"His...straight line speed and acceleration are only average..."

The analysis of Ryan Swope by NFL scouts prior to the Combine. He ran the 2nd fastest 40 yard dash there at 4.34.
Predictable coverups for the lazy scouting? "He doesn't play that fast." "We don't see that on the field" "Track speed doesn't translate to gridiron."
All variants of the Eye Test; ignore anything that can be measured in any way - even if only roughly - if it refutes expectations based on stereotypes, instead rely on unfalsfiable first person reports based on what it feels like you see.

It's undeniable that there's tape of Swope running straight past manned-up defensive backs on streaks and wheel routes. But the scouts (professional or amateur) can always fall back on "It doesn't LOOK like he's running fast when he does that" or "It looks like a coverage mixup" or "He caught them off-guard with deceptive speed" or whatever.

This is obviously off-topic but I think it's relevant to a lot of conversations about Tech football.

Originally Posted by stylee

The analysis of Ryan Swope by NFL scouts prior to the Combine. He ran the 2nd fastest 40 yard dash there at 4.34.
Predictable coverups for the lazy scouting? "He doesn't play that fast." "We don't see that on the field" "Track speed doesn't translate to gridiron."
All variants of the Eye Test; ignore anything that can be measured in any way - even if only roughly - if it refutes expectations based on stereotypes, instead rely on unfalsfiable first person reports based on what it feels like you see.

It's undeniable that there's tape of Swope running straight past manned-up defensive backs on streaks and wheel routes. But the scouts (professional or amateur) can always fall back on "It doesn't LOOK like he's running fast when he does that" or "It looks like a coverage mixup" or "He caught them off-guard with deceptive speed" or whatever.

This is obviously off-topic but I think it's relevant to a lot of conversations about Tech football.

Only this past season I heard an NFL expert analyst, former QB as I remember, dismiss one Calvin Thomas as "he doesn't have great speed" but is deceptive. Sometimes this past season I didn't think Orwin Smith was running fast, except nobody was catching him. Other times I didn't think Washington was running fast ... but we won't go there.

Originally Posted by stylee

The analysis of Ryan Swope by NFL scouts prior to the Combine. He ran the 2nd fastest 40 yard dash there at 4.34.
Predictable coverups for the lazy scouting? "He doesn't play that fast." "We don't see that on the field" "Track speed doesn't translate to gridiron."
All variants of the Eye Test; ignore anything that can be measured in any way - even if only roughly - if it refutes expectations based on stereotypes, instead rely on unfalsfiable first person reports based on what it feels like you see.

It's undeniable that there's tape of Swope running straight past manned-up defensive backs on streaks and wheel routes. But the scouts (professional or amateur) can always fall back on "It doesn't LOOK like he's running fast when he does that" or "It looks like a coverage mixup" or "He caught them off-guard with deceptive speed" or whatever.

This is obviously off-topic but I think it's relevant to a lot of conversations about Tech football.

Yes. NFL scouts are lazy. You see it every year. I usually say they just rely on the combine and ignore 3/4 years worth of tape, but that doesn't even qualify here! I hope he falls to the Falcons, and we get a speedy guy who can be a 4th receiver ready to fill in for Harry Douglas in the future.

Good for him, representing!

Not sure how this has anything to do with GT unless you want to argue the opposite - that there is track speed and there is football speed. Orwin, TW and Laskey are all clocked in the high 4.5's+. Not terribly fast on the field or on the track. I think TW was faster than we gave him credit for and Orwin not as fast as we liked to think.

I think it is true that there is a difference between track speed and football speed and I know you do to. I have no idea if that applies to Swope or not.

I've got more to type, but I'd guess that Laskey would probably run in the 4.6s by the Combine timing protocol, though I think his 10 yard time would be much more impressive. Not sure about Orwin - I'd guess he'd be in the 4.4s with that protocol, but I guess we'll never know :-(

Maybe I'm wrong, if so Stylee can correct me, but....I think his point is that there is or isn't a difference between track speed and football speed. I think his point is that many more times then not the "eye test" only backs up our already preconceived notions or gets used to legitimize our own opinions. This of course has to with GT if for no other reason then some of the discussions we have here on this forum.

Originally Posted by HelluvaMGTmjr

Good for him, representing!

Not sure how this has anything to do with GT unless you want to argue the opposite - that there is track speed and there is football speed. Orwin, TW and Laskey are all clocked in the high 4.5's+. Not terribly fast on the field or on the track. I think TW was faster than we gave him credit for and Orwin not as fast as we liked to think.

I think it is true that there is a difference between track speed and football speed and I know you do to. I have no idea if that applies to Swope or not.

H,
On TW-he is faster than you think but his quickness is very good.We don't give him credit for those 2 yd runs for TDs/FDs but he had a knack for sneaking forward.A knack that VAd does not have right now.

Originally Posted by HelluvaMGTmjr

Good for him, representing!

Not sure how this has anything to do with GT unless you want to argue the opposite - that there is track speed and there is football speed. Orwin, TW and Laskey are all clocked in the high 4.5's+. Not terribly fast on the field or on the track. I think TW was faster than we gave him credit for and Orwin not as fast as we liked to think.

I think it is true that there is a difference between track speed and football speed and I know you do to. I have no idea if that applies to Swope or not.

There's no way Orwin's not in the 4.4s. When he gets into the open field, even against conference opponents, he's damn hard to catch. He's had a number of 40+ yarders where he's gone untouched.

Disagree on Orwin. Low 4.5s maybe very high 4.4s at best. His lack of exceptional speed really showed on kick returns. Hell, Allen was a mid 4.5 guy and he's gone 40+ untouched before. Orwin wasn't out beat AB because he was the fastest but because he wasn't a munchkin.

This is all I could find, have no idea where it comes from but it looks about right.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...2013&genpos=rb