Receiving yards leaders of 2011 (40 yard dash times)

[RashanGary]

http://40-yard-dash-times.com/

Marshall 4.57
Nelson 4.51
White 4.45
Graham 4.53
Gronk 4.68
S Smith 4.41
CJ 4.35
Fitz 4.63
Cruz 4.47
Wlker 4.61


Thought it was interesting because our guy, Boykin was athletic in every way, productive in every way, but runs in the 4.65 range. Both Welker and Fitz run similar times. Only two of these top receivers are blazers: CJ and Smith.

40 times seem overrated for WR's. Rice was a 4.6 guy. There are rumors of Owens running 4.5's recently, but coming out of college he was a 4.6 guy. After rice, he's the second leading NFL receiver of all time.

[RashanGary]

Of the receivers:

Average height 6'1.5"
Average weight 210
Average 40 yard dash 4.50

Not exactly your who's who of height/weight/speed

Some guys have size like Marshall, Gronk, Fitz

Some guys have speed like S Smith, Roddy White, Cruz

Some guys have size/speed like Nelson

Two guys are freaks: Graham, CJ

One guy has nothing: Welker


All of these guys have excellent hands, catch the ball well in traffic, have great chemistry with their QB's (Boykin seems to have all of the "skill" qualities). . . . .

Skill seems to outweight height, weight and speed by a large margin.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Well, you just answered your own question. Most great receivers bring an elite skill to the table. Plus, they have innate ball skills. I like what I see from Boykin, but it's a bit of a stretch to compare him to these guys at this point.

You are underselling Welker. Much like Greg Jennings, his quickness, route running, and hands are elite. Greg has superior deep speed, and that's why I'd take him over Welker, but to say he has nothing is harsh.

[Lurker64]

I actually think that Boykin plays a lot closer to the 4.57 he timed at his pro day, than the 4.72 he timed at the combine (guys run poorly at the combine for all sorts of forgivable reasons that are not recorded). He actually appears to play quite a bit faster than the supposedly 4.53 Tori Gurley (who I swear is the second coming of Ruvell Martin.)

At the very least, Boykin is a lot savvier a route runner than the other fringe WRs, has great hands, and for a guy his size has above average RAC ability, which is a premium in Mac's offense (Gurley, on the other hand, has next to no RAC ability and is thus a much better fit in Mn, where he ended up.)

Boykin may end up a very good player, but I doubt he'll play much at all this year and he's not really even assured to make the roster next year (since Ted may well draft a WR in that 2-3 range in which he takes WRs).

[smuggler]

All of these guys have excellent hands, catch the ball well in traffic, have great chemistry with their QB's

Except Roddy White, who has pretty bad hands.

[Brandon494]

Except Roddy White, who has pretty bad hands.

Is that sarcasm? Pretty sure Roddy White is a beast.

[Pugger]

Well, you just answered your own question. Most great receivers bring an elite skill to the table. Plus, they have innate ball skills. I like what I see from Boykin, but it's a bit of a stretch to compare him to these guys at this point.

You are underselling Welker. Much like Greg Jennings, his quickness, route running, and hands are elite. Greg has superior deep speed, and that's why I'd take him over Welker, but to say he has nothing is harsh.

What is Greg's 40 time?

[pbmax]

Its a set of skills, but each of these guys play different roles. So its a great skill set combined with athletic measurables that fit the role they play.

You put Gronk out wide every time with a CB and safety, those numbers are coming down.

Run Nelson in the slot, his numbers are coming down.

[King Friday]

There are 2 main physical attributes that determine the success of a receiver to me.

1. Hands...you are worthless if you can't catch the ball.
2. Quickness...40 yd time isn't that useful to me. How quickly they get out of a cut is vastly more important.

[RashanGary]

There are 2 main physical attributes that determine the success of a receiver to me.

1. Hands...you are worthless if you can't catch the ball.
2. Quickness...40 yd time isn't that useful to me. How quickly they get out of a cut is vastly more important.

Route running is a big deal too. Defenses don't play the same defense down in and down out. Each route, there can be subtle adjustments that make the difference between being open and not being open.

You can ease up to make the window open longer, you can speed up to get to the second window faster, you can get better body positioning, etc. . . . . All of it depends on what defense you're playing and if you're on the same page as the QB with how he wants to attack it. The other part of route running, if defenses can key in on how you run certain routes, they can jump routes or at least have great coverage on you more often than not. Another part of a receivers game I'd put into route running is being able to get off the line. If a receiver can be stifled at the line, the timing of the play is thrown off as soon as it starts.

[RashanGary]

If a receiver has this/does this, odds are he's a good player.

Runs good routes/is on the same page with the QB
Has some combination of: size/quickness/speed that helps him get open
Catches the ball

[RashanGary]

There are so many other things that go into it. . . .

Does a coach use the players strengths
Does the player take coaching well
Is the player hard working
Does the player work well with the team
Is he durable
There's an "it" factor that you don't seem to be able to measure. Fitzgerald is 6'3", but he's not huge. He's slow, he's not incredibly quick. . . He does run great routes, but he also has a knack for just finding a way to get the ball. Acrobatic catches, balance, coordination. . . . . Just some strange form of athletic/spacial intuition that you have or don't.

Ultimately, it comes down to producing in some way/some form. The college game and NFL game are different, but once you get a guy in. . . . I've heard Ted Thompson say a couple things about it. Guys who produce consistently, and young guys who get better every day. That's why he values those 30 extra guys and gives them a real chance to make the team. Some guys are better NFL players than they were college. You just never know how they're going to fit in until you give them a chance. The Packers do that. They give young, undrafted players the same chance they give a 2nd round pick, and every year we get one or two players who make a difference on our team because of it.

[rbaloha1]

40 yard times for a wr is almost meaningless. Where are speed demonsAshley Lelie and Donte Stallworth today? The days of Bob Hayes and Cliff Branch are long gone.

DBs have almost the same skill set (absent the hands) as today's receivers.

Running routes with a burst, adjusting to the ball in the air, downfield blockin and reading defenses are far more important. Boykin appears to possess these skills and attributes?

Again -- is Boykin a faster Antonio Freeman?

[pbmax]

...

Again -- is Boykin a faster Antonio Freeman?

How can it matter? 40 yd times for a WR are meaningless.

[rbaloha1]

How can it matter? 40 yd times for a WR are meaningless.

Just asking since a knock on Freeman was 40 time and being a body catcher.

Both are from the same school and have been mentioned for not having great 40 yard times. Boykin is certainly not a body catcher.

BTW stated earlier 40 time is almost meaningless.