SPEED SCORES: RUNNING BACKS
SPEED SCORE for RUNNING BACKS
*Note: Speed Score is a player athletic evaluation invented by Bill Barnwell, of Football Outsiders.*
Speed Score is a metric NFL Scouts use to project how much power and speed a running back has and how well that running back will perform in the NFL. Speed Score is primarily used for evaluating running backs. The theory is that running backs are like bowling balls. The faster and heavier the bowling ball, the more pins you will see flying to the backboard. (However, from the tabulated numbers below, higher Speed Scores do NOT seem to correlate with higher yards per rush).
The average Speed Score for NFL running backs is 98.5. The average Speed Score for drafted running backs is around 102.4. And the average Speed Score for 1st Round picks is around112.1.
You should note that the Speed Score is not the end-all, be-all. For instance, the all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith had a Speed Score of around 96.5. For Barry Sanders, his Speed Score was around 110.6. However, Bo Jackson's was around 149.5 which would make his the highest Speed Score of all-time.
From the tabulated numbers below, it appears that Speed Scores do seem to correlate with higher total rushing yards, yet, surprisingly do not bear out a significant relationship with yards per rush.
Bo Jackson's
Speed Score: 149.5
Emmit Smith's Speed Score: 96.5
Barry Sanders
Speed Score: 110.6
Eric Dickerson's Speed Score: 112.2
Tony Dorsett's Speed Score: 117.79
Herschel Walker's Speed Score: 138.5
FORMULA: 200 X Player's Weight (pounds)=Y
Y /40 Yard Dash Time=Z
(Z) 4th power.
In other words, multiply the player's weight in pounds by 200. Then take that number and divide it by the player's 40 yard dash time. Then take that number and raise it to the 4th power.
***Note: The numbers that follow are not official numbers, and are just approximate figures. The numbers may contain discrepancies between when and where a 40 yard time was taken, and the player weight when the 40 time was recorded.***
..............................................Weight...........40 Time.........Speed Score.......
Brandon Jacobs Speed Score...........267..................4.56...................123.5
New York Giants
2009 Rushing Yards 835 Yards Per Carry 3.7
Chris Johnson Speed Score..... ...........197..................4.24...................121.9
Tennessee Titans
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Cedric Peerman Speed Score................. ........216..................4.34...................122
2009 Rushing Yards 2006 Yards Per Carry 5.6
Ronnie Brown Speed Score...... ...........233..................4.43...................121.0
Miami Dolphins
2009 Rushing Yards 648 Yards Per Carry 4.4
Darren McFadden Speed Score...... ...........211..................4.33...................120.0
Oakland Raiders
2009 Rushing Yards 357 Yards Per Carry 3.4
Jonathan Stewart Speed Score.......... ...........235..................4.46...................119
Carolina Panthers
2009 Rushing Yards 1133 Yards Per Carry 5.1
Rashard Mendenhall Speed Score...... ........225..................4.41...................119
Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 Rushing Yards 1108 Yards Per Carry 4.6
Steven Jackson Speed Score...... ........231..................4.45...................117.8
St. Louis Rams
2009 Rushing Yards 1416 Yards Per Carry 4.4
Michael Turner Speed Score...... ........237..................4.49...................117
Atlanta Falcons
2009 Rushing Yards 871 Yards Per Carry 4.9
Steve Slaton Speed Score...... ...........215..................4.38...................117
Houston Texans
2009 Rushing Yards 437 Yards Per Carry 3.3
Clinton Portis Speed Score..............................223..................4.42...................117
Washington Redskins
2009 Rushing Yards 494 Yards Per Carry 4.0
Adrian Peterson Speed Score...... ........217..................4.40...................116
Minnesota Vikings
2009 Rushing Yards 1383 Yards Per Carry 4.4
Matt Forte Speed Score ..................................225..................4.44 ...................116
Chicago Bears
2009 Rushing Yards 929 Yards Per Carry 3.6
Reggie Bush Speed Score .................... ........203..................4.33 ...................115
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
2009 Rushing Yards 390 Yards Per Carry 5.6
Joseph Addai Speed Score..... ........214..................4.40...................114.2
Indianapolis Colts
2009 Rushing Yards 828 Yards Per Carry 3.8
Ben Tate ................................. ........220..................4.43 ...................114
Willis McGahee Speed Score...... ........223..................4.45...................113.8
Baltimore Ravens
2009 Rushing Yards 544 Yards Per Carry 5.0
DeShawn Wynn Speed Score...... ........232..................4.47...................113.2
Green Bay Packers
Beanie Wells Speed Score........ ...........235..................4.52...................113
Arizona Cardinals
2009 Rushing Yards 793 Yards Per Carry 4.5
Marion Barber Speed Score................. ........222..................4.48...................112
Dallas Cowboys
2009 Rushing Yards 932 Yards Per Carry 4.4
Thomas Jones Speed Score................. ........216..................4.43..................112
New York Jets
2009 Rushing Yards 1402 Yards Per Carry 4.2
LaDainian Tomlinson Speed Score.......221..................4.46...................111.7
NY JETS
2009 Rushing Yards 730 Yards Per Carry 3.3
Ryan Grant Speed Score...... ........215..................4.43...................111.7
Green Bay Packers
2009 Rushing Yards 1253 Yards Per Carry 4.4
Maurice Jones-Drew Speed Score...... ........207..................4.39...................111.5
Jacksonville Jaguars
2009 Rushing Yards 1391 Yards Per Carry 4.5
Brian Leonard Speed Score...... ........230..................4.50...................111.2
CINCINNATI BENGALS
2009 Rushing Yards 84 Yards Per Carry 3.1
. Ryan Mathews Speed Score ................................. ........218..................4.45 ...................111
San Diego Chargers
Jahvid Best Speed Score............................... ........199..................4.35 ...................111
Detroit Lions
Montario Hardesty Speed Score............................... ........225..................4.49 ...................111
Cleveland Browns
Toby Gerhart Speed Score............................... ........231..................4.53 ...................110
Minnesota Vikings
Derrick Ward Speed Score..................................225..................4.54 ...................109.7
Houston Texans
Danny Ware Speed Score..................................234..................4.55 ...................109.09
New York Giants
DeAngelo Williams Speed Score................. ........214..................4.45...................109
Carolina Panthers
2009 Rushing Yards 1117 Yards Per Carry 5.2
Glen Coffee Speed Score................................. ........209..................4.42...................109
San Francisco 49ers
Marshawn Lynch Speed Score...... ........215..................4.46...................108.7
Buffalo Bills
2009 Rushing Yards 450 Yards Per Carry 3.8
Michael Bush Speed Score..... ........245..................4.63...................107
CJ Spiller Speed Score............................... ........196..................4.37 ...................107
Buffalo Bills
Tashard Choice Speed Score................. ........215..................4.48...................106.75
Dallas Cowboys
2009 Rushing Yards 349 Yards Per Carry 5.5
Felix Jones Speed Score................. ........207..................4.44...................106
Dallas Cowboys
2009 Rushing Yards 685 Yards Per Carry 5.9
Donald Brown Speed Score...... ...........210..................4.46...................106
Indianapolis Colts
2009 Rushing Yards 281 Yards Per Carry 3.6
Knowshon Moreno Speed Score........217..................4.50...................106
Denver Broncos
2009 Rushing Yards 947 Yards Per Carry 3.8
LeGarrette Blount Speed Score............................... ........241..................4.62 ...................106
Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Ricky Williams Speed Score...... ........244..................4.56...................106
Miami Dolphins
2009 Rushing Yards 1121 Yards Per Carry 4.7
Correll Buckhalter Speed Score................. ........223..................4.53...................105.93
Denver Broncos
2009 Rushing Yards 642 Yards Per Carry 5.4
Cedric Benson Speed Score...... ........225..................4.55...................105
Cincinnati Bengals
2009 Rushing Yards 1251 Yards Per Carry 4.2
Rashad Jennings Speed Score................................. ........231..................4.58...................105
Jacksonville Jaguars
2009 Rushing Yards 202 Yards Per Carry 5.2
Mike Goodson Speed Score................................. ........208..................4.46...................105
Carolina Panthers
Javon Ringer Speed Score................................. ........205..................4.45 ...................105
Tennessee Titans
Jerome Harrison Speed Score...... .......................205..................4.47...................102.75
Cleveland Browns
2009 Rushing Yards 862 Yards Per Carry 4.4
San Diego Chargers Mike Tolbert Speed Score................................. ........243..................4.68...................101.25
Ray Rice Speed Score................................. ........199..................4.47...................100
Baltimore Ravens
2009 Rushing Yards 1339 Yards Per Carry 5.3
Tim Hightower Speed Score...... ........222..................4.59...................100
Arizona Cardinals
2009 Rushing Yards 598 Yards Per Carry 4.2
Anthony Dixon Speed Score............................... ........233..................4.65 ...................100
John "The Terminator" Conner Speed Score............................... ........246..................4.72 ...................99
Shonn Greene Speed Score................................. ........227..................4.63...................98.8
New York Jets
2009 Rushing Yards 540 Yards Per Carry 5.0
Kevin Smith Speed Score................................. ........217..................4.43...................98.6
DETROIT LIONS
2009 Rushing Yards 747 Yards Per Carry 3.4
Laurence Maroney Speed Score.................................220..................4.55...................97.9
New England Patriots
2009 Rushing Yards 757 Yards Per Carry 3.9
Pierre Thomas Speed Score................................. ........220..................4.58...................97.7
New Orleans Saints
2009 Rushing Yards 793 Yards Per Carry 5.4
Eldra Buckley Speed Score...... .......................207..................4.56...................96
Philadelphia Eagles
Ahmad Bradshaw Speed Score...................................198..................4.52...................95.0
NEW YORK GIANTS
2009 Rushing Yards 778 Yards Per Carry 4.8
LeSean McCoy Speed Score...... .......................198..................4.52...................95
Philadelphia Eagles
2009 Rushing Yards 637 Yards Per Carry 4.1
2009 Rushing Yards 437 Yards Per Carry 3.3
Kevin Faulk Speed Score................................. ........202..................4.57...................92.7
New England Patriots
2009 Rushing Yards 335 Yards Per Carry 5.4
Bernard Scott Speed Score................................. ........200..................4.56...................92.5
Cincinnati Bengals
Frank Gore Speed Score................................. ........217..................4.66...................92
San Francisco 49ers
2009 Rushing Yards 1120 Yards Per Carry 4.9
Brian Westbrook Speed Score...... ........200..................4.57...................91.7
Philadelphia Eagles
Darren Sproles Speed Score................................. ........185..................4.49...................91
San Diego Chargers
Justin Forsett Speed Score................................. ........194..................4.62...................85
Seattle Seahawks
2009 Rushing Yards 619 Yards Per Carry 5.4
Condensed and Abbreviated Speed Score Sheet
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