Well he is looked pretty solid CB to me…

here is my rant on another thread ( http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2010/3/17/1378100/joe-haden )
    Anyhow, straight line speed in underwear does not completely compare to game speed. I agree with you on that 100% FRANKdubz. A guy can run a straight line one-half-second faster than the next. BUT, in the game that straight line is measured in, some cases, incredibly short distances of maybe a few yards or less, going in multilple directions… then he has to have the fluidity to change directions to keep up with the WR/TE/whoever… that is where he loses the race, thereby actually losing that half second… whereas the half-second-slower guy is able to turn on a dime, but lose the short distance race to play catch up to the receiver/whoever… making it an exercise in neutrality…
    catch my long winded theory yet? It’s based on a crappy, yet super fast CB and a half second slower, but better cover CB… there are good arguments for both on a team… basically, which guy do you think can overcome being either a crappy cb who is fast, or a slow cb who has tight coverage skills??

Both of you are right. I play DB; for a corner straight line speed is important, because when you bail you could very well end up running 30 or even 40 yards in a straight line. But then again, in man and zone the 40 has no use in short movements or quickness. It’s important, but shouldn’t be the deciding factor in a players worth.

Just my opinion.

just helps confirm what you already see on film. In reality speed can be made up in several different ways. In theory however, you want a guy that can run a fast 40 in shorts.
Physically speaking, an individual player will run slower in pads vs running in shorts. That’s just a fact. Everyone slows down in pads, but some slow down more than others; in the case with some players like Haden, you find players that don’t slow down as much as others, like Jacoby Ford.
Back to speed in shorts, yes you want people that run fast in shorts because if they can learn the same tricks of the trade that the slow guys that seem fast already know they have a higher potential and therefore greater ability.
But you can make up for combine speed in a number of ways. For instance, if you’re a stout built player, pads are less likely to slow you down.
Also, as a CB, you don’t have to run from a 3 point stance which means your combine time could be slow because of just a weakness in your start rather than in your actual ability. This is especially true at CB because your first few steps are usually backwards anyhow, and not having false steps can help you transition better too. You can also make up for lack of combine speed by being aggressive at the line of scrimmage or by reacting faster or by just being taller(Jump/reach higher).

The only time players run in a straight line is when something goes right, or something goes really wrong. 40 times are overrated anyway, just look at Matt Jones.

Game speed involves more than just your body moving efficiently in a straight line. The speed at which your mind can identify the situation, and make the correct decision based on that situation, will determine how short a time it takes you to make the play. We talk all the time about great athletes that do not get it done, and that there mental preparation is the cause. It is that mental prep that has a big effect on your game speed.

I think people don’t realize that these guys are football players, not track stars. Running the 40 involves getting in the blocks, using good technique, etc, etc.

The bottom line is can the guy play football? You don’t have to have elite speed to be an elite player, and unfortunately, guys who run 4.2s are few and far between. Otherwise every NFL team would have one. There’s only one Deion Sanders, one Champ Bailey, one Asomugha, one Woodson (Charles and Rod), and most CBs with elite speed that gets drafted don’t pan out, at least not long-term (can anyone say Pac-Man?). We always look at the exceptions and try to make them the norm.

Also, as much as people criticize Mathis & Nelson, they do have elite speed and we’re fortunate to have them.

BUT… this is very important and trumps everyone else’s questions… How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

timed speed gives you an indictation of game speed but thats about it. Sometimes, in a game you’ll get a head start on a play, which makes you look quicker.