Joe Haden posted a 4.6 40 yard time at the combine. Some scouts claim Golden Tate ran the 40 in the mid 4.3 range. That means if Golden Tate ran a fly pattern, Joe Haden would have to turn around and try to keep up with him. Golden Tate would quickly gain seperation and begin to pull away if the ball was led properly. In the NFL, a tenth of a second is enough to gain an advantage, a quarter of a second is a lifetime.
So Joe Haden opened up a lot of questions. Here is what will be going through scouts and GM’s minds right now:
“Maybe the Florida front seven made him look good”. “Maybe Joe Haden wasn’t challenged by elite speed”. “Maybe we need to go back an look to through the tape again”.
I remember in the Sugar Bowl half way through the first quarter, Cincinnati tries a flea-flicker. Tony Pike pitches to Isaiah Pead who heads for the right side, then throws back to Pike. Tony Pike, with no pressure, throws deep to tight end Ben Guidugli. I thought the play was brilliant and the pass slightly, ever so slightly, under thrown. Joe Haden closed, leaped and knocked the ball away. 
He made a very good play. I don’t remember Joe Haden being challenged after that. I do remember how well Haden tracked the ball and timed his leap.
I guess I am simply having a problem believing Joe Haden will be a liability in the NFL. I am having trouble believing he has true 4.6 speed and nothing faster. If this is true and he is that slow, there is no way he can be a star in the NFL. Malcolm Jenkins ran a 4.53 40 at the combine and was still drafted as a corner back, but hasn’t produced as an elite corner for the Saints. In fact, he has been a bit of a disappointment. If 4.53 is bad speed, 4.60 is terrible.
I am still having trouble digesting this. I can’t believe Joe Haden is that slow. I can’t believe he was helped so much by the Florida defensive line that he lacks top NFL talent. This just doesn’t make sense to me.
Joe Haden is a smart football player and has the ability to get into position quickly. He plays fast. He reacts fast. On March 17th, he will have a chance to redeem himself when he runs for his pro day. If he puts up a 4.45 40 time, he will still leave questions, but less so. I can’t be sure, but this combine result might be a fluke, but it might be just the kind of fluke that falls in favor for the Jaguars. Joe Haden might have left just enough doubt to allow him to be an option for the Jaguars. I can’t believe Florida is a team the Jaguars don’t know very very well. Gene Smith knows if Joe Haden’s times are real of not. Just like in 2009 when somehow Eugene Monroe fell to Jacksonville, Joe Haden might be a gift in 2010. I hope so.
But then again, he might be the slowest corner back on the planet. I doubt it. Joe Haden will redeem himself and hopefully be a Jaguar.
If anyone reading this has any insight, please post a comment! Thanks!
- Terry O’Brien
FanSided
I don’t buy the 40-time thing. He is a shutdown corner who can read the offense everytime. Speedsters are for Al Davis. Players like Haden is for scouts who did there job; not just saw a guy at the combine.
Jason Smith was a combine star_ is he in the NFL?
We all know what happened with DHB…
I’ll be still very happy if Haden will be a Jaguars. I don’t care about his 40 time. Or if it just make the chance that he can be there when Gene will pick; then I’m really happy about that too…
it amazes me that people still want to draft gators after what we have seen from derrick harvey and reggie nelson…
gb – what? Seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Are you suggesting all NFL teams blackball the Gators because two guys are not all stars?
Joe Hayden makes up for his lack of speed with lightning fast reflexes and instant reaction. He gains those few precious fractions of a second back by how fast he adjusts to the ball, how quickly he makes those critical decisions, whether it’s to close on a receiver running a hitch or to wait for him to finish the fake and turn it upfield. Great instincts.
In other words, and I know Vic argued this in one of his “Ask Vic” columns, but I think the guy plays faster than his 40 time. Not to say that he plays at a 4.3 or even 4.4 time, but he makes up for his “lack of speed” by how good he is in other facets of his game. I don’t see 4.6 when I see him play. I think he looks just as fast as other corners in the NFL. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m on board with you Terry. I don’t think his 40 time from the combine was the total story. I see him shaving that time down a little. I just hope it doesn’t take him out of our reach if that is the case.
I’m surprised that no one has brought up one important point: what if he doesn’t slow down as much as others do in pads? We all know that playing speed is much slower than workout speed, but I’m sure some slow down more than others. It would be ideal to have a guy that runs fast, and is just as fast in pads, but that’s physically impossible (added weight, limited range of motion, etc.). He’s certainly fast enough to cover anyone on tape, so maybe putting on pads affect him less than others?
Here is the question: IF he really is that slow, would you still pick him? Being smart can help you minimize a speed problem…. but every NFL team will look to exploit lack of speed… and given all the rules these days, a CB could do nothing to stop it.
KeithG – No, if he doesn’t improve his speed, then Gene will pass on him.
I certainly hope do Terry. I would hate for us to draft a “shutdown corner” who was actually a “revolving door”, especially if he was an early pick.
Damn… “I certainly hope do” should actually read ” I certainly hope so”
I have to say, I dont know if its the clashing colours or the bad grammar, but this blog is hideous! I mean, I dont want to sound like a know-it-all or anything, but could you have possibly put a little bit more effort into this subject. Its really interesting, but you dont represent it well at all, man.