It's always fun when you watch a rookie who's having a great year to go back and read what people were saying about him before the draft. It was certainly accurate to describe Bears kick returner Devin Hester, who scored his fifth (UPDATE: and sixth) touchdown of the year tonight, as a "tremendously explosive natural athlete who is a legitimate big-play threat every time he touches the ball." That's what Russ Lande, founder of GM Jr., wrote on NFL.com.But I'm more interested in Hester's 40 time, which is listed as 4.51. Here is an incomplete list of players listed as having a faster 40 time than Hester: Marcus Hudson, Daniel Bullocks, Manny Lawson, Josh Lay, Will Blackmon, Marcus Vick, Thomas Howard, Todd Watkins, Jeff Webb, Jonathan Orr, Vernon Davis, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jimmy Williams, Reggie McNeal. Lawson and Howard are linebackers. Davis is a tight end. Are they really faster than Hester?
If they are, then Hester is only the latest player to show that straight-line speed over 40 yards isn't the most meaningful way to judge a college player. Every team passed on Hester before the Bears chose him on draft day this year. Now a whole lot of teams are learning what it's like to get passed by Hester on the field.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hester had a slow 40 at the combine because he was wearing the wrong shoes. Look it up. He was a 4.2 4.3 guy in Miami so at the Combine for the first time he switched to running shoes instead of spikes and the shoes didn't feel right. It was pretty weird when it happened because teams just ignored all of the speed he showed on game tape. All of the teams besides the Bears that is.
As soon as I saw Devin Hesterget that punt return TD in the Bears amazing comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals, I looked up his 40 time. Like the author of this article, I've come to the conclusion that there is a major difference between 40 yard dash speed and game speed. Either that or Mr. Hester has the most phenomenal peripheral vision in the history of the NFL.
As soon as I saw Devin Hesterget that punt return TD in the Bears amazing comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals, I looked up his 40 time. Like the author of this article, I've come to the conclusion that there is a major difference between 40 yard dash speed and game speed. Either that or Mr. Hester has the most phenomenal peripheral vision in the history of the NFL.
He's the fastest man on earth in my opinion.
There is a difference between 40-speed and game speed, but what you have to realize is that a 40-yard sprint is it's own discipline; the starting stance, initial explosion and set-up strides, learning how to lean into the finish line are all skills that can shave your time.
The 40-time is still relevant because teams need to be able to objectively measure a players speed, but game tapes against great competition are always the best indicators.
p.s. Hester's 40-time didn't hurt him in the draft, he's obviously insanely fast. His lack of natural cover skills were the reason he wasn't a super-high pick.
Devin is the man, period, point, blank.
No, those players are not faster than Hester.
At his pro-day workout at Miami, Hester ran a 4.38 -- very fast.
The other thing that sets Hester apart from others is his vision and acceleration. He sees holes very quickly and he hits top speed faster than most players.
As far as individuals passing him in the draft, in all honesty, it was understandable.
Hester could return kicks, but he still has no real position. He was benched at Miami at corner, and didn't play much on offense. Even though he played a lot of corner the other night, he only did so because the Bears were down three defensive backs.
Any way you slice it, it was a risk for the Bears to spend a high-pick on someone who was just going to return kicks.
Devin Hester has that ability to make sharp turns at high speed, something only a few runners possess, like Barry Sanders.
I got the biggest kick out of Holt running his mouth on MNF when he was mic'ed up after beating Hester for an early TD. He sat there with his big stupid smile talking big cause he beat Hester in the back of the end zone.
// Not even 5 minutes later Hester took the ball and ran it all the way back 90+ yards and crammed it down St. Louis' collective throat. That actually WAS funny. - 'Cause not only did you not hear any more stinky garbage out of Holt's yap that evening, but then you also had Hester running back ANOTHER kickoff in the 4th. Final score: Hester 2, Holt 0.
And I'm of the opinion that Hester needn't be the fastest man in the NFL... he can dissect coverages and read the field a step ahead of the rest. He's reading them before they appear. Thats all he's gonna need. That and the amazing blocks that his fellow Bears have been throwing for him. But seriously, lets face it, the guy is FAST. Like I said, maybe not the fastest, but plenty damn fast enough.
According to an article in todays Chicago Sun Times, Hester ran a 4.27 in the 40 for some scouts.
Hester has to be faster than most, perhaps not one of the top ten in the league. But I feel he's able to sense the field, how the play is setting up, better than anyone I've seen since Walter or like Elway/Marino were able to do. They get a feeling for the dynamics of the play and act.
I saw Gale Sayers kick up half a gear when he had the opening in sight - or felt it. Hester kicked in that gear at the wedge on the first kickoff - it looked like everyone else slowed down
I'm not going to get into the debate of 40 times and other criteria. Hester is point blank FAST. End of story. When he retuned that second return on monday night and was cutting for the sideline, he accelerated so blazingly fast I haven't seen anything like it this season. The other players on the field looked like they were going in slow motion compared to him. It plainly left me at a loss for words. Other than.....WOW!
Hester is definately one of the fastest men in the nfl. Ask anyone. Hester is a 4.2 guy http://nfl.com/draft/analysis/individual_workouts#miafl
any 40 time is just 1 time out of many by many scouts there is not 1 watch out there is it many. so posted times can very for the same race since everyone has their own watch and own times. the fast if hester ran a 10.42 100m electronically timed in college the is equal to reggie bush's personal best and hester accelerates faster then anyone in the nfl. he hits his top gear in two steps.
Maybe he sandbagged at the combine? I would; rather be drafted late to a good team than early to a shitty team.
I think the comment about the shoes is right one target. Without spikes it is a completly different game. Also, adrenaline comes into factor here. Can you immagine how much adrenaline would be pumping through your veins as you hit the hole during a return? If Hester is listed as a 4.5 without spikes... I cannot imagine how fast his "40 time" would be as he breaks away from fast 2nd string corners on special teams. Devin Hester is FASTFASTFAST!!!
Nfl sucks guys, you should check out a real sport, rugby no pads proper hits, blood and guts.
Youve got wingers running 10dead for 100m varndell, strettle, check out fijian cacucacu.
Your game is so stop start, so commercial advert breaks 24/7. Its not a sport its a business.
Rugby any day, its a man game.
Devin Hester is the fastest man in the NFL.So what if he cant cover.He is one of the main reason the Bears got that far.He is a one of a kind,did you know he didnt run track he is just that fast.If you say he is not the best PR/KR look at the superbowl opening kick off to the house 92 yards the first to in NFL history.