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Al Groh calls it “pass rush school.” The University of Virginia football coach will clear an area of his office and work one-on-one with a top defensive lineman or linebacker, often on a Sunday afternoon.
Groh, who was the linebackers coach for the New York Giants during the Lawrence Taylor era, has tutored the likes of Chris Canty and Chris Long at the University of Virginia in recent years.
The most recent graduate of pass rush school is Clint Sintim, who could become the latest Cavalier selected in the first round of the NFL draft, following in the steps of Long, Branden Albert, and D’Brickashaw Ferguson. At 6-foot-3, 249-pounds, he’s viewed as a prototypical outside linebacker for teams that play a 3-4 defense.
“It’s a blessing to be where I am and I don’t know what’s ahead,” says Sintim, who has been training at Athletes’ Performance in Gulf Breeze, Fla., since early January. “I’m just trying to be in the best position as possible so I can be as marketable as possible to every other team in the NFL.”
In college, some people jokingly referred to the Woodbridge, Virginia, native as the fourth of Howie Long’s sons. When Chris Long, who grew up in Charlottesville, committed early to Virginia, he lobbied Sintim hard via e-mail to join him. Once Sintim agreed, the two became good friends.
Soon Sintim was joining the Long family for dinner and taking advice from Howie Long, the Hall of Fame defensive end and Fox Sports football analyst.
“Because Chris and I were such good friends he would always be there to lend a helping hand,” Sintim says. “He’d tell me what I needed to work on, little things, but it wouldn’t all be football. A lot of times we’d hang out and do something non-football related. I know if I ever have a question or need something football-wise, he’ll be there for me, as will Chris.”
Sintim stood out at Athletes’ Performance and not just because he was the only Virginia player in a pre-combine class dominated by players from Clemson and the SEC. He quickly threw himself into the training, bringing his gregarious personality and work ethic with him.
“I thought I was pretty diligent about knowing how to take care of my body and make myself as productive as possible,” Sintim said. “But I really had no idea of that until I came here.”
Sintim, who grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, says he’s approached his training as if he’s a relative unknown, even though many draft experts project him as a second-round pick and possibly a first.
About The Author
Pete Williams – Pete Williams is a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com and the co-author of the Core Performance book series.
