Matt Parrino on Christian Wade: not on the 53 next year

[NoHuddleKelly12]

43 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

Babies can't even defend themselves...that's deplorable.

 

...old ladies are asking for it, though.  Don't be writing your darn checks for a $5.53 purchase!

 

 

 

 

It is imperative that I be HUDS' 3,000th up-vote.  When he gets to 2,999, please BACK OFF!

...

 

...

 

...

 

...

 

...

 

...I can wait. 

It's unfortunate you got stuck behind this lady at the checkout lane...but mad props for a life well lived! 

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

15 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Rugby is not like football. And it's 10000 times more complicated than see hole hit hole

 

The run blocking schemes are complex and backs spend 10-15 years perfecting how to read a hole correctly and even when he makes the league many struggle with seeing the proper hole

 

Then you have pass protection and learning a whole playbook which is like a foreign language

 

I think he has an uphill battle

 

I dunno about seeing the hole being a limit.  I think to succeed in rugby, he had to have great field vision.  I think that's the sort of thing where his rugby background should help.

 

But I don't think one can overstate the difference in learning the playbook or it being like a foreign language. 

 

In fact, it will be like 2 or 3 foreign languages.  I'm self-taught in football, and you are one of the guys I reach out to from time to time saying "WTH is he talking about here?"

 

Football has at least 2 languages, the formal language of the playbook and then the informal slang (often several slang terms for the same thing) players or players and coaches use among themselves.  We hear it a little bit when players are describing a play or when guys who break-down all-22 like Cover1's Erik Turner are talking.  They all use slang, sometimes 2-3 different slang terms, to describe the same play.   Even pretty common and widespread ones: "Cover 0, Blitz 0" may have to be explained, "all same thing!"

 

For an example I can find quickly Josh is talking in "The Wakeup Call Part II" with Kirk Cousins about a busted play with the running back that resulted in an INT (3:20 in): "We had recently gone over whether we're seeing green grass and going, or whether we're going to sit down in zone".   Kirk understands him immediately: "So he felt man and you felt it might be zone?" and starts giving Josh advice about how to do extra practice with the running back to prevent miscues like that.  Someone who didn't grow up playing football is like "OK, I understand what is man coverage....I understand zone...what is this "green grass and going" or "sit down" mean in this context?  They aren't telling me to actually SIT DOWN I know!"

 

The use of parallel languages, the formal language of the playbook and the informal slang describing defensive play and corresponding offensive play options, makes learning American football a pretty steep hill to climb.  I hope the Bills gave Wade a "colorful guide and interpreter" or two, but even so...it's very difficult because people who've grown up playing football (or even watching football) don't even know what they know, that newbies don't know!

[TigerJ]

I think he loses his special PS exemption going forward.  He does not have enough of a history to suggest the Bills have any serious plans to keep him on the roster in 2020.   I do think he's likely to be on the training camp roster.  If he lights it up in preseason, who knows what the Bills might do?

[Troll Toll]

I think the Bills kept him on the PS this year with the plan to bump him up to the 53 in 2020. I’d go as far to say that I think we would have beat Houston if Wade was out there in place of Gore.

[Lurker]

3 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Lurker, just a note that it's not necessarily true that the contract went away when he was cut, nor that he makes the "fixed weekly rate that practice squad guys get".

 

The weekly rate that practice squad guys get is a *minimum*, and what a particular practice squad guy is paid can be negotiated between him and the team with no upper limit.

 

The two-year contract he signed became null and void when the Bills terminated it (cut him).  He signed a new contract when he went on the PS (there was a picrure of his parents coming over from England for that).   

 

With a few exceptions, the highest paid practice squad players league-wide make in the range of $20,000 per week, so $320,000 to $400,000 per season.   It's doubtful that Wade is in that group--so a much lower salary than he was making playing rugby...

 

 

This link says he's making the $8,000 minimum:

 

https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/27950435/why-rugby-stars-valentine-holmes-christian-wade-took-pay-cut-play-nfl

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Lurker

[ROCBillsBeliever]

6 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

Maybe because its fun to root for the underdog, it is akin to rooting for the Buffalo Bills, perennial themselves.... 

 

Go Bills!!!

 

@Don Otreply You're forgetting who you're talking to, here... Scott Law HATES fun! 

[GunnerBill]

55 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

The two-year contract he signed became null and void when the Bills terminated it (cut him).  He signed a new contract when he went on the PS (there was a picrure of his parents coming over from England for that).   

 

With a few exceptions, the highest paid practice squad players league-wide make in the range of $20,000 per week, so $320,000 to $400,000 per season.   It's doubtful that Wade is in that group--so a much lower salary than he was making playing rugby...

 

 

This link says he's making the $8,000 minimum:

 

https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/27950435/why-rugby-stars-valentine-holmes-christian-wade-took-pay-cut-play-nfl

 

 

 

 

$8,000 a week is more than he was making playing rugby. That would be circa £300,000 a year and that is probably about double what he was making in rugby. 

 

As I said earlier in the thread the Rugby Premiership salary cap is £7m a year and they have squads of about 40. It just is not that well paid of a sport in comparison to football or soccer. My mate who played sevens with Wade retired last year age 29 and has opened a coffee shop. 

[Lurker]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

$8,000 a week is more than he was making playing rugby. That would be circa £300,000 a year and that is probably about double what he was making in rugby. 

 

£150,000 = $195,000 USD

 

Isn't that greater than $8,000 x 17 = $136,000?

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Lurker

[Richard Noggin]

20 hours ago, whorlnut said:

Typical half-with response 

I like irony.

[GunnerBill]

14 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

£150,000 = $195,000 USD

 

Isn't that greater than $8,000 x 17 = $136,000?

 

 

Ah but it isn't that is it? It is $136,000 plus what he was paid through OTAs, camp etc. 

[Nihilarian]

3 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I dunno about seeing the hole being a limit.  I think to succeed in rugby, he had to have great field vision.  I think that's the sort of thing where his rugby background should help.

 

But I don't think one can overstate the difference in learning the playbook or it being like a foreign language. 

 

In fact, it will be like 2 or 3 foreign languages.  I'm self-taught in football, and you are one of the guys I reach out to from time to time saying "WTH is he talking about here?"

 

Football has at least 2 languages, the formal language of the playbook and then the informal slang (often several slang terms for the same thing) players or players and coaches use among themselves.  We hear it a little bit when players are describing a play or when guys who break-down all-22 like Cover1's Erik Turner are talking.  They all use slang, sometimes 2-3 different slang terms, to describe the same play.   Even pretty common and widespread ones: "Cover 0, Blitz 0" may have to be explained, "all same thing!"

 

For an example I can find quickly Josh is talking in "The Wakeup Call Part II" with Kirk Cousins about a busted play with the running back that resulted in an INT (3:20 in): "We had recently gone over whether we're seeing green grass and going, or whether we're going to sit down in zone".   Kirk understands him immediately: "So he felt man and you felt it might be zone?" and starts giving Josh advice about how to do extra practice with the running back to prevent miscues like that.  Someone who didn't grow up playing football is like "OK, I understand what is man coverage....I understand zone...what is this "green grass and going" or "sit down" mean in this context?  They aren't telling me to actually SIT DOWN I know!"

 

The use of parallel languages, the formal language of the playbook and the informal slang describing defensive play and corresponding offensive play options, makes learning American football a pretty steep hill to climb.  I hope the Bills gave Wade a "colorful guide and interpreter" or two, but even so...it's very difficult because people who've grown up playing football (or even watching football) don't even know what they know, that newbies don't know!

The best conviction is completion...

 

we got a gimmie go...

 

Thanks for posting that link as I've never seen that before. Loved it! 

 

Learning as an NFL QB is like taking a drink from a fire hose.

Edited February 5, 2020 by Nihilarian

[Lurker]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Ah but it isn't that is it? It is $136,000 plus what he was paid through OTAs, camp etc. 

 

Huh?   Players don't get big checks through OTA's and training camp.   The get paid by weekly game checks throughout the season, unless their contract sets some other schedule (but even that is usually paid as a bonus, not salary).    He might have made $10,000-$12,000 in preseason and maybe another couple thousand at OTAs (which are voluntary and unpaid, but do have a living arrangement stipend).   Not a big deal.

 

Per the CBA:    First-year Player Per Diem: A first-year player will receive “per diem” payments, commencing with the first day of Preseason Training Camp and ending one week prior to the Club’s first regular season game, at the following weekly rates for the respective League Years: $850 (2011–12 League Years), $925 (2013–14 League Years), $1,000 (2015–16 League Years), $1,075 (2017–18 League Years), $1,150 (2019–20 League Years). 

 

As an unknown walk on, it's very doubtful that Wade had anything more than a boiler plate contract as far as any other bonus payments...

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Lurker

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Lurker said:

 

Huh?   Players don't get big checks through OTA's and training camp.   The get paid by weekly game checks throughout the season, unless their contract sets some other schedule (but even that is usually paid as a bonus, not salary).    He might have made $10,000-$12,000 in preseason and maybe another couple thousand at OTAs.   Not a big deal.

 

Per the CBA:    First-year Player Per Diem: A first-year player will receive “per diem” payments, commencing with the first day of Preseason Training Camp and ending one week prior to the Club’s first regular season game, at the following weekly rates for the respective League Years: $850 (2011–12 League Years), $925 (2013–14 League Years), $1,000 (2015–16 League Years), $1,075 (2017–18 League Years), $1,150 (2019–20 League Years). 

 

As an unknown walk on, it's very doubtful that Wade had anything more than a boiler plate contract as far as any other bonus payments...

 

Okay fair enough I didn't know that was how it worked. Even so the difference for Wade isn't that great. If we take my rough estimate of £150,000 a year at Wasps he isn't far off that in terms of a year in the NFL and the potential upside if he makes it is much larger. 

 

He left money on the table at Wasps to pursue the NFL. But he isn't massively worse off if at all. It looks like the numbers are reasonably similar. 

[Lurker]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

Okay fair enough I didn't know that was how it worked. Even so the difference for Wade isn't that great. If we take my rough estimate of £150,000 a year at Wasps he isn't far off that in terms of a year in the NFL and the potential upside if he makes it is much larger. 

 

He left money on the table at Wasps to pursue the NFL. But he isn't massively worse off if at all. It looks like the numbers are reasonably similar. 

 

OK.   He's probably down $50,000 to $75,000 in salary vs. what he made playing rugby.     Maybe more, since we don't know exactly what he was making back home.

 

I wonder about endorsement money, however.   Don't well known and upper eschelon players make sponsor/endorsement money in those rugby leagues?

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

OK.   He's probably down $50,000 to $75,000 in salary vs. what he made playing rugby.     Maybe more, since we don't know exactly what he was making back home.

 

I wonder about endorsement money, however.   Don't well known and upper eschelon players make sponsor/endorsement money in those rugby leagues?

 

I suspect if anything my estimate was high on his Wasps salary. As for endorsement money... he might have made a bit but he was not upper echelon in terms of name value as proved by the fact that @Thurman#1 says his friend consider himself a die-hard rugby fan and had never heard of him. The big endorsements (and even they are just not in the league of endorsements soccer abd NFL players get) go to the guys in the England XV and Wade played for England once. 

 

Rugby Union was still fiercely amateur in the UK as recently as the mid 90s. Financially it is light years behind the NFL. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Lurker said:

 

The two-year contract he signed became null and void when the Bills terminated it (cut him).  He signed a new contract when he went on the PS (there was a picrure of his parents coming over from England for that).   

 

With a few exceptions, the highest paid practice squad players league-wide make in the range of $20,000 per week, so $320,000 to $400,000 per season.   It's doubtful that Wade is in that group--so a much lower salary than he was making playing rugby...

 

 

This link says he's making the $8,000 minimum:

 

https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/27950435/why-rugby-stars-valentine-holmes-christian-wade-took-pay-cut-play-nfl

 

Great link.  Not certain he specifically asked them what they're making vs. assuming it was practice squad standard.  But really interesting story:

 

" "It's like they're trying to learn advanced calculus, right off the bat," Leech said, "without algebra and geometry before that."

 

I assume he got to keep the $11,000 "fully guaranteed" signing bonus.  So even at $8,000/wk, $136,000 + $11,000 + ?$5,000 training camp so maybe $152,000? 

PS memo to Wade: Josh Allen studied Calculus

[Buffalo716]

4 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I dunno about seeing the hole being a limit.  I think to succeed in rugby, he had to have great field vision.  I think that's the sort of thing where his rugby background should help.

 

But I don't think one can overstate the difference in learning the playbook or it being like a foreign language. 

 

In fact, it will be like 2 or 3 foreign languages.  I'm self-taught in football, and you are one of the guys I reach out to from time to time saying "WTH is he talking about here?"

 

Football has at least 2 languages, the formal language of the playbook and then the informal slang (often several slang terms for the same thing) players or players and coaches use among themselves.  We hear it a little bit when players are describing a play or when guys who break-down all-22 like Cover1's Erik Turner are talking.  They all use slang, sometimes 2-3 different slang terms, to describe the same play.   Even pretty common and widespread ones: "Cover 0, Blitz 0" may have to be explained, "all same thing!"

 

For an example I can find quickly Josh is talking in "The Wakeup Call Part II" with Kirk Cousins about a busted play with the running back that resulted in an INT (3:20 in): "We had recently gone over whether we're seeing green grass and going, or whether we're going to sit down in zone".   Kirk understands him immediately: "So he felt man and you felt it might be zone?" and starts giving Josh advice about how to do extra practice with the running back to prevent miscues like that.  Someone who didn't grow up playing football is like "OK, I understand what is man coverage....I understand zone...what is this "green grass and going" or "sit down" mean in this context?  They aren't telling me to actually SIT DOWN I know!"

 

The use of parallel languages, the formal language of the playbook and the informal slang describing defensive play and corresponding offensive play options, makes learning American football a pretty steep hill to climb.  I hope the Bills gave Wade a "colorful guide and interpreter" or two, but even so...it's very difficult because people who've grown up playing football (or even watching football) don't even know what they know, that newbies don't know!

There really are no holes in rugby. Sure he needs good vision but good vision doesn't equal ability to see and hit an NFL hole

 

Against 4th stringer's he saw and hit a cutback that most college players could've hit honestly and Id be almost Willing to bet that against 1s the speed of the game will be overwhelming probably

 

Running backs in football spend a decade learning how to read holes properly and many still struggle in the NFL

 

I know it's not as easy as it sounds

[Logic]

I WILL agree one thing:

Anyone counting on Wade to seamlessly step in, replace Frank Gore, and become the Bills' backup running back is probably not being realistic. Could it happen? Sure, of course it could. It's just not likely. 

The Bills ought to address the running back position as if Christian Wade doesn't exist. If he turns out to be a great player, and they're forced to make a tough decision at running back, then so be it. But they absolutely, positively should not count on Wade, and I don't think they will.

[whorlnut]

1 hour ago, Richard Noggin said:

I like irony.

I’ll bet autocorrect never bit you on any of your messages or texts, eh “Richard”?

[Lurker]

49 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Great link.  Not certain he specifically asked them what they're making vs. assuming it was practice squad standard.  But really interesting story:

 

" "It's like they're trying to learn advanced calculus, right off the bat," Leech said, "without algebra and geometry before that."

 

I assume he got to keep the $11,000 "fully guaranteed" signing bonus.  So even at $8,000/wk, $136,000 + $11,000 + ?$5,000 training camp so maybe $152,000? 

PS memo to Wade: Josh Allen studied Calculus

 

Yep, that sounds about right.   Any bonus money before he was cut is his to keep.    $150K for 2019 is not bad by Buffalo cost of living standards (less so by London standards).   And as Gunner pointed out, not too big a haircut from his rugby days...

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by Lurker

[MJS]

5 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

It’s honestly without question Rugby.  Rugby has all the violence of football, none of the pads or protection, and the constant pace of soccer.  

 

And then there is the after game drinking haha.  Wanna test your liver, go drinking with some Rugby players after a game haha.  

Ok, so you are just guessing. I believe there are more injuries in football, especially catastrophic injuries, and I believe Rugby players are more safe in their tackling techniques (because they have to be and because the rules allow for that). There's less blind side hits because receivers aren't looking back for the ball (there are no forward passes in rugby so the ball isn't coming from behind). The system of having yards to gain and downs forces defenders to fight for every single inch whereas in Rugby it doesn't usually matter if the ball carrier gains another yard or so during the tackle, so they can focus more on punching the ball out.

 

Also, the hard pads are a CAUSE of injuries in football just as much as a deterrent for multiple reasons. One, helmets and other hard pads are hard and cause injuries to other players in collisions. I personally broke my wrist as it was caught in the facemask of a player during a tackle when I was in high school. Hard pads also embolden players to throw their body around because they feel protected, instead of making more technical tackles.

 

But Rugby scrums have significant neck and spinal injury risk, especially for the hooker who has his arms pinned behind his back and can't protect his head or neck if things go badly.

 

I think football is the more dangerous sport, due mostly to the rules and mechanics. I don't question the toughness of Rugby players (or football players).

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

8 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Just noting that there's a considerable disparity between this information and the information on club salary cap provided by GunnerBill.

It is, of course, possible that a professional athlete can earn as much or more than their salary from endorsements.

 

If Wade's net worth is that high, then he must really want to play NFL Football because he has no or little financial incentive.

he had said he’s taking a considerable pay cut to enter the NFL 

7 hours ago, Lurker said:

You realize that contract went away when Wade was cut?  Right?

 

He makes the fixed weekly rate that practice squad guys get.  Which is bupkis vs. what he was making at rugby.. 

 

then tell Spotrac to update their site 

 

I just copy and paste them 

[ndirish1978]

More hype for this guy on this board than Da'Rick Rogers

[Hapless Bills Fan]

12 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

More hype for this guy on this board than Da'Rick Rogers

 

Steady on, Dude.

 

I don't see anyone here hyping him up.  He's an RB.  We need an RB.  A member of the media made the point not to expect to see him on the 53 man roster.  We're discussing that and his salary.  I think someone mentioned that there's a Bills Fan Facebook group with a significant case of Wade-love.  Did you even read the thread before chiming in?

 

Did you search and see when the last time he was even mentioned was?  I think it was before Game 16 when someone wondered if Wade could be activated from PS for the game and the answer was "No".

[ndirish1978]

4 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Steady on, Dude.

 

I don't see anyone here hyping him up.  He's an RB.  We need an RB.  A member of the media made the point not to expect to see him on the 53 man roster.  We're discussing that and his salary.  I think someone mentioned that there's a Bills Fan Facebook group with a significant case of Wade-love.  Did you even read the thread before chiming in?

 

Did you search and see when the last time he was even mentioned was?  I think it was before Game 16 when someone wondered if Wade could be activated from PS for the game and the answer was "No".

 

Nope, just wanted to say Da'Rick Rogers

[Beast]

Easy to root for but I give him the same chance of making this roster as I do of the Bills winning the Super Bowl with EJ Manuel as our QB.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

4 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

 

Nope, just wanted to say Da'Rick Rogers

 

Playing with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, isn't he?

 

[Augie]

7 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

It’s honestly without question Rugby.  Rugby has all the violence of football, none of the pads or protection, and the constant pace of soccer.  

 

And then there is the after game drinking haha.  Wanna test your liver, go drinking with some Rugby players after a game haha.  

 

I played football growing up, but rugby in college. Put on a helmet and shoulder pads and everyone thinks they are a lethal weapon. I saw PLENTY of gruesome injuries in rugby, with a lot more blood and a horrific fractured skull, but I think the mentality actually makes football the more dangerous sport.

 

And a rugby party beats a tailgate, with or without burning tables!  If only for the songs!   

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

There really are no holes in rugby. Sure he needs good vision but good vision doesn't equal ability to see and hit an NFL hole

 

Against 4th stringer's he saw and hit a cutback that most college players could've hit honestly and Id be almost Willing to bet that against 1s the speed of the game will be overwhelming probably

 

Running backs in football spend a decade learning how to read holes properly and many still struggle in the NFL

 

I know it's not as easy as it sounds

 

I don't think it is true that there are "no holes in rugby" but it is different. It is, as I said much earlier in the thread, more akin to the vision you need returning punts and kicks than the vision you need to run between the tackles as a running back. 

[Buffalo716]

3 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't think it is true that there are "no holes in rugby" but it is different. It is, as I said much earlier in the thread, more akin to the vision you need returning punts and kicks than the vision you need to run between the tackles as a running back. 

Yes that's a better description and I can agree

[MJS]

I feel like it isn't much of a stretch to say that ANY practice squad player is unlikely to be on the 53 man roster next year. That's just the nature of the situation for players on the practice squad.

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't think it is true that there are "no holes in rugby" but it is different. It is, as I said much earlier in the thread, more akin to the vision you need returning punts and kicks than the vision you need to run between the tackles as a running back. 

The no blocker aspect is just so different. On punt returns and kick returns you are still following blockers.

[GunnerBill]

15 minutes ago, MJS said:

 

The no blocker aspect is just so different. On punt returns and kick returns you are still following blockers.

 

Rugby still has set up blocks. Think if them like difference between a legal rub and an illegal pick. But you can run combinations designed to wall off defenders to create lanes for your ball carrier. 

[Lurker]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Playing with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL, isn't he?

 

 

I think he's out of football now...

[BobbyC81]

On 2/4/2020 at 5:05 PM, jimmy10 said:

Why is the sky blue? Why do Bills fans assume Mahomes would be the exact same player here? 
 

Such are the mysteries of life. 

Yeah, Joe Montana was an average QB at Notre  Dame.  Had the Bills drafted him back then instead of Bill Walsh and the Niners, he may not have been a HOFer.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

20 hours ago, SlimShady'sGhost said:

 

I think the "speed" of defenders hitting in rugby may not be near that on NFL football so the impact may be far less when getting hit. 

 

Rugby players don't wear pads and helmets. 

 

at least 3 times that per season

 

According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Rugby Player Christian Wade's net worth is $78 Million at the age of 28 years old. He earned the money being a professional Rugby Player. 

 

 

Wade spent the past 10 years at Wasps Rugby Football Club. He played on England's national team the British and Irish Lions.

 

guess he just wants to try a different sport.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

20 hours ago, SlimShady'sGhost said:

 

According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Rugby Player Christian Wade's net worth is $78 Million at the age of 28 years old. He earned the money being a professional Rugby Player. 

 

 

Wade spent the past 10 years at Wasps Rugby Football Club. He played on England's national team the British and Irish Lions.

 

There is absolutely no way he has earned £60m from playing rugby. Absolutely none. I'd like to see the actual source for that because I don't think it is true. The most famous English rugby player of the last 20 years - Johnny Wilkinson - who kicked us to world cup glory in 2003 and who had endorsements a plenty is only estimated to be worth about £16m by the Sunday Times rich list (on which Christian Wade does not feature). 

 

Basically I am calling nonsense on the statement quoted above. It isn't true. 

[Chandler#81]

On 2/4/2020 at 8:01 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Rugby is not like football. And it's 10000 times more complicated than see hole hit hole

 

The run blocking schemes are complex and backs spend 10-15 years perfecting how to read a hole correctly and even when he makes the league many struggle with seeing the proper hole

 

Then you have pass protection and learning a whole playbook which is like a foreign language

 

I think he has an uphill battle

 No, it’s really not.

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, Chandler#81 said:

 No, it’s really not.

Yes it really is. There are high level backs that are D1 stars that struggle to find and hit the smaller holes in the NFL

 

Reading blocks is a HUGE part of a RBs game that takes years to master as a Craft and the speed of the NFL game is amazing

 

don't discredit how hard it is to be a good running back, finding those holes when bodies are flying all around is tough to do between the tackles and Wade has alot to learn

[Hapless Bills Fan]

14 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't think it is true that there are "no holes in rugby" but it is different. It is, as I said much earlier in the thread, more akin to the vision you need returning punts and kicks than the vision you need to run between the tackles as a running back. 

 

I'm glad you responded.  The son of a friend played rugby in the US (Wing) - actually, still plays at the club level in his 30s - and RB in HS football (state champions).  So he's chatted over the years about the similarities and differences.  Now I grant, he never played DI college ball (too small) let alone pro, and it's different, but he would disagree about "no holes" as well.  I don't think he could comment on how hard it is to learn to see the holes in football though, as he grew up playing both sports.

[Richard Noggin]

On 2/5/2020 at 4:51 PM, whorlnut said:

I’ll bet autocorrect never bit you on any of your messages or texts, eh “Richard”?

I say stupid things all the time. I'm a real Richard that way.

 

But you gotta admit, yours was particularly ironic. Don't ya think?