Precision Route Running Vs. Speed

[Shadowalker]

On Monday we showed that you don't have to run a 4.3 40 to get open. This breakdown on NFL network http://www.nfl.com/videos/baltimore-ravens/09000d5d81a89f91/Playbook-Ravens-exploit-Jets-other-CBs shows that great route running beats speed most of the time. Q had 20+ yard completions and he only had 2 last year (correct me if I am wrong). Because of great route running, upper body strength and flat out skill. I love Donte just as much as the next guy but you don't need to run like chris johnson to get open downfield (Ask Yamon Figures)

[757RavensFan]

Ask Darrius Heyward-Bey (sp)

[SaVaGe]

[quote name='Shadowalker' timestamp='1284572547' post='477871']
On Monday we showed that you don't have to run a 4.3 40 to get open. This breakdown on NFL network http://www.nfl.com/videos/baltimore-ravens/09000d5d81a89f91/Playbook-Ravens-exploit-Jets-other-CBs shows that great route running beats speed most of the time. Q had 20+ yard completions and he only had[b] 2 last year[/b] (correct me if I am wrong). Because of great route running, upper body strength and flat out skill. I love Donte just as much as the next guy but you don't need to run like chris johnson to get open downfield (Ask Yamon Figures)
[/quote]


He had 1 last year and 2 in this game.

[ravens world]

speed is not a must be cant deny it wouldn't hurt .

[GuitarScott]

Speed only matters in madden. Peyton Manning is probably WISHING he had the offense we have.

[JEEPercreepermd]

I have been preaching this for the past few weeks. Sure a guy that is lightning fast and can just bun DB's is good but you don't have to have that kind of speed to get the job done.

We saw all 3 of our receivers make Cromartie look like a fool on Monday. They did it by showing him one thing and then doing another, using their body to create enough separation to pull the ball in. Mason has had just as many catches over 40 yds as anybody over the past few years.

Just think. Not all teams have a Secondary with as much talent as they Jets have and we STILL were able to move the ball on them. Most teams in the league are going to have SERIOUS match up problems with us. When you have some no name nickel trying to cover Housh, Mason or Boldin it will get nasty. Another thing it will do is help the Oline. Rex is stubborn enough to keep his Corners in single coverage so he can keep blitzing us despite his #2 and #3 not being able to match up. Honestly I just don't think Rex respected our passing game and sold out on stopping the run,and blitzing other teams will have to be more cautious.

[Corvus]

Harbaugh said it himself not long after Donte got injured in response to a reporter: "you know how you stretch the field? You run your route downfield and see if they can cover you." Keyshawn Johnson (I hate to bring his idiotic banter into this thread) erroneously stated before Monday's game that with Donte "out for the year" there is no "vertical threat" on our team.
Speed helps, but being a savvy route runner and being able to break coverage on a defender in that manner is even better than flat out speed. And we have 3 of the best route runners at wide receiver in the LEAGUE. There will be plenty more 20+yd catches for Q, Mase, and Housh all year, believe it.

[TSizzle00]

Cromartie was the fastest person on the field in that Jets game. It made no difference. I mean heck Fabian Washington has 4.2 speed but hes only an average CB at best. Its all about technique.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I've said it before, we may not have the fastest receivers, but all of them are savvy enough to tangle up the secondary, and use their route running to get behind the secondary to get open. Sure, it's nice having a burner to just gun down the field, but it's not as needed as the casual fan may think. Boldin, Heap, Mason, and Housh all showed ability to get either behind their defenders or into the open using the top-notch route running aspect of their game.

[flynismo]

My lord, let's just get it all out now so that this can stop. Speed matters much, much more on defense than offense. And even then, it is more quickness than flat out speed that matters. If you are a DB, you need quickness to adjust to the reciever and recover in the event of a mistake. If you are a LB, you need quickness to attack holes and get to the edge. Also helps in zone coverage. If you're on the DL, quickness will help you beat OL in all aspects. Now, on offense. Speed matters if you are a running back. Once again, it is even better to be quick than fast, even as a RB, but that is not to mitigate what speed can do at that position. The only other position on offense where speed really plays any kind of role (not counting the oddball scrambling QB) is WR. But that is not nearly as important as it is made out to be. People have it in their heads that if you are a guy like Donte Stallworth you can just run in a straight line down the field, get 10 yards of seperation and make the big catch. That's not reality. Reality is a world where safeties exist. Those safeties ensure that the above scenario does not happen. Now, look at some of the elite WR's in the game today. Fitzgerald. Boldin. Marshall. Wayne. (And I'll even play nice and not bring up players from NFL past, including some Rice fella). By today's standards, those guys are downright slugs. How is it that they are elite players, yet they dont post flashy 40- times? When you answer that question, you'll come to realize that speed means very little in the grand scheme of things for an NFL wide reciever.

[scrock]

Its like coach Harbaugh said, you want to stretch the defense, then have the WR run deep someone has to cover him

[purple.n.black]

[quote name='SaVaGe' timestamp='1284575529' post='477915']
He had 1 last year and 2 in this game.
[/quote]
I believe what they were saying is passes that went 20+ yards in the air. As in he may have had numerous pass plays that went for a total of more than 20 yards, but he was mainly gaining yards on the ground. Correct me if I'm wrong though...

[Shadowalker]

Whatever the statistic is, I love our receiving core and I honestly wouldn't trade it for any other team's receiving core. I am so excited for this year

[JayDaRavensFan]

I was never worried about not being able to stretch the field. Mason was always able to beat DB's deep based on great route running. He beat Cromartie deep and if Flacco gets it further in front of him thats an even bigger gain. In Q and Housh we got 2 big receivers who can just go up over guys for catches with great run after catch ability. I'm excited to see how our offense grows this season.