I am going to assume much of you are also Vikings fans, if not just the casual one. Robert Smith was faster then Quadri Ismael! When people watched Robert Smith run, he looked slow and like he wasn't trying and didn't give any effort to his runs. People assume the same thing about Hicks. But when Smith ran down the sideline and people fell further and further behind him it was obvious. Both Smith and Hicks run/ran with a long stride which, unless they are running next to someone or being timed, doesn't seem very fast at all. I am not saying that he doesn't loaf it up (the play in New York where it sliced away from him) from time to time. But just consider that if he couldn't get to a normal ball, he probably was at full speed and wouldn't get there anyway.