225 for 35 NFL combine style!

[farsscf]

Was that 50, or Fitty-Fifty? I watched it twice and counted and it sure looked like it. That is impressive. Great job.

[RedMaster]

Looked like you had a couple more in you. Great job.

[semperzar]

WoW! that was impressive fitty. Orale!! lol

[l3urney]

The Penn State guy plays for the Buffaloe Bills now.

lol I have him in fantasy football. he gets alot of tackles.

[Dyer2715]

that pretty solid...now try being a 168 pound defensive back at a D3 school and busting out 25 reps.....if only i could gain some weight.....

[code3gt]

Fifty, I don't care if it wasn't full rom, it was Damn Impressive. Just sucks to be 6'4" with a 78" reach. You're not getting an invite to Festivus 2008 sorry bro!

[curt_james]

Originally Posted by Mr. Someday

He's also bouncing the bar off his chest. Critiquing form is pointless in most instances as someone will always find fault with it. Both vids are pretty impressive IMO.

X2

Great job!

[baker]

Fitty, are you using a false grip? I couldn't tell from the vid.

Great Job. Been a long time since I have attempted anything like that.

[boathead]

i got 1 partial, and then the spotter lifted it off my neck. is that good?

nice power fitnessman. props.

[code3gt]

Originally Posted by boathead

i got 1 partial, and then the spotter lifted it off my neck. is that good?

nice power fitnessman. props.

Neg reps are quite productive lol

[BEhave]

Originally Posted by asmolenski

Now this makes sense to me - I always wondered how some of these NFL players had such high 225 bench press reps. It seems hard to compare one player to another if they are not required to lock out - I wonder why the NFL doesnt require a lock out and pause at the bottom to get a true test of strength to eliminate bouncing, partial range of motion etc. My guess is that it wouldnt look as impressive to only be doing 20 "real" reps instead of 40 or 50 "NFL" reps.

I don't even understand why they don't just see what the guys total 1 rep max bench press is. Or better yet do an exercise that actually has carryover into football like squat or cleans. Bench press has no carry over into football. When are you on your back pressing something up?

[farsscf]

Originally Posted by fitnessman

Another example. Not me.

Locking out is not the name of the game.

oops, I see you edited to say it wasn't you after I posted. Whoever it is it is impressive.

[shuriwud]

Originally Posted by BEhave

I don't even understand why they don't just see what the guys total 1 rep max bench press is. Or better yet do an exercise that actually has carryover into football like squat or cleans. Bench press has no carry over into football. When are you on your back pressing something up?

Actually, for linemen it carries over quite well. Especially if said linemen is on the O-side. No, you're not on your back, least not if you're any good. However, if you were to block on 30 to 50 plays a game you may feel it the next morning, just like you would after a good bench day. Just my thoughts.

[JTaterMa]

It's pretty impressive to see you rep that many on a bench press at that weight
...but by the way, none of those reps would count at a combine. Sorry to disappoint you.

I played football in High School (and 1st yr. of college), and my coach played in the NFL so our max-day workouts were of the same magnitude as a combine. I know it's not proper form for gaining mass or overall strength, but every sport's strength coach teaches weight training techniques for explosive strength. And, in most cases, bouncing the weight off of the chest is involved in BP, unfortunately.

[Frostee]

315 for 29!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQAHuvSHHMY

[gbg]

Sorry if this was covered already (lazy)
I'm assuming the purpose of the combine is for explosive strength gains????

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Form smorm...non the less impressive there Mr.Fitty. I have been You Tubing for NLF speed breakfasts. I'm ready!!!!

[sthill]

You are a freak Mark!!! Im sure if half of the guys knocking your ROM saw the size of your chest they would understand. Also wanted to point out that the boys who keep mentioning this theory of locking out all have these tiny bird chests!! You might wanna rethink your critiques boys...


Locking out is no longer a chest movement...

[fitnessman]

Originally Posted by sthill

You are a freak Mark!!! Im sure if half of the guys knocking your ROM saw the size of your chest they would understand. Also wanted to point out that the boys who keep mentioning this theory of locking out all have these tiny bird chests!! You might wanna rethink your critiques boys...


Locking out is no longer a chest movement...

Thanks Steve. Great to see you in the gym the other and hope your prep is going well!

Check out this young mans Bodyspace! Talk about a freak!

[tfp121]

the dude in the one video apparently had a bench shirt on... thats just what I heard

[Astro_Gym]

If I remember correctly, I believe it was Rippetoe that claimed the bench press isn't the best indicator of a football player's strength as it applies to the game itself, it's the the upright shoulder press.

[sthill]

Originally Posted by Astro_Gym

If I remember correctly, I believe it was Rippetoe that claimed the bench press isn't the best indicator of a football player's strength as it applies to the game itself, it's the the upright shoulder press.

Yea I can see that... A lot of over head shoulder pressing going on in the NFL hahahaaha... How impractical...

There is no one indicator of over all strength!
Its an accumulation of movements, that when combined together, represent strength, and how it pertains to the required sport specific movements.

[Astro_Gym]

Originally Posted by sthill

Yea I can see that... A lot of over head shoulder pressing going on in the NFL hahahaaha... How impractical...

There is no one indicator of over all strength!
Its an accumulation of movements, that when combined together, represent strength, and how it pertains to the required sport specific movements.

I believe you're conceptualizing the upright shoulder press a bit too literally as it might apply to the NFL, thereby missing Rippetoe's reasoning.

For example, when a lineman drops his head and drives forward with his lower body, his strength from the upright press definitely comes into play as he tries to drive past his opponent and vice versa. If you're a lineman who is having to use a bench pressing motion or full pectoral strength to grapple with an opposing player, you're probably back on your heals, thereby off balance.

Moreover, when a player applies a hit or a block, generally speaking, his upper body drops downwards, and effectively removes a large portion of the pectoral muscle from the quotient, save for the upper portion.

I agree with your assessment that there is no one single indicator of strength in terms of how it will cross over to on the field performance. That said, benching numbers are still sexy to many, and that appears to also be the case in the NFL, for better or worse.

[sthill]

Originally Posted by Astro_Gym

I believe you're conceptualizing the upright shoulder press a bit too literally as it might apply to the NFL, thereby missing Rippetoe's reasoning.

For example, when a lineman drops his head and drives forward with his lower body, his strength from the upright press definitely comes into play as he tries to drive past his opponent and vice versa. If you're a lineman who is having to use a bench pressing motion or full pectoral strength to grapple with an opposing player, you're probably back on your heals, thereby off balance.

Moreover, when a player applies a hit or a block, generally speaking, his upper body drops downwards, and effectively removes a large portion of the pectoral muscle from the quotient, save for the upper portion.

I agree with your assessment that there is no one single indicator of strength in terms of how it will cross over to on the field performance. That said, benching numbers are still sexy to many, and that appears to also be the case in the NFL, for better or worse.

Point well made...

[bmcnelly]

That is very impressive although it really serves no purpose. Those reps are almost all momentum from the speed of your reps and the bounce off the chest.

I never have understood why the in the NFL combine they use the bench press to judge players by. It seems that it is more for show than anything else. A whole body/explosive exercise would seem better suited for the combine. Even the incline press would be better than the bench press.

[alec_braithwait]

Originally Posted by fitnessman

Another example. Not me.

Locking out is not the name of the game.

If you don't have to lock out, who decides that you have lifted it far enough?

[DrDeth]

Originally Posted by alec_braithwait

If you don't have to lock out, who decides that you have lifted it far enough?

Fitty, just comparing apples to apples, you were very impressive compared to Laurenitis. ROM was about the same and you took him.

For the record, the Laurenitis film is most likely from a pro-day, not the combine. The official rules at the combine are that your elbows must lock out, no bouncing off the chest, and the buttocks must stay on the bench.

Not taking away your achievement, just clearing the rules up.

Impressive no matter what. Anyone who can push over 400lbs is a man in my book. It was a goal I set my sites on and never made it.

Originally Posted by dkf10425

Well, even with the range of motion you did it's clear that you are strong as hell. Good job. What is your 1 rep maximum? I can do 225 about 15-16 times, but I have no power, only endurance. I can't even bench 315 once.

Do you ever lift in low rep range? I think with a little practice you could probably get 315 based on how easy 225 is for you.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Well done Fitty!