperatures of 52 to 61 Degrees - Scattered Showers - Slight Breeze of 5 MPH Winds Event Started 10:00 AM Indoors and Finished 8:00 PM Outdoors
__________________________________________________
The 2010 Coach Zauner's College Senior Specialists Combine came to a close on Sunday February 21, after 2 days of unusually wet weather conditions. In fact, Sunday was about the only time the 63 kicking specialists were treated to any sunshine.
But for the most part, the kicking specialists who came to the Combine, dealt with these adverse conditions. Due to morning showers, even the snappers had to make adjustments and snap on a hardwood floor instead of a turf field.
As someone who has been teaching kicking for over 35 plus years -including 13 years as an NFL Special Teams Coordinator- I have coached and evaluated kicking specialists in various weather conditions and workout scenarios.
For me, evaluating the talent in this Combine in the midst of the inclement weather, is still evaluating talent, regardless of the weather or venue. Difficult weather conditions are simply part of the game. Those who play professional football already know this. Those aspiring to play professional football need to realize and accept it. And that is simply a fact.
However, what is most important to understand is that cloudy or rainy skies -or any weather conditions for that matter- cannot, and will not, obscure true talent. Not the kind of talent it takes to get into NFL.
I was so pleased during this event a number of kicking specialists proved their ability regardless the weather conditions. Kicking specialists who I believe have the talent to be signed as a Priority Free Agent or to be in a NFL, CFL, or UFL training camp and compete for a roster spot.
I have posted their Combine workout videos and stats to this webpage. You can view these players, thier workouts and stats here.
In addition to posting their workouts to my website, I have taken a DVD, which includes the results and a highlight video of these top specialists to the NFL Combine, and have delivered them to all 32 NFL Special Teams Coordinators. I will also give an additional copy to GM’s and Directors of College Scouting in attendance.
And for those head coaches or team representatives I do not see at the NFL Combine, I will be sending them a copy of the DVD and results. I will also be sending the DVD and results to teams and representatives of the CFL, UFL and Arena League.
The Three Levels of Evaluation:
My evaluation of the participants of this College Senior Specialists Combine was based on their performance in a competitive format. I also factored in how they handled the adverse weather conditions.
All of the specialists competed in the same weather conditions. This made it a level playing field. The weather factor also gave me the opportunity to gain insight in evaluating their ability to adjust to challenging conditions. A players’ ability to adjust to the unknown reflects the importance of the ‘mental side of the game’.
I categorized the evaluations into three Groups:
Group 1) Specialists I believe currently have the skills and talent to be in a NFL, CFL or UFL training camp and compete for a roster spot. You can view these individuals workouts and stats here.
Group 2) Specialists I believe need to improve their technique, consistency or increase their size and strength, but have the potential to eventually be in professional football. However for these specialists to achieve their potential, it means they need to take the correct steps to improve, and not just any steps. As legendary Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi rightly said “Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect, PERFECT Practice Makes Perfect.”
Group 3) Specialists who would have a very difficult time making a professional football roster. This doesn’t mean these specialists couldn’t make a roster. That is not for me to say. It just means that these individuals will have to be especially committed to reach their goal, and will have to work especially hard to achieve it. However, this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t continue to pursue their dream. As renowned NCAA basketball coach and motivational speaker Jim Valvano so aptly said, “Never Give Up! Failure and Rejection Are Only The First Step to Succeeding…”
As I said earlier, I have posted the results and videos of specialists from Group 1 to my website and to the DVD, and I have taken both to the NFL Combine. I will not be posting any information -video or stats- of Groups 2 or 3.
With regards to Group 2, if there is any team representative, PRO Personnel or an Agent who would like to contact me to learn more about these kicking specialists, I would be happy to discuss these players with you. I will give you my thoughts on these specialist’s current skill level, and what I think they need to do to fulfill their potential to be a NFL caliber kicking specialist. In other words, what these individuals need to do to be on their 'Path To The NFL'.
Also, it is my goal to call all the specialists who attended this Combine to discuss my evaluation with them.
As a final note, I would like to say I know what it is like to be a young man pursuing the dream of being in the NFL. And I know what it is like to experience both the joy and the pain of that journey.
For some, the results of this Combine will bring feelings of joy and satisfaction. For others, it will yield a sense of frustration and pain.
However, I hope all specialists who attended this College Senior Specialists Combine benefited from the competition, seminars, and the camaraderie of being with other kicking specialists. My goal was to organize an event that would not only showcase their talent but also help them gain insight to enhance their ability to reach their NFL dream.
Coach Zauner |
