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Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye
You can't teach instincts or vision, which are part of the skills "package". I think the poll question should have been more specific and said "natural" speed or skills.
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"Instincts" is simply a deeper, quicker understanding of the game that allows a player to "see" what will happen before it does. It makes it seem like their reactions are quicker. Obviously Spielman comes to mind in football, and I think of Larry Bird in basketball. Players talk all the time about the game "slowing down" for them once they've gotten alot of game experience. I think some guys definitely are on a different level in their ability to "read" what's happening on the field, just as some are obvioulsy on another level in regards to speed.
The guy with higher skill level does not need as much speed due to his quicker reaction time, see Larry Bird. And the guy with more speed can make up for a lower skill level with physicality - see Chris Gamble.
There are plenty of guys like Spielman and Bird and Magic Johnson whose skill level is so far off the charts that they are still best even without being the best athlete out there.
I just think it's easier to Darrell Green into Lester Hayes than it is to turn Fred Puguc into Katzenmoyer. (OK - that wasn't fair!)
It's when the guy has BOTH - like Michael Jordan or AJ Hawk - that they are that truly special once in a generation player.