Why are speed times such a mystery?

I saw where Sweeting ran a 4.42 40 at the combine.That is pretty darn fast.Top 10 for DBs at Combine.Why was he not ever mentioned in the fastest players on team?Or if he was,I missed it.
It is almost like the abilities are downplayed because the results don't correlate.We have "special" players but not a special defense.
Coaching? Hmmm
btw-Of course we all know about Snoddy and JT.Who is the next guy (s)?

I thought it was a 4.38? Or was that the pale WR?

40 times are often correlated to how well your can run the 40 versus how fast you are on the field. I think if they started from a two point stance (i.e WR stance) it would be a much better indicator of football speed. So much of the 40 is that weird three point stance sprinter position start. The same guy could vary between 4.4 and 4.7 because of that.

Originally Posted by babuka

40 times are often correlated to how well your can run the 40 versus how fast you are on the field. I think if they started from a two point stance (i.e WR stance) it would be a much better indicator of football speed. So much of the 40 is that weird three point stance sprinter position start. The same guy could vary between 4.4 and 4.7 because of that.

Plus as has been mentioned by Stylee at lot of the timings are done by hand and may use different parameters for starting/stopping the clock not to mention human reaction time.

Why are speed times such a mystery?

Because there no football now. At least GT plays Rutgers tonight.

Fast is fast. Technique helps get a low 40 time, but if your are fast in the 40, you will be fast on the field. You can't be slow on the field and get a fast 40 time.

I think what Stylee was trying to say is that reported 40 times from many different sources are unreliable for the simple fact that the timing protocols vary greatly across the board. Hand held stop watches going on first move is a lot different than automated devices like at the combine. So, when you see a 4.45 time reported on a recruiting site, what does it really mean? Was the coach doing the timing with a hand held? Was that the average, or the one time that the coach was a little slow with the trigger? You get my drift.

Now, if you want to discuss how 40 times, assuming accuracy, translate to the football field, that is a totally different story. You can't fake speed. You either have it or you don't, just like bench reps. However, how effectively a player utilizes that speed on the field varies greatly. I have seen a ton of football players over the years who could bench press and squat a Volkswagon, but didn't play at all like they were strong. Bottom line, if you can't get leverage, strength means nothing. Better athletes get better leverage and get into better positions, in a dynamic sense, during the flow of the action. Speed is much the same way, but probably to a slightly lesser degree. Intelligence, anticipation, instincts, decisiveness, lateral agility and fundamental body positioning allow you to capitalize on your speed. If you lack those things, you won't play as fast as your time may indicate. Plus there is the pads and ball carrying factor. For some reason, some guys just don't run as well laden with the extra weight. JD had very average 40 times, but I can't remember a single play him getting caught from behind by "faster" players without an angle advantage. He is a great example of a guy who is probably just as fast toting the rock and helmet as the baton. I can't remember the name, but there was a runner for BC about a decade ago who ran a 4.6 who devastated the league and outran people all the time.

Thanks Boomer and Jeagt...pretty much.

Originally Posted by dressedcheeseside

There is a difference between football speed and track speed. Snoddy smoked Justin in the sprint, but I guarantee you Justin will prove to be much more a threat on the field than Broderick.

It sure will be interesting to find out. Snoddy hasn't given us all he is going to, but you are probably right.

Speaking of 40 times....

Comparing NFL and high school 40-yard dash times: A horrifying revelation - SBNation.com

Atleast Sweeting got faster!

40 times are so overrated, but it's great for TV analysts and fans to talk about and dissect. Anquan Bolden ran a 4.7 40 coming out of FSU and it pretty much killed his draft stock, even though he was regularly out running guys during games. Well, he became one of the better WRs in the NFL for a good span of time. Arian Foster ran a 4.69 at the combine, didn't even get drafted, but is now considered the best back in the NFL. Jerry Rice ran a 4.71 at the combine...he's only the best WR to ever play football.

Here's a saying that my HS coach always told us "Tape don't lie". If a guy looks like a player on tape, I don't care what his test results in gym shorts and a t-shirt say. Don't let stupid things that aren't directly related to FB trick you into seeing (or not seeing) what you saw on tape.