Tom Shaw Proves You Can Teach Speed

ORLANDO -- Tom Shaw knows fast.

Shaw, a renowned speed and conditioning coach, has trained athletes for more than 16 years. He was among the first to open his doors to players hoping to improve their NFL stock. Shaw has earned their confidence through drills and exercises that emphasize his SPARQ philosophy: Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness.

Sure, Shaw can name drop if needed. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Jay Cutler, Ike Taylor and -- let's go "Prime Time" old school -- Deion Sanders have gone through Shaw's program. Shaw, however, cares as much about helping late-round selections as he does about helping a sure first-rounder to inch up a position or two.

"I do want them to run fast, I do want them to jump high, I do want them to be explosive. But some camps, that's all they worry about," Shaw told FanHouse. "Our job is to help them make the 53-man roster."

Former Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark is a believer, and he recently arrived here to work with Shaw at Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Clark also played in last Saturday's East-West Shrine game here at the Citrus Bowl. While it's unlikely any quarterback improved their stock in the game -- the East beat the West, 16-13 -- Clark does have nice size (6-foot-2, 230) and was the Nittany Lions' career leader in touchdown passes (43).

However, it's also not a secret Clark needs to improve his arm strength and accuracy and show that his skills, while well-suited for Penn State's offensive system, translate into the NFL.

"When I sat down and talked with coach Shaw before any of my workouts, he asked me what were my strengths and what were my weaknesses," Clark said.

"When I talked about my weaknesses he said, 'Okay, well, those weaknesses will be strengths by the time you leave.' And I believed it because of his track record and the pride he takes in getting players better to compete at the highest level."

Shaw, 49, understands about performing at the highest level. He has three Super Bow rings from his days working with Brady and the New England Patriots.

Although Shaw offered the first combine-specific training program, there are more than 20 different camps around the country offering a variety of programs and run by former coaches, trainers and even sports agents.

For instance, there's Chip Smith's Competitive Edge Sports, IMG Academies, Athletes' Performance Institute; four-time Olympic Gold medalist sprint champion Michael Johnson and former NFL stars Darrell Green and Sanders also have opened their own training facilities.

As one might guess, training at these camps takes a financial commitment, too.

Shaw's camp costs around $1,000 per week per player, plus room and board. Players stay at nearby resort condos, and their training program can last up to 12 weeks. Many arrived early January and stay through their respective school's Pro Day in March.

Seven of Shaw's campers, including former Florida State safety Myron Rolle, are playing in Saturday's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Rolle delayed his NFL career to attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Most experts feel Rolle, despite taking a year off from football, will get drafted because of his physical tools. Though he's not currently on the list of elite safeties, Rolle has been told that good performances in the Senior Bowl and at the NFL Combine next month -- specifically in speed drills -- could push him into the earlier rounds.

Combine results are considered a key to the decision-making process for April's NFL Draft.

"It's very intense," Rolle said of his training with Shaw. "The competition is very fierce, and you're always working hard and competing every day."

Shaw said Rolle's one of the most intelligent players he has coached, learning and studying the intricacies behind stride length and elbow frequency and how they impact his time in the 40-yard dash.

Rolle said balancing his training with the rigorous studies that came with being a Rhodes Scholar proved to be a challenge he embraced. Rolle worked out daily by himself at 7 am before he headed to class.

"I think a lot of people can get sidetracked from their goals once they see the impediments that are in front of them, trying to adjust and adapt to a new environment, community and culture," Rolle said. "I had the intrinsic drive that I wanted to be a football player one day and I wanted to be a football player in late April."

That's what Shaw wants for all of his players.

Shaw Has Game

Yes, he practiced what he now preaches.

Shaw was a track standout at New Port Richey (Fla.) Gulf High before playing football at Central Michigan. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's in exercise physiology, he coached for several high school, college and pro teams. He has worked for FSU, the New Orleans Saints and the Patriots.

Shaw credits former FSU track coach Dick Roberts for teaching him how to interact with athletes.

"Dick was more of a coach than a yeller," said Shaw, who has been married 13 years to Joni, a former cheerleader and cheerleader coach at FSU. "He completely changed my philosophy with the way you deal with athletes because in the private sector that matters.

"If they don't like you, they are not coming back."

Shaw originally housed his facility in Kenner, La., near New Orleans, but Hurricane Katrina forced his move to Florida in early 2006.

Disney's sports complex is the training site for baseball's Atlanta Braves and football's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It also has facilities for track and field, cross country, tennis, softball, youth league baseball and the 5,000-seat Milk House for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, martial arts and in-line hockey.

"It's the nicest facility in the world," Shaw said. "We had a $6 million facility in New Orleans; Disney has $6 million in Toro lawnmowers."

Players also demand the best when looking for that extra edge.

Shaw's staff, for example, includes a physical therapist, nutritionist, massage therapist, orthopedic surgeon, media consultant and "everything else you can imagine that kids are going to need for preparation, recovering and regeneration," said Shaw, who also has former and current NFL players such as Taylor and Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Santonio Holmes training alongside players.

Shaw works his players six days a week and claims he hasn't had a player suffer a lower-body injury over the past five years, citing proper nutrition.

"And I am over-training these kids," Shaw admitted.

"We are sprinting full speed, recovering, doing field-specific work, jumps, throw, catch and cover four days a week in the afternoon. Nutrition is the new steroid. Kids don't take steroids to get bigger and stronger -- steroids allow you to recover. Nutrition is doing that for kids now."

Over the past 16 years, 118 players (71 in the last nine years) who ended up as first-round picks went through Shaw's program, including Michael Vick and Peyton Manning. Two former players -- Tennessee running back Chris Johnson and Sanders -- clocked the fastest 40 times ever at the combine - 4.24 by Johnson, 4.27 by Sanders.

Shaw knows fast.

"I think the biggest part of my coaching approach is the kids believe that I care about them running faster, they understand the reasons why, and I get them to believe they can run faster," Shaw said. "If they believe they can run faster, they will.

"Competition breeds success."

Speed might not be Clark's main priority, but he embraces the competition, too. Throwing and pass-coverage drills can get chirpy.

"Coach Shaw's really hands on with each and every player he's working out, and he has from quarterbacks to safeties to running backs, he has them all," Clark said. "And he knows how to coach and critique each and every one of us."

Former Clemson linebacker Antonio Clay also is working with Shaw.

Clay, who recently signed with the Odessa (Texas) Roughnecks, a professional indoor football team, hasn't played in two seasons due to family issues. Clay also was recently invited to the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge Feb. 6 in El Paso, Texas.

"It has been wonderful coming back, being in this atmosphere and being around the players," Clay said. "The competition and camaraderie are great. I am just trying to do the best I can do. My body's holding up. I am feeling good. I heard he (Shaw) was the best in the game, and I wanted to be part of it."