Athletic Freak Frank Clark is Quickly Becoming The Seahawks Latest Defensive Beast
You’ve seen the box scores. Now, it’s time to go deeper. With NFL.com’s Next Gen stats, fans can see the game in a whole new way. Zebra Technologies has outfitted every NFL player with a tracker that collects data like velocity, distance traveled and proximity to opposing players. Every week throughout the 2016 season, STACK provides extra insights into the NFL’s most amazing Next Gen stats.
1. Frank Clark Is Becoming a Force for the Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks offense has gotten off to a painfully slow start, but their defense has been as dominant as ever. They’re currently allowing a measly 9.5 points per game, the lowest total in the NFL. Frank Clark has been an integral part of the team’s pass rush, having compiled three sacks over the first two games. His recent sack of Rams quarterback Case Keenum is one of the more impressive plays you’ll ever see:
Clark fires off the line of scrimmage, plows his way through a double team and sacks Keenum a mere 2.2 seconds after the ball was snapped. It’s an incredible display of explosiveness and athleticism by the Seahawks second-year defensive lineman. Plays like this are exactly what many envisioned after Clark dominated the 2015 NFL Combine. At 6-foot-3, 271 pounds, he hit a 38.5-inch Vertical Jump and recorded a 4.05 20-Yard Shuttle. Those are bonafide freak numbers, and Clark’s raw athleticism is starting to show up in his play.
RELATED: Max Out Your Strength and Speed With This NFL Combine Training Plan
2. OBJ Took What The Saints Gave Him
Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL. Coming into their Sunday match-up with the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints game plan seemed simple—don’t let OBJ beat us deep. Thus, they frequently gave him a massive cushion.
You can see Saints are deathly afraid of letting Odell Beckham Jr. beating them deep.
Sterling Moore is giving him 5, 6 yards of cushion.— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 18, 2016
Though the Saints successfully kept OBJ from having any plays of 20+ yards, he still put together a solid game by simply taking what the defense gave him. Just look at his route chart:
OBJ’s excellent route-running, acceleration and agility skills allowed him to frequently tack on additional chunks of yardage after short catches. He finished the game with eight receptions for 86 yards, and the G-men came away with a W.
To develop his elite change-of-direction, acceleration and hand-eye coordination, OBJ performs a variety of tennis ball drills with his trainer Jamal Liggin. Get a closer look at one such drill in the video player above.
RELATED: Odell Beckham’s Trainer Explains the Crazy Drill Blowing Up Instagram
3. Marquise Goodwin’s Superhero-Like Speed is Finally Showing Up
Marquise Goodwin might be the fastest man in all of football. The Buffalo Bills receiver flashed his lethal speed when he torched Darrelle Revis for this 84-yard touchdown:
[youtube video=”8EqEUD3jJLE” /]Revis had no chance against the ex-Texas Longhorns track star and Olympian. Goodwin placed 10th in the Long Jump final during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He’s also a two-time NCAA long jump champion and four-time NCAA All-American.
At the 2013 NFL Combine, Goodwin ran a 4.27-second 40-Yard Dash, only .03 seconds slower than Chris Johnson’s 2010 record. To help him sharpen his acceleration mechanics and record such a stellar time, Goodwin turned to Michael Johnson Performance, where he worked on making his drive phase more efficient so he could get to his top speed quicker—a skill he still displays on the football field. Goodwin has already eclipsed his combined receiving yardage totals from 2014 and 2015 through just two games. If he can continue to find ways to use his lethal speed to make plays, he could be a big boost to the Bills’ offense.
RELATED: The Secrets Behind Marquise Goodwin’s Ridiculous 40-Yard Dash
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Athletic Freak Frank Clark is Quickly Becoming The Seahawks Latest Defensive Beast
You’ve seen the box scores. Now, it’s time to go deeper. With NFL.com’s Next Gen stats, fans can see the game in a whole new way. Zebra Technologies has outfitted every NFL player with a tracker that collects data like velocity, distance traveled and proximity to opposing players. Every week throughout the 2016 season, STACK provides extra insights into the NFL’s most amazing Next Gen stats.
1. Frank Clark Is Becoming a Force for the Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks offense has gotten off to a painfully slow start, but their defense has been as dominant as ever. They’re currently allowing a measly 9.5 points per game, the lowest total in the NFL. Frank Clark has been an integral part of the team’s pass rush, having compiled three sacks over the first two games. His recent sack of Rams quarterback Case Keenum is one of the more impressive plays you’ll ever see:
Clark fires off the line of scrimmage, plows his way through a double team and sacks Keenum a mere 2.2 seconds after the ball was snapped. It’s an incredible display of explosiveness and athleticism by the Seahawks second-year defensive lineman. Plays like this are exactly what many envisioned after Clark dominated the 2015 NFL Combine. At 6-foot-3, 271 pounds, he hit a 38.5-inch Vertical Jump and recorded a 4.05 20-Yard Shuttle. Those are bonafide freak numbers, and Clark’s raw athleticism is starting to show up in his play.
RELATED: Max Out Your Strength and Speed With This NFL Combine Training Plan
2. OBJ Took What The Saints Gave Him
Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL. Coming into their Sunday match-up with the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints game plan seemed simple—don’t let OBJ beat us deep. Thus, they frequently gave him a massive cushion.
You can see Saints are deathly afraid of letting Odell Beckham Jr. beating them deep.
Sterling Moore is giving him 5, 6 yards of cushion.— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 18, 2016
Though the Saints successfully kept OBJ from having any plays of 20+ yards, he still put together a solid game by simply taking what the defense gave him. Just look at his route chart:
OBJ’s excellent route-running, acceleration and agility skills allowed him to frequently tack on additional chunks of yardage after short catches. He finished the game with eight receptions for 86 yards, and the G-men came away with a W.
To develop his elite change-of-direction, acceleration and hand-eye coordination, OBJ performs a variety of tennis ball drills with his trainer Jamal Liggin. Get a closer look at one such drill in the video player above.
RELATED: Odell Beckham’s Trainer Explains the Crazy Drill Blowing Up Instagram
3. Marquise Goodwin’s Superhero-Like Speed is Finally Showing Up
Marquise Goodwin might be the fastest man in all of football. The Buffalo Bills receiver flashed his lethal speed when he torched Darrelle Revis for this 84-yard touchdown:
[youtube video=”8EqEUD3jJLE” /]Revis had no chance against the ex-Texas Longhorns track star and Olympian. Goodwin placed 10th in the Long Jump final during the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He’s also a two-time NCAA long jump champion and four-time NCAA All-American.
At the 2013 NFL Combine, Goodwin ran a 4.27-second 40-Yard Dash, only .03 seconds slower than Chris Johnson’s 2010 record. To help him sharpen his acceleration mechanics and record such a stellar time, Goodwin turned to Michael Johnson Performance, where he worked on making his drive phase more efficient so he could get to his top speed quicker—a skill he still displays on the football field. Goodwin has already eclipsed his combined receiving yardage totals from 2014 and 2015 through just two games. If he can continue to find ways to use his lethal speed to make plays, he could be a big boost to the Bills’ offense.
RELATED: The Secrets Behind Marquise Goodwin’s Ridiculous 40-Yard Dash