Interesting looking at recent 40 times recorded by our last safeties Dean and Torrance both in the 4.7 range 4.75 and 4.72 respectively. Compare that to one of my fave gators Reggie (f'n) Nelson "At Florida's Pro Day on March 7, Nelson was clocked between 4.22 seconds and just under 4.3 seconds by NFL scouts in the 40-yard dash, according to Scout.com." Back in spring 2007 I always thought Reggie was around 4.3 to 4.4 but whatever , way faster than recent safeties. We need to get back to recruiting speed IMHO
There’s a joke in there somewhere. No offense to any gator safeties or coaches or any safeties , but if you’re going to be in the wrong spot, get there FAST!
I remember a Tennessee game where a Vol receiver was wide open on the sideline, so open that Phat Phil and other UT coaches were pointing at him to get the QB to throw the ball. Nelson was almost exactly in the middle of the field. UT Qb throws the ball and Nelson promptly closes the distance and picks it. Unreal.
We definitely need more speed. Urban always wanted to be the fastest team in America. I think CBN will get us back to that.
Dean was a huge recruit, and dominated in the all star game practices leading up to his freshman year. I believe he had a good UA game as well. I don't think speed was the issue for him, hopefully it was coaching. I will say, a DB that bench presses more than anyone else at his position in the combine put in work and was dedicated to his team.
Track speed is not football speed but yeah, some of our guys were slow on the field and on the track.
The ability to read and react quickly as a result of practice, experience and film study is certainly critical, but speed is the difference between contesting a catch or being two steps away from the catch. Major Wright was a great hitting safety versus the run. Reggie Nelson had some big plays after JUCO transfer. Louis Oliver and Marcus Maye both memorable. Have not had great safety play in a while. Chauncey was best recently and he had challenges his first year at the STAR position. Was abused in a UF/UGA game one year. Hope we hit on a difference maker in near future. Top 10 Safeties in Florida Gators History
Yeah, from what I remember while watching, our safeties were two of the slowest. I always thought Dean would be better as a linebacker but that's not even fast for a linebacker. Similar to Brenton Cox, who I thought would also be better as a linebacker, but bigger and could blitz, but he tested slow in the 40 too. Hell, Dean benched 225 more than Cox or Dexter.
What's the average 40 of a NFL safety? Obviously faster guys have played the position but that doesn't really speak to whether these guys were too slow to do so effectively.
The two slowest times for safety at the combine this year. Man, I hope this new crop of safeties can play.
our experienced linebackers were slow also. add watson to the list. even cox, who when he was here was one of our fastest de.. was slow compared to the other edge rushers. we just didnt have the speed on D to approach mediocrity, hence we were really bad
He had 2 or 3 plays like this that year. One against Tennessee, and the other against Alabama (or LSU, or both) Several generations of elite safety play, starting from Nelson>Black>Wright>(out of order now) Maye>Poole>Neal>Gardner I feel like I am missing someone in there
I wonder how fast Percy Harvin really was? I know he was always considered to have really fast 'game speed'. Is that a nice way of saying he wasn't that fast running a 40? He was one of our best. He always seemed to elude the defensive backs. He had a shapeshifter ability to him. People would pursue and never get him. This sounds simplistic, but the closer they got the faster he went. Maybe it was his vision. Dude was serious $ Go Gators
