PFT.com: Eifert Article

[*SHRacerX*]

(05-28-2018, 09:06 PM)fredtoast Wrote: I don't know if it is like this for everyone, but when I played football it was mostly instinctual. There were so many thing I did naturally without even thinking about.  When I was playing with an injury it was hard for me to protect it because I was just reacting and doing things too fast to think about changing something to protect an injury.

Maybe by the time these guys get to the NFL level they are able to think more about what they are doing, but I remember playing with an injured shoulder.  It hurt like hell to tackle with it, but I would drive in with that shoulder before I could even think about trying to protect it.

Once you step on the field and flip that switch it is hard to change the way you have always played because so much of it is based on instinct instead of thought.  At least it was with me.

On defense, I might tend to agree with this....Having playing QB and CB, I can tell you that I approached the two very differently.  While on defense, it was hair-on-fire, fly to the ball, and just try to make plays.  On offense, I had to think of the exact spot to move the chains, ball security, throwing a guy open and not in to traffic, etc.  When I would scramble, and it was to throw not run, I would always protect myself as I released the ball.  Only taking a huge hit when absolutely necessary.  Kurt Warner would get pummeled so often when he would hold the ball until the last possible second.  Took tons of hits, but it was a part of what made him successful.

I would never have been able to hold up under such a beating.  I would get to the sticks and get down.  Ditto the sidelines.  I think on offense, a little self-preservation can be taught/learned.  Eifert has taken some huge shots and I would love to see the guy survive a 19 game season.