More hurdles for Louis to cross – coach
LOUIS Rees-Zammit is just days away from his debut in American football as one of his coaches outlined the “major hurdle” the former rugby player is facing.
Kansas City Chiefs begin their preseason campaign this weekend with a trip to EverBank Stadium to take on Jacksonville Jaguars, with Rees-Zammit likely to feature in some capacity.
The Super Bowl champions have to submit their trimmed-down 53-man roster for the season ahead by August 23, with further pre-season matches against Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears taking place before that crucial date.
Rees-Zammit will be hopeful of making the 53-man roster, with his coaches set to get a glimpse of whether the 32-cap Wales wing can cope with the step up from training camp to actual matches.
And one of his coaches has already outlined one of the major work-ons for Rees-Zammit ahead of his potential NFL bow.
“For me, he’s been great,” said Chiefs assistant head coach and special teams co-ordinator Dave Toub.
“I mean, he’s doing a good job as a returner.
“He’s got to continue to get better as a running back. He’s got to learn stuff and pass blocking,
“I think it’s a major hurdle that he needs to figure out, because that’s a big part of what we do in our offence. So that’s where he’s at.”
Reports from training camp suggest that Rees-Zammit has made rapid progress in a short space of time. His pad level – something that has repeatedly been noted as a hindrance to the Welshman, given he took up the sport far later than the players he’s competing against – has been described as looking more natural by the day, while he’s also earning repetitions with the second-team offence.
Having had some one-on-one instruction from assistant running back coach Porter Ellett on pass protection, Toub has also had him working on the skill in special teams, allowing him to improve his blocking on punt protection.
“That’s why I moved him over to PP (punt protection), which is exactly that it’s past blocking on the punt team,” said Toub.
“So we’re trying to get them all the work we can. He’s on an accelerated programme.
“We’re going to try to do everything we can to bring him up to speed.
“I don’t think there’s any question he could do it.
“It’s not about his toughness, or anything like that. But he’s never done it against this level of calibre of football player. That’s the thing.
“These guys have been doing this since they’ve been fifth grade. He’s been playing rugby since fifth grade.
“So there’s a learning curve.”