Zoners: Do you prefer Speed or Brute strength?

[da_whiz_kid]

Go Dline.

Draft a WR in the 5th at the earliest.

Josh Boyce. Taller, runs great routes, smart football player, and is a real deep threat. Versatile WR who can play on the outside and the inside.

[MonsterD]

Interesting thought for those who are talking strictly about the Oline, if you heard Mayock and others use the phrase "converting speed into power". Slow big guys are not what the NFL is about anymore, you have to have the guys who can finish the equation of using athleticism and speed and capitalizing at the end to punctuate the speed with power.

My answer is both with speed first, translate power.

[Thatkidbob]

I like strength in the trenches and speed at the skill positions.

[MonsterD]

Not going to lie, I would be pretty happy to get Austin, we can draft smart in this draft and still come away with good Oline picks.

[Kristen82]

Originally Posted by MonsterD

Interesting thought for those who are talking strictly about the Oline, if you heard Mayock and others use the phrase "converting speed into power". Slow big guys are not what the NFL is about anymore, you have to have the guys who can finish the equation of using athleticism and speed and capitalizing at the end to punctuate the speed with power.

My answer is both with speed first, translate power.

Don't need to be big to be a force, at least in the secondary. Momentum = mass * velocity after all. That's why you see small fast guys like Whitner being big hitters. Think I'd rather go with speed esp. on D given the prevalence of athletic QB's who can throw out of the pocket and break long runs out of the read-option, plus teams using the spread and multiple WR's. DB's and LB's have more ground to cover against that formation.

[xwalker]

It is the ratio of speed to size that matters.

I created what I call a Forty Freak Score. It attempts to scale up to compare bigger players with a 200 lbs player that runs a 4.4 forty.

Anything over Zero is similar to a player that weights 200 lbs running faster than a 4.4 forty. A negative number is similar to a player that weighs 200 lbs running slower than a 4.4 forty.

It is the last column on the right.

IMO, measureables are useful for differentiating players with similar demonstrated performance on the field. It's like having an extra scouting report.

(click twice to enlarge)

[Mansta54]

Originally Posted by Frozen700

Strength

^^^This^^^^ Especially on the oline but I damn sure like Austins speed and ability too.

[skinsscalper]

Strength on offense and speed on defense. That's how the 90's Cowboys were built and I have no doubt that same formula can work in today's NFL.

[Star4Ever]

I prefer OL that can pass block and run block. I don't give a crap how they get it done.

[ghst187]

Originally Posted by speedkilz88

I would never take a player that's only 5-8 1/2 174 at any position in the first round. First rounders should always be guys that have it all; size, speed, smarts.

Desean Jackson turned out to be a bust eh? (minus the fact he's a human turd)

[CowboysYanksLakers]

I like strength on the both lines!

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by FLcowboy

I don't see how he improves the Oline. If Romo can't get the ball away, no receiver is going to succeed. And, just how long would a 170 pound receiver last in the league running crossing routes.

With the no blows to the head rule, no hitting defenseless receivers rule and the no chuck after five yards rule I think a small WR can do just fine but he usually needs exceptional quickness and/or speed to make an impact. Austin has both in spades so I think he's a great threat to have for teams that run 3-WR offenses where he is basically a starter out of the slot.

When you add in his return game contributions and ability to run the ball out of the backfield I think he is an okay value in the mid-first round.

[Eskimo]

In general, at most positions I want adequate strength for the job and ++quickness/agility, ++explosiveness/power and +speed.

Perhaps NT is the one position where I prefer ++strength over speed.

Even along the OL you're usually going to be a better blocker if you can play with quickness and agility to get into better position to make your blocks than you will with extra strength to try and bulldoze the 300 pound guy in front of you.

[kazzd58]

I'd rather draft WR Patterson from TN than Austin

[LittleD]

I favor brute strength on the OL & RB so that the team can help Romo out by running the ball more effectively. I favor all out speed on the defense so that the opposition QB has to hurry into mistakes. JMVHO...