Anyone else think that a guy's 40 time is so overrated? (1 Viewer)

[Loopdog]

Every year it seems guys run faster and faster 40 yard dashes....am I the only one who thinks this is such an overrated event? I seem to remember Justin Fargas running an absurd 40 a few years back and how did that work out for him exactly? It happens every single year. This year its starting with this Greg Olson guy, and Calvin Johnson's speculated time (although he'll be a stud no matter what he runs)

I just think that scouts need to drop the obsession with the time guys run in shorts and figure out another way to judge game speed

Loop

 

[Emmitt Smith]

Yea, you're alone on this one. Nobody has been saying it for years and years. Not one NFL Network personality has mentioned it when talking about the combine.

 

[cobalt_27]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

 

[Emmitt Smith]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

 

[cobalt_27]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

 

[Ned]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

i agree. i want to see my lineman 40yds downfield blocking for my franchise rb when he rips off those long td runs.

 

[-OZ-]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

i agree. i want to see my lineman 40yds downfield blocking for my franchise rb when he rips off those long td runs.

absolutely, if my LT can't stay ahead of my RB, he's fired. If my DE can't outrun their WRs, he's gone. Nobody is successful in the NFL if they can't run a 4.7, and everyone who runs under a 4.4 is a HOFer.

 

[Emmitt Smith]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

I missed the point? You think that most offensive linemen who can't run a sub 5.1 - 40 can't play.Whats to miss?

 

[cobalt_27]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

I missed the point? You think that most offensive linemen who can't run a sub 5.1 - 40 can't play.Whats to miss?

 

[Emmitt Smith]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

I missed the point? You think that most offensive linemen who can't run a sub 5.1 - 40 can't play.Whats to miss?

uh huh.

 

[-OZ-]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

I missed the point? You think that most offensive linemen who can't run a sub 5.1 - 40 can't play.Whats to miss?

uh huh.

 

[cobalt_27]

I don't know about anyone else, but it's the first thing I look for in OL drills. Anyone above a 5.1 probably can't play the position.

Not unlike most of your posts, I find this one to be absurd.

Not unlike most of your posts, you seem to miss the point.

I missed the point? You think that most offensive linemen who can't run a sub 5.1 - 40 can't play.Whats to miss?

uh huh.

Well, if you thought anyone would actually be serious if he said the first to look for in an O-lineman (especially) would be his 40-time, then my sincerest apologies for deceiving you. In all seriousness, I think the 40-time is the most over-rated/over-hyped measurable at the combine. Does speed matter? Of course. But, not nearly to the extent that it has mattered in regards to how/where players are drafted.

 

[cstu]

I agree that players with freakish speed get over-rated, but players do need to be fast in the NFL. As far as measurements go, I think the 3 cone drill is under-rated since it shows a player's agility and change of direction as well as speed.

 

[cobalt_27]

I agree that players with freakish speed get over-rated, but players do need to be fast in the NFL. As far as measurements go, I think the 3 cone drill is under-rated since it shows a player's agility and change of direction as well as speed.

For O-linemen (especially left tackle), I want a guy with agility, good strength, long arms, steady footwork and smarts. The breakneck speed is a helpful bonus and useful for certain types of running plays. But, for the balance of the work being done at the LT, I think that ranks down the list compared to the other measurables.

 

[Kleck]

Yea, you're alone on this one. Nobody has been saying it for years and years. Not one NFL Network personality has mentioned it when talking about the combine.

Vermeil said it several times yesterday. He said that the average starting TE in the NFL probably averages somewhere around a 4.8. Further, he said that thought Tony Gonzalez ran about a 4.8 (in his prime).

 

[BoltBacker]

I think calling a guys 40 time overrated is overrated.

Everyone is saying it but it's just a measurable tool like anything else at the combine. It may mean nothing for an OG but if I have a bubble of 3 CB's of similar size and skills and one runs much slower than the other two without a reason(injury?) then it should absolutely be considered. Similarly if I'm drafting a guy to be used primarily as a kick returner and his speed is much slower than expected I probably hope he falls a bit to me rather than worrying if I have to trade up to get him. There are plenty of other measurables at the combine that are more overrated than the 40 time. The combine itself is so overrated it's pretty easy to pick apart any single component of the combine.

 

[crnerblitz]

Overrated? No. At the start of the combine someone asked a GM or coach about 40 times. I can't remember which one. I am paraphrasing here but they said that it is one of the better indicators the league has. If a guy can't run a time that is below a specified time for their position then there is something like an 80 % bust out rate. Man I wish I would have saved that episode. It was day one of the combine and one of the first brodcasts for anyone with more tivo memory than me.

As far as super fast times, whoop em on me. I love speed! My OL doesn't need to outrun my RB, just the DL. Also OL get 40 yards down field all the time on screens and busted plays so nhay!

 

[LHUCKS]

yes

 

[Loopdog]

i guess i should have been more specific. I'm talking about the difference between a guy running a 4.5 and a 4.6

To ME, thats nothing

To NFL scouts the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.5 is mind blowing, but in reality, its 3 tenths of a second and its over 40 yards with nobody chasing you. I'd be willing to be that NFL players run faster when there is someone chasing them, or when there is an endzone in front of them, then when there is a finish line or a few cones set up.

Again, just an opinion, wasn't looking to start a hate contest

 

[Ned]

i guess i should have been more specific. I'm talking about the difference between a guy running a 4.5 and a 4.6 To ME, thats nothingTo NFL scouts the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.5 is mind blowing, but in reality, its 3 tenths of a second and its over 40 yards with nobody chasing you. I'd be willing to be that NFL players run faster when there is someone chasing them, or when there is an endzone in front of them, then when there is a finish line or a few cones set up.Again, just an opinion, wasn't looking to start a hate contest

a tenth is a big difference in raw speed.

 

[coolnerd]

i guess i should have been more specific. I'm talking about the difference between a guy running a 4.5 and a 4.6 To ME, thats nothingTo NFL scouts the difference between a 4.2 and a 4.5 is mind blowing, but in reality, its 3 tenths of a second and its over 40 yards with nobody chasing you. I'd be willing to be that NFL players run faster when there is someone chasing them, or when there is an endzone in front of them, then when there is a finish line or a few cones set up.Again, just an opinion, wasn't looking to start a hate contest

a tenth is a big difference in raw speed.

My coach in high school way back when estimated that each .10 is a step. Remember in the NFL a clear step is wide open for a RB or WR. Overall, there is not the direct relationship between raw timed speed and nfl success, so I agree with the idea that from that standpoint it is overrated, but when everything else is considered you want the who does everything even .05 faster. I think yesterday we saw the two cases of what a 40 times or many of these other athletic measurables can do.Case 1- Joe Thomas. Watching him play he looks like a really tall, lean guy with above average athletic ability. His 40 or other drills merely confirms or puts raw numbers on what you already knew without those figures. I would say that Calvin Johnson's or Peterson's numbers will do the same thing.Case 2- Greg Olsen- Trying to find a difference between players. Coming to this process Olson and Miller were rated 1 and 1a. If you think their on the field performance is close, then you want the guy who has the better speed and athletic profile.

 

[The Duff Man]

Schotty on the Herd last week said they only run it so they can compare numbers to past players.

He also said the first 10 yards is more important.