Skins are the 2nd fastest team?

[KickSaveDave]

Ok, this is highly arbitrary (the author even admits as much) but in ranking the skill position players on all the NFL teams, the Redskins came in 2nd to only the Titans. Pretty interesting but not sure it really translates to anything meaningful in the W-L column. The Skins ranking is mainly because of how much faster RGIII is than the typical QB.

Need for Speed «

Since we’re really not thinking about how fast a left guard or a nose tackle are in determining a team’s speed,2 I decided to focus on skill-position players and the guys who stop them. I took each NFL team and grabbed 10 players from each: their likely starters at quarterback (1), running back (2), wide receiver (2), tight end (1), cornerback (2), and safety (2). I used a player’s 40 time from the combine when available, and when one wasn’t, I used that player’s pro day.3 To adjust for the ravages of time, I added two-hundredths of a second for each year since a player’s arrival into the league. So, with 15 years under his belt, Champ Bailey’s 4.28 40 from the 1999 combine becomes a 4.58 40-yard dash. Some players will have been affected by injuries and age more than others, but I think it’s a reasonable best-fit assumption to make.

Using this totally arbitrary method, the fastest team in football is …

Total Rank Team
45.33 1 Tennessee
45.44 2 Washington
45.48 3 New York Jets
45.56 4 Buffalo
45.63 5 Cleveland
45.72 6 St. Louis
45.72 6 Indianapolis
45.85 8 Miami
45.93 9 Baltimore
46.07 10 Seattle
46.09 11 Cincinnati
46.18 12 San Francisco
46.20 13 New York Giants
46.29 14 Kansas City
46.31 15 Detroit
46.33 16 Minnesota
46.35 17 Carolina
46.35 18 Jacksonville
46.37 19 Atlanta
46.42 20 San Diego
46.48 21 Houston
46.50 22 Tampa Bay
46.59 23 Philadelphia
46.59 23 Arizona
46.60 25 Green Bay
46.60 25 Oakland
46.63 27 Dallas
46.64 28 Denver
46.65 29 Pittsburgh
46.66 30 New Orleans
46.74 31 Chicago
47.30 32 New England
The Tennessee Titans! I’ve been a little harsh with the Titans this offseason, complaining on the Grantland NFL Podcast about how boring they are, but now I have no excuse: By this method, they rate out as the fastest team in football. It makes sense, too, given how athletic and young they are at the skill-position spots. The Titans are actually above-average at nine of the 10 positions in this lineup; only Bernard Pollard (4.73 age-adjusted 40-yard dash) is below-average at his respective spot, while the likes of Jake Locker (4.57) and Justin Hunter (4.46) are among the fastest players at their positions. Tennessee also has the fastest pair of cornerbacks in the league with Jason McCourty (4.40) and Coty Sensabaugh (4.37) booked to start.

Their closest competitors are in Washington, where there’s one obvious advantage: Robert Griffin. NFLDraftScout credits Griffin with a 4.33 40-yard dash time at the combine, and even after aging, that decelerates only to 4.37 seconds. The average QB ran an age-adjusted 40 of 4.88 seconds. The difference between Griffin and an old pocket passer like Tom Brady (5.56 seconds) is enormous. The likes of Roy Helu (4.46) and DeSean Jackson (4.47) are among the fastest players in football. And while Alfred Morris and Brandon Meriweather are both below the average speeds for their positions, it’s only a marginal gap; Washington really isn’t slow anywhere. Meriweather can’t tackle and Griffin might not be healthy, but in a vacuum, this is a very viable candidate as the fastest lineup in the league.

 

[TCB]

Ok, this is highly arbitrary (the author even admits as much) but in ranking the skill position players on all the NFL teams, the Redskins came in 2nd to only the Titans. Pretty interesting but not sure it really translates to anything meaningful in the W-L column. The Skins ranking is mainly because of how much faster RGIII is than the typical QB.

Need for Speed «

Alright, well we are getting younger too so it is expected that we got faster. 2nd fastest team fast? No complaining from me.
Soooooooo Where are the Strong.
And who are the trusted!

 

[martinez]

not saying this means anything but ill take it. couldnt hurt.

 

[KickSaveDave]

Alright, well we are getting younger too so it is expected that we got faster. 2nd fastest team fast? No complaining from me.
Soooooooo Where are the Strong.
And who are the trusted!

I think all that really matters is that they learn how to play with harmony. Sweet harmony!!!!

 

[Caliskinsfan]

I think all that really matters is that they learn how to play with harmony. Sweet harmony!!!!

Indeed. It's a team sport, dammit. All the pieces need to work together or what good is it to have individual superstars? We've seen that double feature fail many a time.

HTTR!

 

[TCB]

Indeed. It's a team sport, dammit. All the pieces need to work together or what good is it to have individual superstars? We've seen that double feature fail many a time.

HTTR!


View attachment 11783

Super Cali! I take it you were not a big Elvis Costello fan.
That's ok, you are still the man!

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Super Cali! I take it you were not a big Elvis Costello fan.
That's ok, you are still the man!

Not at all. I'm a HUGE Costello fan!!!! And Joe Jackson and the like... I'm a closet punk, pop punk, alternative 80's by product

In many ways with the Skins, I'm STILL living in the 80s...

 

[SoCalWizFan]

So, with 15 years under his belt, Champ Bailey’s 4.28 40 from the 1999 combine becomes a 4.58 40-yard dash.

I didn't realize that Bailey was that fast. So in 2000 - the trio of Bailey, Green & Deion must have been the fastest group of CBs ever (in spite of the fact that overall defensive unit was nothing special). BTW - that factor that reduces the 40 time for age never really applied in Green's case - the guy never really seemed to age!