Running in uniforms...

[Jarv]

I was never a track guy...lol. I played LB and offensive line in HS. So I have a question for the runners out here.

1) How much does running in a full pads slow you down ?

2) We probably can guess it does slow people down, but does it slow down some more than others ?

For example, Jarrett (I'm not trying to boost any draft picks over another, to be honest I don't follow College football enough to consider myself an expert, having said that...), would pads slow down a smaller guy like Ginn more than it would Jarrett because he (Jarett) is bigger and stronger ?

Of course I would love to see players timed with full pads to get a real representation of thier speed.

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67, say Ginn runs a 4.3, would the pads make Jarrett run a 4.7 and Ginn a 4.5 ? Ginn would slow down more in pads than Jarrett would ?

Do you get my point here, keep in mind this is a question and not a statement.

 

[Cowboys&Caps]

I was never a track guy...lol. I played LB and offensive line in HS. So I have a question for the runners out here.

1) How much does running in a full pads slow you down ?

2) We probably can guess it does slow people down, but does it slow down some more than others ?

For example, Jarrett (I'm not trying to boost any draft picks over another, to be honest I don't follow College football enough to consider myself an expert, having said that...), would pads slow down a smaller guy like Ginn more than it would Jarrett because he (Jarett) is bigger and stronger ?

Of course I would love to see players timed with full pads to get a real representation of thier speed.

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67, say Ginn runs a 4.3, would the pads make Jarrett run a 4.7 and Ginn a 4.5 ? Ginn would slow down more in pads than Jarrett would ?

Do you get my point here, keep in mind this is a question and not a statement.

Start with Ginn running a 4.15 because he may have been the fastest man in college last year. That said i dont' think how big you are plays alot into how much the pads slow you down all told the pads only weigh 6 pounds or so and to these guys it is more or less irrelevent.

good thought though its kind of an interesting take.

 

[THUMPER]

I was never a track guy...lol. I played LB and offensive line in HS. So I have a question for the runners out here.

1) How much does running in a full pads slow you down ?

2) We probably can guess it does slow people down, but does it slow down some more than others ?

For example, Jarrett (I'm not trying to boost any draft picks over another, to be honest I don't follow College football enough to consider myself an expert, having said that...), would pads slow down a smaller guy like Ginn more than it would Jarrett because he (Jarett) is bigger and stronger ?

Of course I would love to see players timed with full pads to get a real representation of thier speed.

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67, say Ginn runs a 4.3, would the pads make Jarrett run a 4.7 and Ginn a 4.5 ? Ginn would slow down more in pads than Jarrett would ?

Do you get my point here, keep in mind this is a question and not a statement.

The bigger guys can carry the weight of pads easier than a smaller guy and should slow down less.

I am never impressed with a player's speed as much as I am with their production and Jarrett has had a MUCH more productive college career than Ginn.

Also, guys who rely on speed will lose that edge over time as injuries and age take their toll. Guys who rely on their size and strength tend to be more consistent ad can generally play longer because of it.

Jarrett is comparable to Keyshawn Johnson or Michael Irvin. He will likely never be the greatest WR of all time but he will be a good player for a long time and could be a very good player if he applies himself.

Ginn is a bust in the making IMO.

 

[superpunk]

They make them so light now, especially for DBs and WRs, that I don't know that it would make any difference from player to player. A well trained athlete isn't going to be slowed down by 5 pounds of pads whether he weighs 180 or 220, I wouldn't think.

Maybe there have been some studies done...

 

[superpunk]

The bigger guys can carry the weight of pads easier than a smaller guy and should slow down less.

I am never impressed with a player's speed as much as I am with their production and Jarrett has had a MUCH more productive college career than Ginn.

Also, guys who rely on speed will lose that edge over time as injuries and age take their toll. Guys who rely on their size and strength tend to be more consistent ad can generally play longer because of it.

Jarrett is comparable to Keyshawn Johnson or Michael Irvin. He will likely never be the greatest WR of all time but he will be a good player for a long time and could be a very good player if he applies himself.

Ginn is a bust in the making IMO.

Speed won't do you an ounce of good if you can't beat the jam. Williamson found that out from the start in camp where it was reported he could barely get off the line - and he was the 8th? pick in the draft?

I doubt Ginn goes that high - but I'd imagine he's going to have the same kinds of problems.

 

[Doomsday101]

They make them so light now, especially for DBs and WRs, that I don't know that it would make any difference from player to player. A well trained athlete isn't going to be slowed down by 5 pounds of pads whether he weighs 180 or 220, I wouldn't think.

Maybe there have been some studies done...

I agree however you will put up better times in shorts than in full pads, the difference will not be that great but there will be a difference.

 

[joseephuss]

In highschool, I always found the wearing the helmet took more getting used to than any of the other pads. I think that is why most every practice has guys wearing at least their helmets. Such as a practice in shorts, t-shirt and helmet. It is just strange to have some extra weight around your brain. Takes the neck muscles some getting used to. I am not fast, but I never felt as if the uniform ever made me slower.

 

[superpunk]

I agree however you will put up better times in shorts than in full pads, the difference will not be that great but there will be a difference.

Yes, there will be a difference in your time - measured to such a high tolerance.

That was not the question, though.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

JMO, but I don't think the pads had anything to do with affecting players' speed. I played with a few guys who were pretty fast, at least for high school -- 10.5 100m guys -- and they were the fastest guys on the football field, too, even though they were skinny.

In fact, you could go right down the line and run a race on the track, then run a race on the field in pads, and the results would be exactly the same.

So I don't think it's weight of the pads (which are even way lighter than they were) or that they're uncomfortable. It's that some "track guys" just don't have a football mentality. A lot of them don't like to be hit, and that keeps them from being as aggressive as the other guys and playing at full speed. Or, their heart just isn't into the game 100% like it is for some guys. You know how some guys get such an adrenaline rush that they really max out their physical abilities. The track guys I can think of didn't do that, although they were still very good players.

Then you have the guys who just don't have any lateral mobility or instincts for the game.

So anyway... I guess that's a long way of saying that Ginn vs. Jarrett in pads = Ginn vs. Jarrett in shorts.

 

[Maxmadden]

I was a running back in high school and I was not really very fast. But I could reach top speed in no time flat, especially for my size. Which I think is more important for RB's.

But in the games I actually had another gear that I didn't have in practice or during timed 40's. I'm guessing it was pure adrenaline. I think way too much is put into 40 times, because some players just play faster in a game with pads.

I remember getting caught from behind numerous times but the fact of the matter was that they were chasing me from behind.

 

[Jarv]

JMO, but I don't think the pads had anything to do with affecting players' speed. I played with a few guys who were pretty fast, at least for high school -- 10.5 100m guys -- and they were the fastest guys on the football field, too, even though they were skinny.

In fact, you could go right down the line and run a race on the track, then run a race on the field in pads, and the results would be exactly the same.

So I don't think it's weight of the pads (which are even way lighter than they were) or that they're uncomfortable. It's that some "track guys" just don't have a football mentality. A lot of them don't like to be hit, and that keeps them from being as aggressive as the other guys and playing at full speed. Or, their heart just isn't into the game 100% like it is for some guys. You know how some guys get such an adrenaline rush that they really max out their physical abilities. The track guys I can think of didn't do that, although they were still very good players.

Then you have the guys who just don't have any lateral mobility or instincts for the game.

So anyway... I guess that's a long way of saying that Ginn vs. Jarrett in pads = Ginn vs. Jarrett in shorts.

The bolded part is really what I was looking for. I was just curious to see if you guys thought pads and a helmet could be an equalizer...

 

[ZeroClub]

Ginn is a Santana Moss type. He has the electric speed of Devin Hester.

Assuming he manages to stay reasonably healthy, I don't see him being a total bust. It is possible that he'll be a more of a situational player than full time player, but he's going to make some big plays in the NFL before it is all over.

 

[sacase]

I have to disagree with most of you, it has a profound affect on speed. The weight is a very small part of it, but the wind resistance the bullk of the equipement adds. You will not get the exact same results you will see a big difference. plus the pads restrict your range of motion. You can't make the same strides. Look at track shoes they way next to nothing and wrap around you foot. Look at WR shoes they are narrow and weigh alot less. Now compare that to your basic Nike Shark football shoe. Big difference. But the equalizer is everyone is in pads so the amount someone is slowed is even by position.

 

[Rampage]

I was never a track guy...lol. I played LB and offensive line in HS. So I have a question for the runners out here.

1) How much does running in a full pads slow you down ?

2) We probably can guess it does slow people down, but does it slow down some more than others ?

For example, Jarrett (I'm not trying to boost any draft picks over another, to be honest I don't follow College football enough to consider myself an expert, having said that...), would pads slow down a smaller guy like Ginn more than it would Jarrett because he (Jarett) is bigger and stronger ?

Of course I would love to see players timed with full pads to get a real representation of thier speed.

Jarrett ran a 4.62 and a 4.67, say Ginn runs a 4.3, would the pads make Jarrett run a 4.7 and Ginn a 4.5 ? Ginn would slow down more in pads than Jarrett would ?

Do you get my point here, keep in mind this is a question and not a statement.

the 40 time is a joke. nobody will run in shorts and a shirt in a game. now kids get trained on how to run the 40. a 40 time is way different from game speed. game speed is what you want. get a stop watch and some film than breakdown the speed times

 

[Jarv]

the 40 time is a joke. nobody will run in shorts and a shirt in a game. now kids get trained on how to run the 40. a 40 time is way different from game speed. game speed is what you want. get a stop watch and some film than breakdown the speed times

Game speed is one of the hardest things to determine, but also one of the most important to judge.

 

[CowboyMike]

I played TE in high school and backed up at QB. We used a pro style offense. In our scheme the TE was mainly a blocker. Therefore I used larger pads.

Our QB was injured for a couple games and I started there. I switched to smaller pads for more movement.

Funny thing happened when I went back to TE. I kept the small pads and began catching everything in practice and getting in and out of my routes faster. Suddenly I stopped staying in for blocking and we became a spread offense.

So year, pads can make a difference.

 

[burmafrd]

Its not just the pads- its the taping of the ankles, etc. That makes a difference as well. Then of course football shoes vs track shoes. Wind resistance, bulk, weight. Even 5 lbs makes a difference= look at horse racing and handicaps= where you are talking about a 1000 lb horse; just a couple of pounds makes a difference there.

 

[TtownCowboy]

I don't believe weight has anything to do with it. It's more about some players tend to be more natural running in pads than others. So I do believe there is a difference. My brother was a pretty big time high school player, for our area anyway, and he and another guy were the fastest on the team. When they put on pads a buddy of his could out run him every time, but without pads he never could. He always said the guy just ran more natural w/pads than he did. Just an opinion no studies here.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Start with Ginn running a 4.15 because he may have been the fastest man in college last year. That said i dont' think how big you are plays alot into how much the pads slow you down all told the pads only weigh 6 pounds or so and to these guys it is more or less irrelevent.

good thought though its kind of an interesting take.

Not quite....

A Riddell Revolution helmet L-XL weighs 5 pounds itself. Shoulder pads 5-6.
Cleats 1 - l.5 lbs. If you use a Collar or other protective padding add more. You can add your strap, socks , any under the pads clothing, jersey and pants.

Hell you can add in your wristbands/mouthpiece, tape and easily be at 15 pounds of exta weight. The bigger the guy, the bigger the pads , the more weight.

 

[Aikbach]

Personally I always felt I was faster in pads, the incentive and rush of hitting someone on gameday was greater motivation than the coaches stopwatch for me.

I ran a 4.65 and was a measley 150 pound outside linebacker that was swift, fast, very small but hit hard and was difficult to block.

I have no idea how fast I was on gameday but I was very effective, not good enough (much less big enough) to play college ball but noteworthy for 5A Varsity.