Q for guys who have played: Defensive players thudding each other, why?

[Beck Water]

So in the mic'd up segment with Poyer, we can see him with another DB (Lewis I think) thudding into him pre-game, then Bernard and Poyer run into each other, both before the first defensive series and before the 2nd half.

 

You guys who have played: Why?  What does this do for ya?

[The Wiz]

gets your adrenaline up and your head in the game to be ready to thud someone that's not your friend.

[Buff the Cat]

It gets you pumped up, but also knocks the pre-game jitters out of you.  I used to get sickly from the anticipation of playing and then after the first hit I took or made in the game, I was "ready to go" and felt great and could play at my best.

[Buffalo716]

5 hours ago, Beck Water said:

So in the mic'd up segment with Poyer, we can see him with another DB (Lewis I think) thudding into him pre-game, then Bernard and Poyer run into each other, both before the first defensive series and before the 2nd half.

 

You guys who have played: Why?  What does this do for ya?

Psyched up .. ready for some contact... You feel another person 

 

It's not natural what football players do

Edited October 19, 2023 by Buffalo716

[HOUSE]

I played the violin in HS

Not sure

[nuiwek]

15 minutes ago, Bogie_Klinkhammer said:

I played the violin in HS

Not sure

THE Instrument

[Simon]

I'm not sure it gets the adrenaline up; I'd guess it's more because the adrenaline is already up and you just gotta hit something.

Different guys deal with it different ways.

I've seen guys cry, puke, smoke ganja, destroy furniture, meditate, whatever...

 

Although I have no explanation for John Henderson.  

 

[GoBills808]

Same reason they used to run oklahomas lol

 

Guys like to hit

[machine gun kelly]

35 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

gets your adrenaline up and your head in the game to be ready to thud someone that's not your friend.

My go to when I played multiple sports was head butting.  My mom always said I have a concrete head, and rhino Hyde.  They were probably right, or just a little touched. In wrestling, that was a real head but with a teammate.  You have to be a little nuts to wrestle at a high level, or just enjoy pain.  No great sound than you’re referee slapping that hand on a mat pinning you’re opponent.

6 minutes ago, Simon said:

I'm not sure it gets the adrenaline up; I'd guess it's more because the adrenaline is already up and you just gotta hit something.

 

Although I have no explanation for John Henderson.  

 

Never liked sports where I can’t hit someone or pin them.  I was good at baseball, and soccer, but give me football and wrestling any day of the week.

[HoofHearted]

51 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

So in the mic'd up segment with Poyer, we can see him with another DB (Lewis I think) thudding into him pre-game, then Bernard and Poyer run into each other, both before the first defensive series and before the 2nd half.

 

You guys who have played: Why?  What does this do for ya?

It’s not a natural human response to want to throw yourself into another human being. You don’t want your first taste of it to be in live action. It just mentally and physically prepares yourself for the dog fight you’re about to be in. Plus it’s one more opportunity to work technique.

Edited October 18, 2023 by HoofHearted

[Teddy KGB]

this will explain it 

[machine gun kelly]

8 minutes ago, Teddy KGB said:

this will explain it 

I feel like I’m in high school again.  My earlier comment about head butting was always more intense when the team won and we of course blew weight that night drinking Genny Lights and bloodying each others foreheads.  I hit a guy (HB) so hard he had shivers down to the base of his spine.  after a 12 pack or course each.

 

Then it was out the next morning for a 6 mile run on a Sunday in the snow in a rubber suit.  God we were such idiots.

[Warcodered]

 

[pennstate10]

4 hours ago, HoofHearted said:

It’s not a natural human response to want to throw yourself into another human being. You don’t want your first taste of it to be in live action. It just mentally and physically prepares yourself for the dog fight you’re about to be in. Plus it’s one more opportunity to work technique.

Im not sure about your first sentence. 
 

In my experience, there is an exhilaration that comes with colliding with another player, and coming out on top. I sorta think that this is a pretty normal response.

 

Ask anyone who has played competitive organized football at a high school or beyond level.
 

Or maybe I’m a psycho. 

[MJS]

4 hours ago, HoofHearted said:

It’s not a natural human response to want to throw yourself into another human being. You don’t want your first taste of it to be in live action. It just mentally and physically prepares yourself for the dog fight you’re about to be in. Plus it’s one more opportunity to work technique.

Hmm, I'm not sure I agree about it not being a natural human response. Part of the fight or flight response is fight, and it can literally mean throwing yourself violently at another human. I've experienced it and it is like instinct takes over and you lose control for a moment.

 

And the way a lot of boys play when they are younger shows that violent physical contact is very ingrained in many. That's why boys come up with so many dangerous games all the time. Adrenaline and physical confrontation is an inherent desire of many young men. Not all, for sure, but many.

 

Football is kind of the perfect sport to actualize many of those deep desires for physical confrontation and manifest them in a semi-productive manner.

28 minutes ago, pennstate10 said:

Im not sure about your first sentence. 
 

In my experience, there is an exhilaration that comes with colliding with another player, and coming out on top. I sorta think that this is a pretty normal response.

 

Ask anyone who has played competitive organized football at a high school or beyond level.
 

Or maybe I’m a psycho. 

You aren't a psycho. It is very normal.

[Punching Bag]

5 hours ago, Beck Water said:

So in the mic'd up segment with Poyer, we can see him with another DB (Lewis I think) thudding into him pre-game, then Bernard and Poyer run into each other, both before the first defensive series and before the 2nd half.

 

You guys who have played: Why?  What does this do for ya?

 

When I played I was used in blocking drills by coach and I was good at knocking people down.  Big feet and wide shoulders I guess.  Before I was pulled for medical leave before a game some linemen would want me to do it with this for they would make sure they were ready to absorb hit.

[HoofHearted]

7 hours ago, pennstate10 said:

Im not sure about your first sentence. 
 

In my experience, there is an exhilaration that comes with colliding with another player, and coming out on top. I sorta think that this is a pretty normal response.

 

Ask anyone who has played competitive organized football at a high school or beyond level.
 

Or maybe I’m a psycho. 

Of course there is. It’s an adrenaline pump. I’m not saying there isn’t, but that doesn’t mean it’s a natural human response. Think about youth football - kids first experience playing the game. When they initially learn to tackle their natural reaction is to tense up before contact. As you grow older this gets trained out of you but it still doesn’t make the action a natural one.

 

@MJS

Edited October 19, 2023 by HoofHearted

[Matt_In_NH]

12 hours ago, Beck Water said:

So in the mic'd up segment with Poyer, we can see him with another DB (Lewis I think) thudding into him pre-game, then Bernard and Poyer run into each other, both before the first defensive series and before the 2nd half.

 

You guys who have played: Why?  What does this do for ya?

You are getting ready to go to war

[Bobby Hooks]

I tried paintball for the first time a few years ago. My buddy and I have never played before. Before we started we both shot each other so we could get the first one out of the way, and to get an idea of what we were in store for. 
 

Not sure if that answers anything, what was the question again..? 

[BuffaloBillies]

I used to love getting hit/tackled as long as it was a good form tackle and you don't land awkward.

You appreciate the guy hitting you the right way. I think that's why sometimes guys get up and say, "Nice hit, man."

They appreciate a good form tackle. And no matter how forceful, it really doesn't hurt - kinda feels good in a weird way.