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February 27, 2006
Vince Young, Testing Giant
Vince Young knows a lot about scoring on the football field. Just ask the USC Trojans about that. What Vince Young may or may not know a lot about appears to be scores on the kind of test you take sitting behind a desk.
Various sources are reporting that Young may have scored a 6 on the infamous Wonderlic test. While there may have been a scoring error on the first exam that he took, reports are that his second attempt only registered 10 points better at a 16.
Explanations for the scoring error appear to be in the grading method:
"It could be improperly given because when you correct it, there are like six or seven different tests. If you correct Test A with a correct sheet for Test C, it's not going to come out very well."
Is Young's second, revised score cause for concern? Maybe. Given a list of sample questions found on the internet at both Wonderlic.com and on ESPN.com, most college graduates who can read and do math at a grade school level should be able to score better than a 20. In a sample timed test that I found which gave the user 2 minutes to answer 9 questions -- the actual test is 50 questions in 12 minutes -- I scored perfectly and had over a minute to spare on the time. Had Young just taken one of these practice exams to prepare, chances are he should have done better than his reported score.
So that means that Vince Young did do really poorly? Well, maybe not. According to a CNNSI.com article published back in 2001, the average score for an NFL prospect is 19 while the overall average on the test is 21. Young's second score, presumed to be correct, leaves him just below average. It is not as if below average scorers on the test haven't performed well in the NFL. Dan Marino scored a 16, Vinny Testaverde an 18, Randall Cunningham, 15. Of course, there are also bombs in that region and above average scores don't prove that you can make it in the NFL either. Jeff George, for his glimpses of brillance is reported to have only scored a 10. Cade McNown, who flamed out faster than Bode Miller, scored a 28.
So is Vince Young going to be more like Dan Marino or Jeff George? The answer to that may lie in where Vince Young's position in the draft lands him.
The Texans are on record in the Houston Chronicle article as saying that the Wonderlic test is just one of the factors that they will weigh when deciding what to do with the #1 pick in the draft. Most experts believe that the Texans will still be selecting USC running back Reggie Bush with that pick. And just when you thought that was secure, there are reports out of the Texans camp that they are now entertaining offers for the top pick.
Given that Young is giving those attending the combine little more in terms of data points to evaluate him, we may be waiting a long time to hear his name on draft day. It will certainly be an interesting morning for Mr. Young.
Posted by bmiraski at February 27, 2006 9:25 PM
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Comments
Hey "genius", it looks like you need to re-work your formula for your MRI. Texas #1....Ohio State only a #4 seed......Louisville in the Tournament......wait a second , you're just practicing for April Fools Day....right?
Posted by: Jim at March 2, 2006 1:13 PM
Jim-
Thanks for the comment, and I would agree with some of your assessment of the teams right now, but let's think for a second. Of all the teams that you would complain about, I think Texas is probably the most off base.
Checking The Bracket Project, I am only one seed line off where most of the bracket projections place Texas. And if you read most of the "experts" there is still a chance that Texas walks away with a #1 seed, especially if they win the Big XII tournament.
As for Louisville, they are still living off of the success of their non-conference record. And as you will see if you check the comparisons above, I am not the only "genius" who projects Louisville into the tournament. And it is not like I placed Louisville at a #6 or #7 seed. No, they are down at #12, barely making the tournament. Another loss and they are out. A bad Big East tournament, should they make it and they are out.
There are still two weeks left, a lot can change in that time. If you have a chance, why not send me your bracket. I would love to see your projection and we can compare with the final.
Check back in two weeks and see how many I get right.
Posted by: Ben Miraski
at March 2, 2006 10:24 PM
