Things Your Business Can Learn from My Rookie Year in the NFL

Things Your Business Can Learn from My Rookie Year in the NFL(cobyfleener.com)

28 points by cobri 13 years ago | 7 comments

arethuza 13 years ago |

Not that relevant, but I was rather impressed by Jamie Roberts qualifying as a medic while playing rugby professionally and at an international level:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22154392

EvilLook 13 years ago | |

People tend to assume that you have to be a big, dumb meathead to be good at things like rugby and American football. The aptitude test given by the NFL is called the Wonderlic Test, but it is used in other fields. The average test results by profession are as follows:

  Systems Analyst – 32
  Chemist – 31
  Electrical Engineer – 30
  Engineer – 29
  Programmer – 29
  Accountant – 28
  Executive – 28
  Reporter – 28
  Teacher – 28
  Copywriter – 27
  Investment Analyst – 27
  Librarian – 27
  Electronics technician – 26
  Salesperson – 25
  Secretary – 24
  Dispatcher – 23
  Drafter – 23
  Electrician – 23
  Nurse – 23
  Bank teller – 22
  Cashier – 21

The average score per NFL position is as follows:

  Offensive tackle – 26
  Center – 25
  Quarterback – 24 (Most teams want at least 21 for a quarterback.)
  Guard – 23
  Tight end – 22
  Safety – 19
  Linebacker – 19
  Cornerback – 18
  Wide receiver – 17
  Fullback – 17
  Halfback – 16

So the big, beefy guys taking all the hits right in front of the quarterback, on average, score better then the quarterbacks, and on average, score better then electricians, draftsmen, salespeople, and nurses.

pdeuchler 13 years ago | | |

The NFL scores correlate well to skill vs talent positions.

It's also worth mentioning that the O-line often has the largest cognitive overhead during a game, as they have to memorize and execute complex blocking schemes, work together to enact subtle feints, read/pick up blitzes/additional rushers, all while fending off an equally large and quick defensive tackle. The center can also override the quarterback's play calls (under certain offenses) if he notices a defensive shift or audible.

It's definitely possible to win a Super Bowl without a star quarterback, wide receiver or running back, but nigh upon impossible to win it with a weak front line.

arethuza 13 years ago | | |

I was impressed that he could qualify as a doctor at the same time as playing top level rugby.

I know a few people who've gone on to succesful careers after playing rugby at a high level - but they did one then the other.

pionar 13 years ago | | |

I've met Coby Fleener (I live in Indianapolis.) He's a very smart and just unbelievably nice guy.

Although, it's not that hard to believe. Many many offensive linemen come from top-tier schools (like Fleener, who went to Stanford) and it's becoming more common for QB's to do this as well (like Andrew Luck, who went to, well... Stanford).

Although, it's interesting that in the average scores, the "skill" positions (WR, FB, HB, etc.) all have lower averages than the non-skill positions.

Systems Analyst – 32 Chemist – 31 Electrical Engineer – 30 Engineer – 29 Programmer – 29 Accountant – 28 Executive – 28 Reporter – 28 Teacher – 28 Copywriter – 27 Investment Analyst – 27 Librarian – 27 Electronics technician – 26 Salesperson – 25 Secretary – 24 Dispatcher – 23 Drafter – 23 Electrician – 23 Nurse – 23 Bank teller – 22 Cashier – 21

Offensive tackle – 26 Center – 25 Quarterback – 24 (Most teams want at least 21 for a quarterback.) Guard – 23 Tight end – 22 Safety – 19 Linebacker – 19 Cornerback – 18 Wide receiver – 17 Fullback – 17 Halfback – 16