USARugger
John Thornett (49)
That is, as displaying genetic mutations that allow them to do things physically and aerobically that the general public cannot due to the slightly irregular bio-mechanical setups
Yup, you can see it in the phenotype for some of these guys as well when it comes to certain attributes.
I'd actually forgotten that arm length was an attractive attribute for linemen as well (same with wide receiver and safety/corner, pretty much a sought after attribute at every position but RB), when you're strong enough to gain leverage with arms that length..
That's a 6'7" man with arms that go nearly to his knees..36 5/8" per arm to be exact (93cm).
Skelton's arms rest around mid-thigh, for comparison:
Even the more physically gifted 5'10" cornerbacks will have 30-31 inch arms. Just Gilbert just entered the NFL this year, 4.37 40yard dash, 6'0" with 33.125" arms. If you were to incorporate his chest measurement you have a man that's literally wider than he is tall.
I mean, how do you get separation from a guy that has the ability to occupy several feet of space on either side of his body without even moving?
CFS and Izzy are both good examples of this too. Even with modern training and medicine you don't get legs like CFS at that age without some special genetics. Izzy is the same size as some back rowers but is infinitely more nimble than any of them.
You can even make the argument that there's a genetic influence in players like Beale and Cooper who (beyond being remarkable athletes from a physical perspective) literally seem to process visual information on the field faster than even their other professional counterparts.
Sorry for the off-topic post, guys.