2016 Combine

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I'm on the other side.

Training for the 40 can make you faster. Many people don't know how to run fast. And if they learn some mechanics and techniques of running they can certainly run faster at the combine and be faster on the field. There's a reason why most of the really fast guys in the NFL have track in their background.

But, being faster doesn't necessarily equate to being better.

Oh my God this is fucking nonsense. Dude seriously? First off, almost all the training that goes into coaching a 40 time is focused on the start. Getting off quickly and getting to top speed, which during a 40 is done based on a starting position that not at all mimics the starting position you'd use on a football field - it's a track start. That translates exactly nil to the NFL. For corners, it's not how fast they can run, it's how quickly they can flip their hips and change directions, and then once up to speed it's how fast they can run WHILE TRACKING THE BALL IN THE AIR. Technique used while running on the track and technique used while you're looking up to find a ball in flight is completely different. Same for WRs. For linemen speed isn't even an issue, it's explosiveness off the line, but not like a track start is in the 40 where your goal is to explode and then get upright at top speed as fast as possible, the goal is to explode while keeping your pad level as low as possible.

Running backs only run upright once they hit the open field. Before that, they keep their pad level low, and only get to the open field with quickness and agility.

And besides, do you really think players remember their training for the 40 when they're on the field? If you don't keep practicing something you lose it, and no coach on an NFL team is teaching them how to get off to a fast start in the 40. It almost sounds like you've never played a sport at the high school or college level - the training doesn't stick with you unless you have muscle memory with it. You have to drill it over and over. And nobody drills it like that in the NFL.