Team speed is important, both on offense and defense. But today's game is about matchups. Speed comes into play when an offense can create separation and utilize that speed in the open field. That very item is why the deep threat always draws the safety out of the box or over to that side of the field. It is also why "move TE" has become such a big deal exploiting LB's and DB's on seam routes. So, when the offense gets fast, the defense needs somewhat similar speed and positioning to compensate for that vulnerability.
Then what happens is defenses get like the Falcons, all speed and quickness, able to blanket receivers and fly to running backs. The counterpoint , well actually counterpunch, to that is the Harbaugh power game, hitting quick DL with power OL firing out and wearing them down. Using an extra G as a fullback or T as an extra tight end. Then putting those road grader blockers in the holes and beating on those lighter speed guys all game. Then in the 4th quarter, you get a defense that is exhausted, physically beaten, and scared to tackle. That's when guys like Ajayi, Marshawn Lynch, and other power backs start grinding clock on the lead, or unstoppably march down the field for the go ahead score. The inevitability of it.
Those speed defenses wear down much faster. We see it in the Dolphins too. There's a reason Cam Wake is more effective when rested ... because he is an undersized speed rush DE. The more he has to wrestle with 330 pound OT's and get chips from RB's and TE's, the less effective he becomes. So speed defenses depend on possession offenses to limit their snaps.
Speed is present in just about every NFL offense, the question is how many speed guys do you have? What we're doing now is betting that we can put more speed guys out there than the defense has speed DB's to cover them, then identify the mismatches, and exploit them. It's the "Smurfs" concept, lots of undersized guys with speed and quickness ... eventually one of those guys gets open, and the QB throws to them. With Grant, Stills, and the two new WR's, we'll have speed. And Parker runs a 4.45 too, don't forget. Drake is very fast and can go out into the pattern. If our OL can hold up and give Tannehill time and Tannehill shows the accuracy and production he showed in 2016 after we learned the offense, then this 2018 offense looks to score a lot more points.
We've finally addressed the OL. Fingers crossed.
