Is Alshon Jeffery's deep speed underrated?

[jrry32]

Jeffery's 40 yard dash at his Pro Day went like this:
10 yard split - 1.64
20 yard split - 2.63
40 yard split - 4.48

10 to 20 yards - 0.99 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.85 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.84 seconds

I know you're wondering what my point is here. Look at Alshon's 10 yard split, it's VERY slow for a WR. Which is why I've made the point again and again that he doesn't possess great initial burst. He builds up speed. For a smaller WR, this would be an issue but on the vast majority of the routes that need burst, Alshon's big body, physicality and great hands will allow him to make the catch even with a defender on him.

Here's where it gets very interesting. Some have wondered how Alshon is such an effective intermediate to deep threat despite not looking fast on tape. I've always said that he has deceptive deep speed due to his long strides and I'm going to attempt to confirm that.

Julio Jones:
10 yard split - 1.50
20 yard split - 2.47
40 yard split - 4.34

10 to 20 yards - 0.97 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.87 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.84 seconds

Percy Harvin:
10 yard split - 1.47
20 yard split - 2.51
40 yard split - 4.39

10 to 20 yards - 1.04 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.88 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.92 seconds

DeSean Jackson:
10 yard split - 1.53
20 yard split - 2.52
40 yard split - 4.35

10 to 20 yards - 0.99 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.83 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.82 seconds

What I'm attempting to show here is that once Alshon is up to speed, surprisingly, he's actually quite fast. He takes time to build up to speed but from the 10 yard mark to the finish, he was faster than Percy Harvin, tied with Julio Jones and only .02 seconds slower than DeSean Jackson.

Here are some similarly sized WRs with similar 40s(4.46 to 4.51) to show that this isn't a normal thing for big WRs:
Hakeem Nicks:
10 yard split - 1.52
20 yard split - 2.60
40 yard split - 4.51

10 to 20 yards - 1.08 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.91 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.99 seconds

Kenny Britt:
10 yard split - 1.56
20 yard split - 2.62
40 yard split - 4.50

10 to 20 yards - 1.06 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.88 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.94 seconds

Carlton Mitchell:
10 yard split - 1.52
20 yard split - 2.60
40 yard split - 4.46

10 to 20 yards - 1.08 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.86 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.94 seconds

AJ Green:
10 yard split - 1.55
20 yard split - 2.53
40 yard split - 4.48

10 to 20 yards - 0.98 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.95 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.93 seconds

Jonathan Baldwin:
10 yard split - 1.58
20 yard split - 2.57
40 yard split - 4.49

10 to 20 yards - 0.99 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.92 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.91 seconds

Limas Sweed:
10 yard split - 1.54
20 yard split - 2.62
40 yard split - 4.48

10 to 20 yards - 1.08 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.86 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.94 seconds

Justin Blackmon:
10 yard split - 1.53
20 yard split - 2.60
40 yard split - 4.46

10 to 20 yards - 1.07 seconds
20 to 40 yards - 1.86 seconds
10 to 40 yards - 2.93 seconds

What am I saying? Alshon doesn't have burst but he has great build up speed. Those saying he's possession WR and chain mover are pretty much stating the opposite of what his strengths are. His speed translates to attacking the intermediate and deep areas of a defense because once he reaches his top end speed, he's fast.
_________________

[Frank Costello]

He's just underrated in general because of guys from the same mold, ala Mike Williams. Even tho Williams has proven to be a decent WR in this league.

Jefferey is above and beyond the prospect that Williams or Jarrett were, honestly. He is a unique physical specimen that will be hard to stop at the next level. If he has the right attitude, he could do some BIG things in the NFL.
_________________
Welcome to Minnesota, Greg Jennings.
President of the Sammy Watkins fan club.

[jrry32]

Basically, Alshon goes from coming off the line like Tight End JerMichael Finley(about the exact same 10 yard split) to Julio Jones speed in a span of 10 to 15 yards. As a DB, that's very deceptive. You are in your backpedal and the WR is coming at you with Tight End like burst and then wham, in 10 yards, he's reached the type of top end speed that burners like Julio Jones and DeSean Jackson possess...what do you? Well, you probably underestimated his speed due to how little burst he had coming off the line which means you're going to be late coming out of your backpedal and you now have to try and catch up to a guy with the same speed over 30 yards as Julio Jones.

It's what I've been saying all along, it's why Jeffery was so effective at getting behind defenses. He has extremely deceptive speed. As a CB, it makes your job very hard because the guy basically goes from the get off of a Toyota Camry to the top end speed of a Ferrari in a very short span of time.

I'm sorry, did that make sense? It seemed to make more sense in my head.
_________________

[TheVillain112]

In terms of numbers, are those pro day numbers for everyone? Or is it pro day numbers for Jeffery and combine numbers for the rest? Or a mix of pro day and combine numbers?

Also I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Henry (R.I.P.) had similar numbers to Jeffery. He wasn't explosive off the ball but had great deep speed...
_________________


Thanks Rammy...

[jrry32]

[Seminolebuc]

I think Jeffery can be a good receiver but from times i've watched him he seems to have issues against more agile corners who can get around his sheet size.
_________________


Props to Eggy
Adopt-a-Buc
Josh Freeman

[bobloblaw86]

I'd rather have better initial burst off the LOS, but I will admit that with Alshon, because of the way he uses his size, it's less of an issue.

[PowerElite]

Cut on the tape, poor separation...

[Abe56]

Not at all.
_________________


Sig by mack.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” - Mark Twain

[jrry32]

[candyman93]

[jrry32]

[Adrenaline_Flux]

[candyman93]

[jrry32]