FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[reality check]

Food for thought...

Ben Johnson, who is believed to have run 40 yards faster than any human in history. Johnson is best known for injecting copious amounts of steroids and winning the 100 meters at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul in 9.79 seconds, only to have his gold medal and world record stripped after failing a post-race drug test.

Timing officials have since broken down that famed race into 10-meter increments, and Johnson was so preposterously fast that he went through 50 meters in 5.52 seconds and 60 meters in 6.37 – both under the current world records at those distances. He went through 40 yar ds that day in 4.38 seconds.

Sorry if I seem a little skeptical on any sub 4.5 40 time. Have heard way to many sub 4.4 40's coming out of so called summer camps at a D1 University in Akron. Have a hard time believing the system was set up correctly or the thing was calibrated properly

At least credit the source you copies and pasted from.   

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_the_world's_fastest_runner_in_the_40-yard_dash

[reality check]

Findlay's associate HC/line coach/recruiting coordinator is former ONU All-American center Kory Allen.  He's done a great job up in Findlay and has a knack for working at schools with great colors (orange and black).

He's also minutes away from Fricker's which makes me completely jealous.

[HScoach]

hate to break up the DII love fest but in former DIII and current NFL  news Pierre Garcon is mentioned as one of 10 guys worth rooting for in NFL camps. Here is the link:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9861350/10-guys-worth-rooting-for-in-NFL-training-camps

Some good things to say about him and sounds like he has impressed the right people.

Go Pierre!!!

Sweet.

[HScoach]

RC,

Good thing you edited your post.  I was about to send you the class application for "Quoting for Dummies"....

[reality check]

Going back to 40 times...

I too believe 40's are overrated and can be hyped too much while being incredibly inaccurate.  I'm no expert on the timing but here's my story:

Brandon Harrison just finished his college career at Michigan as a DB.  He played well there but was not drafted out of school.  He was third on the defense in tackles as a SR with 69 and earned 4 varsity letters along the way tallying 165 tackles, 3 INT's and 4 FR's.  He was a track star in high school running a 6.8 60M and 10.5 100M.  (You track guys can determine whether that's good or not; I'm not an expert).

UM's official site states that he ran a 4.25 40 in high school which I think would be great but can't believe to be true.  What I think is funny is that even with electronic timers and all the resources out there, you can't get straight answers anywhere.  Legend tells us Deion ran anywhere from a 3.98 40 in his pro day at FSU to a 4.18 in untied high tops a record 4.22 in the combine while other sites state Darrell Green owns the record with a 4.08.  It's such a debatable statistic because of the historical data out there, the changes in timing and the eyeballs that see these "records" broken.  

And yes, if you took the time to see Brandon Harrison's profile, you might notice he went to my high school (the only reason I know so much about his particular situation).  When I was in 8th grade, Brandon was a 1st grader at my grade school and I was an aid in his first grade classroom.  I remember this kid eating paste and now look at him!  

[reality check]

RC,

Good thing you edited your post.  I was about to send you the class application for "Quoting for Dummies"....

The important thing is that the time stamp shows I edited it before anyone could comment which means it never happened in the first place!!!

[Blutarsky]

RC,

Good thing you edited your post.  I was about to send you the class application for "Quoting for Dummies"....

The important thing is that the time stamp shows I edited it before anyone could comment which means it never happened in the first place!!!

We almost have enough registered for another class.....will keep you posted.

[formerd3db]

Going back to 40 times...

I too believe 40's are overrated and can be hyped too much while being incredibly inaccurate.  I'm no expert on the timing but here's my story:

Brandon Harrison just finished his college career at Michigan as a DB.  He played well there but was not drafted out of school.  He was third on the defense in tackles as a SR with 69 and earned 4 varsity letters along the way tallying 165 tackles, 3 INT's and 4 FR's.  He was a track star in high school running a 6.8 60M and 10.5 100M.  (You track guys can determine whether that's good or not; I'm not an expert).

UM's official site states that he ran a 4.25 40 in high school which I think would be great but can't believe to be true.  What I think is funny is that even with electronic timers and all the resources out there, you can't get straight answers anywhere.  Legend tells us Deion ran anywhere from a 3.98 40 in his pro day at FSU to a 4.18 in untied high tops a record 4.22 in the combine while other sites state Darrell Green owns the record with a 4.08.  It's such a debatable statistic because of the historical data out there, the changes in timing and the eyeballs that see these "records" broken.  

And yes, if you took the time to see Brandon Harrison's profile, you might notice he went to my high school (the only reason I know so much about his particular situation).  When I was in 8th grade, Brandon was a 1st grader at my grade school and I was an aid in his first grade classroom.  I remember this kid eating paste and now look at him!  

rc:

I agree with you also.  We all know that while 40 yard dash times can provide some indication as to the speed and athleticism of a player, in reality (pardon the pun ) it is really an antiquated stat.  Nor can it really be a predictor of just how a player will do overall in the long run.  Many examples exist of players who have less than stellar 40 yard dash times yet are at the top of their class/league at all levels; and, of course, as you have nicely pointed out and outlined, there are so many variable factors in calculating that stat, even with today's highly advanced technology.  A player can even work on the technique of his "start out of the blocks" for that test which can shave of millisecond(s) from his time, yet that, again, really doesn't account for anything in the long run.  All that being said, IMO, while I think it should be continued to be included as a general "stat" in the overall evaluation of players (if not for the simple historical aspect ), unfortunately, coaching staffs at all levels continue (and probably always will) to use it and place too much emphasis on this in their evaluation of players.  I'm not saying they don't take everything into consideration when evaluating players (even at the combines at the pro levels), however, I do know of situations where coaches have eliminated prospects simply because of their 40 times (sad and shouldn't happen, but true).  Of course some have gone on to prove those coaches wrong.  Nonetheless, this is just the nature of the business and they way things are and always will be.  Thanks to the others as well as yourself for your comments/opinions on this topic - an interesting and valid discussion.   

[Blutarsky]

I need to get my two-cents in on the "40-times" stories.....a number of years ago an olympic medalist by the name of Renaldo Nehemiah tried out for the 49ers.  The coach at the time, I think, was Bill Walsh.  When they were considering giving him a contract there was a conversation between Walsh and Nehemiah:

Walsh:  What's your time in the 40?
Nehemiah:  4.4
Walsh:  We have a lot of guys that can run a 4.4
Nehemiah:  Over hurdles?

[formerd3db]

I need to get my two-cents in on the "40-times" stories.....a number of years ago an olympic medalist by the name of Renaldo Nehemiah tried out for the 49ers.  The coach at the time, I think, was Bill Walsh.  When they were considering giving him a contract there was a conversation between Walsh and Nehemiah:

Walsh:  What's your time in the 40?
Nehemiah:  4.4
Walsh:  We have a lot of guys that can run a 4.4
Nehemiah:  Over hurdles?

Great story, Blutarsky!

[frank uible]

Despite Nehemiah's speed and the fact that the 49ers gave him all sorts of opportunities to succeed, he was a bust. In 3 years with the 49ers he had 43 receptions in 40 games.

[Bump]

Here is a link to an article speaking to the over valuation of the 40 time. It talks about what the actual difference in distance covered by a player with a 40 time 0.2 of a sec faster than an opponent. The article explains how proper technique and taking correct angles can more than compensate for a perceived large differential in 40 times. Basically a 0.2 sec difference in 40 times only accounts for maybe 1 yard of distance over a 20 yard play. 1 yard is not that difficult to compensate for with proper cushion, technique and angles. Good coaching and football instincts can more than compensate for perceived large differences in 40 times.

http://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/2009/3/12/794513/the-sec-speed-myth-debunke

[SaintsFAN]

RC,

Good thing you edited your post.  I was about to send you the class application for "Quoting for Dummies"....

The important thing is that the time stamp shows I edited it before anyone could comment which means it never happened in the first place!!!

happens to the best of us.... though, I was too drunk early on Sunday morning to realize what I had done...

[formerd3db]

Despite Nehemiah's speed and the fact that the 49ers gave him all sorts of opportunities to succeed, he was a bust. In 3 years with the 49ers he had 43 receptions in 40 games.

Indeed, frank! That further supports some of the opinions regarding the discussion.

[JK]

I just want to clarify that I also think 40 times are WAAAY overblown and in NO WAY a predictor of a kids ability to succeed on the field.

The point of my argument was that the "Ben Johnson" thing is overblown, overused, and not a valid argument when it comes to 40 yard times.