Does the Wonderlic test matter?

By Joe D.

Before reading this article, go here and take a sample Wonderlic test.  Feel free to post your results.  And now, onto the article.

Per leaked reports, Tim Tebow achieved a 22 on the Wonderlic test.  For those who were in a coma the past 20 years, the Wonderlic test is a 50 question, 12 minute exam  that assesses an individuals learning and problem solving ability within the pressure filled confines of the NFL combine.  The question is, “What does the Wonderlic test measure.”

The Wonderlic doesn’t measure quick thought processing.  Most decisions at the NFL level are made within a fraction of a second.  50 questions in 12 minutes breaks down to 14.4 seconds per question.  That is an eternity in football time.  Playing Brain Age would be a more accurate test for quick thought processing.  I can imagine the Headline, “Tebow’s Mind is Geriatric, Brain Age of 69.”

If the test doesn’t measure the speed at which decisions are made, what does it measure?  Not intelligence or knowledge, though I do believe it measures willingness to study.  While all of these players are coming from college programs, we are all aware that some schools tailor the curriculum for the athletes.  Most people can get a 4.0 in English as a 2nd language and rocks for jocks.

In the NFL, the best players spend countless hours watching film, getting an understanding of their opponents tendencies, and with the help of the coaching staff, developing ways to attack those tendencies.  I missed question #18 on the above sample Wonderlic test.  I missed the connection between the letters being analogs for numbers.  Would I miss that question again (or a similar question)?  Absolutely not.

Players have ample opportunity to take sample tests and prepare accordingly for the Wonderlic test.  They prepare by lifting and running and practicing the drills in preparation for the combine.  Are they willing to spend countless hours learning different styles of questions that may be in the Wonderlic?  If they are, they will probably score well on the test.  There are those who will falter due to the pressure of the testing environment.  What are Sundays in the NFL, but the ultimate test of a players skill and knowledge.

So does the test matter?  It doesn’t for decision making on the field, but it could answer one more question mark about the player’s work ethic or whether they may have a brain freeze in the biggest moments in a game.

Tags: ,
Comments
Comments have been disabled for this post.
Sort: Newest | Oldest

Yo Mark..that's total bull shit..The time factor makes the test harder than some think..

I can guarantee you have never taken the test or you wouldn't be so full of yourself..

The test is pointless. It has nothing to do with being a QB in the NFL. That said, the test is shockingly easy. I don't know how VInce Young, using darts, couldn't get at least 10. One of the sample questions I got was "what is the eighth month of the year?" If you don't know this, I'm not sure how you can function in life. Frankly, I could never, ever score lower than a 45. No chance. And I don't consider myself that intelligent. The test requires you think quickly and logically, and that's it. If you can add and subtract, know your numbers, you can get at least 25.

BTW..I took the complete Wonderlic test two years ago..I scored a 35.5..

Then testing a scientific theory I have had for a while I watched 12 back to back Washington Redskins games..I then took the test again..I scored a 15..

Proving beyond a scientific doubt that watching the Redskins makes you a complete dumb ass..

To reverse the effect I watched 12 back to back Cowboys games..It worked proving there is hope even for dumbass Redskins fans.

Go Cowboys..

and yes kev ole boy, those draft picks would look good right now, but that was from last years draft, so we move on. and well, we still do have roy, and he still has another chance to redeem himself, so you just never know? i still think he can come thru for us this year with the fact that now austin will see most of the doubles.
getting back to the draft and putting this jackass behind us......i'm predicting and hoping for terrence cody 6'4" 370 lbs NT from bama???? anybody else?

i do feel bad that taylor lost his life. but i do feel that his involved past did bring it to pass? thanks for the information joe....wow, what a rap sheet. i love the fact that we can all get on this sight and race, color, creed, beliefs, or any other social or ethinic seperation casts will ever get in the way of us bantering as football fans. here we are all just "good ole boys". i happen to be french canadian, and i don't spell very well. but who really cares? obviously, kevin you must have understood my point whether it was spelled or not. in that case your probably not stupid, that was my mistake. your definetley on the ignorant side then.

Funny Bevo.

Rarely do I laugh out loud. I remember watching Sean Taylor in his first pre-season game. He made a pick in the end zone on what was a spectacularly athletic play. At that point in time I was annoyed that we would have to contend with his talent for 10+ years.

Yo Kevin..

The say don't say anything about the dead unless it is good..

Sean Taylor is dead..Good!

Everything tells me to stop responding, and yet I feel compelled to say that intelligent discourse requires two intelligent participants.

How is saying that I have no respect for Sean Taylor negative. It's a statement of fact. And if you consider that negative, you must consider my comments against you downright hostile.

And good luck with your efforts to deport people. I certainly hope people pin a medal on you when fruit and hospitality prices double.

Sean Taylor was a dumbass. While his death is unfortunate, it is actually quite ironic considering his past history.

2004 DUI arrest in Virginia
On October 27, 2004, Taylor was arrested at 2:45am for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol following a Washington, D.C. birthday party for former Redskins' receiver Rod Gardner. Pulled over for driving 82 mph on the Capital Beltway, whose speed limit is 55 mph, Taylor failed a field sobriety test and then refused a blood alcohol (BAC) test, which resulted in his arrest.[18] A Fairfax County, Virginia judge later acquitted Taylor of the charges in March 2005, after viewing a videotape of Taylor's roadside sobriety tests that, according to the judge, failed to demonstrate obvious intoxication. Taylor was, however, convicted for refusing to take a blood alcohol test requested of him by a Virginia state police officer.[19] However, when this case was heard on appeal in March 2005, Taylor was acquitted of refusing to take the BAC test, with a judge ruling there was a lack of probable cause for the request.[20]
[edit]2005 armed assault arrest in Miami
Events: On June 3, 2005, Taylor was named publicly as a "person of interest" by Miami-Dade County police in regard to a Miami assault case involving firearms, and was being sought for questioning. "We need to speak to him, we don't know if he's a victim, witness or suspect," Miami-Dade police spokesman Mary Walters said. Taylor allegedly was present at, and possibly involved in, an incident on June 1, 2005 in Miami, in which bullets allegedly were fired into a stolen vehicle.
On June 5, 2005, ESPN and The Miami Herald both reported that Taylor, accompanied by his lawyer, surrendered to Miami-Dade police at approximately 10pm ET on June 4 at Miami's Cutler Ridge district police station, where he was transported to Miami's Turner Guilford Knight correctional facility. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, a felony, and misdemeanor battery. Miami-Dade police issued a statement the same day, confirming the earlier reports. Taylor had allegedly pointed a gun at a person over a dispute over two ATVs that he claimed were stolen.[citation needed] Taylor then allegedly left the scene, but returned shortly and punched one person.
The Associated Press reported that Taylor was held in detention at Miami's Turner Gilford Knight correctional facility and released the evening of June 4 after posting bond of $16,500. The Miami-Dade County Clerk's Office announced that he would soon be officially arraigned on the charges.[21]
The Washington Post reported on March 3, 2006 that Taylor's trial has been postponed until April 10, 2006. Days before that date, the trial was moved back once more, this time by a week, because of conflicts with Passover and Easter celebrations.[citation needed]
[edit]Armed assault plea agreement and resolution

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008)
On January 28, 2006, the Miami-Dade County prosecutor announced that he was filing new charges against Taylor, which would have increased his potential maximum jail time from 16 years to 46 years. The new charges included increasing his felony assault charges from one to three, which reflected the allegation that, on June 1, 2005, he brandished a firearm at three individuals who Taylor believed stole two all-terrain vehicles from him.
The trial was again postponed on April 17, 2006 (to May 8, 2006), after the prosecutor in the case asked the presiding judge to be removed from the case. The County prosecutor's request for removal from the case came as Taylor's defense lawyers argued that the prosecutor was using the case to promote his side-work as a disc jockey in South Beach. Defense lawyers for Taylor entered a motion for the case's complete dismissal, due to prosecutorial misconduct.[22]
On May 8, 2006, the prosecution requested and received another extension of the case, citing the new prosecutor assigned to the case and a need for additional preparation time. The trial was scheduled to begin July 10, 2006 in Miami but on June 2, 2006 the charges against Taylor were dropped as part of a negotiated plea bargain. Taylor donated his time to various charities and made $1,000 donations to 10 southern Florida schools in scholarships and, in exchange, would avoid jail time and a felony record.

Once again Juan...I mean Joe...You are wrong. We can have an intelligent talk about football...You are just like the ass he walks around the mountains of Colombia for coffee collection. I am not the one who made the negative statement about Sean Taylor. You are the ass that did that. Just like the Immigration Department, I patrol sites for idiots like you who should

A--Not live here
B--Not say things about dead people. ST RIP

Dave,

I know how you feel. There are some who just are too social retarded to function, in life or in a social arena like this.

I actually have a Steelers fan as an in-law, and you just can't talk football with him without going off on wild irrational tangents. It's unfortunate, because people like this are so ignorant that they don't realize they reflect poorly on the rest of what is a respectable fan-base. One caveat on that, I don't believe there are any respectable Eagles fans.

Hey Davedallasfan, are you calling me stupid? You just used the the word "exceptable" when the word "acceptable" might have been a better choice....Ummmm, you want football smarts? How is Big Ole Roy Williams working out for you? Would you like those draft picks back?

Your English Tutor,
Kevin--Hail

we generally don't use profanity on this sight as common place, but sometimes it's needed to rid yourself of pesstillence like the im-mature, kevin from redskin country. he's either young, and not mature enough to express himself in a proper manner getting his point across without acting stupid and using vulgarity and name calling, or he's just that stupid to think it is exceptable to do so? or maybe both???? well what ever, kevin you have showed us all the kind of person you really are, and your football opinions have went out the window with you as well. had you came on here and showed any sort of football smarts, and presented some valid arguements, the fact that you are a redskin fan would have been overlooked and your opinions may have been taken seriously? but now we know the type of fan you really are. this goes to the rest of you non-cowboy fans also that come on here just to bash and call names. we are of a higher assent as cowboy fans. we have pride and it will show this coming season. we'll have some class, and a home game for the superbowl, baby!!!!!!

fuckoff kevin you bitch.........there. said it in words you'll understand......hail to your bitchskins

Ramirez, you nightstalking SOB...Get a life and quit posting you friggin homo. Are the men's swing joints you frequent closed? Fear the HAIL!

I'm not really sure where Tebow could possibly contribute for us. QB is set down to the 3rd stringer. We're good on tight end and running back to 3rd string as well. Some team would be lucky to have Tebow in the 4th round but there is no way he will be a Cowboy.

A 22 isn't an issue. I think Tebow's throwing motion and his questionable accuracy are bigger issues. If he were around in the 4th round or later, I think the Cowboys should take a look at him as a project pick. He is athletic and there has to be a roll somewhere on the football field for him if it's not a QB.

And to add to my point, Vince Young has admitted to being a bit lazy about his preparation the first few years of his career. He was just willing to rely on his athleticism and that really will take him so far.

I heard someone on ESPN talking about the Wonderlic just being a very small piece to the scouting puzzle. It only really matters with a big outlier. Tebow at 22 isn't a big deal. Vince Young getting a 6 is something worthy of a second look. To their credit that test was harder than I thought. The time goes by really fast so you have to get all the easy ones before worrying about the others. I'm sure I could have gotten them all with no time limit but against the clock I only got a little more than half while skipping 4.