2015 NFL & College Football Thread

[Alex]

I think he'll be fine, honestly. He'll never be a superstar but he could well become a serviceable player. He's an athletic freak and those don't grow on trees, teams will always take a flyer on one (Carolina has a guy who played basketball at a bible college on their roster, he hadn't played organized football in years). He will take some time to learn the idiosyncrasies though.

e: BYU has kind of made it their thing to try to convert rugby playing Samoans into college football players. Not sure any have gone pro though.

This guy's dad is a Fijian.

There are loads of ok Samoan, Tongan and Fijan Rugby League (and Rugby Union players). This guy really was our best - at least as far as skills that theoretically suit NFL go. Not "just another islander" if that makes sense. Certainly worth the risk. I'm wondering if they'll give him a spot on the roster just so another side can't steal him. He may not be 100% ready to go for the start of the season, but by the end of this season, or start of next, they won't want to have lost him. And from all reports the 49ers are a bit of a project team this year anyway.

 

[Mus]

Ok. But it seemed to make sense to me - when a defender was well outside his reach, to free his arm up to fend. But you guys are the experts at this game

Rugby League players do it all the time - and dropped ball is just as big a sin in that sport - plus the balls are bigger and rounder, so easier to drop.

It seems very negative to me. I get minimising risk - but there is also a huge potential gain. I also think you rarely find a sportsman that shines by doing the same thing as everyone else.

And in any case, I'm really not sure he did it that much. I've not seen anything negative in the media about it - and I've been trying to avoid Australian media.

That's why I asked

And it was just facebook conjecture

 

[Alex]

Is Bleacher Report reliable?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2545557-bleacher-reports-preseason-week-1-nfl-awards/page/7

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yes they are, and I've heard something similar from other sources. Looks pretty good. I watched his highlights and he looks pretty good. Few minor issues (too much ball switching in his hands), but overall a potentially solid player. He'll make the team and return kicks at the very least. Was totally hung out to dry by his QB on that drop/fumble; not a fair pass for him to get.

 

[Alex]

Yes they are, and I've heard something similar from other sources. Looks pretty good. I watched his highlights and he looks pretty good. Few minor issues (too much ball switching in his hands), but overall a potentially solid player. He'll make the team and return kicks at the very least. Was totally hung out to dry by his QB on that drop/fumble; not a fair pass for him to get.

Yep. Hospital pass for sure. Do you guys use that term?

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Not in football, but in soccer yes, so I understand what you mean.

 

[Bobby]

Cam looks like shit this preseason. He usually does this time of year, but man he was awful at times last night.

 

[Alex]

Hayne looking an absolute star on the punt return again, from all reports?

 

[ShiftyPowers]

No one else is following an obscure Aussie punt returner who gets 5 touches per game.

 

[Alex]

No one else is following an obscure Aussie punt returner who gets 5 touches per game.

No one else? That's just plain wrong...obviously he has a huge following in Au, but he's trending across the US too. But that's ok, I'm used to Americans dismissing him...First he was no chance at the squad. Now it's "he'll hardly play"...

45 yards of rushing so far this game (in only his second ever game of American Football)

Averaging 28 yards from 3 punt returns today. 21 yards per return for the preseason so far.

"obscure" indeed.

"Jarryd Hayne" is third highest trend on twitter in the Bay Area over the past hour.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I'm not dismissing him, I just don't care. This is a thread for the 2 most popular sports in the country and it's full of Jarryd Hayne posts.

 

[Alex]

I'm not dismissing him, I just don't care. This is a thread for the 2 most popular sports in the country and it's full of Jarryd Hayne posts.

Because he plays one of those two most popular sports...And is generating huge interest in San Francisco and Australia, plus a cult following in parts of the US

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I'd rather talk about Rodgers, Gronk, Cardale Jones. Actual stars.

 

[Alex]

So talk about them...It's not my fault that nobody else is discussing anyone.

He was trending top 10 across the whole of the United States on Twitter...Strange for an obscure player that "no one else is following"

 

[Mandieta6]

Cardale Jones is really likeable. I wonder what's gonna happen with the QB situation there. Apparently Braxton will be an H-back but you still need to juggle two great QBs.

And about stars, JJ Watt is probably my favorite athlete in the world right now.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I think JT Barrett will win the job, and rightfully so. Cardale is a great player though too.

 

[Mandieta6]

I don't get why Cardale stayed, if he is the who is draft eligible.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

He was draft eligible, but he only started 3 games last year. You can see why teams would have been very hesitant to draft him, or why Cardale would have felt he wasn't ready for the NFL.

 

[Mandieta6]

Won't his draft stock drop if he doesn't play this year? I guess it's better than transferring though, as he'd lose a year.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Not necessarily. His stock isn't really based on anything. He still has the same untapped potential without playing this year as he had without playing last year. He was touted as a possible first rounder, but I really don't think that was realistic at all considering someone like Hundley went in the 5th Round. Hundley is a flawed player, no doubt, but he started for 3 years, and his flaws were on full display. No one knows Jones' flaws because he's only played 3 games.