Louis Rees-Zammit’s bid to make the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ 53-man roster, and even make their observe squad, was scuppered by his lack of ability to study one very particular aspect of American soccer, in line with Kansas Metropolis Star journalist Jesse Newell.
Becoming a member of Anthony Wootton on The TransAtlantic Sports activities Present just lately, Newell stated that the previous Wales wing struggled together with his cross safety, which was maybe the main cause why the Tremendous Bowl champions launched him, with the Jacksonville Jaguars choosing him up for his or her observe squad as an alternative.
Whereas Rees-Zammit’s athleticism has been lauded by many, together with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, it is a technical space of American soccer {that a} profession in rugby wouldn’t have helped with.
Having watched the Chiefs’ coaching periods intently all through pre-season, Newell defined how the Welshman struggled with a selected cross safety drill. Furthermore, he defined on the podcast how Rees-Zammit slipped down the pecking order because the coaching camp progressed.
“I used to be not shocked he didn’t make the 53-man roster,” he stated.
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“You may sort of see it coming all through coaching camp, and we’re on the market each single day at coaching camp. You understand, the group practices with its high guys, then they’ve a second group, after which they’ve a 3rd group and a fourth group. So earlier on, Louis was getting in with possibly the second and third group. Because the observe went alongside, he was getting in with the third and fourth group.
“So it’s sort of the reality serum of the coaches, if you’ll. If these guys on the finish of the roster are training in opposition to the opposite guys on the finish of the roster, it kind of looks as if it’s an extended shot for them to make the group. All through this complete course of, although, the Chiefs coaches have complimented Louis for his work. We beloved speaking to him within the media as a result of he’s a extremely partaking man. He appeared to actually commit himself to this and appeared to be severe about this, which is one thing that should occur to make the transition that he’s making an attempt to make to a very totally different sport.
“However I feel because it went alongside, one of many sort of evident moments was – I feel what the Chiefs wished from Louis is, right here within the NFL, there’s a really particular function on third down the place in the event you can have a again out of the backfield who can cross shield to your quarterback after which additionally catch passes out of the backfield, that’s a job that each single group wants within the NFL.
“However you’ve got to have the ability to cross shield, and there was a cross safety drill that Louis did a few weeks in the past, and one of many linebackers simply sort of ran proper over him as a result of he doesn’t perceive the method but, he doesn’t perceive the leverage. So he’s an enormous man, however he doesn’t perceive kind of the nuances that can assist him to cease this 250-pound man coming straight at you and shield your quarterback.
“So I feel the Chiefs have been hopeful that this factor would come collectively in a short time. They have been hopeful that he would study all these items and will probably play a job for them in that space as a third-down again after which on particular groups as nicely—you recognize, the kickoffs, punt returns, all these types of issues. It simply didn’t come fairly quick sufficient. And so I used to be not shocked he was lower from the 53-man roster. I used to be slightly bit extra shocked by what occurred later this week with him becoming a member of a special group.”
Newell added a further cause why the Chiefs handed on signing Rees-Zammit to their observe squad, which is the place they discover themselves in heading into the brand new season.
The Chiefs are in pursuit of a historic Tremendous Bowl treble this season and are successfully solely within the here-and-now reasonably than trying additional down the road at a mission.
“I feel the Chiefs appeared to see potential in him,” he added. “However probably the place the match didn’t make sense is that this could be a greater man to have in the event you’re not a Tremendous Bowl contender. If you’re not a group that’s nervous about profitable instantly… I imply, the Chiefs are up to now on the opposite finish of that spectrum proper now—they’re going for the primary three-peat in NFL historical past.
“So it won’t be about two or three years down the road what you may get out of a man. It could be extra about how can this group, or this man on the observe squad, assist your group this yr to probably go win one other Tremendous Bowl and make historical past that’s by no means been performed earlier than.”
On condition that the Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson is a “disciple” of Reid’s, Newell thinks the Jaguars may very well be a great match for Rees-Zammit, though he confused that the largest problem now could be to study a completely new playbook.
The Jaguars get their NFL marketing campaign underway on Sunday September 8 in opposition to the Miami Dolphins.
