NFL Combine 2015: Schedule, TV Coverage, Invite List, Preview, and More

It's NFL Combine week, and that means the draft season gets real as we learn a lot more about some of the top prospects in the draft.  The Combine has become a huge event for a number of reasons.  Players get shorter from their official college measurements, players are faster or slower than expected, and medical issues can pop up that affect a players stock.

The interview process is something that we don't get to see, but gives NFL GMs a better idea of who the prospect is that they are evaluating.  New Washington Redskins GM Scot McCloughan focuses on the game tape of a prospect, calling it the DNA of a player.  Combine drills can tell you some things about players, especially the ones that will be switching positions at the next level, but it always goes back to the game tape for McCloughan.  One area that he will focus on is the interview process.  McCloughan values this personal interaction to know what makes a prospect tick, his personal life, and how much football means to their lives.

McCloughan: "I think game tape is the DNA. That's it. You don't play in T-shirts and shorts. All these kids nowadays get these speed trainers and nutritionists prior to the combine and I don't blame them, if it gets them more money it gets them more money. I always go back to the tape. I have to. That's the way I was taught. You're going to see all of a sudden - Georgia is playing Alabama, it's fourth quarter, it's fourth and three, who wins on that line of scrimmage? That guard come off and get the play? T-shirt and shorts, you can't see that. They might be able to bench press 25 times, 40 times, you watch him on tape, the guy has no strength. So I think the tape to me is very important."

"You get to look them in the eye and kind of get a feel for who they are and they get a relationship with you,because that starts building what you're going to have for the whole package once it's said and done," McCloughan said. "The thing about the way that I'm approaching it - and it's the same way that I did it in San Francisco ... it's a team, and there are some starters in place that are good players, but the overall 53-man roster - and 63 with the 10-man practice squad - is you need to add to it. My belief is the core of the team, you start this year in the draft. Now, we'll deal in some free agency, pro free agency stuff. But you start building the core guys now."

2015 NFL Scouting Combine:

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Dates: Feb. 17-23

How To Watch

TV Coverage: NFL Network
Start Time: 9 AM EST daily
Online Streaming: NFL.com
Schedule of on-field workouts:

Friday, Feb. 20: Specialists, offensive linemen, tight ends
Saturday, Feb. 21: Quarterbacks, running backs wide receivers
Sunday: Feb. 22: Defensive linemen, linebackers
Monday, Feb. 23: Defensive backs

Complete list of 2015 NFL Combine invites