GronkNation

03.01.18

Remember When the NFL Combine Got Gronked? If Not, Watch Here (Video)

Posted by: Gronkowski

The NFL Combine starts this week as hundreds of departing college football stars trek to Indianapolis to show off their skills to a stadium full of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts.

It’s a weekend that can make or break an aspiring NFL player’s career – and can also be the most brutal and embarrassing time of their lives (so far).

Dubbed by ESPN NFL guru Trey Wingo as “the underwear Olympics,” it involves the candidates posing in their tighty whities for mug shots, before performing physical and mental tests such as the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump and three cone drills, along with drugs tests and endless interviews.

Our boy Rob Gronkowski entered the 2010 combine out of the University of Arizona, although he didn’t do all of the events due to a back surgery that forced him to miss the 2009 season.

If you weren't following the future record-smashing Patriots tight end at the time, don't stress -- we dug out his profile from the NFL archives so you can look back at fresh-faced 21-year-old Rob before he was “Gronk.” 

As you can tell, Gronk was already pretty savvy in front of the camera ... but not quite the character he is today. 

He proved he was still unstoppable on the field, however, as he ran drills with NFL Network analyst Brian Billick. Marveling over Rob's "wingspan," the Baltimore Ravens coach said that "as a quarterback, I've got a huge sweet spot that I can through the ball to." Little did he know that Tom Brady would soon be saying the same thing ...

Check out Gronk's full combine profile below:

OVERVIEW:
Gronkowski made an immediate impact when he arrived at the University of Arizona and has been a standout tight end when he has been healthy enough to stay on the field. Unfortunately he has missed a total of 16 games over the past two years due to injuries or illness. He has an elite combination of size, speed and athleticism for the position and while he lacks great downfield speed he can be an effective receiver at virtually all levels of the passing tree. He is a tough, no nonsense type of blocker but still needs some work on his blocking techniques. If he can stay healthy he could provide a team with a quality starting tight end.

ANALYSIS:
Strengths:
Gronkowski has prototypical size and good speed. Shows fluid hips and runs precise routes. Possesses the lateral quickness and burst to get open in man coverage. Catches the ball away from his chest and displays good body control. Effective blocker that can generate a push. Very productive in his two seasons in the Pac-10.
Weaknesses: 
Durability concerns since he missed the entire 2009 season after back surgery and missed three games in 2008. Does not have a great top-end speed and may not be able to stretch the field at the next level. Lacks the elusiveness to make people miss after catch.

Of course, no article on the NFL Combine is complete without looking back at Brady's infamous underwear photo from 2000. You'd never guess that this goofy kid would end up becoming the G.O.A.T. and marrying a super model ... 

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