Easy to gain weight...what about strength and power?

[Megatron]

I know some of you might be workout buffs...some of you guys have said how easy it is for Ricky to gain all that weight back...How easy will it be for him to get back to FULL 100% BREAK-TACKLING-DEFENDER-TENDERIZING STRENGTH AND POWER?!?!...Is it possible for him to be Ricky of old...or a weak flexible yoga instructor ? Please Discuss.

I worked on a TV show up here in Canada last fall and had the pleasure of meeting Peter Twist the former strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Canucks. The way they train pro atheletes these days is nothing like what any of us have experienced I assure you. Athletes are often trained using different styles to accomodate their size, speed, position on the team, stamina etc...... Ricky's training isn't going to just consist of pump iron/eat lots of food. That's why even if he gains the weight back it will be a long time (if ever) that he regains the agility, explosiveness, and ability to handle wear and tear. It's sounds like Ricky is taking the right steps according to his agent, but we'll have to see just how commited he is. The type of training he'll have to attempt to get back to a point where he can play and produce is going to take a collosal commitment on his part.

 

[TGall13]

you know what...i will...thanks man

Finfan53 brings up a good point...if Ricky comes back with desire to play, he'll be better....if he's only coming back to settle his $8 million debt, then we probably won't like what we see.

 

[ChambersNBoston]

lol

no seriously

 

[PhenomenalPhin]

He will be ready.. They have the technology .. they will rebuild him .. bigger .. stronger.. faster

 

[FinFan57]

The NFL has world-class conditioning coaches and training programs. The success of a player in this league comes down to 2 things. 1) God-given natural ability and talent 2)desire and work ethic. Ricky has as much ability and talent as any running back in this league - that has never been the problem. As far as desire and work ethic goes, he's proven in the past that he is no slouch and will train hard when he is motivated. Time will tell just how much desire he has. I don't think any of us could possibly know that yet, probably not even Ricky.

For those of you who want to write Ricky off because "he is only coming back for a paycheck" that is totally ridiculous. Haven't you worked in a job or situation strictly for money before? I certainly have, and I did a great job. Money is a great motivator, especially when you have mouths to feed, as does Ricky. Embarrassment, failure, and pain are pretty good motivators also and Ricky will be experiencing all of those things if he doesn't train and prepare well for the season.

This is truly one of those "roll the dice" and see what happens situations, but I think Saban is taking a low-risk with Ricky. Expectations are not that high, many people in the past (Wannstedt, et al) who may have been greatly affected by his return are gone, and we have sufficient backups in case Ricky gets squirrely again. On the other hand, Ricky could very well bounce back and be an outstanding compliment to Ronnie Brown. I think, deep down, Ricky is a competitor and once he see what is possible with Ronnie, he will be excited.

 

[NorFlaFin]

Uhh, having spent over 25 years in Martial Arts, there's no such thing as a "weak Yoga Instructor". Emphasis in Yoga is much like Pilates, core strength and flexibility. Ricky will be better for it. Trust me on this one.

Heck, if doing yoga helps Ricky avoid injury I say have the whole team do yoga!:goof:


Seriously

 

[Lazy1]

I worked on a TV show up here in Canada last fall and had the pleasure of meeting Peter Twist the former strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Canucks. The way they train pro atheletes these days is nothing like what any of us have experienced I assure you. Athletes are often trained using different styles to accomodate their size, speed, position on the team, stamina etc...... Ricky's training isn't going to just consist of pump iron/eat lots of food. That's why even if he gains the weight back it will be a long time (if ever) that he regains the agility, explosiveness, and ability to handle wear and tear. It's sounds like Ricky is taking the right steps according to his agent, but we'll have to see just how commited he is. The type of training he'll have to attempt to get back to a point where he can play and produce is going to take a collosal commitment on his part.

The one thing you dont factor in is Ricky is an unbelievable athlete. He is the rare breed that is BORN with the quickness and speed. The things he is going to have to work to get back is obviously his weight and stamina to be able to make it through the season. If Ricky's mind is right everything else will fall into place. But that is a big IF.

 

[ChambersNBoston]

Copy of the Offseason Workout Program?!?!

Can someone tell me what it means to get a COPY OF THE OFFSEASON WORKOUT PROGRAM?!?! Like Ricky did when he got Reinstated?

 

[Finfan53]

:shakeno: You clearly have no idea what your talking about. Yoga is great for flexibility and core strength. It will help him avoid injury much better. If anything he will be quicker and faster because core strength helps your agility. To say he is at greater risk for injury is ridiculous, if he's been doing all that Yoga and Pilates all this time he probably the least likely to be injured. Haven't you heard Zach talk about working on his core strength to avoid all those nagging injuries?

Acutally being a chiropractic physician, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA I do have a very good idea as to what I'm talking about. Yoga and Pilates are phenomenal and do help with core strength/flexibility. But those alone are not enough to help a "former pot head" who lost 30 pounds take take on a long NFL season.

 

[Lazy1]

Can someone tell me what it means to get a COPY OF THE OFFSEASON WORKOUT PROGRAM?!?! Like Ricky did when he got Reinstated?

Its from the coaches and trainers all the players get on a offseason workout program some do them some dont.

 

[burger13]

1 year......he took off 1 year.

AND he wasn't just laying around doing nothing with himself....it's a benefit that he did what he did as opposed to just sitting around.

Players miss a full year of football all of the time and come back and play awesome......how long did McGahee sit between snaps?? Over a year!! He didn't look too bad last year did he?? Deion was able to play last year after how many years away? At 37 years of age no less!

A lot of poeple seem to be overestimating the effect of sitting out for one year. He's ONLY 27 years old and ONLY 1 year off from his craft with 4 months to regain form....I just don't see it as an unachievable goal.

 

[burger13]

Acutally being a chiropractic physician, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA I do have a very good idea as to what I'm talking about. Yoga and Pilates are phenomenal and do help with core strength/flexibility. But those alone are not enough to help a "former pot head" who lost 30 pounds take take on a long NFL season.

I put a lot more stock in "Former NFL AL-PRO" than "former pot head" because he was a "pot head" the entire time he was running over the entire NFL. It didnt' seem to harm him then so I don't think the fact that he was publicly doing it for the last year will slow him down now.

And yoga may not prepare him to take on the NFL season......but do you honestly think that that is all he is going to be doing for the next 4 MONTHS? Was that all the off-season program which he was sent from the team consisted of? I don't think so.

He stayed in great shape doing those things, not football shape, but great shape.....now he has 4 months to get into football shape.

 

[TGall13]

Heck, if doing yoga helps Ricky avoid injury I say have the whole team do yoga!:goof:


Seriously

As a Martial Arts instructor and Ex-Pro Baseball player, I train a few professional athletes, Greg Vaughn (Brewers, Padres, Reds, Devil Rays), Thomas Howard (Cards) , and Derek Lee (Chicago Cubs) has worked out with us. Mostly Sacaramento guys. They've all said it's helped them with injury prevention, muscle recovery and overall strength and flexibility.
I think there are alot of Pro athletes that are seeing the benefits of cross training.

 

[kizzaboo]

I worked on a TV show up here in Canada last fall and had the pleasure of meeting Peter Twist the former strength and conditioning coach for the Vancouver Canucks. The way they train pro atheletes these days is nothing like what any of us have experienced I assure you. Athletes are often trained using different styles to accomodate their size, speed, position on the team, stamina etc...... Ricky's training isn't going to just consist of pump iron/eat lots of food. That's why even if he gains the weight back it will be a long time (if ever) that he regains the agility, explosiveness, and ability to handle wear and tear. It's sounds like Ricky is taking the right steps according to his agent, but we'll have to see just how commited he is. The type of training he'll have to attempt to get back to a point where he can play and produce is going to take a collosal commitment on his part.

:shakeno: How do you know that he has lost all agility and explosiveness? You dont. Its unlikely that he has. He will be rusty but doing the things he has done in the past year, with training yoga and the therepy he has been in, if anything, he will be able to become a better athlete.

 

[Alien]

One thing I would first like to say is how everyone talks about how weak Ricky is and that he's in awful shape. I fully disagree - I think he'll be in the best shape of his life by the end of this season.

He's constantly carried the ball - 4 years in college and throughout his pro career - as a bruising back. He took an entire year off doing yoga and ayurvedic medicine. I don't know how much some of you know about Ayrveda but it's not just food - it also involves extensive message and rejuvenation therapies. After a year of eating healthy, being messaged, and doing yoga, I'm saying he is in great condition with a very well rested body. In fact I would expect fewer minor injuries that hurt many backs like hammy's etc.

As for the strength and power - obviously your body can be as well rested and flexible as rubber man but without strength and power you're a sitting duck in the NFL. Having said that, some people naturally are strong and their body reacts quickly to strength training. Ricky is one of those people. He's naturally strong and thick; all he needs is a good nutrition and lifting program. Getting back to where you were is ALOT easier than building to there anew. Here's an example:

Take two guys A and B
Guy A (Ricky) has been 235 lbs. for many years and usually benched 350 lbs.
Guy A takes a year off and comes down to 200 lbs and can now only bench 240 lbs. because he hasn't lifted weights in a year.

Guy B has spent most of his life at 160-170 lbs and has been working hard to get up to his current weight of 200 lbs. He can now bench 240 lbs. (the highest he's ever been)

They are both currently the same size/weight/strength. But it will be MUCH easier for Guy A to make quick gains. Guy A's body type just allows him to hold weight and power/strength better.

whoa weird, im 200 pounds and bench 250....im guy b though since im trying to build without being bigger than i am now. but i dont know if ricky will ever be the same strength but his flexibility and resistence to injury mightve increased now.