or perhaps I should say 'quantify'. But it is "Real". At least it's something I 'firmly' believe is real.
I have often been fooled while watching HS and College players during games. I'll watch them and think, "This guy is lightening fast". Then later in the year I'll see them competing in Track & Field and discover that other athletes they ran away from in Football are actually faster in straight line, (or around a track), speed.
It's why I've never thought 40yd speed measurements are the final say. It's certainly valuable, and a good indicator, but playing in a game under duress is quite different than running unopposed in a straight line. - JamesJM
