BA: Seeking Speed in NFL Draft

[Mitch]

60 YARD SHUTTLE:

1. 10.98 CB Byron Jones Connecticut
2. 11.00 RB Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
3. 11.06 LB Ben Heeney, Kansas
4. 11.10 RB Jay Ajay, Boise St.
4. 11.10 CB Garry Peters, Clemson
6. 11.14 WR Tyler Lockett, Kansas St.
7. 11.18 RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
8. 11.20 FS Justin Cox, Mississippi St.
9. 11.21 CB Justin Coleman, Tennessee
10. 11.22 WR Mario Alford, West Virginia
10. 11.22 DE Frank Clark, Michigan
10. 11.22 CB Bobby McClain, Memphis
13. 11.26 CB Marcus Peters, Washington
14. 11.28 WR Geremy Davis, Connecticut
15. 11.31 CB Alex Carter, Stanford

40 YARD DASH:

1. 4.28---CB J.J. Nelson, UAB
2. 4.31---CB Trae Wayenes, Michigan St.
3. 4.33---WR Phillip Dorsett, Miami
4. 4.35---WR Chris Conley, Georgia
4. 4.35---WR Kevin White, West Virginia
6. 4.36---FS Justin Cox, Mississippi St.
7. 4.38---CB Ronald Darby, Florida St.
8. 4.40---WR Tyler Lockett, Kansas St.
9. 4.41---WR Tre McBride, William & Mary
10. 4.42---WR Nelson Agholor, USC
10. 4.42---WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska
10. 4.42---WR Amari Cooper. Alabama
10. 4.42---RB Jeremy Langford, Michigan St.
10. 4.42---WR Devin Smith, Ohio St.
15. 4.43---WR Mario Alford, West Virginia
15. 4.43---WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
17. 4.44---CB Charles Gaines, Louisville
17. 4.44---CB Doran Grant, Ohio St.
17. 4.44---CB Josh Shaw, USC
17. 4.44---CB Craig Mager, Texas St.
17. 4.44---WR Antwan Goodley, Baylor
17. 4.44---WR DeAndrew White, Alabama
17. 4.44---WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona St.

3 Cone Drill:

1. 6.61---CB Justin Colemman, Tennessee
2. 6.63---WR Justin Hardy, East Carolina
3. 6.64---WR Mario Alford, West Virginia
4. 6.66---WR Kenny Bell, Nebraska
5. 6.68---LB Ben Heeney, Kansas
6. 6.70---WR Phillip Dorsett, Miami
6. 6.70---FS Eric Rowe, Utah
8. 6.71---WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
9. 6.74---SS Jordan Richards, Stanford
10. 6.77---CB Jalen Collins, LSU
11. 6.78---LB Jordan Hicks, Texas
11. 6.78---CB Byron Jones, Connecticut
13. 6.79---RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
13. 6.79---CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
15. 6.80---CB Bobby McClain, Memphis

20 Yard Shuttle:

1. 3.82---CB Bobby McClain, Memphis
2. 3.89---CB Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
3. 3.94---CB Byron Jones, Connecticut
4. 3.95---RB Ameeer Abdullah, Nebraska
5. 3.96---CB Tye Smith, Towson
6. 3.96---FS Eric Rowe, Utah
7. 3.98---CB Justin Coleman, Tennessee
7. 3.98---WR Amari Cooper, Alabama
7. 3.98---QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
10. 4.00---LB Ben Heeney, Kansas
10. 4.00---CB Garry Peters, Clemson
12. 4.03---FS Adrian Amos, Penn St.
12. 4.03---LB Stephone Anthony, Clemson
14. 4.05---DE Frank Clark, Michigan
15. 4.06---WR Sammie Coates, Auburn

If you could make a reasonable mock picks 1-5 of these fastest/quickest players available in the draft, what would it be?

Mine would be---

1. Devin Smith, WR, Ohio St. Takes the lid off the defense. Best deep threat WR in the draft. Outstanding at tracking the deep pass. Showed skill and quick separation on short and intermediate routes at the combine, which surprised the scouts who thought he was a one trick pony. Seeing as WR John Brown made the difference for 3 wins this past season, imagine what Devin Smith could do.

2. Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson. To make two of these top performer lists at his size is impressive. He's got speed, quickness and superb toughness. Plus, I think he can play OLB as well, because he can get after the QB.

3. Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan St. Has the full compliment of assets---speed (4.42), size (6-0, 208) and hands.

4. Doran Grant, CB, Ohio St. Physical CB who showed up faster than scouts thought he would. Aggressive in coverage and a good force the run tackler.

5. Ben Heeney, LB, Kansas. Put up excellent times at the combine for an ILB who is a tackling machine.

The I Don't think They'll Be There at these spots Mock (and they would be my first choices if they were):

1. Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin.
2. Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
3. Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas St.
4. Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
5. Charles Gaines, CB, Louisville
6. Ben Heeney, ILB, Kansas

 

[oaken1]

BA has mentioned in the past picking up a RB similar to Juke so the offense does not have to change....

enter mid to late round selection...

Cory Grant, RB....Auburn........... 5'11"....205 pounds....40yd....4.35s



still wont help between the tackles much...

 

[juza76]

this ben heeney put crazy numbers for linabacker,same size of kendricks

 

[jw7]

Thank you for posting full name, position, and school. For someone that does not follow college football closely that is a great help. A lot of posts don't have that.

 

[Hypothesis]

this ben heeney put crazy numbers for linabacker,same size of kendricks

He put up crazy combine numbers...but his game tape his pretty horrid. One stat that really stands out...he led all of college football in missed tackles. He disappears at the point of attack and can't shed blockers.

 

[slinslin]

3. Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan St. Has the full compliment of assets---speed (4.42), size (6-0, 208) and hands.

Good 40 time but I'd much rather have the backs with the better 20 times, better cone and shuttle times..

Abdullah is #13 in the 60 shuttle, #4 in the 20 shuttle, #13 in the 3 cone drill

What does straight line speed for a running back tell you really..

 

[Mitch]

Good 40 time but I'd much rather have the backs with the better 20 times, better cone and shuttle times..

Abdullah is #13 in the 60 shuttle, #4 in the 20 shuttle, #13 in the 3 cone drill

What does straight line speed for a running back tell you really..

I actually think Abdullah---if he can hold on to the rock---would be a great fit for us. He's got great feet.

 

[Darkside]

Thank you for posting full name, position, and school. For someone that does not follow college football closely that is a great help. A lot of posts don't have that. [emoji106]

Agreed. I don't even watch college ball, so anything I learn about prospects is from this forum.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Playing speed opposed to combine speed is huge too... there are some backs who are just faster in a game because they have vision and are decisive, though their forty times might be slower than a faster timed guy

 

[juza76]

why they dont make combine and pro days tests with helmet and pads on.

 

[cardncubfan]

Agreed. I don't even watch college ball, so anything I learn about prospects is from this forum.

+1

 

[WildBB]

Good 40 time but I'd much rather have the backs with the better 20 times, better cone and shuttle times..

Abdullah is #13 in the 60 shuttle, #4 in the 20 shuttle, #13 in the 3 cone drill

What does straight line speed for a running back tell you really..

Good point. I think Abdullah could excel at the next level. He just HAS to hold on to the rock.

FO is on record as saying they want a big back. But Abdullah RUNS physical for his size

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

why they dont make combine and pro days tests with helmet and pads on.

I think that is in the works, at least for the 40.

 

[Chopper0080]

Langford doesn't play that fast, but he is great in pass pro and has a physical build. He would be a nice fit.

Heeney has short arms, and average tape. Potential spot starter.

 

[Russ Smith]

no matter what times Shaw ran he wasn't fast enough to outrun the damage he did to his draft status.

Someone will give him a chance to prove he learned from the whole ordeal, not nearly as high in the draft as he would have otherwise gone though.

 

[juza76]

byron jones is a monster,,what did he run at his pro day

 

[Chopper0080]

byron jones is a monster,,what did he run at his pro day

He fits the long, athletic profile at CB that has been vocalized by Arians and Keim. It wouldn't chock me to see them pick him if he is available in round 2.

 

[juza76]

He fits the long, athletic profile at CB that has been vocalized by Arians and Keim. It wouldn't chock me to see them pick him if he is available in round 2.

oh sure,i watched a tape of him against michigan
then i think is what bask always looking for,leader team captain vocal leaders...

 

[ARZCardinals]

speed on a one time drill is worthless

so a guy can run super fast ONE time....what about late in the 3rd quarter...do they still have that speed and can it be maintained throughout an entire game.

just because they have a one time blast doesn't mean JACK

 

[WildBB]

speed on a one time drill is worthless

so a guy can run super fast ONE time....what about late in the 3rd quarter...do they still have that speed and can it be maintained throughout an entire game.
just because they have a one time blast doesn't mean JACK

That's the coaching staffs job. And also why rookies don't always usually play as much as the vets, especially at first.

 

[juza76]

speed on a one time drill is worthless

so a guy can run super fast ONE time....what about late in the 3rd quarter...do they still have that speed and can it be maintained throughout an entire game.

just because they have a one time blast doesn't mean JACK

yes but if u are slowly when u are fresh,doesnt need to wait the 3th quarter to see if he maintain the sub par speed...
i prefer someone fast,and then looking video tape to see if the speed transfer in to the football field

 

[CardsFan88]

speed on a one time drill is worthless

so a guy can run super fast ONE time....what about late in the 3rd quarter...do they still have that speed and can it be maintained throughout an entire game.

just because they have a one time blast doesn't mean JACK

I think this a great point and it is a very big grey area that the 40 time doesn't tell you outright.

Now my post shifts to the combine and the announcement that they are going to alter the format. We've heard things like, 60 yard dashes for WR's, 20 yard dashes for OL...tailoring it more to each position as to give more accurate and effective data.

On that note, what I'd like to see is these guys run their 40's or 60's...do other stuff, and then after all that other stuff, go back and run two more 40's or 60's.... to see if there is any dropoff.