NFL players are some of the most athletic in the world, even when compared to athletes from other sports. For wide receivers in particular, speed is a tremendous attribute. But for every Xavier Worthy and Tyreek Hill, who frequently leave defenders in a trail of dust, there’s a Cooper Kupp and Anquan Boldin, who succeed in the game despite lacking high-end speed. The point? You don’t have to be insanely fast to become a star receiver in the NFL.
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Speed may help, but it’s far from the most important skill. Rob Gronkowski described how young athletes, who may not be the quickest, can accomplish their dreams of reaching the league.
“In the football world, it’s not about being the most athletic or being the fastest. It’s about being the best football player that you can be,” said Gronk on the most recent episode of the Dudes on Dudes podcast.
“And if you learn the game inside and out, and you understand the game of football, it helps you be a better football player. So if you’re not as fast as everyone, not as strong as everyone, understand the game of football and what’s going on,” he added.
The proof is in the pudding. In his career with the Los Angeles Rams so far, Kupp, who is relatively slower, has averaged 74.8 receiving yards per game on 8.35 targets per contest. Hill, meanwhile, has averaged 79.1 yards per game on 8.57 targets per contest over his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins.
Besides pace, there are other factors including the average depth of the target that contribute to these numbers. And, it’s a coach’s job to get the most out of a player’s skillset.
Julian Edelman on succeeding in the NFL without top-tier speed
Worthy (4.22 40-yard dash) and Hill (4.29) are in the upper 1% of NFL players when it comes to sprint speed. Kupp (4.62) is — and Boldin (4.71) was — on the lower end. Gronkowski’s former teammate, Julian Edelman (4.52), belonged to the midrange.
No, Edelman’s averages (49.8 yards per game on 6.86 targets per contest) aren’t as high as Kupp’s or Hill’s. However, Tom Brady did not have a more trusted playoff weapon than Julian, whose 118 postseason grabs rank third all-time. When the biggest champion in league history needed someone to get open, Edelman was there.
Julian Edelman‘s favorite play of his career? 3rd and 14 Super Bowl XLIX.
“That was a cool moment when I knew I got his best and I was able to get up and go.” Via @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/tpWrnEGhQ2
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) April 21, 2021
Needless to say, the advice Edelman offered was from personal experience.
“You gotta know coverage. You gotta be savvy. Quick and savvy. Get your quickness up. Work on the same thing a whole bunch of times and you’ll get better,” said Julian.
There may be no better player to talk about this topic than Edelman. Height and weight wise, he (5-foot-10, 198 lbs.) is almost identical to the average American male (5-foot-9, 199.8 lbs.). And his dedication to his craft alone allowed him to dominate (at times) in a sport full of juggernauts.
At the end of the day, dedication is all it takes to succeed.
