There is a January 4th article in the New York Times titled: "Does the NFL Have a Usain Bolt: Here Are the League's Fastest Players." The link is:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/sports/football/nfl-speed-leonard-fournette.html
It indicates that Usain Bolt tops out at 27.8 mph. during his world record 100 meter run in shorts and sprinter's spikes on a fast track, but NFL players must wear heavy pads and run on grass, etc.
On offense, Leonard Fournette, at 240 lbs. and with a Combine 40 time of 4.51, hit the top speed for offensive players while being chased on a 90 yard touchdown run, when he ran at 22.02 mph.
On defense, the fastest NFL player was Cowboys safety Byron Jones, who in Week 11 against the Eagles caught Jay Ajayi from behind when Ajayi reached a top speed of 20.41 m.p.h. after breaking free on the long run play. Jones ran 22.11 m.p.h. in pursuit, according to Sportradar.
The most interesting parts to me were the listing of the fastest player at each position (Russell Wilson and Cam Newton at QB, for example) and especially the comparison at the end of the article of the average speed of all the receiving corps of NFL teams. The Rams were first and fastest, the Packers were last, and
the Giants were third from last/slowest. This explains in part the lack of separation we have come to expect when OBJ is not on the field, and our receivers are far from the only G-men position group that lacks speed.
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Fast would be a luxury.
Been saying that for years.
Giants have not had NFL level team speed for a long time. And warned early on this past year that they couldn't keep up with SF and not to take them lightly.
GiantsRage2007 : 1:46 pm : link : reply
With guys who can catch, block, and tackle.
Fast would be a luxury.
You are right in your point that we must become adequate at fundamentals as a first priority before we can really focus on the things that would give us competitive advantage, but speed is more than just a luxury in today's NFL. For example, it is one reason why we haven't been able to cover tight ends for many years.
Will give you that, but I was thinking more in terms of the team: the OL on rollouts, for example, the LBs on getting to the spot that closes holes or the area to stop/slow down the RB rather than try to catch him from behind(which of course they arent fast enough to do).And punt coverage far more often than not cant even cover a high punt without PR picking up 10 yards.
You can be big, powerful, AND fast(at least quick).
Been saying that for years.
Giants have not had NFL level team speed for a long time. And warned early on this past year that they couldn't keep up with SF and not to take them lightly.
To piggyback this, we will have trouble w/NO next year.... if we don't add speed/quickness as well as hog mollie types.
David Wilson?