League Network

coach · #1 23-02-2009, 01:59 PM

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Percy Harvin Run Fast 40s at NFL Combine

Posted Feb 22nd 2009 12:30 PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed Under: NFL Draft

After a drama-filled Day 1 of the NFL combine -- thanks entirely to Andre Smith magically disappearing -- Sunday has been more about the important on-field stuff: a bunch of guys in tights running 40 yards at a pop. Because, as even casual fans know, the correlation between straight-line speed and NFL success is off the charts.

Of course, that doesn't keep teams from falling in love with players who bust out sub-4.4 40s. Last year, Chris Johnson ran an impossibly fast 4.24 at the combine and parlayed that into a first-round pick courtesy of the Titans. This morning, wide receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey (Maryland) and Percy Harvin (Florida) turned in times of 4.32 and 4.37, respectively.

Even before making their way to Indianapolis, both players were considered no worse than second-rounders, but they probably made some money with their performances today. But again, speed can sometimes be overvalued, and whenever I see a 4.3-something next to a player's name, my thoughts immediately go back to the 2006 combine.

Then-Florida wideout Chad Jackson was one of the top draft-eligible pass catchers in a decidedly weak class. He showed up in Indy, ran a 4.38 and his stock shot up, even though he wasn't a great route runner and played in an offense that had a reputation for turning out some pretty mediocre NFL wide receivers.

In the end, the Patriots traded up to the top of the second round to take Jackson. Over two seasons, he played in 14 games and caught 13 passes (three touchdowns) for 152 yards before New England released him. That's not to say Heyward-Bey or Harvin are destined for failure, just to point out that running really fast in a straight line doesn't mean much when taken out of context.

There are other concerns about Harvin, however. "One of the questions is, they don't run a route tree at Florida and they use him in some creative ways," said NFL Network's Mike Mayock during today's television coverage. "So can he run the route tree, number one ... We know he can run fast, but like [co-host] Marshall [Faulk] said, how good is he at getting in and out of traditional intermediate cuts. And then, how do you use the kid? He's a little bit like a cross between Reggie Bush and a wide receiver so you have to find ways to get the ball in his hands."

I'm pretty sure the Bush/WR comment wasn't meant to be derogatory

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/02/22/d...t-nfl-combine/

Tom155 · #2 23-02-2009, 06:07 PM

I Thought Harvin Would Run Faster Than That

coach · #3 23-02-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom155

I Thought Harvin Would Run Faster Than That

Fast times at the combine really do depend on how fit and ready the players are. Some of these players haven't played a game for a while.

But in saying that, where you get selected in the draft depends a lot on how you go at the combine. Many a college player have seen there stocks rise or fall on what they did there.

dragonfire · #4 24-02-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coach

Fast times at the combine really do depend on how fit and ready the players are. Some of these players haven't played a game for a while.

But in saying that, where you get selected in the draft depends a lot on how you go at the combine. Many a college player have seen there stocks rise or fall on what they did there.

dude these guys would have been training like crazy to run fast at the combine, that said sometimes the transition from shorts speed to pad speed is great, for example a guy might run a 4.44 at the combine but is electric on the field. i question why these guys arent required to pad up and run a 40 yd

coach · #5 24-02-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonfire

dude these guys would have been training like crazy to run fast at the combine, that said sometimes the transition from shorts speed to pad speed is great, for example a guy might run a 4.44 at the combine but is electric on the field. i question why these guys arent required to pad up and run a 40 yd

Some of the players who attend the combine do so, but don't run the 40 yards. They much prefer to do it on there own turf as in there college training falicity. Some colleges have super fast running tracks. You could run a super fast 4.2 for the 40 at your college while at the combine that might be a 4.4.

What I have never been able to understand is the infatuation that NFL coaches and scouts have with a straight line 40 yard time. In my opinion its overrated.

Raider_69 · #6 24-02-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coach

Some of the players who attend the combine do so, but don't run the 40 yards. They much prefer to do it on there own turf as in there college training falicity. Some colleges have super fast running tracks. You could run a super fast 4.2 for the 40 at your college while at the combine that might be a 4.4.

What I have never been able to understand is the infatuation that NFL coaches and scouts have with a straight line 40 yard time. In my opinion its overrated.

Ive only been following the sport for a short period of time but why on earth is running a straight line worth anything in the NFL?
It might help a RB or WR who gets on the outside and only has covering defenders to beat or burning the CB on the hail mary, but outside that scenario, they very rarely run a straight line. It's not very relevent to route runs is it?

jdizzle · #7 24-02-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider_69

Ive only been following the sport for a short period of time but why on earth is running a straight line worth anything in the NFL?
It might help a RB or WR who gets on the outside and only has covering defenders to beat or burning the CB on the hail mary, but outside that scenario, they very rarely run a straight line. It's not very relevent to route runs is it?

CBs may have to chase...

Haha...

It is about testing natural speed. There are other cone drills to test agility, balance etc.

One thing that is often talked about with CBs is the ability for them to rotate their hips...

coach · #8 24-02-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdizzle

CBs may have to chase...

Haha...

It is about testing natural speed. There are other cone drills to test agility, balance etc.

One thing that is often talked about with CBs is the ability for them to rotate their hips...

And to run fast going backwards

coach · #9 24-02-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider_69

Ive only been following the sport for a short period of time but why on earth is running a straight line worth anything in the NFL?
It might help a RB or WR who gets on the outside and only has covering defenders to beat or burning the CB on the hail mary, but outside that scenario, they very rarely run a straight line. It's not very relevent to route runs is it?

If you have a fast 40 yard time it means you have speed off the mark which is important.

Raider_69 · #10 24-02-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coach

If you have a fast 40 yard time it means you have speed off the mark which is important.

i get that, but just like in league, speed can only get you so far, and speed on a running track without your pads is entirely different then on the field with the gear on.
I think an ability to change directions quickly is more important then pure speed in a straight line/

jdizzle · #11 24-02-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider_69

i get that, but just like in league, speed can only get you so far, and speed on a running track without your pads is entirely different then on the field with the gear on.
I think an ability to change directions quickly is more important then pure speed in a straight line/

Of course it is.

IMO, the combine is glorified. Very few franchises (ie Raiders and Lions) take actual the physical test things as important. It is more of an opportunity for scouts and coaches to speak with players, see how seriously they take everything and respond etc.

Peyton Manning got selected first overall and didn't even workout at the combine. Tom Brady had an aweful combine... the clip of him doing the 40m is a classic.

The two best QBs going around now

Last year, Vernon Gholston had an amazing combine. Lead everything and just lit up. Selected 6th in the draft, he didn't have a sack, pass hurry, few solo tackles and actually didn't dress at the end of the season. He is aweful. Smart teams' scouts have said they knew that would be the case with him as he was known to go missing at college level, so it would be far more magnified in the NFL.

dragonfire · #12 24-02-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider_69

i get that, but just like in league, speed can only get you so far, and speed on a running track without your pads is entirely different then on the field with the gear on.
I think an ability to change directions quickly is more important then pure speed in a straight line/

unlike league their are levels of defense, lets say a rb cuts inside teh olb. Once he has made that cut he loses speed and he has a mlb coming at him and needs to accelerate away. the first ten yards in the 40 is a good way to see that sort of explosion that is needed to separate

coach · #13 25-02-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider_69

i get that, but just like in league, speed can only get you so far, and speed on a running track without your pads is entirely different then on the field with the gear on.
I think an ability to change directions quickly is more important then pure speed in a straight line/

I think straight line speed is overarted. But having 4.2 speed gets you to where you need to be quicker then if you had 4.4 speed.

I agree with you, having the ability to change direction is more important then just having flat out speed.

The great wide recievers of the game like Rice and Irvin were never considered to be fast. But look at there records.

Emmitt Smith, who holds the NFL's career rushing record was not a fast runner. The reason he lasted so long in the 1990 draft was that most scouts thought he was too slow.