SEC Speed Myth

[Firebird]

Here's an article exposing the myth of superior SEC speed. It's a bit older, from 2002, but things have not changed drastically since then.

http://www.slate.com/id/2181319/

Some important quotes:

Southern teams and their fans have perpetuated the myth by making a fetish of their recruits' dazzling 40-yard dash times—which have become as much a part of the culture of hard-core college football fans as batting averages are to baseball fans. But the 40-yard dash times reported by players and coaches, alas, are notoriously unreliable, since both have an incentive to exaggerate. The only objective measure available for college athletes is the electronic timing performed by pro scouts at the NFL Draft Combine. Casey Calder, an Internet college football analyst, compared the times of skill position players from Northern schools versus those who played in the South. He found that wide receivers from Northern schools actually outran their Southern counterparts: The Northerners, on average, ran the 40 in 4.502 seconds, while the Southerners ran it in 4.548. Southern and Northern cornerbacks finished in a virtual dead heat, 4.535 to 4.555, respectively.

Or consider high-school 100-meter dash times. I looked at the 10 fastest times posted by high-school runners over the last two years in two states, Michigan and Florida. The Florida average was slightly faster, 10.77 seconds versus 10.78. But the two fastest Michigan runners, Kelly Baraka and Charles Rogers, outpaced anybody from Florida. Both, by the way, play Big 10 football.

Good article. I tend to agree with it--- the percieved speed gap is due mostly to different styles of play. I think it's biggest on defense, especially the LB corps. Seems like the Big 10 and other teams tend to emphasize burliness and run-stuffing ability in linebackers, where as SEC teams tend to place more of a premium on speed and the ability to cover the pass on defense. So while the actual players on the field, position by position, might have more speed than their counterparts, it's by design. It's not that northern teams couldn't field a team just as fast as any in the SEC, it's that they choose to emphasize other facets.

In any case, this hopefully knocks some holes in the argument that the kids in the South are somehow faster than their northern brethren........oh, that's right, Florida averaged .01 faster in the 100m.:rolleyes:

[jakerz]

If you want to see a major speed myth compare Texas HS track times to basically any other state in America. Only Florida can compete with us and it's not by much :notworthy

[SV61]

I know when the RB for OSU ran right up the middle (trap if I recall) NONE of the LSU DBs caught him. One of the DBs, had some semblance of an angle.

I laughed at the "speed issue".

The North may not be as deep as the South when it comes to speed (State of Florida in specific), but there are fast folks in the Big 10!

[Firebird]

More evidence:

Here are the states with the top 10 100 M dash times for HS

2007:
Fla, Ore,Cal, Ill, Ill, Cal, Cal, Ga, Tx, Wash
2006:
NC, MO, Ind, Ind, Kan, Wash, MO, VA, OR, Cal, Cal

Out of 20 spots, SEC states get a whopping two. I'll even throw a bone and give em North Carolina and Virginia.

[STJL41]

More evidence:

Here are the states with the top 10 100 M dash times for HS

2007:
Fla, Ore,Cal, Ill, Ill, Cal, Cal, Ga, Tx, Wash
2006:
NC, MO, Ind, Ind, Kan, Wash, MO, VA, OR, Cal, Cal

Out of 20 spots, SEC states get a whopping two. I'll even throw a bone and give em North Carolina and Virginia.

Too bad where you went to high school doesn't necessarily dictate the conference you will play in.

[Firebird]

Too bad where you went to high school doesn't necessarily dictate the conference you will play in.

It would average out. Don't try to say that the SEC does not recruit primarily from their home states and surrounding environs. One things for dang sure, the SEC isn't stocking up on kids from Pac-10 and Big 10 country

[Kaboom]

Man they are taking this thing too far.

Some schools recruit faster skill position guys than others.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Here's an article exposing the myth of superior SEC speed. It's a bit older, from 2002, but things have not changed drastically since then.

http://www.slate.com/id/2181319/

Some important quotes:





Good article. I tend to agree with it--- the percieved speed gap is due mostly to different styles of play. I think it's biggest on defense, especially the LB corps. Seems like the Big 10 and other teams tend to emphasize burliness and run-stuffing ability in linebackers, where as SEC teams tend to place more of a premium on speed and the ability to cover the pass on defense. So while the actual players on the field, position by position, might have more speed than their counterparts, it's by design. It's not that northern teams couldn't field a team just as fast as any in the SEC, it's that they choose to emphasize other facets.

In any case, this hopefully knocks some holes in the argument that the kids in the South are somehow faster than their northern brethren........oh, that's right, Florida averaged .01 faster in the 100m.:rolleyes:

For the most part, you are right. But I will tell you this... the biggest factor between playing College football and the NFL is the tenacity. The tenacity and aggressiveness of the game is dramatically increased, which makes it more violent and seem brutally faster. I think that is the comparison that the SEC draws vs other conferences, which is why the SEC has more players in the NFL. Take it for what it's worth, but I promise you the SEC is a very tough and tenacious conference... much tougher than most conferences. They truly beat the crud out of each other, every week with stingy defensive play!! Not to say other conferences can compete with them! That's complete hogwash!!!

When people say the SEC is known for SPEED, the first thing I think is.. tenacious/violent defenses!!! I think that's what most people think, too!

[Firebird]

For the most part, you are right. But I will tell you this... the biggest factor between playing College football and the NFL is the tenacity. The tenacity and aggressiveness of the game is dramatically increased, which makes it more violent, but seem brutally faster. I think that is the comparison that the SEC draws vs other conferences, which is why the SEC has more players in the NFL. The conference is known for having killer speedy-defenses. Take it for what it's worth, but I promise you the SEC is a very tough and tenacious conference... much tougher than most conferences. They truly beat the crud out of each other, every week with stingy defensive play!! Not to say no other conferences can compete with them! That's complete hogwash!!!

When people say the SEC is known for SPEED, the first thing I think is.. tenacious/violent defenses!!! I think that's what most people think, too!

Exactly...the SEC has speedy defenses by design. It ain't that the South has a lock on speed.

[cajun]

For the most part, you are right. But I will tell you this... the biggest factor between playing College football and the NFL is the tenacity. The tenacity and aggressiveness of the game is dramatically increased, which makes it more violent, but seem brutally faster. I think that is the comparison that the SEC draws vs other conferences, which is why the SEC has more players in the NFL. The conference is known for having killer speedy-defenses. Take it for what it's worth, but I promise you the SEC is a very tough and tenacious conference... much tougher than most conferences. They truly beat the crud out of each other, every week with stingy defensive play!! Not to say no other conferences can compete with them! That's complete hogwash!!!

When people say the SEC is known for SPEED, the first thing I think is.. tenacious/violent defenses!!! I think that's what most people think, too!

Agreed for the most part...Ain't getting into that again...

They also think of depth of "speed" and quality players though...

Ohio State the other night had 3 people rush the football...
LSU had 8...

Ohio State had 4 people to catch a pass...
LSU had 8...

Just this year in recruiting...LSU has 11 kids committed
who run a 4.5 or less...7 or 8 of them from right here in Louisiana..

Michigan has 4...ALL from a different state...2 from Texas....Michigan speed, huh?

This thread is garbage...

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Exactly...the SEC has speedy defenses by design. It ain't that the South has a lock on speed.

I agree, to a point. It's weird, but I tend to think the North is colder more than warmer, every year... while the South is the exact opposite. I always associate the warmth of the South to being outside and very active. I always associate the North to being stuck in all the time, turning up the heater. The reason I say this is.. I can see why LB's are bulky up North. Hell, they stay inside to hit the weights, while in the South the LB's are able to be more active w/ outside drills, sprints and such! With the invent of these Indoor Practice Facilities it may ultimately even out.

Having said that, I would believe there would be more of an abundance of "outdoor-athletic" athletes in the South, while there would be more of an abundance of "body-builder" athletes in the North! This all probably has more to do with the younger athletes, than that of the upper-class or College guys! It just makes sense to me!

[jakerz]

More evidence:

Here are the states with the top 10 100 M dash times for HS

2007:
Fla, Ore,Cal, Ill, Ill, Cal, Cal, Ga, Tx, Wash
2006:
NC, MO, Ind, Ind, Kan, Wash, MO, VA, OR, Cal, Cal

Out of 20 spots, SEC states get a whopping two. I'll even throw a bone and give em North Carolina and Virginia.

Well I looked up some Texas times and compared them to Florida times in a popular team event, the 4x100.

Texas times are from last years UIL State Championship - all I could find from Florida is the Miami 4A events. Miami is known as a very fast area by the way and even feature the most amazing HS football team ever, Miami Northwestern. I'm not sure 4A is comparable to 5A in Texas but MNW and SLC did play each other this year.

Miami 4A Results
1st place Miami Killian 41.66

Texas 5A Results
1st place Klein Forest 40.56

So by the looks of that Texas is 1 complete second faster. That's a lot. If someone can point out some other state times let's compare them to our boys here.

By the way I know this doesn't have anything to do with SEC speed, who I think is the fastest, it just shows that the Texas athletes do have TONS of speed.

[jakerz]

I agree, to a point. It's weird, but I tend to think the North is colder more than warmer, every year... while the South is the exact opposite. I always associate the warmth of the South to being outside and very active. I always associate the North to being stuck in all the time, turning up the heater. The reason I say this is.. I can see why LB's are bulky up North. Hell, they stay inside to hit the weights, while in the South the LB's are able to be more active w/ outside drills, sprints and such! With the invent of these Indoor Practice Facilities it may ultimately even out.

Having said that, I would believe there would be more of an abundance of "outdoor-athletic" athletes in the South, while there would be more of an abundance of "body-builder" athletes in the North! This all probably has more to do with the younger athletes, than that of the upper-class or College guys! It just makes sense to me!

Your point is somewhat proven by the dominance of basketball players on the East Coast. I think what you said has some correlation to that. Also, you could compare our states performance in football to this as well

[fitz400]

it is pretty simple texas has the best 100m 4x100m and 4x200m times.

2007:
100m (sophmore) rynell parsons- 10.23 number 1 in the nation.
4x100 Klein Forest-40.56 number 1 in the nation.
4x200 Hightower- 1.23.92 National record!!!

[jakerz]

it is pretty simple texas has the best 100m 4x100m and 4x200m times.

2007:
100m (sophmore) rynell parsons- 10.23 number 1 in the nation.
4x100 Klein Forest-40.56 number 1 in the nation.
4x200 Hightower- 1.23.92 National record!!!

I thought so and I was about to post the Parsons and Hightower times. I hate to be egotistic but maybe Texas IS better at everything

[PeterGibbons]

Here's one thing that is a fact... there are more beautiful women in the South and the North

[farmerfan]

Here's one thing that is a fact... there are more beautiful women in the South than the North

FIFY

And damn you for beating me to it.
Firebirds obsession with the SEC is starting to sound longhornish when it comes to the Aggies ;)

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

Well I looked up some Texas times and compared them to Florida times in a popular team event, the 4x100.

Texas times are from last years UIL State Championship - all I could find from Florida is the Miami 4A events. Miami is known as a very fast area by the way and even feature the most amazing HS football team ever, Miami Northwestern. I'm not sure 4A is comparable to 5A in Texas but MNW and SLC did play each other this year.

Miami 4A Results
1st place Miami Killian 41.66

Texas 5A Results
1st place Klein Forest 40.56

So by the looks of that Texas is 1 complete second faster. That's a lot. If someone can point out some other state times let's compare them to our boys here.

By the way I know this doesn't have anything to do with SEC speed, who I think is the fastest, it just shows that the Texas athletes do have TONS of speed.

And, don't forget that YOUR Waco Lions ran a time of 40.84 in the 4x100 to win the 4A relay title.

[Matthew 2000 Eagle]

Here's one thing that is a fact... there are more beautiful women in the South and the North

Co-sign!

[jtk1519]

There is a speed difference and the idea of SEC speed is not a myth and it has been proven to a large extent in the past two championship games. The problem is that when you mention "speed" everybody thinks of WRs and DBs and RBs, etc. The reality is that there isn't a great speed difference at the skill positions. A Big Televen WR, for the most part, will be as fast as an SEC receiver and that is what Big Televen fans will point to as a sign that SEC speed is a myth.

The reality though is that if one is going to examine this issue, one must look at the entire team instead of just the skill players because that is where the SEC speed "myth" is often times proven true. Just compare the lines of Ohio State and LSU. While their skill players were even in terms of speed, LSU's lines were so much faster that OSU looked like they were playing in mud and that is where the elite SEC teams show that SEC speed. It happened last year with a Florida front 7 that was so fast, the OSU blockers never had a chance. You saw the exact same thing this year. LSU's O-line was so much faster than OSU's D-line that the D-line couldn't get any real pressure or make any kind of push. The reason being that teams like OSU (and most of the Big Televen) still try and overpower you with their lines where most SEC teams have gone to being more athletic. This is the second time in two years that OSU's massive O-line looked like a JV line against the speed of the SEC front 7.

Now, before pack freaks out and starts posting a bunch of irrelevent stats from games played 60 years ago, speed does not always beat power. My point is that when you get to the top teams in the conference, the speed among the skill positions may be equal, but where the SEC speed comes from is in their lines and front 7. That and that alone is why OSU has lost two consecutive title games... they couldn't handle the team speed.

[cajun]

There is a speed difference and the idea of SEC speed is not a myth and it has been proven to a large extent in the past two championship games. The problem is that when you mention "speed" everybody thinks of WRs and DBs and RBs, etc. The reality is that there isn't a great speed difference at the skill positions. A Big Televen WR, for the most part, will be as fast as an SEC receiver and that is what Big Televen fans will point to as a sign that SEC speed is a myth.

The reality though is that if one is going to examine this issue, one must look at the entire team instead of just the skill players because that is where the SEC speed "myth" is often times proven true. Just compare the lines of Ohio State and LSU. While their skill players were even in terms of speed, LSU's lines were so much faster that OSU looked like they were playing in mud and that is where the elite SEC teams show that SEC speed. It happened last year with a Florida front 7 that was so fast, the OSU blockers never had a chance. You saw the exact same thing this year. LSU's O-line was so much faster than OSU's D-line that the D-line couldn't get any real pressure or make any kind of push. The reason being that teams like OSU (and most of the Big Televen) still try and overpower you with their lines where most SEC teams have gone to being more athletic. This is the second time in two years that OSU's massive O-line looked like a JV line against the speed of the SEC front 7.

Now, before pack freaks out and starts posting a bunch of irrelevent stats from games played 60 years ago, speed does not always beat power. My point is that when you get to the top teams in the conference, the speed among the skill positions may be equal, but where the SEC speed comes from is in their lines and front 7. That and that alone is why OSU has lost two consecutive title games... they couldn't handle the team speed.

I agree....Probably explains the 5 or 6 sacks LSU had the other night-one of the decapitating nature...

As for the skill players....I personally don't think conferences such as the Big 10 can match the over-all depth at the skill....Their first wave might be decent, but when you get to #2 and #3 it just ain' there for the most part....Just my opinion.....