[ravidubey]

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

There are two discussion going on here. One is pure speed vs the rest of the essential set of wideout skills.

Right. Pure speed, that is 40 times, are important but should not be exaggerated over all else. This discussion is not about fast guys who can't catch, run routes, or change direction.

We are talking about skilled NFL players WITH speed vs. those WITHOUT speed and the difference it makes.

Speed lets you:

1) cover more field as effectively in less time (helps OL, stretches and defenses mentally and physically)
2) make big gains and even score touchdowns from anywhere in any amount of time
3) psychologically intimidate the defense

To best use speed you must:

1) call run plays to the outside. REQUIRES: a fast, reliable RB.
2) call pass plays which emphasize YAC or outright deep patterns. REQUIRES: receivers with speed and an accurate QB for YAC and a strong armed accurate QB for deep patterns.

2003 Cowboys:
RB: Troy Hambrick, Avion Cason, Richie Anderson
WR: Galloway, AB, and Glenn with rookie Witten
QB: Quincy Carter

Failed both #1 and #2. Carter was inaccurate on crossing routes, so the only "speed" pass plays Dallas called were the occasional fly pattern on which Galloway was 90% double-covered-- too much of a challenge for Carter. Deep out patterns were a mystery to Carter as well as he thudded many into the turf. His WR's had 12 dropped passes-- an anomaly for them for just this one season with Carter. Coincidence? No, Carter was a bust. Cason was fast, but not reliable. THam was a ham.

2004 Cowboys:
RB: JuJo, Richie Anderson
WR: Johnson, Morgan, and Glenn with emerging Witten
QB: Quincy Carter

Passed #1 thanks to Julius. Failed #2 after Terry Glenn and Morgan went down. Testaverde, despite his age, could throw accurately accross the middle allowing Witten and Glenn to gain YAC. But with Glenn out of the picture the field shrank dramatically for both crossing routes and deep routes. As long as the OL blocked well, we could pick our way up the field with Keyshawn, but Johnson is terrible at both getting deep and gaining YAC because he took too much time to get deep and was too slow to gain any YAC.