LRZ

[Gumboot]

Special teams kick returner is his best bet

Agreed.

There was an ex AFL player who migrated over back in the 90s, not a star player but he had a massive boot. He made millions playing as the team's specialist punt kicker. Come out on field, boot the leather off the thing and leave the field of play while the musk oxen clashed heads over it.

I'm pretty sure a punter has to stay on the field until the play's complete. I've seen a few punters having to act as the last line of defence against kick returners who have just cut their team to shreds...with predictably dire results.

I don't think LRZ has a snowball's chance of making it in the NFL, regardless of which position he plays.

[laurent]

Special teams kick returner is his best bet

Agreed.

There was an ex AFL player who migrated over back in the 90s, not a star player but he had a massive boot. He made millions playing as the team's specialist punt kicker. Come out on field, boot the leather off the thing and leave the field of play while the musk oxen clashed heads over it.

Quite a lot of aussies in that position I think

[Biffer]

Agreed.

There was an ex AFL player who migrated over back in the 90s, not a star player but he had a massive boot. He made millions playing as the team's specialist punt kicker. Come out on field, boot the leather off the thing and leave the field of play while the musk oxen clashed heads over it.

Quite a lot of aussies in that position I think

Yeah, and they’re usually the better tacklers amongst punters as they’ve come out of Aussie rules. Also a Scottish punter, Jamie Gillan, with a rugby background as a kid who loves a tackle.

[Biffer]

The reality is any of the positions are going to be bloody hard. There are very few specialist kick returner who only returns kicks without having to pick up some snaps at a position on offence or defence. Even Jarryd Hayne played snaps as a RB.

It will be tough, nearly impossible even. But good for him to have a go.

Mialata went over at a similar age and was drafted in th 7th round with doubts over him. That contract alone was worth 2.5million over 4 years. He now plays one of the key positions on a team so it can be done.

Yeah, no one is on the squad just to return kickoffs or punts.

Cough Devin Hester Cough

Because heaven knows he always dropped the ball when it was thrown to him....

You kind of make my point there - he also played WR and other utility back stuff to use his speed. He didn’t just return kicks.

[Hal Jordan]

Yes, but he was a terrible wide receiver.

[I like neeps]

You get specialist returners absolutely. But I don't think even returning is that easy - usually they aren't actually the fastest guy. It's all about block recognition, lateral quickness, elusiveness. Actual straight line speed isn't that important for it.

[Biffer]

Yes, but he was a terrible wide receiver.

He was used as WR 3 or 4 at Chicago, about 200 receptions in five or six years. To me, he's the perfect example of having to do more than just return kicks. He didn't, so he was pushed to do more and in the end teams wouldn't commit to him for long as just returning wasn't enough.

[Slick]

I think I might have to get back into NFL, used to love it

[Margin__Walker]

Harry Mallinder tagging along to considerably less fanfare

[inactionman]

Harry Mallinder tagging along to considerably less fanfare

This gets even more bizarre.

Has he got a particularly big boot?

[Margin__Walker]

Yeah, I think he did, if not hugely refined.

He'll be up against GAA/AFL lads though. And ultimately kids who've been punting in pads and helmet since school.

[Oxbow]

Harry Mallinder is, sadly, made of biscuits. As long as he doesn't have to tackle anybody, or get tackled, or undertake any physical activity of any kind, he'll be fine.

[Margin__Walker]

Harry Mallinder is, sadly, made of biscuits. As long as he doesn't have to tackle anybody, or get tackled, or undertake any physical activity of any kind, he'll be fine.

He's probably got as much of a shot as LRZ of actually making a roster tbf

[Margin__Walker]

George Smith listed there plays lock for Coventry. Or did anyway.

[Big D]

Yes, but he was a terrible wide receiver.

He was used as WR 3 or 4 at Chicago, about 200 receptions in five or six years. To me, he's the perfect example of having to do more than just return kicks. He didn't, so he was pushed to do more and in the end teams wouldn't commit to him for long as just returning wasn't enough.

Yeah. Hester averaged 3 targets a game over his whole career. It was only later in his career his wasn't getting receptions but he was well established as one of the greatest returners.

These days any kick returner is having to take snaps at RB/WR or DB on rare occasions even if their primary function is ST and returning kicks.

[SaintK]

Harry Mallinder is, sadly, made of biscuits. As long as he doesn't have to tackle anybody, or get tackled, or undertake any physical activity of any kind, he'll be fine.

Quite

[Big D]

D Leader used to play for Connacht IIRC. So four ex (fot tike being) pro rugby players. I think we'll see more try.

[Gumboot]

I'm pretty sure a punter has to stay on the field until the play's complete. I've seen a few punters having to act as the last line of defence against kick returners who have just cut their team to shreds...with predictably dire results.

Just watched exactly that scenario in the Ravens - Texans divisional game. The Ravens' punter was the last defender as the Texans scored a punt return TD, and the poor fella got steamrolled.

[weegie01]

Has it been mentioned that Zammit's dad played NFL in the UK? He is a proper NFL fan who grew up steeped in it but played rugby, rather than a rugby player with an interest in NFL. I took his comments about NFL being his dream with a pinch of salt, but it appears to be actually true.

[Biffer]

Has it been mentioned that Zammit's dad played NFL in the UK? He is a proper NFL fan who grew up steeped in it but played rugby, rather than a rugby player with an interest in NFL. I took his comments about NFL being his dream with a pinch of salt, but it appears to be actually true.

I’ve played American football in the UK, The top high school teams would beat most uk teams.

[Gumboot]

Has it been mentioned that Zammit's dad played NFL in the UK? He is a proper NFL fan who grew up steeped in it but played rugby, rather than a rugby player with an interest in NFL. I took his comments about NFL being his dream with a pinch of salt, but it appears to be actually true.

I’ve played American football in the UK, The top high school teams would beat most uk teams.

I played a Sunday park game with a few pub workmates against the local Septic social team, who were mostly members of the Regents Park Marines iirc. I was the only player on our team who knew how to tackle, but none of us knew how to pass or catch properly so we got absolutely slaughtered.

Fun day, mind.

[dpedin]

Has it been mentioned that Zammit's dad played NFL in the UK? He is a proper NFL fan who grew up steeped in it but played rugby, rather than a rugby player with an interest in NFL. I took his comments about NFL being his dream with a pinch of salt, but it appears to be actually true.

I’ve played American football in the UK, The top high school teams would beat most uk teams.

I played a Sunday park game with a few pub workmates against the local Septic social team, who were mostly members of the Regents Park Marines iirc. I was the only player on our team who knew how to tackle, but none of us knew how to pass or catch properly so we got absolutely slaughtered.

Fun day, mind.

Played rugby but never American football.

Went to a NFL game in the states - San Diego Chargers v LA Rams I think - way back in 1980's. I was bored to tears for 3 hours, only highlights were the parking lot BBQ before the game and when the cheerleaders were dropped off the pick up truck right in front of us to do their thing. It was just a waste of time watching live.

Having said that, when golfing in Orlando a taxi driver asked what we had planned that night and when we said just a few beers he suggested the usual lap dancing bars etc. We said we weren't into that sort of thing so he suggested we went to watch the indoor American Football match. We weren't keen but he said it would be worth our while so we went, stocked up with biggest popcorn and beers we could find and watched. Turns out it was held on the usual 'girls night off' when all the lap dancers, hookers, etc came to the game. The guy working the tv camera would scan the crowd for nice looking girls who would stand up and take their tops off with the crowd cheering and whooping. The cameraman panned away at the last possible minute with much booing. All this was shown real time on the big screen 'jumbotron' much to the crowds delight. I remember nothing of the game, the teams nor the score! It was hilarious and the taxi driver came to pick us up and got a tip.

[Tichtheid]

I’ve played American football in the UK, The top high school teams would beat most uk teams.

I played a Sunday park game with a few pub workmates against the local Septic social team, who were mostly members of the Regents Park Marines iirc. I was the only player on our team who knew how to tackle, but none of us knew how to pass or catch properly so we got absolutely slaughtered.

Fun day, mind.

Played rugby but never American football.

Went to a NFL game in the states - San Diego Chargers v LA Rams I think - way back in 1980's. I was bored to tears for 3 hours, only highlights were the parking lot BBQ before the game and when the cheerleaders were dropped off the pick up truck right in front of us to do their thing. It was just a waste of time watching live.

Having said that, when golfing in Orlando a taxi driver asked what we had planned that night and when we said just a few beers he suggested the usual lap dancing bars etc. We said we weren't into that sort of thing so he suggested we went to watch the indoor American Football match. We weren't keen but he said it would be worth our while so we went, stocked up with biggest popcorn and beers we could find and watched. Turns out it was held on the usual 'girls night off' when all the lap dancers, hookers, etc came to the game. The guy working the tv camera would scan the crowd for nice looking girls who would stand up and take their tops off with the crowd cheering and whooping. The cameraman panned away at the last possible minute with much booing. All this was shown real time on the big screen 'jumbotron' much to the crowds delight. I remember nothing of the game, the teams nor the score! It was hilarious and the taxi driver came to pick us up and got a tip.

This is off-topic, but wtf.

That post reminded of the tv programme shown in France on Friday nights - they'd get a young woman who was just walking along the street and bring her in to the studio where she'd dance and lip-sync to some terrible song whilst taking all her clothes off, for which she'd win a fitted kitchen.

All a bit bizarre really.