Heads up - New Combine Training Prep DVD

[coolcolj]

Hey guys, I received a couple of emails today alerting me that I was mentioned in the message boards of this site. I briefly read over the posts and I wanted to say a couple of things:
With regards to the NFL Combine, I do feel that the tests are VERY POOR in predicting a players on-field ability. But. . .

Believe it or not, these tests are STILL weighed rather heavily among a lot of NFL scouts and members of the front offices. (I still can't believe it myself!) Believe me, I've spent a lot of time with NFL agents, scouts and front office people over the past 3 years. Every year people will say that all that matters is what you do on the field. But every year a bunch of "nobody's" get drafted in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounds. I have a great example.

Bryan Thomas - 2 years ago I had the good fortune of training Bryan Thomas from UAB for the NFL Combine. Prior to the Combine he was listed as a 238lb. defensive end from a small school and he was projected to get drafted in the 4th-5th round. After 3 intense months of training, Bryan showed up for the Combine weighing 266lbs. and he ran a 4.47 forty-yard dash! He was faster than 16 of the 19 running backs invited to the Combine. He shocked the world and got drafted in the first round - solely on his Combine performance and his "potential". So believe me, as much as people say the Combine doesn't mean anything - it does.

Now, I don't want this to sound like a cheap plug, but someone mentioned that they saw a clip of my Combine video. It is true, we just finished a 5-month project I am very proud of. I promise this (DVD) will be the most informative training tape you will ever see. One of my pet peeves in this field is that a lot of people charge tons of money to attend their seminars, etc. and they don't share any information! I pulled no punches in this DVD! For any of you that are interested in the training for these Combine events, the DVD is a "must-see". (It should be done in about 4-6 weeks.) Again, I hate for this to look like a cheap plug, but I'm proud of the project and I enjoy sharing information with others who are interested. Thanks for your time.

Joe DeFranco

 

[Throw It Down]

Where can i buy this and when

 

[coolcolj]

It will be done in 4-5 weeks as he said

most probably sold on his site here

http://www.defrancostraining.com

check out the training pics- love em
http://www.defrancostraining.com/pics/pics.htm

 

[mekannik]

What about Charles Poliquin "training" David Boston (NFL wide receiver)? There was a Sports Illustrated article with Boston talking about taking upwards of 90 pills a day, IV drips after workouts - 39# gain in the off season - and still keeping his speed up in the 40.


http://www.charlespoliquin.net/featured_athletes/feb_2003_david_boston.htm

 

[coolcolj]

somebody asked that guy on his site in the "Ask Joe" section as well about that

http://www.defrancostraining.com/ask_joe/archives/ask_joe_03-09-19.htm

 

[coolcolj]

comments about those training pics - someone questioned him

Chad, Thanks for checking out my website. I'm glad you think I'm "off to a good start", but I need to correct you on your "attention to detail" on my training pictures.

1. The reason why Jim Burt is kneeling while performing scarecrows is so the resistance of the low-pulley is lined up with the musculature we were trying to work. If he did this exercise standing, he would work more medial delts. I wanted to work his rhomboids and rear delts.

2. I PURPOSELY underinflated the dyna disk when Jim Finn was performing the low pulley split squats because he was coming back from a slight adductor pull. When the dyna disk was too filled with air, it was too unstable. I wanted to add a SLIGHT instability to the exercise to activate the adductors and that's why it wasn't completely filled.

This is VERY IMPORTANT for everyone out there with regards to the low-pulley split squat. The #1 goal of this exercise is to have the knee travel as far PAST THE TOE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE!!! I don't want to get too deep into physics but, because of the angle of the vector created by the cable, it DOES NOT create any shearing forces on the knee. This technique also stretches the psoas of the back leg which will help with an athlete's sprinting speed. I rehabbed Dhani Jones' knee with this exercise. It's funny, Dhani originally hired me after he wasn't getting any results at physical therapy by doing all the "generic" rehab exercises.

3. Joe Sandberg's box squat picture - In a "true" box squat the shins are supposed to remain perpendicular to the ground - you are absolutely right! In the picture of Joe Sandberg, the box is just used to limit the depth of the squat, it wasn't a true box squat. I have a different variation of the "speed squat" I use with my athletes. Joe was performing these "speed squats". Although we due lots of regular box squats, he wasn't performing them in the picture. (In one variation of "speed squats" that I use, the athlete's shin angle isn't as important.)

4. John Iannuzzi is in the PERFECT single leg squat position that I coach him. Once again, I WANT the knee over the toe. This is SAFE as long as the heel of the front foot remains on the floor. You recruit the vastus medialis to a higher degree with this technique. This muscle is super-important and that's why it is my top priority in my athlete's execution on single leg squats, step-ups and lunges. This muscle must be addressed in order to keep the knee healthy, especially with the incredible amounts of posterior chain work I do with my athletes (box suats, reverse hypers, glute-ham raises, pull-throughs, leg curls, etc.) Single leg squats performed in this manner also increase the flexibility of the back leg's hip flexor and front foot's ankle.

5. Once again, the position Vinny Ciurciu was in when performing the step-up was the exact position I coached him. This technique activates the vastus medialis to a greater degree. And believe it or not, Vinny performed the set with MINIMAL push off of the back leg. He's strong as an ox and that's why he can perform this technique. (Remember that he ran a 4.43second forty-yard dash, weighing 240lbs. Having him perform "normal" exercises would be an injustice.) For a beginner, I usually teach it slightly different.

6. In the reverse lunge, you better believe Dhani Jones' weight is forward. That's exactly how I want it. This is a very advanced technique to the barbell reverse lunge. Dhani is able to do it perfectly. Once again, the 45-degree angle of the upper body, weight on front foot, knee over toe & explode forward & up. I can write 10 pages on the effectiveness of this advaced exercise but unfortunately I don't have time.

7. Anyone who has ever deadlifted heavy knows that it is impossible to prevent your back from rounding slightly. Keeping a "flat back" when maxing out on deadlifts is one of those things that sounds great in the classroom, but doesn't work in the real world. Get a picture of any deadlift from a powerlifting contest or strongman event and check out the low-back during the initial pull. It will be slightly rounded. The valsalva maneuver performed properly (along with having strong abs and low-back) will prevent you from hurting your back.

Hope this helps everyone to understand why I do the things I do. Have a great day.

Joe DeFranco

 

[mekannik]

Good read.

One thing to note - some friends and I were just discussing this an hour or so ago... is that while a freak like David Boston may look spectacular - it's often very detrimental to his health and stauts in the game. Athletes need a moderate bodyfat to protect their tissue and ward off injuries.

But that aside - total freakiness all the way. What I wouldn't give to train with Poliquin. Even if he is 6" shorter than me....

 

[coolcolj]

Poliquin doesn't train him anymore, hasn't for a while.

He maybe shorter, but he's probbaly got bigger forerams and arms, and 36 inch vertical jump to boot

Boston follows a low starchy carb diet, that's why he's lean, and his training off course. cut out the starchy carbs and the fat melts off. A friend dropped 90lbs in a year doing that without actually dieting as such, or exercising. It's all about manipulating your hormonal profile