Strength or Speed for Football?

Question

What do you believe is more important for football?

Personally I think Speed is more important. I really don't care how strong or big you are, you can't tackle someone if you can't reach them is what I think.

And I remember seeing a quote from somewhere that said

"Speed Kills

Strength Punishes"

Do you also agree with this quote?

Answer 1

Both EXTREMELY important.. good atheletes are BOTH

Answer 2

I think that it takes a certain balance of both.  Quick outside linebackers can help contain a fast running back.  If you can keep the running back between the tackles and you have strong DT's, then they can "punish" him.  Defensive tackles need to have strength before speed.  Defensive ends should have a nice mix of both strength and speed.  Offensive linemen need to have quick feet...they don't need to be fast (which is why they are normally the slowest guys on the field), but they do need to be strong.

When it comes to wideouts and corners, speed is everything (obviously along with technique, footwork, and awareness).  It's nice to be strong like T.O or Al Harris for bump and run coverage, but speed is everything for outside players.

In the end, you do need to have more speed on the team than strength, but a team without any strong inside players will get manhandled.

Answer 3

Yea i think speed is important to more postions in football than strength. But on the other hand you can make up for speed with anticipation so it all depends but you need both to be great.

Answer 4

you can train to significantly gain strength but speed for the most part god given.  speed kills.  that's what made Lawrence Taylor, Barry Sanders, Jerry Rice some of the best at what they did

Answer 5

I would say that they are both equally important. If you are trying to tackle a good running back with strong legs, you can't tackle him without strength; however, if you can't get to them that is a problem as well. And if you're an o lineman no matter how fast you are you have you have be strong or else you'll get blown, but if you can't hardly move no matter how strong you are you will get beat of the ball and probably lose the battle. Great player are the ones that have found a good balance between the two.  

The most important thing in football though is technique. Good technique can make up for what you lack in speed or strength.

Answer 6

Speed Kills.... Plain and simple. You can be the strongest guy in the world, but if you can't catch up to the runner, you're pretty much screwed. Now, on the other hand, if your a lineman I could see how strength would look like the most plausible answer, but I've found through coaching and playing that if you can get off the ball and satisfy a block for 3 seconds, considering your RB is fast, then he's gone. Even if you get in the defenders way you are doing your job.