stride length

You have it right, SPEED CONSISTS OF STRIDE LENGTH AND STRIDE FREQUENCY. If an "elite" runner only takes an 8 inch stride past his center of mass, think about how many MORE strides he has to accomplish to cover the same distance as a competitor who takes a longer stride. Speed is a subject that is capable of being discussed from now until the cows come home. Track speed and Football speed are like talking oranges and apples, imo. You take an athlete who runs on a track that is special surfaced for positive traction and he runs a legit 4.5. You put that same athlete in football equipment (an additional 12-15 lbs to be carried) and put him on a football field that is grass. Now, see what he runs. As a football coach, and not a track coach, I'm only interested in his speed on the field. Squats to build the glutes and anything that will increase stride length and stride frequency is what I want my guys doing. All the rest becomes superflous. Just one mans opinion.

Coach Easton