Athletic freaks: Just the numbers

[NinerSickness]

If anyone won the combine award this season, it was Cornelius Washington (not Margus Hunt). Lane Johnson might be deserving too...

But how does he stack up against the athletic freaks of the past in your opinion?

JJ Watt
Patrick Peterson
Calvin Johnson
Mario Williams
Dontari Poe
Sean Taylor
Julius Peppers
Lavar Arrington
Vernon

Am I forgetting anyone? Just the top of the top athletes.

 

[Smart]

The biggest physical freak I can remember (which you probably forgot for obvious reasons) is Vernon Gholston.

 

[Robotech]

Tony Mandarich

 

[NinerSickness]

The biggest physical freak I can remember (which you probably forgot for obvious reasons) is Vernon Gholston.

Gholston?

Yeah, he has a pretty great combine. I don't know that his 40 time was all that legendary at 4.65, but he's up there.

But even a guy like Adalius Thomas had a better combine than he did IMO. Maybe I should've included both of them.

Washington's on par with those guys.

 

[threelittleturds]

No Kearse?

 

[NinerSickness]

No Kearse?

Despite the nickname, I wouldn't put him up there with the rest of those guys. JMHO.

One guy I did forget was Matt Jones though. He might've been the most athletically gifted WR in the history of the game.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Fabian Washington.

 

[threelittleturds]

I almost want to say Adrian Peterson too, just for how well he did after his serious knee injury... but I guess he doesn't qualify since you're talking about pre-draft measureables.

 

[ChrisPozz]

I'd be half tempted to include Bruce Campbell, too. His agility NUMBERS could have looked even better but he had two stumbles that I thought cost him some time and was surprised he wasn't asked to run again but he looked fantastic working out that day I remember.

I could name some others but I don't like it when these kinds of lists become too long because there's a focus on just ONE specific test or you get into the habit of naming just straight line elite speed guys.

 

[Robotech]

Bo Jackson

 

[supreme_clientele81]

Not at the combine but Lawrence Okoye 6'6 308 ran 40 4.78 10'5 broad jump 35" vertical. Pretty damn impressive.

 

[NinerSickness]

I forgot about Campbell...

I've been saying all offseason if Washington works out he's the next Audalius Thomas.

Fabian Washington had crazy speed, but I think the best athletes are the guys who can run that fast and are big too. That's why I'm so impressed by Lane Johnson.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Adam Archuleta was another one from a long time ago.

 

[Robotech]

Not at the combine but Lawrence Okoye 6'6 308 ran 40 4.78 10'5 broad jump 35" vertical. Pretty damn impressive.

And I believe he's a rugby player, so maybe he can make the transition. If he has any kind of pass-catching ability, he could be a good TE.

 

[RobertPhD01]

Didn't Sam Bradford have an amazing workout with the Rams?! Ron Simmons, Brian Urlacher!

 

[dredinis21]

Mike Mamula was one of the OG Combine freaks. Nobody had heard of this guy until he blew shit up at the combine and IIRC the Eagles drafted him at like 6. He was TERRIBLE!

 

[BINGO]

Adrian Peterson
Randy Moss
Michael Vick
Drew Brees (Vernon Davis got blocked by the goal post after attempting a goal post dunk, yet Brees who's four feet nothing is able to elevate and dunk it with ease. Extremely underrated athlete).

 

[BINGO]

Bo Jackson

Herschel Walker too. You can't mention one and forget the other.

 

[maniax]

You can add Colin Kaepernick to the list of athletic freaks IMHO.

 

[NinerSickness]

One guy I forgot to mention who fits this category is Jamie Collins. I don't remember the last time I saw a 250 pound guy with a 41.5 vertical & 139 inch broad jump. Not to mention that 4.64 40 & 1.56 10 yard split.

He's a hard guy to analyse. On one hand, he didn't exactly dominate against really bad competition. On the other hand, his team was absolutely terrible, so teams could just key on Collins & not worry about anyone else.

Bingo said that Corey Lemonier looks like Tarzan & plays like Jane. I disagreed, but I would agree if he said that about Collins. He seems like a really raw prospect who needs to work on his strength & hand useage, but those workout numbers are insane.