Scouting for a different kind of speed

[Bakuron]

Lateral speed is where it's at.

Straight line speed says a lot, but once you know a players fast, the quickness that really matters is the sort that allows players to dominate in small spaces and make sudden movements shifting their body from one direction to the other.

Aaron Curry, picked 4th 2009, couple of cm's shorter, and a bit heavier than Clay Matthews, picked 26th. Curry runs the faster 40, quicker over 10 and 20 yards. 4.56 to 4.62. Jumps a few inches higher and a few inches longer, lifts a couple more too. But it's in the Short Shuttle and 3 Cone drill that Matthews wins out, 4.18 and 6.90 to Curry's 4.51 and 7.15.

Who goes on to be the better all round NFL player? Matthews. Marginally less explosive, not quite as strong lb4lb, but he can shift that strength and speed around far more fluidly. Makes all the difference.

Curry can still be a very good player hopefully, but Matthews is the real deal.

[R8RMR]

Fair comment! We can only wait to see if Curry can do the job he is supposed to do.

[Bakuron]

Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha are (despite the latters struggles in zone) arguably the two best cornerbacks since Deion Sanders changed the definition of 'shut-down corner'. Speed was a big factor in Sanders' game, but let's look at the measurables of Revis and Nnamdi:

DR: 5'10, 205lbs - Runs a 4.38 (2.49, 1.46 splits) - Short Shuttle 4.08 - 3 Cone Drill - 6.56
NA: 6'2, 215lbs - Runs a 4.44 (2.66, 1.60 splits) - Short Shuttle 4.22 - 3 Cone Drill - 7.03

Although Nnamdi also has a timed 4.38, Revis was as low as 4.35, but with almost 4 inches more height and 10lbs more weight Nnamdi's lesser quickness is neutralized by his much bigger frame.

Both jumped around 38" verticals (and 10'5" broad jumps), which makes a bigger difference for Nnamdi who would essentially be reaching almost an extra foot in the air on jumpballs.

Two different body-types playing the position to an elite level with sets of measurables that set the physical standard for others. Of course what really allows them to excel is their exceptional intelligence, which can't be taught.

[Bakuron]

Less straight-line speed monsters than under Al, but not many slouches. McKenzie made an important point about evaluating Bilukidi (scrabble 2?) "You can see his ability to move laterally, see his ability to play hard."

Bilukidi's shuttle and 3 cone drill were 4.73 and 7.33. According to PFW he is 311lbs (not 290), so that's pretty shifty for someone that size.

Crawford's were 4.25 and 7.15, quicker than Aaron Curry!!!! - Shaughnessy is a similar size/weight and had almost exactly the same 40 (4.86), but his Shuttle/3Cone were only 4.88 and 7.68.

Criner's obviously got skills and a 38" vert with a 6'3" body + good hands is nothing to turn your nose up at. But generally speaking he is slower and smaller than David Ausberry. In fact the only measurable that really separates them is their Shuttle, with Criner at 4.30 and Ausberry at 4.43 - i.e. getting those feet switching positions in short areas.

[Welsh Raider]

Stupar seems very agile aswell.

Only a 4.75 in the 40, but has that "different kind of speed" as he ran 6.84in the cone drill, which was the fastest of all linebackers and was in the top 5 of the 60 yard shuttle. Havent got the numbers.

[R8RMR]

I think the point remains that they were after players with good football instincts as well as good measurables where possible.

[Bakuron]

I think the point remains that they were after players with good football instincts as well as good measurables where possible.

Yeah, but I think in this draft they were trying to squeeze out as much certainty as they could from the picks they had. McKenzie and Allen  don't really have the time or leverage to make gambles on prospects, they needed a couple of players like Bergstrom, Burris, Striner and to an extent Stupar, where you pretty much know exactly what they can and can't bring to the table. Crawford and Bilukidi are the freakier development projects.

Just looking at Crawford, and seeing his measurables, I almost get the feeling that he'd be a more natural rush linebacker in a 3-4 than a pure end. He doesn't seem to get much push at the LoS when he's bull-rushing, or trying to generate momentum in just a couple of steps. He seems better in space, pursuing, or running around the outside of the tackle.