The objective of the 3-Cone Shuttle Drill Test is to measure agility, speeed, quickness, flexibilty, change of direction, and body control. The 3-Cone Shuttle Drill Test is overlooked by most fans, but its importance could be seen in players such as Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders. With respect to Emmitt Smith, in particular, what he lacked in pure straight-line speed (4.55) he made up for with agility. His supernatural ability to turn on a dime and juke linebackers out of their shoes was his primary weapon.

Emmitt Smith's ability to plant and accelerate came from his powerful thighs. Emmitt Smith's 44" thighs were said to once be able to squat over 700 pounds. Most people don't know that Emmitt was also one of the best pass-blocking running backs in the history of the NFL. Emmitt would routinely pick up linebackers with ease and could also pick up defensive tackles (believe it or not, Emmitt once picked up a blitzing defensive tackle from the Washington Redskins and completely stood him up).

Getting back to the 3-Cone Shuttle Drill Test, the player starts out by getting into a three-pint stance near Cone 1. Frome Cone 1, the player runs to Cone 2 and bends down and touches a line with his right hand. Then he goes back to Cone 1 and bends down and touches the line with his right hand. Afterwards, he runs back to Cone 2 and goes around it and circles around Cone 3 and sprints back to Cone 1.