Fastest player on the team

[Brandon]

That's what it comes down to. Who should care what they do in shorts, the game is played in pads...

Which is why I wish they would force players to wear a helmet and pads when they do a 40 time at the combine or pro days, because there's no way to tell how much pads will affect one person over another.

[mantal]

Which is why I wish they would force players to wear a helmet and pads when they do a 40 time at the combine or pro days, because there's no way to tell how much pads will affect one person over another.

You are correct sir. Unfortunately, they want those "wow" numbers instead of being realistic as far as game conditions go...

[jramsey4]

You are correct sir. Unfortunately, they want those "wow" numbers instead of being realistic as far as game conditions go...

I actually like them doing the 40 yard dash the way they do it. It makes guys like Al Davis make stupid decisions. Thus letting the good scouting departments that look at game film and not workout #'s to find gems in the later rounds.

[mantal]

I actually like them doing the 40 yard dash the way they do it. It makes guys like Al Davis make stupid decisions. Thus letting the good scouting departments that look at game film and not workout #'s to find gems in the later rounds.

Good take!

[Brandon]

I actually like them doing the 40 yard dash the way they do it. It makes guys like Al Davis make stupid decisions. Thus letting the good scouting departments that look at game film and not workout #'s to find gems in the later rounds.

I still doubt it would change Al Davis's method of taking the top 40 times at each position, putting their names on a dart board and randomly drafting whomever gets hit first. One time during an awful dart throwing mishap they almost drafted Mr. Coffee in the 3rd round.

[bleys]

When i say pretty slow, I mean pretty slow in the world of RBs. He does not have a the top end of an elite RB. When there are guys like Chris Johnson and AP in the world of RBs, Williams isn't exactly a speedster.

He's had a lot of runs where a faster RB would have taken it to the house. Tampa Bay, Arizona playoff game.

That really about the only knock on him as far as physical talent goes. If he can somehow improve on that he'd be the best RB in the leauge. I think fox & co like him as more of a power guy though.

bringing up stats is silly also, the only run where he really broke free was against the lions. And that was due bad execution on the defense. Look at any of his TD runs he's juking, stiffarming, weaving, and powering his way to the endzone. Not burning anybody.

Sorry but I disagree.. You're original point was that Williams gets caught from behind. Not all this other stuff you back tracked with.. lol =P

And to the point of him getting caught, this is a classic example of people holding onto old beliefs/cliches/rumor no matter what they see on the field.

DWill was getting caught by people in '07. DWill even got caught on one play this year at the beginning of the season (may have even been preseason). This was in an interview from somewhere, but he said teammates were ragging on him for getting caught from behind. His reply was, "it won't happen again." And from then on I can't think of a time where a guy straight up caught him from behind without already having a good angle on him.

And yet he's still called out for getting caught from behind. I call bullshit.

Now to your 2nd reply that he isn't of "elite" speed like Chris Johnson.. Well, not many do. Matter of fact, a lot of RB's are slower than DWill... But to say he doesn't have speed is crazy. The guy can run and I am somewhat amazed to hear all these long TD's runs he had being discredited.

Just sayin... :thumbsup:

[Urrymonster]

SThis was in an interview from somewhere, but he said teammates were ragging on him for getting caught from behind. His reply was, "it won't happen again." And from then on I can't think of a time where a guy straight up caught him from behind without already having a good angle on him.

Just wanted to re-emphasise this. I believe he adopted a new practice regime by spriting with the ball to the endzone after each play? Can't remember the specifics but he started to tailor his training regimes to working on his endurance so he could finish his runs.

[SorthNarolina]

Sorry but I disagree.. You're original point was that Williams gets caught from behind. Not all this other stuff you back tracked with.. lol =P

And to the point of him getting caught, this is a classic example of people holding onto old beliefs/cliches/rumor no matter what they see on the field.

DWill was getting caught by people in '07. DWill even got caught on one play this year at the beginning of the season (may have even been preseason). This was in an interview from somewhere, but he said teammates were ragging on him for getting caught from behind. His reply was, "it won't happen again." And from then on I can't think of a time where a guy straight up caught him from behind without already having a good angle on him.

And yet he's still called out for getting caught from behind. I call bullpoo.

Now to your 2nd reply that he isn't of "elite" speed like Chris Johnson.. Well, not many do. Matter of fact, a lot of RB's are slower than DWill... But to say he doesn't have speed is crazy. The guy can run and I am somewhat amazed to hear all these long TD's runs he had being discredited.

Just sayin... :thumbsup:

Theres a lot of misunderstanding going on here, I never said he didn't have speed. But he didn't have the speed that the original poster thought. In relation to all the RBs in the NFL, he's above average.

And I mentioned specific game situations when i was talking about him getting caught from behind, saying that I'm holding on to an old belief is completely untrue, why would i mention those situations if I was? I'm no NFL expert but I don't say much that isn't based off of my own two eyes.

It's silly for people to just keep throwing up stats without actually looking at the actual games from where those stats come from. Most of those 30+ yarders I'm thinking "Wow this guys powerful or Wow he's hard to bring down". Yes he is fast, but it's not really his defining feature like other backs.

I didn't backtrack on anything, he does get caught from behind. By "caught" i mean they catch up to him or he has to start weaving with them right on his tail. He doesn't have the speed to burn most DBs straight up.

He does not rely on having amazing speed like other different RBs do. He has a blend of power and elusiveness that are much more impressive than his speed. Which is the point I'm trying to make. All that everybody keeps mentioning is that his Tds are long, long tds don't make a person automatically fast. A lot of his TDs he's had to break tackles, juke, stiff arm, and weave to get to the endzone. Just watch his games where he gets into open space, DBs are able to gain signifigantly on him but they usually can't bring him down very easily or even get a hand on him which is why he is so good.

He has great acceleration and lateral quickness, any direction he moves its always one step ahead of the defender but once he's up to his speed the guys with the extra gear start to catch up.

[QuasiYoda]

Sorry but I disagree.. You're original point was that Williams gets caught from behind. Not all this other stuff you back tracked with.. lol =P

And to the point of him getting caught, this is a classic example of people holding onto old beliefs/cliches/rumor no matter what they see on the field.

DWill was getting caught by people in '07. DWill even got caught on one play this year at the beginning of the season (may have even been preseason). This was in an interview from somewhere, but he said teammates were ragging on him for getting caught from behind. His reply was, "it won't happen again." And from then on I can't think of a time where a guy straight up caught him from behind without already having a good angle on him.

And yet he's still called out for getting caught from behind. I call bullpoo.

:thumbsup:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the story of how Vinnie Testaverde spoke with Gello about his conditioning after one of those plays where he was caught from behind. Since then Deangelo has been working out to avoid such a scenario from happening again . . .

[Car123]

Theres a lot of misunderstanding going on here, I never said he didn't have speed. But he didn't have the speed that the original poster thought. In relation to all the RBs in the NFL, he's above average.

And I mentioned specific game situations when i was talking about him getting caught from behind, saying that I'm holding on to an old belief is completely untrue, why would i mention those situations if I was? I'm no NFL expert but I don't say much that isn't based off of my own two eyes.

It's silly for people to just keep throwing up stats without actually looking at the actual games from where those stats come from. Most of those 30+ yarders I'm thinking "Wow this guys powerful or Wow he's hard to bring down". Yes he is fast, but it's not really his defining feature like other backs.

I didn't backtrack on anything, he does get caught from behind. By "caught" i mean they catch up to him or he has to start weaving with them right on his tail. He doesn't have the speed to burn most DBs straight up.

He does not rely on having amazing speed like other different RBs do. He has a blend of power and elusiveness that are much more impressive than his speed. Which is the point I'm trying to make. All that everybody keeps mentioning is that his Tds are long, long tds don't make a person automatically fast. A lot of his TDs he's had to break tackles, juke, stiff arm, and weave to get to the endzone. Just watch his games where he gets into open space, DBs are able to gain signifigantly on him but they usually can't bring him down very easily or even get a hand on him which is why he is so good.

He has great acceleration and lateral quickness, any direction he moves its always one step ahead of the defender but once he's up to his speed the guys with the extra gear start to catch up.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80c8ee84/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-11-vs-Lions-2008

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80d54a11/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-15-vs-Broncos-2008

This is the defenition of speed

[Brandon]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80c8ee84/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-11-vs-Lions-2008

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80d54a11/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-15-vs-Broncos-2008

This is the defenition of speed

Using examples featuring the Broncos' and Lions' defense aren't exactly going to help make a point.

[Car123]

Using examples featuring the Broncos' and Lions' defense aren't exactly going to help make a point.

He still outran Defensive backs

[SorthNarolina]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80c8ee84/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-11-vs-Lions-2008

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80d54a11/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-15-vs-Broncos-2008

This is the defenition of speed

He looks pretty fast outrunning those LBs in the Denver shot but really I'm more impressed by his cutback ability and vision.

he's a fast guy and I'm not taking that away from him. He's just not a burner. Everybody's trying to make it seem like I'm saying he isn't fast. He just not they kind of guy that will out run DBs in a one on one situation. But he will most likely run over or stiff arm that DB to the ground which is what makes him so good.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d80a3a4ff/Williams-60-Yd-TD - here he breaks open and is able to reach the endzone, watch him weave to make the most of his run, he doesn't have the speed to split most gaps.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80b69284/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-05-vs-Chiefs-2008 - heres one of his 30+ yard runs, was this more to do with his speed or his power(or maybe the cheifs D)?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80e08960/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-19-vs-Cardinals-2008- here he breaks into open space and is able to make a good gain but notice how isn't able to break away from the cardinals defender. The guy had an angle on him but another back could have gotten more.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80c5dde6/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-10-vs-Raiders-2008 - here again he breaks out into the open and has to weave to try and get away from the defenders.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80d2c822/DeAngelo-Williams-Highlight-WK-14-vs-Buccaneers-2008 - heres another one from the bucs game where he is able to get into the open but can't get that extra gear outrun a DB like some backs can.

All I'm saying is he has good, but not great speed.

[carpanfan96]

one of the Backers he outran in Denver was a sub 4.4 guy, I still go with Dwill is more shifty and elusive then fast. He has speed, but what makes him great is his shifting/cutting ability, elusiveness and vision. The Denver run has more to due with his vision and cutting ability then anything else. He's fast just not burner fast.