Denard: I could take Usain Bolt (at a 40 yd dash)
August 13th, 2012 at 6:55 AM ^
The strength of the runner has a secondary consideration once the runner has left the starting blocks. The start is virtually instant acceleration, which continues for approximately 30 m to 40 m. After 60 m, the runner cannot accelerate any further and success in the race is then determined by how long the runner can maintain top speed, attempting to defeat the forces of deceleration acting on the body.
August 13th, 2012 at 8:50 AM ^
You don't reach maximal acceleration at 60m, you reach *zero* acceleration at 60m (assuming the bit about reaching max speed at 60 is true.) Maximum acceleration is most likely within the first few moments of starting, since you get higher acceleration at lower speeds given equal power.
August 13th, 2012 at 9:13 AM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 9:24 AM ^
"60 Meters appears to be the range where the human body no longer sustains maximal speed."
"After 60 m, the runner cannot accelerate any further and success in the race is then determined by how long the runner can maintain top speed, attempting to defeat the forces of deceleration acting on the body."
pretty much what I was saying...the part where sports science says...how long the runner can maitain top speed...translates to the human body no longer sustains maximal speed. I went the route of Kinesiology, but when the classes started dividing between sports management and communications vs biomechanics/motor learning/exercise physiology, I stayed in the lab and then completed my masters degree in Ex Phys...after 8 years in track and field and spent some time in the 100m and 4x100, the logic didn't escape me =)
August 12th, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^
They're talking about it on 97.1 The Ticket right now. And some pretty snarky texts are coming in like, "Usain Bolt could complete more passes than Denard."
I'm pretty sure Denard and Devin were just joking around.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
Lemme guess who the host is, its not 2-5 on a weekday, so it must be Pat Caputo... he is the most Sparty biased "unbiased" person I have ever heard.
Whatever, I think the race would be a lot closer than we give it credit for. Denard and Usain Bolt are both competitors. The drive of competion would bring the best out in both of them, and I think Usain Bolt would beat him, but I personally think it would be within .08 second.
Speaking of Usain Bolt, did anyone else see that they recorded his split yesterday in the 4X100 as 9.22... No one is beating that...
August 13th, 2012 at 8:54 AM ^
The relay splits are going to be much faster than the individual events because they don't start at a standstill, nor need to react to a gun (except for the first runner, obviously.)
August 12th, 2012 at 10:22 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 8:03 PM ^
Have to disagree with Denard. Bolt is usually tied or just taking the lead at 40m when he gets a decent start, so Denard would have to be leading the Olympic 100m finals at that point of the race. No way.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:20 PM ^
FWIW, Justin Gatlin, who ran a 9.79 100m at the Olympics, posted a 40 time of 4.42 at the 2008 NFL Combine.
August 12th, 2012 at 11:07 PM ^
I can't find a video of the 100m final this year but I believe Gatlin led until Bolt took over the last 30-40 meters.
Edit: Also note that Gatlin's reaction (.178) time was slower than Bolt's (.165) in the final.
I believe Denard (and other elite speed football players like C. Johnson, T. Holliday and Jacoby Ford) could take Bolt in the 40 yard dash.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
Someone forgot to tell Denard that today was everything is super serious day.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:32 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
That would be fun to watch. Denrad says he can kick Bolt's ass: Then Denard can kick Bolt's ass. Nuff said.
I do know for a fact, nobody on ND can catch Denard from 87 yards in, and nobody on Ohio State can keep up with him from about 42 yards
You cannot simulate speed
Proof:
August 12th, 2012 at 10:26 PM ^
Lesser known dual-threat QB's of the world.
August 13th, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^
to say, "Four fakes out of five."
August 12th, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
I don't know whether Denard could take Bolt in a 40, but I've heard far more ridiculous ideas.
What I'd really like to see is a race between him and De'Anthony Thomas of Oregon, who has the same kind of ridiculous acceleration as Denard.
August 12th, 2012 at 9:09 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^
I'd like to see Denard in starting blocks vs Bolt in blocks over 40 yards using electronic timing and sprinter reaction to the gun as you'd see in a race. Then put Bolt and Denard in pads at the 40 yard line with five linebackers at the ten...GO.
August 12th, 2012 at 9:14 PM ^
With the rules for motion pre-snap, is it any question that Bolt would be insane in the Arena Football league?
August 12th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^
Willie Gault and Renaldo Nehemiah, for starters.
August 12th, 2012 at 9:33 PM ^
... and as a long suffering Jets fan, I can't forget Lam Jones.
August 13th, 2012 at 1:31 AM ^
Ron Brown (Rams/Raiders) and James Jett (Raiders)
August 12th, 2012 at 10:13 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 2:20 AM ^
Tim Brown...Deion Sanders (yea, he had some elite speed, though you did say WRs, so).
August 12th, 2012 at 9:15 PM ^
Willie Heston could outrun his classmate Archie Hahn over the first 40 yards. (Hahn was the 1904 Gold Medalist at 100 meters.)
August 12th, 2012 at 9:18 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 9:25 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 9:31 PM ^
I think I could take them both in a 1 yard dash, but after 2 yds I'd be in trouble and after 5 yds they'd be gone.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 10:06 PM ^
The only reason Bolt lags behind in the first 30-40 meters is to have a burst for the end. If he needed to go all out for 40M he could still blow by any man in the world.
(Assuming DR comment not tongue-in-cheek)
August 12th, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 10:10 PM ^
Let's make it a real world comparison. Have them both in helmet and pads. Then have Bolt untie his shoelaces. At the gun both have to drop a football, pick it up and race. Go Denard!!!!
August 12th, 2012 at 10:16 PM ^
in helmet, cleats and shoulder pads.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:17 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 10:52 PM ^
August 12th, 2012 at 10:24 PM ^
don't know if denard could beat bolt or any other olympic sprinter in a 40, but I would love to see it.
I agreed with the ascertion that by 60yds they would be pulling away and 100m there wouldn't have been a question.
Honestly, I think Denard would be within a step or two in a 40 but still think Bolt takes 40, i'm thinking denard is underestimating how fast olympic sprinters get off the blocks.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:39 PM ^
People always underestimate Track athletes because they're not scoring touchdowns or dunking lob passes. But the fact of the matter is those guys lining up at the start of that backstretch at the Olympic Stadium are the 8 fastest people in the world (not the NFL, or the US - THE WORLD) with with VERY few exceptions, none of which include Denard.
August 13th, 2012 at 2:27 AM ^
Homestretch*
But yes, good point about underestimating the track athletes. I laughed at the remark about only a few people able to stand a chance and they're al standing next to him; oh so true! Denard could hang for 30 meters; from there it's all Bolt. A couple steps i.e. strides, behind Bolt is not a small incriment in these types of races, it's a large one, by the way. Denard is mach 2. Bolt is light speed.
August 13th, 2012 at 3:29 AM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 1:29 PM ^
Well said, I bet Denard could beat Phelps in the 40 too.
August 13th, 2012 at 8:36 PM ^
if they're both wearing full pads.......
August 13th, 2012 at 1:21 PM ^
to Desmond Howard. He ran with us his senior season for the indoor circuit. For a guy who spent his entire collegiate career making highlight reel catches, he caught on to starting blocks real quick. He and I were the only two that scored any points at the B1G ten championships indoors...take it to the bank, give Denard a month working on blocks, which by the way he's actually done before, and give Bolt a month in shoulderpads, I'll take Denard the track star over Bolt the football player. What you miss is, sprinters like Bolt aren't quick in the first 40 as they are fast over the 100m. It's completely different and why coaches measure football players in the 40 and not the 100...
August 12th, 2012 at 10:39 PM ^
think that this is absolutely insane that we are having a justifiable debate as to whether our QUARTERBACK can beat the fastest man on the planet in a race?
August 12th, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
Don't be enamored with Bolt's golf medals and just assume no one could compete with him.
He is the fastest guy who was not coordinated enough to excel at any other sports. If you took the entire population of the Unites States and focused everyone on running the 100 instead of football, basketball etc you might have seen a different gold medalist.
Someone above me posted J. Gatlin's numbers and that is a great barometer. Denard given 6 months of training could probably give him a run for his money. Right now he has no chance. He is training for football not track.