Player Sizes

by jadunn on Apr 14, 2008 9:00 PM MDT

I'm writing this in response to opinions that I've seen expressed by the MHR community over the past few weeks about player size. Specifically, there are two players (one current, and one a prospect) who have been written about in depth - one has been described as 'small', and the other as 'not a workhorse[which may be a critique of style, not size, but bear with me for the sake of argument.]'
The guys I am referring to are Earl Bennett and Selvin Young. Just to provide a point of comparison:

Selvin Young 5'11 207 lbs.
Terrel Davis 5'11 210 lbs.

Earl Bennett 6'00 209 lbs.
Rod Smith 6'00 205 lbs.

While I am in no way arguing that either of the young guys can even come close to the Bronco greats as far as talent and production, they are comparable physically.
Now, when they were playing, I don't ever recall hearing anyone refer to T.D. or Rod Smith as being small.
I don't remember if the NFL in 1998 had anyone like Brandon Marshall at WR (6'4 - 230 lbs.) or Brandon Jacobs at RB (6'4 - 264 lbs.) but it just seems strange to me that Bennett and Young are now seen as small for their respective positions.
I'm not trying to pick an argument here, but has the physiology of NFL players changed that much in the past ten years?

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

The reason we advocate bigger guys

is that defenses have gotten bigger. when you had smaller receivers you had defensive coordinators who wanted to beat the WR by having a bigger heavier guy. that meant that the WR had to get bigger. It is an evolution that has taken place over the last 10 years. As for TD, he might have been "small" but he was a bruiser by nature. Young was a speed replacement on a team who's Quarterback was also a speed demon. TD had the benefit of being an every down back in both college and the pros and having to be a bruiser at both. Also they made TD get up to 225 or so if I recall

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 14, 2008 10:41 PM MDT reply actions

I can't comment much on Bennett.

I don't know much about the college guys in general, so I'll stay away from the talk about Bennett.

In terms of Young, I agree with you Jon. "Player type" is a more important classification to me than size. Even though TD and Young may have similar size, they are in no way the same in how they approach the position. Young is by no means a bruiser or a workhorse even if he shares size and weight classes with TD.

If we are to use size and weight as the qualifier for type or style, could we then juxtapose any player with another position so long as we find another player in another position with the same measurables? Not at all.

But the author's point is a fair one towards people who are comparing size and weights incorrectly instead of comparing styles, and the author (rightly) points out that some people who wouldn't start Young are addressing stylistic differences and not differences in size.

I want Young active in our games, but as the "2" punch in a "1-2 punch" running back by committee approach.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 15, 2008 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Well, actually

Frist, there were some big guys playing back in 98. Our own Ed McCaffrey was 6'5" 220 ... So how is that for size? There were some big RBs too. I can't recall names, but there have been more than a few RBs around 250.

No one said that Bennett was small--at least that's not the expression I got. But he isn't big. He is just an average sized WR; solid build and all.

S Young has been called small many times, and I think it is true. If he can add 15 lbs and keep his speed it would help him in the long run.

Orange County is hot. Really! Haven't you seen the weather report?

by amirebram on Apr 14, 2008 10:43 PM MDT reply actions

I recall TD coming into the league at

roughly the same size as Selvin Young. But by the time 1997 rolled around, TD was a specimen of an athelete. 5'11" 225lbs I believe.

Which is why I keep saying that if Selvin Young bulks up, his body type is of the same mold as TD's. So I believe that Selvin has the possibility to be the next TD. He sure runs with authority, if he puts on another 20 pounds he might be dominating.

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by Tim Lynch on Apr 15, 2008 4:50 PM MDT reply actions