My Bears vs Browns Offensive Notes

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Butkus that is a great example of simple vs complex reaction times in a football setting.  In a driver/vehicle setting here is another example that most folks can understand.  If a person is driving through a dark forest area and sees a warning sign (for example a deer crossing warning) and the driver becomes very aware of the potential deer jumping out of the darkness... that driver can mentally (in an instant really) bring to mind what he is going to do if a deer does jump out as a hazard.... if the deer jumps out his reaction time will be faster than a guy who is driving in the same conditions but who never saw the sign and totally and unexpectedly the exact same hazard occurs.  If the driver is traveling at say 70 mph, he will cover over 100 feet before his brain can process the danger and even begin to react to it.  But the driver who is aware of the problem - even if he does not reduce his speed - will be able to process and react to the hazard in WELL UNDER that 100 feet of travel. 

You are probably correct in that the D guy knows exactly what he is going to do on a play and the OL opposing him does not.  But, I would think that the OL guy can prepare for the upcoming D guy by watching film and mentally deciding how he will try and counter what the upcoming opposing D guy will probably be using against him - sharpening his quickness.  And I would think a skilled veteran with a few (or more) years of NFL experience could have a much sharper reaction time to what the D guy is going to try on him.  My only point here (and I'll let it go now) is that these young guys fresh out of college ball, - over time - can and should improve what we "see" as quickness/slowness. 

These guys are not fully transitioned on the OL for a couple seasons - at least a couple seasons.  I remember reading this past year, a comment by Aaron Rodgers, about he personally works hard EVERY year to improve an aspect of this QB game.  But sometimes us fans write a player off as a dud before his first rookie season is over with.  And we should not do that... not even a 2nd year guy or even more than that.  There is a learning curve where these guys learn over time, and their game can get better over time - even a veteran guy with a number of years experience can still improve his game if he is working on doing that.  Jason Kelce is 36 years old now... and that guy is still a stud.  That season the Bears called Jason Peters to help us at tackle (remember he was retired and out fishing) and that dude was pretty darned good for us that season.  Some of these guys can make up for aging (to some extent) with great technique that gives them "enough" quickness/speed to still compete (Peters is 41 years old and still playing).