Anyone follow the “speed” numbers from the combine…….

[cmhawks99]

Good stuff here................

Definitely I agree they should run in pads and on a football field.

Also I agree the tape and actual football playing is the true indicator of a "football player".

Finally I'm not sure what to make of the comment most studs are fast and aren't indicative of the conference as a whole.................

I think the studs, are fast on the football field. But per combine times often they aren't. As for tOSU, I know it was a joke. All the same they have put fast kids at all positions in the NFL for years. In fact I believe they have more NFL players than anyone and no they aren't primarily linemen. In fact they have a ton of DB's, WR's and Lbers!

Chad

[cmhawks99]

2 words....football speed. 2 more words....Jerry Rice. 2 more words....Emmitt Smith. I could go on.

40 times are overrated.

Team speed can be seen with the naked eye with no stopwatch.

This is how I think as well.

Chad

[illinoiscyclone]

Good stuff here................

Definitely I agree they should run in pads and on a football field.

Also I agree the tape and actual football playing is the true indicator of a "football player".

Finally I'm not sure what to make of the comment most studs are fast and aren't indicative of the conference as a whole.................

I think the studs, are fast on the football field. But per combine times often they aren't. As for tOSU, I know it was a joke. All the same they have put fast kids at all positions in the NFL for years. In fact I believe they have more NFL players than anyone and no they aren't primarily linemen. In fact they have a ton of DB's, WR's and Lbers!

Chad

yeah the poll was just for this year though. per everydayshouldbesaturday.com

[iccyfan]

I seriously don't want this to turn into a Big 10 vs. Big 12 peeing match

Then why do you bring up slow Oklahoma players and repeatedly cite fast UI and OSU players? Why did you feel the need to compare Humpal to Bowen?

You protesteth too much and aren't very good at hiding your true agenda. The big ten versus Big XII relative speed topic is interesting anyway...

[cmhawks99]

Then why do you bring up slow Oklahoma players and repeatedly cite fast UI and OSU players? Why did you feel the need to compare Humpal to Bowen?

You protesteth too much and aren't very good at hiding your true agenda. The big ten versus Big XII relative speed topic is interesting anyway...

We always digress back to the area of info we know the most about. Also you wouldn't have been interested if the Big 12 wasn't involved and tOSU was brought up by another. I used a tOSU player with a questionable 40 time for a CB example?

Now what..................

Chad

PS…………..I don’t know if any of you have wife’s or girlfriends who find this or rather these “sports” message boards irritating if not obsessive?! But here was a little snippet my wife added to my initial post while I was away from the computer and before it got “sent”. I cut it out and kept it as I found it humorous. Thought you guys might enjoy it too….


”””””””””””I am a huge poop spewer, just like the rest of you. I am sure my wanker is bigger than any of yours, so it justifies me to write any crap I want on these web sites. I will soon be having much more time for you fellas, because my wife is going to separate from me.”””””””””””””

Ain't she hilarious.............

Signed,

The lovely and ever witty Mrs. McCleary

[ricochet]

I've never really thought about this, but it seems like speed has always been looked at as important in receivers and defensive backs. In my opinion the more recent (*) emphasis on "team speed" applies more to other positions. In particular I think defensive line and line backers. I bet the speed drop off from defensive backs to defensive linemen is much less today than in the past.

As others have also mentioned I think there is a lot more to being fast on a football field than running 40 yards in a tshirt and shorts. Even the style of defense matters. If you put the same players in an attacking style defense they will appear "faster" than in more of a read and react type system.

(*) To me the "recent" emphasis on team speed started in the 80's with Miami. In particular when they beat Nebraska in the 84 (?) Orange Bowl. To those of you who weren't alive then I realize the 80's may not seem recent. At least I think that was the first I remember people talking about improving their team speed. In the 70's when the Pac 10 started dominating the Big 10 in the Rose Bowl I seem to recall the thinking being that was more of a style difference (more wide open vs. 3 yards and cloud of dust), than a speed difference.

To bring this back to the original question. I wonder if there is much difference in 40 times for Big 10 vs. SEC defensive linemen? And not just the ones that have NFL potential so I'm not sure the combine is necessarily a good indicator.

[cmhawks99]

I've never really thought about this, but it seems like speed has always been looked at as important in receivers and defensive backs. In my opinion the more recent (*) emphasis on "team speed" applies more to other positions. In particular I think defensive line and line backers. I bet the speed drop off from defensive backs to defensive linemen is much less today than in the past.

As others have also mentioned I think there is a lot more to being fast on a football field than running 40 yards in a tshirt and shorts. Even the style of defense matters. If you put the same players in an attacking style defense they will appear "faster" than in more of a read and react type system.

(*) To me the "recent" emphasis on team speed started in the 80's with Miami. In particular when they beat Nebraska in the 84 (?) Orange Bowl. To those of you who weren't alive then I realize the 80's may not seem recent. At least I think that was the first I remember people talking about improving their team speed. In the 70's when the Pac 10 started dominating the Big 10 in the Rose Bowl I seem to recall the thinking being that was more of a style difference (more wide open vs. 3 yards and cloud of dust), than a speed difference.

To bring this back to the original question. I wonder if there is much difference in 40 times for Big 10 vs. SEC defensive linemen? And not just the ones that have NFL potential so I'm not sure the combine is necessarily a good indicator.

1# Great point that I haven't really thought about, but it is true to a degree from what I have seen.

2# 100% dead on IMO !!

3# Man does that make me feel old. They seemed like yesterday

4# This is still the area that the SEC kicks all our buts...................The Big 10 and Big 12 have plenty of D-linemen that can run but few of them weight 300 Lbs however.

You aptly got to the point of "speed" IMO. It is all over the field from O-guards and O-tackles who can get down field and D-limenen who are quick and can run laterally. The Big 10 has plenty of Lbers that can run and athletic O-linemen but the SEC has All-Pro D-tackles.

In essence quickness is way more important than "speed"

Chad

[TitanClone]

See inadvertently or intentionally you guys are on to what I'm taking about. Johnson did run a 4.24, but many, many other Rbers didn't and they are studs.

Furthermore most NFL QBs have run 4.8 to 5.0 and starred (really has little to with being a QB) while Senecca has been a journeyman.

What really makes a person fast or a future hall of famer? For every Chris Johson there are more Emmit Smiths or Terrel Davis's. 4.6 or 4.7 studs!

Chad

Thanks for helping prove my original point.

I remember saying that theres a difference between 40 times and on field speed.

The only reason i brought up Chris Johnson is because of the times you have posted in the opener.

And as far as Seneca goes, your right speed doesn't matter that much for a QB. But, this thread is about the combine and speed.