Demaryius Thomas Weighted Sled Drives

Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas performs Weighted Sled Drives to improve his sprinting speed and power.

NFL wideout Demaryius Thomas uses Sled Drives to develop strength and power in his legs, which translates into faster sprinting. The drill involves him sprinting with a weight sled behind him, which forces his muscles to contract more explosively. Once the weight is removed, Demaryius performs unloaded sprints at a faster speed because his muscles are still firing as if they are overloaded.
Demaryius makes sure that he is using proper sprinting and start mechanics during this exercise. He makes sure to fire out low and maintains a 45-degree forward lean as he rapidly pumps his arms and legs. He performs 4x40 yards followed by 2-3 unloaded starts.
This drill has helped Demaryius develop into one of the fastest and most powerful receivers in the NFL. He demonstrated this with his record-breaking 80-yard touchdown catch during the 2011 NFL Playoffs. See how he pulled this off in the ninth episode of our Behind the Highlights video series.
Also, learn how to perform Demaryius' other key speed exercise by watching his Single-Leg Squat to Knee Drive exercise video.