The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
NFL Scouting Combine update: Limas Sweed
02.25.2008 | Football
On his progress leading up to the combine: I've been doing a lot of rehab on my wrist, while working out two times a day, six days a week. I've also been working on my route running, different drills and trying to lower my 40 time. A lot of teams wanted to see me run because they thought I was a 4.6 or a 4.58 guy, so that was something I focused on. They wanted to see how fast a big guy could run.
On his wrist: It feels really good. It's been getting a lot better. Everyone thought I had reinjured it at the Senior Bowl, but actually, some scar tissue got broken up, which helped me recover quicker and helped with my range of motion. The range of motion is getting much better, I'm ahead of pace right now, so by the Pro Day at Texas, I should be 100 percent. The main question was my speed, so I wanted to run at the combine. Teams told me that I had put together some nice footage over the years, so they knew I could catch the ball and run good routes, but they wanted to know how fast I really was.
On working on his speed: We did a lot of different drills to work on leg strength. We'd do a lot of single-leg drills, a lot of balance stuff and a lot of core work. It was also important for me to work on that initial burst because they said I gained ground quickly, but it is was important for me to get out quick. I've been working out hard in Phoenix and those guys do a great job, so I felt real good going into the combine.
On how the speed work will help his game: I think it will only enhance my game. I know you can only get better by working hard, so I wanted to put the time in because now I think my game will be even stronger.
On the combine: It is a crazy experience at the combine, really busy. I think over the course of three days I did about 16 or 17 interviews. I'd wake up around 4:30 in the morning and wouldn't get finished until about 12:30 at night. They want to know everything about you, from your third grade teacher to your last college professor. They do background checks on you from junior high, high school and college, so if you ever got into trouble, they'll know about it. It's a blessing that I stayed out of trouble and kept my head on straight because that is a key factor. They want good guys, not guys with bad records.
On the effect of earning a degree: It was really important to me to get my degree and it seemed like it was important to the teams I talked to. Once they found out that I graduated, they looked at me different. They told me that it was a very good thing, that you were responsible, that you can get in there and stick with things and that you were serious about what you do.
On working out at the combine: I participated in the vertical jump and the 40. I jumped first and then I ran. You've got to be mentally prepared. Being an S, I was at the end of line so I had to stay mentally ready throughout the whole drill. I had to keep that mental edge. If I would have lost it, I may not have run as fast as I did. I treated it like a big game because that is what you practice for. I practiced for the 40 and I felt like all the training I put in had me ready, so when it was time to run, I wasn't nervous or anything, I just wanted to show what I could do. The first time I ran, I didn't know what my time was. I felt good but at the same time I felt slow. But, people told me that a lot of times those are the ones that are the fastest because you're moving effortlessly. Then, I heard them announce it, "Limas Sweed: 4.45," so I was really happy. I knew that was a good time, especially for a big guy, so I was happy with it.
On what's next between the combine and Texas' Pro Day: Right now, I've got two or three days of down time. I'll head back out to Phoenix to get some more work in, focus on route running and just fine-tuning my game.
On training in Phoenix: I'm working out with Marcus Griffin, Matt Ryan, Aqib Talib, Will Franklin, Steve Slaton and a lot of other high-profile college players. That seems to be one of the best places to work out and it is great because the competition is off the charts every day. You've got top-rated players everywhere and everyone is competing to get drafted higher, so you have to bring it every day.
