Slide 4 of 16

Since Physics is a quantitative sport, let us first develop some units and measures.

A coach measures the quickness of a football player is by the time in the 40 yard dash. 4.4 seconds is a good time. The player does not go at full speed even after forty yards. Since the only players that have a chance to build up speed before a tackle are the cornerbacks or safeties, they are most often involved in the destructive tackles.

The lineman do not get to run so far. Indeed, they usually cannot run over 40 yards at a sprint. They make up for this by being large. Momentum = mv is the important quantity in blocking and tackling. Safeties use a large v and linemen use a large m.

Tommy Lott was a hard-hitting safety for the San Francisco 49ers.

For the sake of argument, I think that in his prime Dick Butkus was a fiercer hitter and competitor.