What I Love About Experts

by ethan a on Feb 23, 2009 2:26 PM CST

"Might lack elite stopwatch speed, but plays fast and can pull away in the open field." This statement is made in the anaylsis of Cedric Peerman on NFL.com's scouting analysis.

Of course, a 4.45 might not seem elite, but so far he's tops for the day; ahead of Beanie Wells and Glenn Coffee and Donald Brown. Ian Johnson is right behind him at 4.46.

It is no Chris Johnson speed at HB, but much faster than two of top ranked RBs. If you look at their analyses, both get commented on for their "great acceleration".

The comparisons and the analysis are so convoluted, and this shows the over-obsession with speed. If a guy isn't really fast, he can accelerate. If a guy is faster, he doesn't have elite speed.

Experts and their semantics.

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But you do realize that this year’s RB class is pretty slow, right? Yes, I know that last year’s class speed-wise is rare. But still, it wasn’t the fastest group we’ve seen.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Feb 23, 2009 2:31 PM CST reply actions

I am interested

in Knowshon Moreno’s time. I heard he’s not fast, either. But on the field he looks like a Barry Sanders-type runner. Quickness, vision, patience, agility — things that Forte also possesses.

by ethan a on Feb 23, 2009 6:00 PM CST up reply actions

See, that's the thing though

Moreno WAS supposed to be fast.

But, on the official top-10 lists, Moreno is not there.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Feb 23, 2009 9:08 PM CST up reply actions

I'd take one of those speed guys

To spell Forte. Maybe Ian Johnson? I love that kid! And we’d be showing some Boise St love not seen in our parts since Brock Forsey!

by Sam Householder on Feb 23, 2009 4:34 PM CST reply actions

Ian Johnson

I saw Donald Brown is the Matt Forte of 2009.

But, I agree on Ian Johnson. He has 4.46 speed (which is damn fast) and was ultra-productive in college. His numbers dropped this year because of the new QB and the switch to a passing attack, but he sacrificed for the team. He’d be a great 3rd rounder pick up, if he’s still around. A steal if in the 4th.

And though I liked Foresy, IJ has the strength, too (25 reps at 225).

by ethan a on Feb 23, 2009 5:56 PM CST reply actions

What I've heard...

is that football players normally wear more than tights and run forty yards in a straight ine without anyone around them.
Just because Crazy Al Davis loves 40-times doesn’t mean we need to be suckered into it as well. The only thing at the NFL Combine that has true value is the interviews. Football is a physical game and running around in t-shirts makes little sense when evaluating people.
IMHO 80% of scouting a prospect should be based on game tape.
The other 20% is their interview- arrests, work ethic, fitting into the system…

If John Paxson were a Greek hero he would be known as Sans Testicles

by wennington4 on Feb 26, 2009 12:57 AM CST reply actions