Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in the NFL. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football.
The Passer Rating is calculated from four components using each quarterback’s (1) completion percentage, (2) passing yardage, (3) touchdowns and (4) interceptions . The NFL’s current “passer rating” or “quarterback rating” system (the former term being the official one) was conceived by Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Don Smith in 1973. The rating was applied retroactively to all previous seasons. The system is of a sliding-scale design, where outstanding performances meet diminishing returns faster than sub-par ones. The best passer rating that a quarterback can obtain under it is 158.3 (technically 158.333→), while the worst is zero. Conceptually, the average rating would be 79.2 (technically 79.166→), since this is equidistant between zero and 158.3, but the architects of the rating had 66.66→ in mind as the “average” score (100 * [1.00*4]/6).

Cumulative League-wide Average
The cumulative league-wide average passer rating for the years 2000 through 2003, all inclusive, was 78.9 (the figure is typically rounded to the nearest 1/10 of a point); however in 2004 the league average was 82.8, the highest ever recorded. This may be due, at least in part, to stricter rules regarding pass interference.

Details on Components and Formulae

C = Completion Percentage

((Completions/Attempts) x 100 – 30)/20

Y = Passing Yardage or Yards per Attempts

(Yards/Attempts) – 3) x .25

T = Touchdowns per Attempts

(Touchdowns/Attempts) x 20

I = Interceptions per Attempt

2.375 – (Interceptions/Attempts) x 25

The four components are combined in the following formula:

((C + Y + T + I) / 6) x 100

See also FitnessMath.com NFL Quarterback Passer Rating

The Wonderlic Personnel Test is a 12-minute test of cognitive ability, or general intelligence, which has been taken by more than 125 million people since 1937. Wonderlic serves thousands of clients, including the NFL Combine, which has used the Wonderlic Personnel Test for more than 30 years as part of its draft selection process. Wonderlic tests are referenced in hundreds of books on psychology and have been featured on Dateline, CNBC, Lifetime, CNNfn, and 20/20. More than 130 million people have taken Wonderlic assessments.

The score is calculated as the number of correct answers given in the allotted time. A score of 20 is intended to indicate average intelligence (corresponding to an intelligence quotient of 100; a rough conversion is accomplished via the following formula: IQ = 2WPT + 60).

Scores for NFL Player Positions
The following average scores correspond to examples from Paul Zimmerman’s The New Thinking Man’s Guide to Pro Football. According to Zimmerman, examples of average scores include for each position correspond to the following examples:

Offensive Tackle ….. 26
Center …………… 25
Quarterback ………. 24
Guard ……………. 23
Tight End ………… 22
Safety …………… 19
Linebacker ……….. 19
Cornerback ……….. 18
Wide receiver …….. 17
Fullback …………. 17
Halfback …………. 16

Scores for Occupations
While an average football player usually scores around 20 points, Wonderlic, Inc claims a score of at least 10 points suggests a person is literate [2]. Furthermore, when the test was given to miscellaneous people of various professions, it was observed that the average participant scored a 24. Examples of scores from everyday professions included,

Chemist ………….. 31
Programmer ……….. 29
Newswriter ……….. 26
Sales ……………. 24
Bank teller ………. 22
Clerical Worker …… 21
Security Guard ……. 17
Warehouse ………… 15

Perfect Score Equals 50
Harvard graduate and Cincinatti Bengals Punter Pat McInally is the only NFL player confirmed to score a perfect 50.

The Wonderlic Employment Test and other products and services are administered by …

Wonderlic, Inc.
1795 N. Butterfield Rd
Suite 200
Libertyville, IL 60048  •  800.323.374

Website: wonderlic.com

Information noted as of Jan. 13 2005, please check Combines.com for updates.

Combine tests for football consist of body measurements, physical tests and position-specific drills for football. Physical tests are used to determine a football player’s size, speed, quickness and strength. Position drills allow players to demonstrate their ability in fundamental skill areas necessary for their position.

TESTS

Body Measurements

• Height
  • Height and weight measurements determine a player’s size. Height is measured to 1/8th of an inch accuracy.
• Weight
  • Weight is measured to the nearest pound.
• Body Photo
  • The body portrait provides a visual image of a player’s body type and build. Players are photographed from the front wearing shorts only.
• Hand Span
  • Spread hand is measured from tip of thumb to tip of pinky.
• Arm Length
  • Extended arm is measured from shoulder blade to tip of middle finger.

Physical Tests

• 40 Yard Dash
  • The 40 yard dash is a measure of straight ahead speed. Each player runs twice. Two times are recorded for each run. The best time is used for scoring purposes. Timing is done by pro scouts.
• 20 Yard Short Shuttle
  • The 20 yard short shuttle is a measure of quickness. Each player is timed twice, once to the left and once to the right. Both times are recorded. The best time is scored.
• Vertical Jump
  • The vertical jump is a measure of lower body strength. The test is conducted using the Vertec measuring device. Each player jumps twice. The highest jump is scored.
• 225lb. Bench Press
  • The 225 pound bench press is a measure of upper body strength. Each player completes as many repetitions as possible.

Position Drills

• QB
  • QB’s are filmed in isolation performing 3, 5 and 7 step drops and also throw to WR’s in one-on-one coverage against DB’s.
• RB/TE vs LB
  • Running Backs and Tight Ends compete against Linebackers in man coverage during a one-on-one passing drill. The offensive player selects his routes from a desigmnated list of patterns.
• WR vs DB
  • Wide Receivers compete against Defensive Backs in man coverage during a one-on-one passing drill. The WR selects his routes from a desigmnated list of patterns.
• OL vs DL
  • All lineman are timed in the 10yd and 20 yd dash. They then perform several cone drills to evaluate foot speed and quickness. Finally, lineman compete one-on-one Pass Rush/Block Drills. Helmets are worn during the blocking drills.
• Punters
  • Punters perform two punting drills; the Baseline Strength Test and Random Selection Scenario Test. During the Baseline Strength Test, punters are measured for hang time, distance and get-off time on a total of six punts. During the Random Selection Scenario Test, punters are tested on their ability to perform six different types of punts (Direction Right, Direction Left, Deep Center, Deep Nose Over, Straight Pooch, Float Pooch).
• Kickers
  • Kickers perform kick-offs and Field Goals. During kick-off tests, kickers will be measured for hang time, location and distance on three consecutive kicks. During FG tests, kickers will be be asked to kick 8 FG’s at randomly selected distances ranging from 30 to 55 yards.
• Long Snap
  • Players experienced in long snapping are tested at both 7 and 15 yards. Each player completes 7 snaps at each distance and is graded on time and accuracy.

GRADING

SOURCE:
Combines.com | Grading

nflcombine.net

The following tests include Strength, Power, Cardiovascular Endurance, Flexibility, Speed, Agility, Speed Endurance, Muscular Endurance, and Percent Body Fat

STRENGTH
BENCH PRESS MAX*
POSITION     EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE POOR
Receivers          300   275  250  225
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs      350   325  300  280
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers        400   375  350  325
Tight Ends

Offensive Line     425   400  375  350
Defensive Line

STRENGTH
SQUAT MAX*
POSITION     EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE POOR
Receivers          400   375  350  325
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs      500   475  450  425
Defensive Backs    475   450  425  400

Linebackers        500   475  450  425
Tight Ends

Offensive Line     600   570  540  510
Defensive Line     550   525  500  475

*Predicted max from a number of reps of a certain weight that uses the Bryzinski Linear Regression Equation to predict the maximum weight. Reliability of the prediction decreases for rep count greater than 10 reps.

POWER
VERTICAL JUMP (INCHES)
POSITION   EXCELLENT  GOOD   AVE  POOR
Receivers       34.0  31.0  29.0  27.5
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs   33.0  30.5  28.5  27.0
Defensive Backs   

Linebackers     32.0  30.0  28.0  26.0
Tight Ends

Offensive Line  28.5  27.0  25.5  24.0 
Defensive Line   

CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE
MILE-AND-A-HALF RUN
POSITION     EXCELLENT   GOOD      AVE    POOR
Receivers         8:30   8:45     9:00    9:15
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs     8:45   9:00     9:15    9:30
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers       9:00   9:15     9:45   10:00
Tight Ends

Offensive Line   10:00  10:20    10:40   11:00
Defensive Line    9:30   9:45    10:00   10:15

FLEXIBILITY
SIT AND REACH (DISTANCE IN INCHES FINGERTIPS CAN PASS FEET WHEN LEGS ARE STRAIGHT)
POSITION     EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE POOR
Receivers          +6     +5   +4   +3
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs      +6     +5   +4   +3
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers        +5     +4   +3   +2
Tight Ends

Offensive Line     +5     +4   +3   +2
Defensive Line

FLEXIBILITY
LOWER BACK EXTENSION (Distance from chin to floor when athlete extends back from a prone flat position)
POSITION     EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE POOR
Receivers          +22   +20  +18  +16
Quarterbacks
Kickers   

Running Backs      +22   +20  +18  +16
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers        yle="font-family: courier new,courier,mono;">+22   +20  +18  +16
Tight Ends

Offensive Line     +22   +20  +18  +16
Defensive Line

SPEED
40 YARD DASH
POSITION    EXCELLENT  GOOD   AVE  POOR
Receivers         4.4  4.50  4.60  4.70

Quarterbacks      4.7  4.80  4.90  5.00
Kickers   

Running Backs     4.5  4.60  4.70  4.80
Defensive Backs   4.4  4.50  4.60  4.70

Linebackers       4.6  4.70  4.80  4.90
Tight Ends

Offensive Line    4.9  5.10  5.25  5.40
Defensive Line    4.7  4.85  5.00  5.10

AGILITY
PRO AGILITY RUN – 5 yards – 10 yards – 5 yards, changing direction. Straddle center line; turn and run 5 yards – touch, turn back and run 10 yards; touch, then turn and run final 5 yards
POSITION    EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE  POOR
Receivers         4.2   4.3  4.4   4.5

Quarterbacks      4.4   4.5  4.6   4.7
Kickers   

Running Backs     4.2   4.3  4.4   4.5
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers       4.3  4.4   4.5   4.6
Tight Ends

Offensive Line    4.6  4.7   4.8   4.9
Defensive Line   

SPEED ENDURANCE
SUSTAIN HIGH PERCENTAGE OF WORK ON REPEATED SPRINT WORK OF 10 STRAIGHT 40′s with 15 seconds rest. Take average of ten sprints and divide by the personal best for the 40 yard dash.

POSITIONS  EXCELLENT  GOOD   AVE  POOR
ALL              96%   93%   90%  <90%

UPPER BODY MUSCLE ENDURANCE
BENCH PRESS HI REPS MAX WITH PRESCRIBED WEIGHT FOR POSITION
POSITION   EXCELLENT  GOOD   AVE  POOR
Receivers        20     16    12     8
Quarterbacks    
Kickers
(185 LBS)  

Running Backs    25     20    16    12
Defensive Backs
(225 LBS) 

Linebackers      30     25    20    16
Tight Ends
(225 LBS)

Offensive Line   35     30    25    20
Defensive Line
(225 LBS)   

PERCENTAGE BODY FAT

POSITION     EXCELLENT  GOOD  AVE POOR
Receivers         <=6      7    8   >9

Quarterbacks      <=7      8   10  >11
Kickers   

Running Backs     <=6      7    8   >9
Defensive Backs  

Linebackers       <=8    
  9   10  >11
Tight Ends

Offensive Line   <=14     15   16  >17
Defensive Line   <=12     13   14  >15