Defensive rookies seem like great guys, but I worry about speed ..

[Big D]

From what I've seen on the video clips , Hodge can make up for any lack of speed with quick reactions and plain 'ol football smarts. This guy seem to be the first one on the defense to diagnose the play. If they're all similar in that aspect speed wont be a factor.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Jacque Reeves was a track guy and had no awareness skills for corner.

Alexander Wright was fast, fast, fast but didn't run good routes and couldn't hang on to the football.

People get hung-up too much on 40 times.

Michael Irvin
Emmitt Smith
Everson Walls
Michael Downs

It's not all about speed.

its true, that you can get overhyped on speed, and we have drafted players like reeves, randall williams that didnt cut it, but look at whom was running the draft, larry lacewell and jerry jones;

when and i remind you what Jimmy Johnson said, speed kills, and he pretty well drafted players that were playmakers but had some type of speed;

so speed does kill, you just have to do your job right, and know what your drafting; like ciwokskie does

just like mickens whom got hurt, ran a 4.53 but at the same time, his sophomore year, he ran a 4.44 now that is fast enough to play cb
and i consider mickens a steal and hopefully his knee is ok now

 

[AsthmaField]

From what I've seen on the video clips , Hodge can make up for any lack of speed with quick reactions and plain 'ol football smarts. This guy seem to be the first one on the defense to diagnose the play. If they're all similar in that aspect speed wont be a factor.

Hodge does not have a lack of speed (please see post #4 in this thread). He ran a 4.58 40, which is blazing fast for an ILB. Likewise, his quickness and change of direction are excellent for an ILB.

He would have a little bit of a speed problem if he were going to stay at safety... but he's not going to... he'll be an ILB for us.

Hodge has more than enough speed for his new position.

 

[big dog cowboy]

We drafted the fasted kicker in the draft, right? Right?

:laugh2:

 

[Rush 2112]

I'll take production over raw speed every day of the week.

 

[Va_BoysFan4 Life]

Speed is all well and good, but worry about them making plays and performing at an NFL level. There are reasons why these guys fell to where they did, and why alot of people in general said this was a weak draft for overall talent for all teams.

Sorry but I tend to disagree with you on this. Everyone can not be drafted in the first two round. Just take a look around the league at all the late round Pro Bowlers and superstars in the league at this time.

As for the speed, like stated before, good extinct, good recognition, good study habits of you opponents can help make up for what you lack in speed. Ty Law is a prime example of this philosophy.

 

[Bizwah]

I used to drool over forty times....not anymore.

I think they have their place in scouting...but they're not the end all be all. I think they're merely a tool to measure speed. Just a tool. They're not the only indicator of speed. Only one indicator. Only one tool.

I look at the old Patriots' and Steelers' defense. How many of them run great forties?

 

[CF74]

Meh, speed only matters in Madden.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't know with the speed that Hodge and Williams supposedly have at ILB I don't think we've got to worry too much about speed on the defense. I think we've got plenty of speed on that side of the ball.