Are former track athletes more prone to fumbles in NFL?

By Nick Zaccardi

September 13, 2013

A Wall Street Journal report posed an interesting theory about the New York Giants’ David Wilson‘s trouble holding onto the ball in the season opener Sunday.

Wilson, and some other running backs, may be more likely to fumble because they grew up running track.

Some of the backs the Wall Street Journal highlighted:

Wilson lost two fumbles in the Giants’ loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. He was sixth in the triple jump (16.20 meters) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2011 and could run the 100 meters in 11.01 seconds.

The Buffalo Bills’ C.J. Spiller fumbled on his second carry in a loss to the Patriots on Sunday. He was a track and field phenom in high school in Florida, wearing golden shoes in sweeping the 100 and 200 at the Class 2A state meet in 2006. He ran the 100 in 10.29 and the 200 in 20.96 at Clemson.

The Arizona Cardinals’ Alfonso Smith fumbled in a loss to the Rams on Sunday. Smith ran the 100 in 10.52 in high school, winning a Kentucky Class AAA state championship.

“If the individual comes from a track and field background, certainly it may have created a situation which needs to be addressed for football,” Peter Thompson, a longtime coach and former official for the IAAF, told the Wall Street Journal.

Thompson pointed out how running backs are taught to run tight, with the ball pressed against their bodies, while sprinters are taught to run loose. “Tightening up” is a term used in track and field to describe runners losing their form toward the end of races.

The report also looked at the obvious differences in the way running backs carry the ball and sprinters carry a baton in a relay. Also, the athletes’ eyes. In the NFL, it’s key to have as much of a vision across the field whereas in track one is focused on a single lane.

Let’s take a look at more NFL players with sprinting backgrounds, thanks to a list compiled by @tracksuperfan. Unfortunately, most of the NFL’s fastest men are or were wide receivers. Of the running backs, here’s what we’ve got thanks to pro-football-reference.com:

Curtis Dickey ran the 100 in 10.11. He fumbled 33 times over 1,075 touches in a seven-year NFL career in the 1980s. That’s an average of three fumbles per 100 touches, a little bit higher than the NFL average at that time (about 2.5).

Robert Smith ran the 400 in 45.73. He fumbled nine times over 1,609 touches in an eight-year NFL career in the 1990s. That’s an average of .6 of a fumble per 100 touches, way lower than the NFL average at that time (about 1.5).

In fact, Smith carried 232 times in the 1997 season and didn’t fumble once. The next highest back that season with zero fumbles had 136 carries.

James McAlister long jumped 8.24 meters. He fumbled 12 times over 251 touches in a three-year NFL career in the 1970s. That’s an average of almost five fumbles per 100 touches, way more than the NFL average at that time (about 2.6).

Spiller ran the 60 meters (indoor) in 6.58. He’s fumbled 11 times over 591 touches in an ongoing four-year NFL career. That’s an average of about 1.9 fumbles per 100 touches. Pro-football-reference’s blog item on fumble rates only goes through 2007, but at the time the NFL average was trending down toward one fumble per 100 touches. So, Spiller’s fumble rate is high.

There are several potential flaws in fumble stats, but among the small sample size of the most elite track athletes to play in NFL history, it appears there is a higher propensity to fumble. Except for Smith, who would be the most reliable case study since he had the most carries out of this group.

Thanks for a grand finale

It has been 15 amazing seasons in the WNBA and 17 overall as a professional basketball player, but the incredible journey began long before that for me as a youngster in Logan, Ohio. That love and passion for the game of basketball drove my competitive spirit and is the reason I worked so hard to excel at this game.

Basketball has taken me from the Bobcats, a fifth-grade all-boys team, to nations far and wide. I got to play for my home state at The Ohio State University, had the honor of representing my country in three Olympics, and won championships in the WNBA, but most important, I will always cherish the incredible people who have come into my life.

The past few days have been a whirlwind of emotions and memories. It all started with the WNBA Inspiring Women luncheon on Monday. It was a great gathering of powerful women who are working hard to make a difference in the world. Then there was the Nike reception later that night, which was a blessing. I have been a part of the Nike family ever since I graduated from OSU, and they have always been a big supporter of mine.

Finally, the New York Liberty put on an amazing ceremony before the final home game. I can't thank them enough for the love and support they showed me, especially [vice president of marketing] Kristin Bernert. The Liberty are a first-class organization, and they made my final year in the WNBA very special.

It made me so happy that people made the effort to come out and support me. My mom and dad made the trip from Ohio, there were a few friends from USA Basketball and Nike, and to have [WNBA commissioner] Laurel Richie there was great.

The presentation was incredible, and I really appreciated the love because they didn't have to do that. The old-school highlight footage was classic! I got a chance to not only see the evolution of my game from high school to now, but the '90s hair was too funny.

Everything that was done the past few days to recognize my career has reminded me of the special friendships I have made through basketball. I feel so blessed and appreciative that anyone would take the time out to do something for me. It's been a great ride!

Best,

Katie

Liberty's Katie Smith preparing for second career

Photo credit: AP | Liberty guard Katie Smith shoots during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Connecticut Sun. (June 14, 2013)

September 6, 2013

By MARCUS HENRY

Katie Smith always had a plan for her life after a stellar college basketball career at Ohio State.

Whether it was following through on her initial intention to become a dentist or her current aspiration to be a registered dietician, the 5-11 guard didn't want basketball to be the only option in life.

But her prowess on the basketball court prompted her to put off plans for dental school.

"Basketball just took off and kept going," said Smith, 39.

Smith has no regrets about her decision to stay with basketball and with good reason. She's garnered a lifetime's worth of individual and team honors.

A two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Smith is the all-time leading scorer in American women's professional basketball history, having scored 7,848 points in two years with the now-defunct ABL and 14-plus seasons in the WNBA.

The oldest player in the league, Smith is currently second on the WNBA's career scoring list with 6,415 points, trailing Seattle Storm forward Tina Thompson. As of Thompson's last game on Aug. 31, she has scored 7,433 points.

"It means I've been consistent for a long period of time and I've been able to do my part and compete at the highest level with anybody," Smith said. "That means a lot to me."

This will be the last run for Smith, who plans to retire at the end of the season. She'll miss playing but is ready for the second part of her life.

"I do want to coach, whether it's in the WNBA or college," Smith said. "I'm going to finish my graduate degree and become a registered dietician."

Earning that Master's degree is important to Smith, who wanted to have options when she retired.

"Over the last few years I was wondering what I wanted to do," she said. "I think I realized I wanted to coach, but I didn't want that to be the only thing that I knew."

But until the final whistle of her playing career, the only thing on Smith's mind is helping the Liberty make the playoffs.

The Liberty (11-19) enter Friday's game against the Atlanta Dream 2 1/2 games behind the Indiana Fever (13-16) for the last Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Liberty has four games left, the Fever five.

"This is our season," Smith said. "And it's going to be a dog fight between Indiana and ourselves in the East."

Smith never thought she'd be starting for a team this year. Having a key role coming off the bench was the plan for her until a season-ending injury to veteran guard Essence Carson four games in thrust her into a starting role.

Smith's influence on her Liberty teammates has been positive, especially the rookies. She's often seen speaking with them after games.

"She forces us to pay attention to the details, the little things," rookie forward Kelsey Bone said. "Coming into the league she's helping us understand the small things and how the game works."

Said Smith: "Some days it's good starting and some days it's not. You wish Essence was out there, getting up and down the court, so you can come in and give her a break. But this is where we're at now and I'm going to give it my all."