Is speed REALLY that IMPORTANT in football or is it just a hype!?

Question

Because, to me if you want to become a good football player at a position like let's say..running back. The most important thing to know is to learn how to see and take the gap where it's open in oder words having good vision, follow the blocking, and learning how to break tackles. Now for speed, it depends on how fast you are but, how's speed is going to help you break tackles, have good vision, help you follow the blocking and taking a gap when it's open somewhere.

Because, to me you can have all the speed if you want, but if you don't have the blocking, your not going anywhere.

And as for the recievers, why do recievers have to have speed for as long as they can catch the ball, in fact; Look at the recievers in the nfl like Antwan Boldwin, Hines Ward, and Joe Horn and the ones that where in the NFL like Jerry Rice. He didn't have the top speed at the combine but, he sure did know how to catch the ball when it was important. Especially with Antwain Boldwin when he was lowered in the draft because of his speed in the 40 yard dash, then after he was drafted he became rookie of the year and now he's one of if-not one of the elite's top recievers in the NFL.

Same thing with Barry Sanders, he didn't have no 40 yard dash, but he did have the vision to where to get to the endzone, along with the best if-not the best runblocking corps on the Dallas Cowboys team.

In matter of fact, i used to play high school varsity football one year in my second year in high school at running back and i did not run a 40 yard dash like my other teamates had but, i knew where to go, how to break a tackle, and where to follow my blockers, and had about 970 yards that year and have a couple of awards to prove it. In fact, that gaps that i took to get open when i was running the ball, even my dead grandmother could've ran through those holes. In fact, when i be watchin a NFL game and i be seeing the gaps of where the running back can take before the blockers get their, it be so easy that even my dead grandfather can go through those holes and follow those blockers.

So why, most NFL coaches, fans, and others keep hyping this thing up about speed in football like it's really important?

Answer 1

Barry Sanders didnt play for the Cowboys. Emmitt smith did however and is the nfl's all-time leading rusher, and did it with being average at best in the speed department for an nfl running back.  

Answer 2

well you need speed as a wide receiver to get pass defensive backs and corner backs you need speed as a runningback to get passed line- backers. you need speed as a line backer to smack the **** out of running backs. you need speed as a defensive back to get t to wide recievers. but u also need vision for every decision

Answer 3

Sounds to me like you really don't want an honest answer you just want someone to agree with you.  I can't agree with you my man I think speed is the most important thing.  Field vision and blocking are important but if you can leave defenders in the dust you don't have to depend on the other things as much.  All the things you mentioned make for a "good" running back but cheetah like speed AND quickness make for a GREAT running back.  

Answer 4

speed kills my friend...if you dont know that by now then you dont know any sports. you can have the best hands in the world and it wont matter unless you are fast enough to get open....you can be the strongest runningback in the world and you wont gain more than 2 yards if you dont have speed

Answer 5

honestly how long do you think a slow DB or WR would last in the luge??? for some positions yes speed is vary important, but not all of them (who cares how fast your center is?) but even for a running back speed is vary important. it wouldn't matter how great your vision is, or how well you fallow your blockers if it takes you ten min. to get to the hole? your RB doesn't necessarily need blinding speed, but if he has no speed he can't do anything anyway.