NFL Speed and the NFL

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

The Dallas Cowboys once drafted Carl Lewis.

That is how speed tantalizes the NFL, they adore it.

Tyreek Hil will havel a slew of suitors wanting his game changing speed. He can score from anywhere at any time, no defender can run with him.

When the Chiefs let him go what did they do next, yep, draft Xavier Worthy the new combine 40 record holder, yep, looking to replace that speed that Hill brought.

Lance Alworth
Bobby Mitchell
Charley Taylor
Paul Warfield
Bob Hayes
Tyreek Hill

Were all NCAA runningbacks who were converted to WR as a pro, all but Hill in the Hall of Fame, all could boogie after the catch.

If Hill wants to play again he will have no problems, if he shows fitness.

In 2025 he ran a 10.15, even if slowed a bit what a 10,30? DK Metcalfe runs a 10.36.

2025

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Speaking of speed....

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

What;s crazy is this cat was also on those teams

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

So what does Linford Christie have in common with Tyreek Hil, he was 32 when he won this 1992 Olympic 100m gold medal

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

The roots to this speed tree was Packer WR Don Hutson he was a 9.8 sprinter when the world record was 9.4. And he was up against DB's who couldn't break a 4.7 40.

The first sub 9.6 WR showed up in 1950 this was Loyola's Bob Boyd that years NCAA champ, he had one of the first 1000 yard receiving seasons as a Ram.

Tiny Buddy Young another NCAA champ and USA champ was in the 40;s.

Olympian Ollie Matson a 9,5 cat showing up just after Boyd,

0ops.....forgot Jim Thorpe who was suppose to have ran a 9.8 way back when the WR was a 9.6.

That gang above the roots to the tree.

Apparently THE GALLOPING GHOST Red Grange has some serious jets but I have no times for him, so....???

I saw a short video of Thorpe runniing with football in hand, a lot more nifty/elusive than I imagined.

Then there was TCU's Cyrus Leland a running back who tied that 9.4 world record back in the 30;s, but after TCU....?

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Speaking of speed....

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

10 fastest pro football receivers based on their NCAA 100m times

A one time Raider***

1.Bob Hayes Cowboys/FAU 10.06.....he ran that on a shitty dirt track making it superior to the rest here.
2.Jacoby Ford Raiders/Clemson 10.01***
3.Willie McGee Chargers/Alcorn 9.1 WR for yards
4.Ron Brown Rams/ASU 10.06***
5.Cliff Branch Raiders/Colorado 9.2***
6.Mel Gray Cards/Missouri 9.2
7.Alvis Whiited Raiders/NCSt 10.07***
8.Sam Graddy Broncos/Tenn 10.09***
9.Willie Gault Bears/Tenn 10.10***
10.Mike Miller Packers/Tenn

But....I have seen all those speedsters play and none were as fast on a football field in pads as the 10.15 Tyreek Hill.

He ran that 10.15 last season, so even if he doesm't come back at 10.15, a 10,30 is still faster than any cornerback.

Hard to believe but true, the Raiders could fill two 100m races or 16 sprinters, totally amazing.

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

So who can give me the two fastest receivers to ever line up together in the NFL?

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Aussie 18 year old sprinter Gout Gout just ran a 10.00.

Putting that in perspective...Tyreek Hill 10.15

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Here we have the fastest athlete to ever play football.

He was an Arkansas WR who is too fast for just football, so he turned pro in track instead

Perspective

Darrell Green 10.08
Bob Hayes 10.06
Tyreek Hill 10.15

A 9,75 is a WOW,yes it was slightly windy 2.00 is legal.





Tyson Gay also a Razorback holds the American record 9.69

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

True story

I was over at a track site talking Edison HS in Fresno the speed school around here.

I mention Millard Hampton

Guy comes on......bullshit, he was out of Silver Creek here in San Jose, i was on that team.

I knew the problem but being he was being an asshole about it, fuck him.

Me.....wrong, he was out of Edison. (taking him out to the deep water)
Asshole.......dude, what about I ran on the same 4x1 team with Millard don't you get?
Me.....how about a 90 day self bannishment on this? (time for the drowning)
Asshole......you got it loser.
Me.....Millard Hampton was the father, you are talking about his son Millard Jr. See ya~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The fastest father and son however......Leroy and Cameron Burrell, both sub10.00.

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Those at better than 24 feet in the long jump who made NFL rosters

Hall of Fame~~~~~

Lynn Swann~~~~
Gale Sayers~~~~
Napolean Kaufman
Cecil Turner
Mel Renfro~~~~~
Terry Metcalf
James McAlister
Calvin Hill
Chis Sanders
Paul Warfield~~~~~
Vance Johnson
Eric Metcalf
Latin Berry
Johnny Hector
Marquize Goodwin
Bo Roberson the first speedy Raider, roots to the tree
Champ Bailey
Adoree Jackson

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

400/400 hurdles

RGIII
Rod Jones once ran down Bo Jackson
Russell Carter
Rod Barksdale
Glen Davis
Larance Jones
Henry Carr.....anchored our 64 Olympic 4x4
Terry McDaneil
Nolan Cromwell
Paul Robinson
Travis Hannah

All made NFL rosters

About that many who ran a sub 14.00 110's

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

NFL RB's at sub 10.40/9.5

TravIs Williams
OJ Simpson
Bo Jackson
Herschel Walker
Curtis Dickey
De' Von Archane
Rayheem Mostert
Joe Delaney
Jamaal Charles
Michael Bennett
Butch Woolfolk
Jonathan Taylor

Came out of the NCAA as a RB


Bob Hayes
Tyreek Hill

 

[colorles]

There is no way Cristiano Ronaldo runs a sub 10 electronic timed 100m. It is just not happening.

Justin Gatlin has a cool video on youtube talking about football speed vs track speed.

Gatlin ran unofficial 40 times between 4.12 and 4.35. He said himself that the top NFL guys would be competitive against him in the 40. Not in the 100m though.

Prime Tyreek is the goat for me in football because of his combination of top end speed, insane reactive ability and a body structure able to withstand the punishment of a decade+ career in the modern Not For Long league. Almost an inhuman combination.

Tyreek even posted a cool video training with Jaylen Waddle. I forgot the ordering but if they add 20m to the length of the sprint one of them is faster than the other. Without the added 20m though it is reversed.

Yeah the 40 and the 100 are two very different things. The 40 being all explosive speed/power. Not to mention the risk of injury is way higher with the 100 due to reaching high end speed and trying to sustain it.

Good stuff~~~~

Yes a fast "just" footballer can hang with world class sprinters in a 40, there it's just acceleration. Where things get funky is after 50ish, the footballers lacking that speed endurance which the sprinters train for while the footballers don't.

Tyreek Hill is in my opinion the fastest in pads with a football in hand on a football field we have ever seen. No no not the fasest on a track but it just doesn't matter.

For anyone to think little frail soccer ites can run with NFLers with a track background know.....0....about this stuff, no clue at all.

Sprinters hit that topend around 50ish, now it;s all about how long can they hold on to it, yep.....speed endurance.....whch doesn't come naturally you must train for it.

Bolt, spent a very small % of a 100m in that decelleration phase.

Not going to lie: I had a hard time even sustaining full on sprint speed for 100 meters - I couldn't even do it on some days. The injury risk is higher too. It's a completely different thing to the 40 which is just explosive power/acceleration.

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Yeah the 40 and the 100 are two very different things. The 40 being all explosive speed/power. Not to mention the risk of injury is way higher with the 100 due to reaching high end speed and trying to sustain it.


Not going to lie: I had a hard time even sustaining full on sprint speed for 100 meters - I couldn't even do it on some days. The injury risk is higher too. It's a completely different thing to the 40 which is just explosive power/acceleration.

All fast guys can run a decent 40 because that distance doesn't take any endurance, just as you are starting to hit your topend it's over.

A legit sprinter hits top end around 50ish then it's about trying to sustain/maintain your max velocity for as long as you can before that decelleration phase kicks in, guys like Usain Bolt, Tommie Smiith, Steve Willams decellerate slowly because of superior speed endurance. which doesn't come naturally, that takes specific training.

Bolt started out a 400m cat, but didn't like the pain. so he spent years running the 200m. So by the time he finally came to the 100m his speed endurance was on a whole other level. Now add that 6-5 stride, a deadly combo.

The big illusion is seeing a guy looking like he is puling away late in the race, when in reality he is just slowing down the least.

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

It was 1968 a few weeks before the Mexico City Olympics. Our 4x1 relay team wanted a warm up race a trial run. So they enter some meet in Florida. Also in the field another team to reckon with with Tommie Smith anchoring.

Our Olympic team had soon to be Olympic 100m gold in a WR 9.95 the first sub 10.00 in history. Jimmy Hines running anchor.

At the final exchange Hines has a solid two yards on Smith, race over, no not really, here cameTommie Smith, he nipped Hines at the tape.

Smith winning that Olympic 200m in WR time.

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Tommie would hold 11 world records in his day, he was also the first to run a sub 44.00 4x4 split.

The Bengals gave him a look and he did catch..........A......pass, ha~~~~ Bust

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

 

[Sir Elzio Dennick]

Here is Hines running the first legal sub10.00 in winning those 68 Olympics.

In that race Mel Pender the short musclar dude, he was a great indoor sprinter, notice how he's right there then fades, yep......inferior speed endurance.




He got a look by the Dolphins, yep, caught.....A....pass, ha~~~ Bust


He was out of Oakland

The cat in the shades was Charlie Green actually the favorite, he had a 8-5 record vs Hines.