olvo Brakes on a Lamborghini: Why You’re Still Seeing Eccentric Failures
Reading Time: 9 minutes
"It’s like putting Volvo brakes on a Lamborghini."
That analogy from host Manny during the Aaron Uzzell episode is more than just a funny visual—it’s the perfect metaphor for what’s happening across high-performance sport right now. This came up as Coach Uzzell mentioned working on eccentric and it’ importance.
Athletes are faster than ever. But faster isn’t always better—especially if they can't stop.
We’re seeing an increase in non-contact injuries: hamstring strains, ACL ruptures, hip flexor tweaks, deceleration-related groin pulls. Many of these come not from the sprint itself, but from the athlete's inability to control the stop, absorb load, and transition.
And that's where eccentric strength becomes non-negotiable.
What Is Eccentric Strength?
Eccentric strength is your body’s ability to absorb force—to decelerate a movement under load.
Think lowering into a squat
Landing from a jump
Cutting or changing direction
It’s the braking system of the body. And just like a car, if the engine gets faster but the brakes don’t keep up, you’re headed for disaster.
Why Athletes Are Failing Eccentrically
Aaron Uzzell sees this all the time. His athletes are running faster. Their top-end numbers are higher. But injuries creep in when they lack control over those forces.
Here’s why it’s happening:
Speed has outpaced structural strength
We’re seeing athletes reach 21–23 mph sprint speeds, but their hamstrings, glutes, and hip flexors can’t control the deceleration phase.Overemphasis on concentric and acceleration work
Everyone loves sled pushes, bounding, and sprint drills. But eccentric loading is often left out or underdeveloped.Deceleration isn’t taught as a skill
Landing, cutting, and stopping are often just seen as outcomes—not trainable components. That’s a mistake.High force, low tolerance
You’ve created a high-output machine without the hardware to manage it. That’s when ACLs tear and hamstrings pop.
Aaron Uzzell’s message is clear: it’s not enough to build fast athletes — you need to build athletes who can stop, absorb, and go again. The game doesn’t reward top speed if it ends in a blown hamstring or an ACL tear. The issue isn’t speed — it’s the lack of structure to support it. We chase acceleration and output, but too often neglect the skill of slowing down. Eccentric strength is that missing piece. It’s not flashy, but it’s fundamental.
How Uzzell Trains Eccentric Strength
Uzzell doesn’t wait until mid-season to build brakes. He trains deceleration and eccentric control from day one.
Here’s how:
1. Preseason Eccentric Blocks
Sports like soccer, volleyball, and basketball start each season with an eccentric-focused phase
Goal: build tolerance for joint loading in cuts, stops, and landings
2. Tempo-Based Strength Work
Controlled eccentrics (e.g. 4-second descents on squats or lunges)
Progressed with time under tension, not just load
Also helps reinforce motor control and positional awareness
3. Isometric Holds in End-Range Positions
Split squat isometric holds with 5–10 second pauses
Spanish squat variations to isolate and challenge knee and hip joint tolerance
4. Low-Load Plyometrics Focused on Landing
Depth drops with stick-and-hold landings
Multi-directional hops with deceleration emphasis
Lateral shuffle-sticks and short-bound reactivity drills
5. Real Game-Speed Stop/Start Drills
Full sprint decels with constraints (cones, band resistance)
Curved running with controlled exit angles
Mirror drills or reaction decels to simulate chaos
Uzzell doesn’t wait to build the brakes — he starts from day one. His athletes begin with eccentric prep blocks that teach them to absorb force before they ever express it. In the weight room, it’s slow eccentrics and deep isometric holds that build control where joints are most vulnerable. On the field, it’s landing drills, reactive plyos, and full-speed decels that turn chaos into skill. Because if your athlete can’t own the stop, they won’t survive the sprint — and if it only works at 80%, it won’t hold up on game day.
Data + Awareness: Monitoring for Red Flags
In his time with both high schools and at Texas Tech, Ozil has used:
Jump mat baseline testing for fatigue and force output
NordBoard assessments to gauge posterior chain imbalances
GPS + top speed overlays to compare output vs tolerance
Force plate asymmetry to track left/right control differences
His goal? Catch the braking breakdown before the injury happens.
For example:
A high top-speed athlete with low NordBoard scores may not be decelerating efficiently.
If asymmetries show up during fatigue testing, training loads get adjusted.
At both the high school level and at Texas Tech, Uzzell uses data not just to track performance, but to spot red flags before injuries happen. Jump mats reveal fatigue trends. NordBoards expose weak links in the posterior chain. GPS overlays compare speed outputs to actual tolerance. And force plate asymmetries help him catch imbalances early — especially under fatigue. It’s not about collecting numbers. It’s about knowing when a fast athlete can’t stop, and adjusting before the crash.
How You Can Start Training the Brakes
You don’t need a NordBoard or GPS to make an impact. Start here:
Eccentric Lifts:
3–5 second descents on squats, lunges, RDLs
Eccentric-only chin-ups
Trap bar deadlift eccentrics with a slow lower and explosive concentric
Deceleration Drills:
Sprint > stick-and-hold landings
Zig-zag shuffle stops
Lateral bound > decel catch
Landing Mechanics:
Teach athlete to land softly, absorb load, and reset quickly
Cue: “Land like a ninja” or “Absorb like a spring, not a hammer”
Isometric Holds:
Wall sits, split squat holds, iso lunge positions
Great for tendon health, motor control, and fatigue-resilient mechanics
You don’t need high-end tech to train the brakes. You need intention. Slow eccentrics on squats, lunges, and RDLs build strength where it matters. Stick-and-hold sprints and shuffle stops sharpen deceleration. Landings are coached like skills — soft, reactive, repeatable. And isometric holds in tough positions teach the joints how to endure. The goal? Control before chaos. Because resilience doesn’t come from the weight — it comes from how you teach the body to handle it.
The Bigger Message: Acceleration is Sexy. Deceleration is Necessary.
Eccentric failure doesn’t just show up as a bad landing. It starts in how we coach, how we program, and how we prioritize.
Want faster athletes that stay healthy? Train their brakes.
Because if your athlete hits 22 mph but can’t stop cleanly, they won’t be on the field for long.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear the full conversation with Coach Aaron Uzzell?
🎧 Listen now on:
Spotify - AARON UZZELL #98
Apple Podcasts - AARON UZZELL #98
YouTube - AARON UZZELL #98
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