Probably unsurprisingly for someone more into football and rugby than American football, I have to say the most impressive bits were a few of the runs while avoiding tackles. Smashing guys into the ground, eh, who cares. That thing with McAffrey they kept repeating in the first video... what on earth is so impressive about that? So he took out a guy that would've tackled his teammate... and? I should imagine that happens all the time in the game.
It does, but it's usually not a receiver laying the hit. The classic wide receiver is tall, skinny and fast; Ed McCaffrey was right at 100 kilos, which if anything is heavy for a receiver. The emphasis is "speedy" but often translates into "fragile. " Linebackers are, well, rugby players; the guy he hit is listed at 110 kilos, and might've played heavier, making a career out of crushing hits in the open field. Generally about the most blocking you can expect from a wide receiver is maybe some hand fighting with a defensive back covering him, and about the same size. They don't flatten linebackers very often.
Catching a ball when you're all open isn't exactly that impressive either, and same with running when there are no defenders anywhere near. So yeah, the Davis guy was the only one that left much of an impression.
Well, but the classic question asked on catches like that is "man, how did he get THAT open?!!!" Unless the answer is "the defender fell down" it's " 'cos he got beat--BADLY!" That's one of many things I loved about Rod Smith; he wasn't a speedster, but SOMEHOW he always found a way to get open. All the QB had to do was get the ball there, because he'd GET open, and he'd catch it. Every time. Kind of like when he takes the ball away from the Pittsburgh defender at 2:00 and makes the one handed catch in the end zone. Which is another thing you can seen in the vids: Nose for the end zone; MANY times you see them fight and tussle with defenders, then finally go down--AFTER they get the ball over the line. Rod passing to Elway was a nice touch, too (um, ya'll know it's s'posed to be the other way 'round, right...? )
The thing to get when you see TD running alone in the open field: It usually started because someone made a block like the one McCaffrey did. A whole lot of someones; remember, there are eleven guys out there well paid to make sure that doesn't happen, and every day in practice their coaches are shouting "SWARM TO THE BALL!!!" To me, that's the biggest difference between gridiron and rugby, bigger than forward passes, gear or even the line of scrimmage. Usually a runner still has to make at least one nice move at some point or he's tackled, if only because a free safety is playing back with one job all game: Keep him out of the end zone. TD could make a move and "move the pile, " keep his legs churning with four guys on him so 3rd down and Goal to go at the 3 yard line turned into a touchdown instead of a kick through the uprights when they came up short. A lot of guys can do one or the other, but few can do both, let alone catch or block for the pass like TD. For example, Barry Sanders, whose truly beautiful running you may have seen in my other thread, was an AWFUL power runner. Of course, before he has to worry about breaking four tackles, someone has to be able to touch him....
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Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
Last First in wotmania Chat
Slightly better than chocolate.
Love still can't be coerced.
Please Don't Eat the Newbies!
LoL. Be well, RAFOlk.
The '97-'98 Broncos Still Blow My Mind. (THIS ONE'S FOR FLOFFE!11! )
30/09/2009 08:41:01 PM
- 837 Views
Impressive post
30/09/2009 09:17:23 PM
- 421 Views
Just watch the videos; they largely speak for themselves.
30/09/2009 09:32:25 PM
- 516 Views
that hit on okoye was always listed as the turning point in his career
30/09/2009 10:32:35 PM
- 387 Views
Sorry, still chinese to me.
01/10/2009 11:30:42 AM
- 403 Views
They Stink! *NM*
30/09/2009 10:16:24 PM
- 181 Views
You're thinking of the '97 Packers...
30/09/2009 10:17:41 PM
- 405 Views
broncos are better than packers? who is the trophy named after again? *NM*
30/09/2009 10:27:15 PM
- 202 Views
Don't remind me of that travesty.
30/09/2009 10:51:37 PM
- 403 Views
I've always thought if it wasn't for that crushing loss to Jacksonville in 96....
01/10/2009 02:35:00 AM
- 361 Views
I tend to agree, though some say that just prevented a threepeat (Note:No one in Green Bay does. )
01/10/2009 06:41:12 AM
- 559 Views
The '85 Bears would beat them by two touchdowns. *NM*
01/10/2009 03:26:12 AM
- 323 Views
Reckon we'll never know, but I frankly doubt it.
01/10/2009 06:11:27 AM
- 485 Views
Defensive pressure trumps absolutely everything else in football. '85 Bears were the kings.
01/10/2009 09:37:37 PM
- 380 Views
I disagree with that statement as well as many of your others.
02/10/2009 12:43:33 AM
- 492 Views
Have a look at the teams to win the SB since '80 and then we'll talk.
02/10/2009 02:54:48 AM
- 392 Views
I referenced teams that have won since the '80s, as well as one from before then.
02/10/2009 03:53:47 AM
- 560 Views
You sound more and more ridiculous with each new post.
03/10/2009 03:48:09 AM
- 400 Views
Too bad they cheated to win.....yeah, heart.....
01/10/2009 04:07:02 AM
- 403 Views
Al Davis lecturing people on playing by the rules?!!!
01/10/2009 05:42:27 AM
- 387 Views
Nice try, but facts are facts and the NFL agreed with Davis.....
01/10/2009 03:55:20 PM
- 425 Views
Failure to report some payments isn't a huge deal nor deliberate circumvention.
01/10/2009 04:31:01 PM
- 578 Views
Okay, I just watched all of those videos...
02/10/2009 01:00:20 PM
- 512 Views
Re: Okay, I just watched all of those videos...
04/10/2009 05:52:37 PM
- 508 Views