Brandon Graham predicts he will run a 4.5 second 40-yard dash

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

You think there is a correlation between 40 speed and how a OLB/DE tweener will do in the NFL?

Cushing ran a 4.79, Matthews a 4.67 and Everette Brown a 4.73 last year. Suggs ran a disappointing 40 from what I recall as well. Ware ran a 4.65 at the combine.

It's not a perfect predictor, but a 3-4 OLB is responsible for covering a lot of ground in the outside run game and they have to have the fluid hips to do well in coverage assignments, particularly in guarding the flats. So yes, it's a very, very nice luxury to have a guy who can absolutely fly.

Especially in a Crennel 3-4, where your DE isn't asked to make plays and depends on your LB to be the main guardian of the outside shit, speed is a really nice thing to have. Your other examples are different. In Baltimore and especially Dallas, D-linemen are allowed to do more to assist the OLB.