All this talk about Munir and his amazing shuttle time and getting his 40 down to 4.3 gets me to wondering.....does anybody remember what the Rocket's 40 time was (I seem to remember something crazy like 4.1 in pads) and if we had anybody who was even faster (maybe Rossum?) It looks like the fastest guy ND is looking at this year is Deonte Thompson, or maybe Golden Tate

Rocket was in the 4.24 - 4.30 range.

I'm sure most of you guys have read this article. But, just in case there are some who haven't, here it is. A very enlightening perspective on 40 yd dash times.

 

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/nfl/20050418-9999-1s18forty.html

Good read, just goes to show that you shouldn't put all your faith in a fast 40. Even though it's not in pads and it is run in a straight line the 40 still remains the ultimate test of speed in football, although I'm not exaclty sure why. To me the shuttle is a more accurate gauge of a players quickness, but I'd be lying if I told you guys that a fast 40 time does not impress me.

I know that the 40 time is by no means the end-all, be-all of factors in deciding whether a prospect is going to be a stud or not, but it certainly can't hurt to be fast! Maybe we can find someone to catch Teddy Ginn on a reverse or not let Pittman turn the corner next time.

 

After watching a video of the '88 team yesterday...man they had WAY more speed than the 05 team had. LB's were lightning fast, and arguably our worst DB in the starting lineup that year (Smagala) was as good and as fast as our best starting DB last year (Zibby). So I think speed definitely matters.

Zibby was our most versatile and experienced but he wasn't the fastest and in coverage not the best either.

nice article, that was a really good read. It really put the 40 in to perspective.

What everyone needs to realize is that the article doesn't mean that the fast guys are slow. If just means that the reporting of EVERY players 40yd times in probably inflated. So the guy that runs a 4.3 that is really a 4.5 is still 2 tenths faster than the guy who runs a 4.5 that is really a 4.7.

 

I'll still take the guys with the fastest 40's on my team given somewhat equal skills. You can't teach speed and quickness. You might be able to improve speed and lateral movement marginally. But, even in those situations where improvement does occur, it is too late (by college age) for it to become a natural muscle response and doesn't really translate to a game situation.

Zibby was our most versatile and experienced but he wasn't the fastest and in coverage not the best either.

 

If you don't think Zibby was our best overall DB, then who? Ndukwe?

Zibby supported the run well and was average in coverage. Every time I saw a WR go deep I held my breath.

Zibby supported the run well and was average in coverage. Every time I saw a WR go deep I held my breath.

 

I agree but who didn't get beat a lot in our secondary last year? Some of the blame has to go with our lack of a consistent pass rush. The games that we had a decent pass rush, we didn't seem to have too much trouble with coverage.

Zibby supported the run well and was average in coverage. Every time I saw a WR go deep I held my breath.

 

I agree but who didn't get beat a lot in our secondary last year? Some of the blame has to go with our lack of a consistent pass rush. The games that we had a decent pass rush, we didn't seem to have too much trouble with coverage.

 

The pass rush has nothing to do with Zibby getting taken in repeatedly on play action. He's a safety not a LB. Weis recently commented on the secondary. Speed wasn't a problem. Playing fast was. They tended to analyse rather than react.

 

Considering there were only 3 returners on the entire Defense and the Secondary was playing for the first time as unit with 3 guys that were HS receivers (one had just shifted from ND LB to S) and a former HS QB all of whom were "coached" and I use that word very loosely, by Wilks they played pretty well. And those 4 guys had to play essentially all the time.

 

Chemistry was key problem last year and it won't be this year. Weis commented yesterday (you guys really ought to catch his interviews):

 

Q. How would you assess your defense.

 

CW. I like the speed of the defense. I'm much more encouraged with the depth of the defense than at anytime last year. There's not one time last year that I was confident in more than one deep. At time we had 7 DBs in practice. We wouldn't play 7 DBs in an entire game last year. That brings a smile to my face that we can play 4. 5, 6. or 7. It gives you a lot of flexibility.

 

Did you note the comment on Depth?

 

It goes for the front line as well. There was no depth. Victor played injured most of the year and others guys were lost to injuries.

I agree with you BGIF. It's very comforting to hear that Weis is more confident in our D with the added depth and experience that we have. Ya speed definitely was not the problem...everyone in the secondary has exceptional speed, is Richardson the slowest? Zibby just has too much of a tendency to come up and want to make a play at the line of scrimmage. I was watching some of the Raiders preseason game the other day and saw that Darnell Bing the former USC safety was converted to LB, I can see that happening to Zibby if he goes pro.

Saying zibby is slow makes no sense if you watched him at all last year when he continously out ran and ran down opponents.

Saying zibby is slow makes no sense if you watched him at all last year when he continously out ran and ran down opponents.

I don't know if you meant that to anyone, but I just wanted to say that I don't think that Zibby is slow. Idk if by me saying that he was average in coverage confused anyone but I thought I'd make sure.

I don't think anybody said that Zibby was slow...he got burned quite a few times last year but showed good closing speed chasing them down. My take on Zibby....boy has he learned a lot from soph to jr year, and I suspect he will vastly improve on reads this year. Plus he adds that toughness and nobody can say he's not a big-time playmaker. Zibby and Ndukwe will be studs this year in the backfield....Wooden a notch below that but still decent. I'm a little worried about Richardson and Lambert though, it will be interesting to see if McNeil or Walls can challenge for some playing time.

 

Just watched the '89 WVA NC game, they said Rocket ran a 4.28 out of high school, so good call to whoever said between 4.2-4.3 (I'm posting and too lazy to go back to it before I finish)

Ya Duke and Zibby will definitely be great this year, but I'm really also very confident in Wooden, Richardson, and Lambert. Also throw in there the backups and younger guys and we will have a competitive and athletic defenseive backfield.

I can't wait to see the seven DB lineup that they were practicing.

Ya from what I've read the coaches seem to be excited about it. Hopefully we can help out the DL with some coverage sacks!

can't wait to see the seven DB lineup that they were practicing.

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I was thinking about that earlier. Its very possible that we could see it, but who would it be? 4 defensive lineman, Zibby at MLB, with Mike Richardson, Wooden, Ndukwe, Lambert, Bruton, Herring, maybe. That would be crazy to see all those bodies flying around to the ball. Cant get any faster than that, LOL!!!!!

We're not playing with 7 DBs. Especially not with Zibby at MLB. Sorry. We'd be asking for any mobile QB to destroy us. Teams would be run draws and pretty much be assured of at least 5 yards a play.

 

In my opinion your defensive packages should reflect the down, distance, game situation, etc much more than the offensive personnel on the field. So what if the offense goes to a 4 wide on 3rd a short. They're not throwing it. Play your base 4-3 defense with your best run stuffers (linebackers).