The Huddle - The Eight Fastest Players

Percy Harvin may not even be UF’s fastest receiver.

Chris Rainey runs in the 4.3 range as well, and incoming freshman Jeff Demps is probably one of the top 100 meter sprinters in the U.S. He was setting records throughout his high school career.

Here’s someone else yapping about Demps: http://dreadnaught.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/fastest-player-in-college-football-florida-gator-jeff-demps/.

Yes the Buckeyes have no speed - that’s why a 230 lb. Chris Wells outran every LSU player on a 67-yard TD run.  If you haven’t noticed, 6 of the 8 players that you listed run some sort of a spread offense.  Clemson and USC are the only two schools that don’t focus entirely on the spread offense.  And Clemson hasn’t been a major power since ‘81 (not bagging on Clemson, but even when expectations have been at the highest for the program, they still haven’t exceeded).

When will a blogger realize that the X-factor is not necesarily speed, but the formations that are lined up to get people open and make it seem like they are speed demons?

It is the same principle as St. Louis used in getting to the Super Bowl.  They simply lined up with three, four, and five WRs, and said that we think your top 2 DBs can hang, but your #3 and #4 DBs won’t be able to.  Is that b/c the players were tht much faster?  Not really, but the formations spread the field out and gave more options and more open field for the athletes.

I think you need to dig a little more, or title it the fastest players you personally saw last year.  Look at Oregon State, Jacquizz Rodgers, James Rodgers, and their Canadian Junior National track sprinter Keynan Parker are all faster than White.

Buckeye07,
A little bitter, big guy? No one is claiming the Buckeyes don’t have speed. They just don’t have enough speed. If it’s only a matter of spreading the field, then maybe Tressel should implement it at osu. Or does he not have the SPEED on the roster to properly run that kind of offense? It’s not the offense that makes the players, it’s the players that make the offense. That’s the way it has always been.

This list is not the 8 fastest players.

Derrick Locke at Kentucky ran a 4.21 40, and Alphonso Smith ran a 4.24 40.  Both of those guys have faster 40 times than 3 of the 4 that you listed times for the 40.

Locke also has the Oklahoma state record for long jump, and ran a 10.6 electronic timed 100 in high school.

Yes, the Illini faceplanted against the Trojans in the Rose Bowl, but Vontae Davis caught Joe McKnight from behind even thought McKnight had a huge head start on a botched play in the 3rd qtr of that game.  Not sure he should be included on this list.

Until you line up each player, with pads, on the field and have them race, we will never know who is “fastest”. This is just an exercise in futility. Much like the preseason polls. But at least it gets us talking about CFB!!

Unfortunately you got the wrong person in the Percy Harvin video. The opening kickoff was not returned by Harvin but rather Brandon James who’s wearing #25

Here is another take on the fastest players in CFB:
http://heismanpundit.com/archives/1618

Tradi -
No, not bitter at all.  But as the writer of this story said - it is the attribute that has knocked the Buckeyes out of the national title.  Again, they have plenty of speed, but the system is what works it.

A great example is the Florida Gators.  When the ol’ ball coach was strolling the sidelines, he had (sorry if spellings are wrong) Wuerffel and Doug Johnson as his two best QBs.  Those guys rarely got an opportunity in the NFL.  Why?? Because the system that was created at Florida maximizes these players talents.  The same way that the spread formation does for most of the athletes in this list.  You say the players make the offense, well then why is it that Pat White couldn’t throw the ball well?  He is the QB and that is one of his responsibilites.  He has Devine to throw it to.  But wait, that is where the offense solves the problems.  By giving a read-option look from many formations, it provides a great chance for the ball to get into the playmakers hands.  That’s why a QB like Pat White can make it in college, but he will struggle in the NFL, b/c White and the scheme that is being run fit like a glove.  Put another player in that scheme, and they will likely struggle, or move to a new position to take advantage of where that individual can be placed.  Why has a team like Nebraska struggled once they got rid of the triple-option?  Because no one could play it when it was implemented, and in turn, their record goes down, and recruits don’t look as favorably towards Nebraska.  That is how a dynamic portion of the offense (not the players themselves) can work against a team.

OSU has used a pro-style running game with a balanced attack through the air for a while.  Tressel actually opened up the offense and we’ve seen much better results than we did over the Cooper era.  We have a great defense, but again, when formations spread the defense out, it creates the illusion that a player is faster b/c he finds himself making a catch with a lot more space around him.

The clip that features Percy Harvin shows Brandon James returning the first kickoff, not Percy Harvin.  James is #25 and is a beast on special teams.

It was Reggie Fish from Arkansas who ran the hidden ball trick against Auburn.  Not Holliday, although he did run it against South Carolina

Why is it that when people have weak arguments when it concerns CFB they try to play up the “he’ll never make it in the NFL” line? That has zero to do with what we’re talking about. Buckeye07, I think you are more wrong than right. You are right that a system can help to highlight a player’s strengths and hide their weaknesses. But without the proper players, what is a system worth? Nothing. Now, the opposite could be said but I put more stock in the players since they are the ones executing. That’s my opinion.
In the end, this conversation is moot. Who is the fastest? Who knows? All these guys are super fast. The real question is if the buckeyes are ready for SC?

How can you leave out Jeshua Anderson from Washington State?  Some of these players may have fast 40 times, but you left out the reigning NCAA 100 meter hurdle champion!  Not only did he barely miss making the Olympic team, but he flew past every corner and safety in the Pac-10 last season

Remember, Jerry Rice ran 4.71 40.  But, he was sure fast with pads and the ball in his hands.

Tradi-

Understandable that a system can hide a player’s weaknesses and strengthen what they are good at.  But the offensive system takes advantage of these things.  Look at WVU vs. Oklahoma.  Oklahoma has a great defense, but it was torn apart b/c you have one guy keeping his eye on White.  One on Slaton, one on Devine, and one on Schmitt.  When you have four guys that can run the ball effectively, and then spread those four out, it makes for a lot of mismatches.  Yes, the players do have god-given talent.  But it is the calling and the execution of the play that sets up that “speed”.

I’ll even use an example from the Ohio State-Louisiana State game.  When the LSU TE Dickson caught the 9-yard TD pass, there was no one near him. The reason isn’t b/c Dickson soundly beat all of our players, but instead that LSU had a trips bunch formation to the right side with a single-man backfield.  This shifted our DBs to the bunch formation.  OSU’s OLB (over Dickson) was coming on a blitz, and we had to have our CB line up about 3 yards outside of the TE and about 6-7 yards deep.  Laurinaitis shifted to the right, bringing his body over the rigth guard.  On the snap, the QB looked right, bringing Laurinaitis to the right.  Our CB still had to maintain outside position, and when our blitzing LB didn’t get a solid jam on Dickson, he had about 3 yards between him and any other defender.  Now imagine doing this over and over again with the 8 plyers listed above.  These guys can create space when there is only 1 yard of room, so imagine what happens when they have 3-4 yards of room.  That’s what makes them seem “speedier” than others.

I’m upset that the blogger simply states speed is the issue, when credit should be given for having a good game plan, and finding ways to exploit matchups in the NC game.  That’s where this idea of speed comes from.  Execution and delivery with solid players.

Buckeye07, take the shot at OSU with a grain of salt.  You’ll get to talk a little smack if your team can win the USC game.  Also your comment about Beanie outrunning the LSU defense is a little weak.  He only outran one guy, and that was a safety that took a bad angle, for the most part everyone else was well-blocked.  If you want to talk speed, talk about your receivers that couldn’t outrun anyone.  To me, that was the major difference in the game, plus the stupid penalties committed by your guys.  Oh yeah, if you watch that game Laurinitis was exposed also.  He got beat a lot by the LSU TE’s.  I’m glad he stayed in school, so he can work on that part of his game.  I’m also sure that 9 out of 10 coaches will tell you that they will take speed over any other attribute (with heart and attitude taken as a given), because there is no substitute for it.

Fair points CFBFan.
I don’t see how the comment about Beanie outrunning the LSU D is a little weak.  It simply goes with my statement before - the way that teams line up and attack the defense is just as, if not more important than the player.  Put a slower guy in there, and the defense probably would not have been able to catch him, anyhow.  Just like LSU - if you put a slower player in their offense - the player will still get open b/c of how they spread their players around.  Last year’s issues were plain and simple turnovers, penalties, and mistakes.  3 Buckeye TOs vs. LSU’s one.  A lot of penalties (the first late hit penalty on the sidelines, I do question - the rest, we f’ed up).  And then a chance for a blocked punt, I beleive there was also a pass to our WR in the end zone, and he didn’t come down with it.
Laurinaitis wasn’t exposed for being weak in any way.  The one TD that was given up to Dickson - Brian Urlacher could have been playing, and he wouldn’t have made the play.  He had 18 tackles on the game, and the TE had four catches (two for TDs).  That doesn’t say anyone was exposed, it just means that LSU was willing to throw the ball to win the game.  Has anyone taken the opportunity to look at the two games which OSU lost? Out of 9 TDs given up, 8 were in the air by Illinois and LSU (3 to TEs).  Of the 8 TDs, only one time did a play catch more than one, and that was Dickson.  When you spread the field, and give coverage responsibilities to players that also have to be prepared to stop the run, seams will be created.  That’s why the players look “faster” is because the overall space that is being given to teams that spread the field.  I’m realistic when I look at the players who will have a tough time making the NFL, b/c these offenses have to spread the players out b/c they need space to be effective, and that’s not a premium in the NFL.  At the college level, I’ll take quickness before speed (as most coaches are doing right now.  They are implementing offenses which give the player space to use their quickness.  Quickness and speed are two different things - quickness is change of direction, speed is a straight line movement.  You get a little separation from quickness and the set up from the offense, and your team will do alright.
Anyhow, the Bucks will be ready for USC - if USC uses McKnight in the slot and spreads the field a bit, then we might be in for a tough day.

Ohio State’s biggest problem in terms of winning and losing the National Championship is the fact that they have to travel to SEC and PAC 10 country every year for the National Championship. They have to leave the cold weather and brutal conditions that they have become accustomed to playing in Ohio. Teams from the north are at a disadvantage as soon as they step on the field, because the title game is often a northern school (i.e. an Ohio State) against an SEC powerhouse (i.e. LSU). Sure, Florida handed them a serious ass-kicking two years ago, but anyone who thought Ohio State was going to win last year is a liar. They did deserve to be there, though, because they choked earliest, and less often last season.

Should be a fun college football season this year. Can’t wait for the USC-OSU showdown, the winner will be the National Champion, in my opinion.

GO BUCKEYES

How is leaving cold weather a disadvantage?  So the temperature is 70-80 instead of 45-60.  It’s no different than the games in August/September.  It’s not like Ohio State plays all their games in the arctic.

A weather disadvantage playing in a dome? You’re kidding right? OSU fans are delusional. It’s okay guys, your team is not perfect. Laurenitis has weaknesses-he’s not good in pass defense and his lateral movement is overrated. There will be another guy on the field like that-Rey Mauluga. Ohio State fans are in for a big smack in the craw against USC. They all think they’re going to out muscle the Trojans. Yes, McKnight WILL be put in the slot (and many other places) and yes, SC has speed receivers and big possession receivers (David Ausberry is a 6-5 240 receiver!!). Wells will get his 90-100 yards and two TDs but what then?

Jamere Holland-Oregon

100% of all bowl teams ‘TRAVEL’;91% are happy to be in a bowl. the rest are the 5 teams from the big ten,who are using ‘TRAVEL’ as an excuse to lose.

This list was created for the sole purpose of posting hightlight clips, and is nowhere near accurate.  McKnight, Devine, and White are fast players, but are probably not even in the top 30 fastest players in the country.  An accurate list would include Michael Ray Garvin of FSU and Jeff Demps of Florida (incoming freshman). And Trindon Holiday is without a doubt the fastest player in the country.

Demps clearly ran a faster 100 meters than Holiday.  Demps and Holiday had fast 100 meter times, but Coach Meyer reported that Chris Rainey beat Jeff Demps (after the Olympic trials) in a 40 yard race behind a UF dorm. In addition, Rainey beat Noelle Devine in a central Florida parking lot.  Rainey ran a 4.24 on grass at the UF spring game, and Percy Harvin may not be the fastest Gator

DB Keynan Parker ( oregon State)ran a 10.57 in the 100m and 21.44 in the 200m at age 16. Go Beavers!!!