The Speed Lab Podcast

In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les and Cici dive deep into what it really takes to make an NFL 53-man roster — from the grind of training camp to the politics behind roster cuts. They discuss how performance, personality, and availability often outweigh raw talent, and share firsthand stories from elite athletes like T-Mac and others who’ve fought their way through the system.The conversation expands into profiling athletes, tendon efficiency, data tracking, and how different physical and mental traits shape player development from high school to the pros. Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here to schedule a quick call with our team.Episode Timestamps00:00 – 05:30 • Opening banter & introduction05:30 – 10:30 • The brutal reality of making a 53-man NFL roster10:30 – 15:30 • What rookies face between college and the draft15:30 – 20:30 • Balancing health, opportunity, and the grind20:30 – 25:00 • Inside T-Mac’s training structure and workload25:00 – 30:00 • Force profiling, tendon efficiency, and athletic resilience30:00 – 35:00 • Speed mechanics, reactive strength, and acceleration profiles35:00 – 40:00 • Eccentric strength, propulsion, and elite-receiver analysis40:00 – 45:00 • Collaboration between coaches, data, and athlete management45:00 – 50:00 • Leadership, confidence, and women in sports performance50:00 – 55:00 • GPS tech, game-speed tracking, and practice data55:00 – 01:00:00 • Coaching creativity from NFL pros to high school athletes01:00:00 – 01:04:30 • Work-life balance, family priorities, and future goals

In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les and Danny dive into the rising problem of youth sports injuries, the balance between health and performance, and why early specialization is hurting athletes more than helping them. They break down how the NFL Combine creates short-term athletes instead of long-term pros, the responsibility shared by coaches, parents, and agents, and why true longevity comes from smarter planning, recovery, and communication. Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here to schedule a quick call with our team.Timestamps 00:00 – 02:22 – Opening banter and setting the stage 02:22 – 06:12 – Rise in youth injuries since 2000; early specialization issues 06:12 – 10:10 – Balancing performance vs. health; smarter stress management 12:01 – 13:32 – S&C’s growth and risks of over-relying on data 15:31 – 17:18 – NFL Combine critique; Dr. Marcus Elliott insights 23:03 – 25:56 – Longevity and dynamic athlete profiles 35:37 – 41:27 – ACLs, UCLs, and stress fractures in youth sports 46:52 – 49:52 – Advice for parents: breaks, oversight, and avoiding early specialization 53:26 – 57:44 – NFL rookies’ transition struggles and workload spikes 60:15 – 63:16 – Coaching accountability and communication 67:02 – 70:42 – NFL as a starting point, not the end; athlete ownership 73:28 – 76:03 – Evolution of strength coaches and embracing variability 76:21 – End – “Strong enough is strong enough”; closing thoughts

In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les Spellman and Kyle Bolton dive into how athletes can unlock new levels of performance by rethinking training loads, recovery, and the role of velocity-based profiling. From balancing intent with execution to how coaches can make training data meaningful for both athletes and parents, this episode is packed with insights that bridge science, coaching, and real-world application.Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here to schedule a quick call with our team.Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro Setting the stage for today’s focus on athlete development and training insights. 02:15 – Training Loads & Velocity-Based Profiling Why profiling athletes by velocity matters and how it can impact speed and strength outcomes. 08:40 – Recovery & Adaptation Discussion on balancing intensity with proper recovery so athletes can actually progress instead of burn out. 15:05 – Communicating Data to Parents & Athletes Breaking down “coach speak” into simple, practical terms so parents and athletes buy in. 22:30 – Event & Camp Preparation How AI tools and structured planning can reduce guesswork for coaches organizing camps and clinics. 29:45 – Closing Thoughts Final takeaways on bridging the gap between science, coaching, and athlete results.

In this episode of The Speed Lab Podcast, Les and Danny dive deep into the lessons from the NFL Combine, athlete rehab, and the balance between art and science in coaching. They share behind-the-scenes insights on calf strain rehab, the role of connective tissue, the challenges of interdisciplinary work, and how to create individualized plans inside a team environment. Interested in learning more about the Universal Speed Rating? Click here to schedule a quick call with our team.Episode Timestamps 0:00 – 4:30 | Crash course beginnings, chaos, and lessons learned 4:30 – 11:00 | Solving problems in human performance & staying curious 15:30 – 17:15 | Quadrants as a blueprint for sprint mechanics 26:30 – 33:00 | Inside calf strain rehab: long-duration isometrics, recovery, and daily oversight 35:00 – 37:15 | Connective tissue vs. muscle dominance — why strains happen 41:00 – 43:30 | Why rest and separation of health/performance fails athletes 53:30 – 55:30 | The paradox of concentric vs. eccentric force 58:30 – 1:04:00 | Foot mechanics, posterior tibialis, and performance impact 1:10:30 – 1:13:30 | Leadership lessons: range of motion, reliability, and profiling 1:16:40 – 1:19:45 | Individualization within team programming 1:26:15 – 1:29:45 | NFL complexity and building continuity of care 1:33:00 – End | The future of performance, human connection, and relationships

Dive into the fascinating world of the stretch shortening cycle and the often-overlooked role of pre-tension in sprinting. Discover how faster sprinters generate higher braking forces and why eccentric strength is critical for elite performance. Explore case studies revealing breakthroughs in athlete training and development. Learn about innovative training methods that can enhance ground contact efficiency and tendon health. Uncover practical insights from force plate metrics that reveal the mechanics of speed.

In this discussion, Ken Clark, a kinesiology professor and sprint biomechanics expert, delves into the intricacies of speed development. He explores the mechanics behind acceleration and top speed, highlighting the vital roles of vertical and horizontal forces. Ken shares insights on how elite sprinters differ in their ground striking through his two-mass model theory. Topics like the surprising relationship between foot speed and ground speed and the importance of muscle-tendon interactions during braking provide listeners with valuable training takeaways for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Stuart McMillan, Co-founder and CEO of ALTIS, is a leading authority on speed and strength in sports. He delves into evolving coaching philosophies, emphasizing the importance of individual athlete variability and complex systems. Stuart discusses the significance of leadership and purposeful structures in team dynamics. He shares insights on reflexive eccentrics and their impact on performance, the value of learning from outlier athletes, and the integration of complexity science in training. Plus, he highlights the upcoming Grand Cayman Team Speed Event, promising rich discussions and practical insights.