Eric Metcalf is another guy who was really, really quick. He could also come to a dead stop, jump sideways, then be back to full speed in a couple of steps. Monday Night Football used to have a highlight of him doing just that and the guy who was trying to tackle him ended up grabbing an arm-full of air.
He had a long jump of 8.44 meters (about 27' 7") in college. He could explode on kick returns.
jumping jack wrote:
I wonder if vertical jump is a better indicator of explosiveness in football. Barry Sanders who was one of the fastest I ever watched in the NFL (irregardless of what he or anyone was ever clocked at) could dunk a basketball. He sure had the explosiveness.
I also agree with the poster above about Rocket Ishmail. I saw him play in college and was just stunned to watch him run all over the field. He could leave everyone behind.
And Barry Sanders was like 5'8"
jumping jack wrote:
I wonder if vertical jump is a better indicator of explosiveness in football. Barry Sanders who was one of the fastest I ever watched in the NFL (irregardless of what he or anyone was ever clocked at) could dunk a basketball. He sure had the explosiveness.
Perhaps for football. There was a study published last year which showed that counter-movement jumps were the best indicator of speed to 30 meters, which is more applicable to football than 60+ meters.
But not for track. Typical vertical jumps for elite sprinters (USATF data) in only 25-30 inches (nothing, by NBA standards). Ato Boldon once responded to a question on his website by saying that nobody in the HSI squad could dunk. More applicable to sprinting/track is a standing long jump, which is more related to maximum velocity (typical value of 9 1/2 feet for elite pure sprinters).
I also agree with the poster above about Rocket Ishmail. I saw him play in college and was just stunned to watch him run all over the field. He could leave everyone behind.
But consider that the #3 person in the USATF 100m last year (Shawn Crawford) had a 60 meter split of 6.66. Justin Gatlin has run 6.46, I believe. 6.68 would not be Olympic class, and it would not likely make the US team or even get him into the invitational 60 at Millrose. Just another indication of the difference between elite sprinters and the fastest football players in the sprinters event.
Coach D wrote:
But not for track. Typical vertical jumps for elite sprinters (USATF data) in only 25-30 inches (nothing, by NBA standards). Ato Boldon once responded to a question on his website by saying that nobody in the HSI squad could dunk. More applicable to sprinting/track is a standing long jump, which is more related to maximum velocity (typical value of 9 1/2 feet for elite pure sprinters).
Ato Boldon couldn't dunk? That's surprising. I remember watching some charity dunk-contest on tv years ago. They didn't have basketball players in it, but players from other sports (baseball, I think Rob Dibble; football, I think Barry Sanders; T&F, I think Mike Powell... I may be wrong because it's been quite a few years). The T&F sprinters could nearly hit their head on the rim even though they weren't NBA-tall. Of course, Mike Powell was a long jumper, but many 100-sprint guys can double into that event.
no one wrote:
brutal - why don't just use your 'real' name. your efforts at camouflage are transparent ... every time.
true ... he's also been posting a lot recently as 'Emmitt'. You can spot his posts a mile off
jumping jack wrote:
I wonder if vertical jump is a better indicator of explosiveness in football. Barry Sanders who was one of the fastest I ever watched in the NFL (irregardless of what he or anyone was ever clocked at) could dunk a basketball. He sure had the explosiveness.
I also agree with the poster above about Rocket Ishmail. I saw him play in college and was just stunned to watch him run all over the field. He could leave everyone behind.
I've never believed the 'dunk' is an example of explosiveness, per se. I'm 5'9", and not a sprinter by any means. But I can stand under a basket, jump straight up and easily dunk a basketball. Everyone cracks up when they see me do it without having to run to the basket. But I can't run 'fast' like a sprinter. I'm strong though, for such a skinny guy. Maybe it's a matter of strength on my part. (I weigh 137 but I can bench 275 x 2 - not bad for a guy running 40 - 50 mpw).
jumping jack wrote:
I wonder if vertical jump is a better indicator of explosiveness in football. Barry Sanders who was one of the fastest I ever watched in the NFL (irregardless of what he or anyone was ever clocked at) could dunk a basketball. He sure had the explosiveness.
I also agree with the poster above about Rocket Ishmail. I saw him play in college and was just stunned to watch him run all over the field. He could leave everyone behind.
Irregardless is not a real world. Just use 'regardless'.
Your 5th grade teacher wrote:
Irregardless is not a real world. Just use 'regardless'.
Irregardless, I still like it. Next, you'll probably tell me that I can't dethaw something from the freezer either.
Charley Paddock wrote:
Curtis Dickey remains the only NFL running back to ever be world ranked in the 100 meters. He was a sub 10.20 guy. He never really showed those kids of jets on a football field however. Yep quickness and the ability to manuever at a high rate of speed are the keys.
Still when it comes to "just" speed. OJ and Sultan were faster.
Keep in mind, in Sayers day, he was up against far slower players than what we are seeing today. Hell back then we still had white db's.
Would ya believe he had an older brother faster than he was?
You ever heard of John Lynch or Adam Archuleta,...I believe both of them are white. I also believe they play DB.
you wanna talk about fast white guys in nfl - how 'bout tim dwight (10.31)
Coach D wrote:
[quote]jumping jack wrote:
But not for track. Typical vertical jumps for elite sprinters (USATF data) in only 25-30 inches (nothing, by NBA standards). Ato Boldon once responded to a question on his website by saying that nobody in the HSI squad could dunk. More applicable to sprinting/track is a standing long jump, which is more related to maximum velocity (typical value of 9 1/2 feet for elite pure sprinters).
that's interesting, because i am far from being an elite sprinter (although i try), and my vert. is somewhere in the 28-30" range and my standing long jump was almost exactly 9 1/2 feet last time i tested it. for me these skills translated into PRs of 11.25 for the 100 and 20'1.5" in the long jump. hardly world class. also, there are videos on atoboldon.com of him doing some plyometric work. watch them and then tell me ato can't dunk.
I thought Sultan played for U-Washington?
Charley Paddock wrote:
Being a mere 10.4 guy in high school.He'd be behind OJ and Sultan McCullough asthe fastest Trojan running back. Who would have thunk it...huh?
Michael Bennett I believe ran 10.00 in college at Wisconsin, winded aided if I remember right along with some other low 10 performances before concentrating solo on spring football. He ran 10.33 in high school also. I do agree though this doesn't translate into a great football player, he had one good season before his never ending string of injuries.