Combine Approaches

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off today at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. More than 300 draft prospects will be ushered through all kinds poking, prodding, testing, interviewing, and viewing. It's a very strange affair. It's also become the kickoff for the offseason since television got involved.

Here's the schedule for the next 7 days:

Day 1 Arrivals: Group 1 (Kickers, Special Teams, Offensive Line)
                          Group 2 (Offensive Line)
                          Group 3 (Tight Ends)
Feb. 17: Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam and X-rays, Interviews
Feb. 18: Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews
Feb. 19: NFLPA, Psych Exams, PK/ST workout, Bench Press, Interviews
Feb. 20: On-field Workouts

Day 2 Arrivals: Group 4 (Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers)
                          Group 5 (Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers)
                          Group 6 (Running  Backs)
Feb. 18: Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam and X-rays, Interviews
Feb. 19: Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews
Feb. 20: NFLPA, Psych Exams, PK/ST workout, Bench Press, Interviews
Feb. 21: On-field Workouts

Day 3 Arrivals: Group 7 (Defensive Line)
                          Group 8 (Defensive Line)
                          Group 9 (Linebackers)

Feb. 19: Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam and X-rays, Interviews
Feb. 20: Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews
Feb. 21: NFLPA, Psych Exams, PK/ST workout, Bench Press, Interviews
Feb. 22: On-field Workouts

Day 4 Arrivals: Group 10 (Defensive Backs)
                          Group 11 (Defensive Backs)
Feb. 20: Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam and X-rays, Interviews
Feb. 21: Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Interviews
Feb. 22: NFLPA, Psych Exams, PK/ST workout, Bench Press, Interviews
Feb. 23: On-field Workouts

None of these pre-Draft workouts should take the place of 3-4 years of college football. Everyone knows this but teams will still fall in love with a player simply because of a stellar performance in shorts and a shirt. A performance for which the player has spent about a month getting ready. The workouts done here should sit alongside the game tape. It shouldn't replace it. The medical exams and individual interviews should be the most important takeaways from the week in Indianapolis.