In the hyper-analytical world of modern football scouting, it is remarkably easy for a player’s dominant on-field performance to be overshadowed by a tape measure. As talent evaluations ramp up, analysts often dissect every physical trait, sometimes losing sight of the actual game being played.
Miami defensive standout Rueben Bain Jr. has become the latest target of this phenomenon, drawing nitpicky criticism from some circles for his allegedly “short arms.” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, however, has zero patience for that narrative.
Why Rueben Bain Jr.’s Production Matters More than His Proportions
When asked about the knocks on Bain’s arm length during a recent episode of NFL analyst Colin Cowherd’s podcast, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Freeman didn’t mince words, advocating for a return to the most fundamental evaluation tool in the sport: the tape.
“Oh my god. Watch the film,” Freeman exasperatedly stated. “Stop overvaluating measurements and times. Watch the film.”
Freeman is uniquely positioned to evaluate the Miami star. Not only did his Fighting Irish squad face the Hurricanes, but Freeman also closely studied Bain’s game film while preparing for media duties surrounding the national championship. What the Notre Dame coach saw was a defensive force of nature, entirely unhindered by his wingspan.
“I saw Rueben Bain in person, obviously, when they played us, and I watched him throughout the season,” Freeman noted. “You talk about production, you talk about a guy that doesn’t get blocked one-on-one. He is really, really good.”
To further illustrate the absurdity of hyper-fixating on fractional physical measurements, Freeman drew a parallel to one of his former star pupils: Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. During his draft process, Hamilton faced immense scrutiny after clocking a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash.
“I remember there was a conversation about Kyle Hamilton, right? That he went 4.6 or something at the combine,” Freeman recalled. “I kept going, ‘Guys, just watch the film.’ Now… he might be the highest-paid safety in the NFL, right? Like, just watch the film.”
The Danger of NFL Draft ‘Workout Warriors’
For Freeman, the ultimate truth lies between the white lines, not inside a combine testing facility. He actively warned against the danger of evaluators falling in love with “workout warriors” who ace athletic tests but consistently fail to make an impact on Saturday afternoons.
“Don’t over evaluate arm length or, okay, is he a 4.6 versus a 4.5? Like, when the film speaks so highly, it tells you a lot,” Freeman explained. “I’m always cautious of the people that test really, really well, but the film doesn’t match… if you’re not a great player and productive player in college, it’s hard to be in the NFL.”
Freeman’s message serves as a stark reminder to scouts and fans alike. While arm length, hand size, and stopwatch times make for easy talking points, they cannot measure a player’s instincts, motor, or ability to effortlessly shed blocks.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Currently, Bain is the sixth-ranked prospect on PFSN’s Big Board and has an average draft position of 8.1 on PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator.
When it comes to Bain, the film speaks volumes, and according to one of the top defensive minds in college football, the rest is just noise.
