INDIANAPOLIS — As far as the Vikings and many other NFL teams are concerned, one of the most important things that defensive end prospects have done here at the scouting combine is extend their arms.
Length is something that coach Mike Zimmer covets from his edge rushers, from perennial Pro Bowler Demarcus Ware with the Cowboys to his six years with the Bengals to drafting Danielle Hunter last spring.
So Thursday, I asked him why long arms are so important at that spot.
"A good example would be," he answered as he looked down at me from the podium, "If I could reach you right now and tackle you, that would be a pretty good advantage, right? As opposed to trying to reach this far."
For the record, Zimmer did not reach down and tackle me, though I'm sure he wouldn't have minded doing so. Instead, he continued his answer.
"Number one is reach, as far as getting off a block and getting to a guy," said Zimmer, now in his third year as coach. "Number two is guys that are 10 feet high in the air with their hands, being able to get in the quarterback's throwing lane, tipped balls and things like that. I think length gives you an advantage that can be important for your defensive football team."
Zimmer was the defensive coordinator in Dallas when the Cowboys took Ware, who is 6-foot-4 with 34-inch arms, in the first round. When he was in Cincinnati, the Bengals drafted Carlos Dunlap (6-6 with 34 5/8-inch arms), Margus Hunt (6-8 with 33 3/4-inch arms) and our old friend Michael Johnson (no official arm measurement found, but he is 6-foot-7).
With the exception of Hunter, who is 6-foot-5 with impressive 34 1/4-inch arms, Zimmer and the Vikings have not yet gone to those extremes. Scott Crichton, who is 6-3, has arms that are 32 3/4 inches. B.J. Dubose, who split time at defensive end and tackle as a rookie, is 6-4 with 33-inch arms.
