quote:
SackSEER’s other workout metric is the short shuttle run. The drill measures change-of-direction speed, burst, and hip flexibility, which are understandably important to rushing the passer. DeMarcus Ware had a jaw-dropping short shuttle of 4.07 seconds, Aaron Schobel ran the shuttle in 4.03 seconds, and Kyle Vanden Bosch ran the shuttle in 4.08 seconds. No elite edge rusher has emerged from any round of the NFL Draft since at least 1999 with a short shuttle slower than 4.42 seconds.

The importance of the short shuttle appears to be a well-kept secret. There is no significant correlation between draft position and the short shuttle, which suggests that teams basically ignore it. In contrast, research suggests that teams put a fair amount of weight on 40- yard dash times when drafting edge rushers - more weight than any other workout number. Although there is some relationship between the 40-yard dash and pass rushing success, the 40-yard dash is collinear with both the vertical leap and the short shuttle and does not materially increase the strength of the regression when introduced into the model. Stated more simply, the 40- yard dash is only useful in projecting edge rushers to the extent that it identifies prospects who already have good vertical leaps and short shuttle times.

A great example of the short shuttle’s predictive power relative to the 40-yard dash is Terrell Suggs. Suggs had a phenomenal collegiate sack record, but ran a number of 40-yard dashes at his pro day and only managed to score a poor average of 4.88 seconds. Suggs’ poor 40 time was widely reported (as well as his attendant drop in "draft stock") and it was a mere footnote that Suggs had, on the same day, logged a respectable 4.33-second short shuttle time. Ultimately, the Baltimore Ravens were rewarded handsomely for not overly relying on Suggs’ 40-yard dash.

LINK

Short shuttle times of the top DE/OLB prospects

Dante Fowler - 4.32

Randy Gregory - 4.23

Vic Beasley - 4.15

Shane Ray - 4.68

Bud Dupree - 4.47

Past short shuttle times of elite pass rushers

Von Miller - 4.06

DeMarcus Ware - 4.07

Terrell Suggs - 4.33

I know Stephone Anthony is an inside linebacker but his short shuttle of 4.03 is just sick.

Remember Jarvis Jones? The majority of Saints fans were pissed with the team passing over him. Jones was viewed as a can't miss prospect as a pass rusher.

Jarvis Jones short shuttle time. 4.69

quote:
Jarvis Jones, LB (6-2 5/8, 249) — Jones — who chose not to work out at the combine (which didn’t help alleviate concerns over health) — ran the 40 in 4.92 seconds on each of his runs. He had a 30 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-3 broad jump. He did the short shuttle in 4.69 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.43 seconds. He also performed 20 strength lifts. Jones worked out as both an outside linebacker and defensive end at the pro day. There is sentiment that Jones’ best position in the NFL might be as a pass-rushing defensive end.

LINK

This post was edited on 4/26/15 at 7:59 pm