Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

We all know

Hester
Ford
McCluster
Bush
McCoy
Peterson
Hall
Archer
Charles
Jackson
Johnson

These guys are all ridiculous at putting it down in the 40. And some are the fastest of the fast on the planet ( let alone the nfl ) but straight speed and field speed are two different demons ( I'd personally rather have McCoy in open field rather than
Peterson ...

Is there a true difference ? A lot of players play faster than their 40 time as well. Looking at cooks screen has me thinking , is this guy Primetime fast ?

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Don't read to much into the video. It is training camp.

Its just dangerous to set all these expectations on one play.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

I don't care about his 40 yard dash so much as his 10-yard split and short shuttle times. That is what gets you separation from the defense, especially in this offense where we throw a lot of short passes. For a "speed guy" Sproles didn't have a great 40 time, but his first 5-6 steps were faster than everybody else's, that's what made him great. It will be the same for Cooks I believe.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Holiday has got to be a part of that list. He has Olympic speed.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Cooks 40 - 4.33
Sproles 40 -4.47

Cooks 10 - 1.50
Sproles 10 -1.55

Not much difference.

But There is more to separation that 10 yard splits. It comes down to route running and making sharp cuts and finding wholes in the D. Not everything is about speed.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Sproles time is suspect to me. He could always be gunned down from behind, at least in this stage of his career, not so much early on. Speed is great but most will agree, it's not a good gauge of anything. Donte was likely one of the fastest Saints of all time. Didn't help that much. The best WR of all time was average at best. Ability to get open and catch moves the chains. Cooks has that from what I've seen. The potential is there to be better than Lance Moore.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Difference between 4.33 and 4.47 is pretty substantial. That means that once he gets in the open field, probably nobody on the defense is going to catch him from behind. The 10-yard split is not that different from Sproles, but is a little bit faster. Also Cooks had the fastest short shuttle in combine history, which tells you that not only can he accelerate fast but he can change direction really fast too.

Can't wait to watch this kid play. He is going to be our next human highlight reel.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Idk but I know he is getting major national attention and is amazing his team mates. I think we struck a bonanza with that pick.

Also from what I hear he is special in the fact that he is a burner from the get go. He doesn't need a step or two first before he hits the switch. He's just a blazer from a stand still.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Im not sure well EVER see a guy run like Deion in the NFL. In his prime if Deion was on the left side they just threw to the other side period. Plus Ive never before seen a guy start highstepping even before the 50yd line and still be pulling away from people. And a pet peeve of mine is people claiming that 40yd dash times are irrelevant. They are certainly relevant. Deion ran a 4.2 40yd dash, the best DB 40yd dash ever at the combine and he was the best cover corner ever.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Yeah, you can't discount that difference. Milliseconds seperate people on the field. Anybody who's ever been on one should know that. Good post.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Forgot Mike Vick. Cooks isn't just fast, he's got quicks too.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Great question and topic, one that rarely gets the attention it deserves. Thanks for starting it!

Football player speed, and race car speed have a lot of similarities. Their value is all dependent on how it is applied.

To over simplify, when I look at your names listed I see a few NASCARs, couple of Dragsters, some drifters, and a genuine IndyCar. All 'fast' in their own discipline, few win in every application.

Football speed is an unbalanced combination of launch, top end, and cornering.

Only time will tell if Cooks becomes Prime Time, he needs to show he has the vision to match his speed. We have had a couple of speedsters over the last few years that couldn't either stay healthy or apply their gift.


He definitely has the potential.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Oak. Good to have you back. You doing ok?

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

too me it is not so much straight away speed for a player that is under 6'

It is shuttle and 3 cone. to survive he needs to be explosive and have excellent balance to avoid that first hit. then look for the seem and run. It is that first hit that is most dangerous to these might mouses

3.84 shuttle and 6.76 cone

those are numbers that will break some defenders ankles.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Doing great bud! I went to the store for a few things, I am back.

Re: Where about does Brandin Cooks rank among the Leagues fastest ?
 

Players like him rarely come around. I think we nailed it! :smile: