D.K. Metcalf says he is faster than Tyreek Hill, who challenges him to race

This time, he boldly stated in an interview that he is faster than Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbycpfe4qgv9nf6 player_id=none image=https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf possesses a competitive fire rivaled by few in the NFL, and he is always looking for ways to prove himself and assert his dominance in certain aspects.

This time, he boldly stated in an interview that he is faster than Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

“I got a different type of speed,” Metcalf said. “There’s Cheetah speed and I got DK speed, and that’s just me.”

Hill responded by challenging Metcalf to bet $50,000 on the outcome of a race between the two and stating that it will be donated to a charity of the Seattle receiver’s choice if he wins.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdOEyUqOjah/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=798d09a5-2bb7-4f96-83dc-59a5e42aa66b

This isn’t the first time Metcalf has desired to test his speed, as he ran the 100-meter dash at USA Track and Field’s Golden Games, finishing in last place with a 10.37 time.

A race between Metcalf and Hill would certainly be enticing to watch, but who knows if they will actually go through with it.

[lawrence-related id=89147]

[listicle id=89192]

In need of speed, Packers take two burners at WRs in 2022 draft

In Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, the Packers emphatically addressed the need for speed at wide receiver.

The Green Bay Packers granted Matt LaFleur’s request for speed at wide receiver during the 2022 NFL draft.

At the NFL Annual Meetings last month, LaFleur said the Packers needed to add speed to help replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling, the offense’s top deep threat. A month later, Brian Gutekunst obliged, taking two of the fastest on-field players at the Senior Bowl in Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.

“Certainly, if you look at our roster right now, we definitely need to get some speed in that room,” LaFleur said. “We need a legit guy that can take off the top of the coverage. We lost a guy that was pretty good at doing that.”

Mission accomplished. And we’re talking about play speed, not just 40-yard dash times, although they aren’t measurably slow, either. According to Jim Nagy, the Senior Bowl director, Doubs was clocked at 21.25 miles per hour during practices, while Watson was clocked at 20.71. Both times were among the five best. Watson was also clocked as the fastest on-field player during the actual game.

“I think all those guys can run,” LaFleur said. “Sometimes the 40 can be overvalued, you look at the playspeed on tape…I think the play speed of all those guys is pretty good.”

The Packers moved up in the second round to get Watson, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at 6-4 and 208 pounds. He can fly. So can Doubs, who didn’t perform at the combine but tested in the 4.47-4.50 range at his individual pro day last month. The Packers took him in the fourth round.

The speed translated into big-play production, which is what the Packers are hoping Watson and Doubs can provide at the next level. Watson averaged over 20 yards per catch for his career. In 2021, he caught eight passes thrown over 20 yards, with deep passes accounting for 395 of his 801 receiving yards, per PFF. He’ll be an immediate deep threat.

“He’s a big, fast, physical receiver,” Gutekunst said. “His athletic traits are off the charts.”

“He’s big, and he’s fast,” Packers director of football operations Milt Hendrickson said. “As fast as he is, his length, his stride, any type of vertical routes, it’s exponential what he can ultimately do for an offense.”

Don’t discount Doubs, who caught 12 deep passes for 444 yards last season. Every Carson Strong highlight is also a highlight of Doubs getting behind the coverage for an easy throw and catch. He’s an instant accelerator and long-strider who can win at the line of scrimmage, stack cornerbacks mid-route and separate late down the field.

“We liked his play speed,” Packers director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “We thought he played fast on tape.”

Speed remains an important aspect of the LaFleur offense. Valdes-Scantling should get the assist for many easy throws and completions over the last few seasons because his speed threatened secondaries and forced help to stay over the top. And when the right opportunities arose, he used his 4.3 speed to cook coverages with explosive plays down the field.

In time, Watson and Doubs should provide a similar threat. Watson, with his length and elite straight-line speed, could fill the role right away. Doubs is going to surprise people in the league with the way he can run. And don’t forget about seventh-round pick Samori Toure, who created a ton of big plays as a vertical threat at Montana and then led the Big Ten in yards per catch in 2021. He might be the slowest of the receiver trio, but he still runs really well and is a natural catcher of the football deep down the field.

“I think we added some competition (at receiver), I think that was really important,” Gutekunst said. “I think we accomplished that.”

Competition and speed. Check, check.

[listicle id=80642]

Matt LaFleur acknowledges Packers’ need for speed at WR

The Packers coach knows his team needs to add speed to the wide receiver position this offseason.

Losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency made one thing clear for Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers: the wide receiver position needs an influx of speed.

The Packers coach acknowledged this obvious fact on Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting in Florida.

“We need a legit guy that can take the top off the coverage,” LaFleur said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

Valdes-Scantling, who stands 6-4 and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, has been the offense’s primary deep threat since LaFleur arrived in 2019. He left Green Bay as a free agent to sign a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs last week. Losing Valdes-Scantling and Davante Adams in one offseason has the Packers looking at a major rebuild at the position.

There’s no obvious replacement for Valdes-Scantling on the roster. Allen Lazard doesn’t have threatening deep speed. Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers are slot receivers. The rest of the depth chart includes Juwann Winfree and Malik Taylor, who probably aren’t starting-caliber receivers entering 2022.

General manager Brian Gutekunst has options for finding legit speed. Will Fuller is still available in free agency. Christian Watson, Chris Olave and Alec Pierce could be draft targets. There are potential trade scenarios to consider. One way or another, the Packers will add receivers between now and the start of the regular season in September.

Speed remains important in LaFleur’s offensive scheme for a few reasons. One, speed helps create explosive plays down the field. Valdes-Scantling created nine plays of 40 or more yards between 2020 and 2021. Explosive plays are great drivers of points. Two, the threat of vertical speed changes the way defenses cover the passing game and opens up opportunities in space for others underneath. Speed helps occupy safeties deep and create one-on-one chances for receivers. Valdes-Scantling deserves an assist for many of the easy throws and catches in the intermediate areas of the field from the last few seasons.

The draft looks like a great resource. This class has plenty of speed and vertical threats. Brennen Rupp of Packers Wire identified 10 possible draft prospects capable of replacing Valdes-Scantling as the primary deep threat.

Adding a veteran like Fuller and drafting one of the speedy prospects in the class could be enough for the Packers to maintain a dangerous vertical presence in the passing game in 2022.

[listicle id=79403]

Jonathan Taylor set another NFL mark last night

Jonathan Taylor set another NFL mark last night

Former Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor entered Saturday’s tilt against the New England Patriots just 362 yards short of the Colts single-season rushing yard record.

The Badger legend then came through with another remarkable performance. 29 carries, 170 rushing yards and 1 game-sealing touchdown. The performance moves him just 192 yards short of Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James’ mark of 1709.

Related: Wisconsin football officially signs its class of 2022

Taylor didn’t only lead the Colts to another win and continue to climb towards a franchise record last night. He also continued to set NFL marks for ball-carrier speed.

He reached a speed of 22.13 mph during his game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter, good for the highest ball-carrier speed in the NFL this season. Oh, and he’s now responsible for three of the top five fastest speeds.

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

Browns near bottom of the league in play speed so far in 2021

Despite all the additions attempting to fix the problem, the Browns haven’t played fast so far in 2021. Instead, the team is second to slowest in the league:

The Cleveland Browns have had issues throughout the start of the 2021 NFL season. Injuries, inconsistent play, penalties and questionable play-calling (mostly on the defensive side of the ball but not entirely) have slowed the team’s momentum. Coming off a successful 2020 season and an offseason that drew rave reviews, the Browns 4 – 3 record is slightly disappointing.

Thankfully, the AFC doesn’t have a team, or teams, running away with the lead. Cleveland only sits one game out from the top of their division and conference following Week 7.

One area that the Browns seemed to focus on this offseason also hasn’t shown up on the field as expected. The return of Odell Beckham Jr. and the drafting of Anthony Schwartz were expected to turn up the speed on offense while the defensive upgrades seemed to have speed in mind as well.

Instead, according to a new piece on ESPN (subscriber, $), Cleveland is second to last in overall team speed on the field so far this year:

31. Cleveland Browns

Overall average yards per second: 9.25
Offense rank: No. 27 (9.13)
Defense rank: No. 27 (9.36)
Fastest unit relative to NFL: RB (No. 8, 9.57)
Slowest unit relative to NFL: WR (No. 32, 9.34)
Team speedster: Nick Chubb, RB (9.99)

With Beckham missing some time with injury and Schwartz not getting a large number of snaps, the wide receivers being the slowest in the league isn’t too surprising. It also points to the type of routes run by the receivers, with fewer straight line and speed-oriented routes.

While the defense added a lot of players, injuries have kept many of them off the field at different times this year. The lack of speed could explain some of the struggles stopping big plays, along with miscommunication, and presents concerns for the rest of the season. As the new pieces feel more comfortable in the defense, perhaps they will be reacting faster and increase the overall speed.

Speed isn’t the most important trait in the NFL but it is near the top of the list. Cleveland’s lack of it has to be concerning unless they turn it around, somehow, the rest of the year.

Notre Dame in NFL: Fuller suspended six games

Will Fuller may have played his final game for the Houston Texans after he was handed a six-game suspension on Monday.

Former Notre Dame star and first-round pick of the Houston Texans, Will Fuller, has had a strong season in an otherwise disappointing year for the team.

The Texans are just 4-7 after their Thanksgiving Day win at Detroit.

Fuller however has had a strong season with 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns, all of which are career highs.

However, those career highs won’t reach any higher as Fuller has been suspended for six games, meaning his season is done and that he’ll be out for Week 1 of the 2021 season, wherever that may be for the pending free agent.

Fuller’s name had been floated in trade rumors ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline but ultimately remained in Houston.

We’ll have any news that comes from this as will our colleagues at Texans Wire.

WATCH: DK Metcalf’s sprint for the touchdown to give Seahawks lead

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf sprints in for the touchdown to close out the first quarter, Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf just keeps getting better and better.

Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers, Metcalf turned on the speed once again for the Seahawks’ first score of the day.

The point-after attempt was no good, so Seattle closed out the first quarter with a 6-0 lead over the 49ers.

[lawrence-related id=68616]

Pete Carroll says Phillip Dorsett II ‘fastest guy we’ve ever had here’

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II is the fastest player the team has ever had in training camp.

[jwplayer QZopmiKN]

The Seattle Seahawks added a speed demon to quarterback Russell Wilson’s arsenal of weapons this offseason when they signed wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II to the roster in March.

Dorsett ran track in both high school and college so it’s no surprise he is fast on the field.

“He’s the fastest guy we’ve ever had here,” Carroll told reporters during his Thursday press conference. “He runs in the time realms we don’t even think really exist, 4.2s and stuff. In our systems with Russ, the way Russ likes to bomb the football, he’s a big factor for us. We’re just installing stuff in the next couple of days that really accentuate those kinds of plays, and I’m really anxious to see him fit in.”

Dorsett was originally drafted by the Colts in 2015 at No. 29 overall. After two seasons in Indianapolis, he was traded to New England. This spring, he signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks.

Dorsett will look to secure the No. 3 spot heading into the 2020 regular season.

[lawrence-related id=66396]

Who’s faster? Marquise Goodwin challenges Tyreek Hill to foot race

Wide receivers Marquise Goodwin and Tyreek Hill are willing to compete in the 40-yard dash to determine who’s the fastest player in the NFL.

Former Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has plenty of confidence in his speed. Continue reading “Who’s faster? Marquise Goodwin challenges Tyreek Hill to foot race”

Taysom Hill is Madden NFL 21’s third-fastest quarterback

New Orleans Saints backup Taysom Hill has earned the third-fastest speed grade for quarterbacks in Madden NFL 21, trailing Lamar Jackson.

[jwplayer jinwpX8k-ThvAeFxT]

It shouldn’t surprise anyone which quarterback sits on top of the speed ratings in this year’s Madden NFL game from EA Sports: Baltimore Ravens breakout Lamar Jackson, the reigning league MVP who led the NFL with 6.9 yards per carry last year. Jackson racked up 1,206 rushing yards while frustrating defenders by his ability to keep outmaneuver them and keep plays alive in the backfield when under pressure.

However, what’s fascinating is who earned a spot not far behind him: New Orleans Saints backup Taysom Hill, who has made waves at tight end, receiver, and even on special teams. Hill has only moonlighted at quarterback so far, but the 29-year old doesn’t lack for athletic traits. That’s reflected in his speed grade (90), trailing only Jackson (96) and Arizona Cardinals passer Kyler Murray (91). Not bad at all.

Hill managed a very respectable 5.8 yards per attempt last year, though he only ran 27 times compared to Jackson’s 176 carries. How defenses would treat Hill as a full-time starter with the exponentially greater rushes is anyone’s guess, but fans can try it out when Madden NFL 21 releases later this summer.

[vertical-gallery id=29986]