Olivier Vernon has "only" played football since he was in High School | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Olivier Vernon has "only" played football since he was in High School

LikeUntoGod

LikeUntoGod

The Oracle
Joined
Jul 5, 2006
Messages
4,339
Reaction score
61
Age
64
Location
Gainesville Florida
This is not really about Vernon who I think only played two years at UM.

For the last couple of years I've been reading that this player or that one did not start playing football till the 9th or 10th grade. Which only give them 6-8 years playing before the reach the NFL.

So unless you started playing football when you were 9-10 years old, you are still "new" at it.

Does this sound right to everyone?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Take a swipe at a Canes player on the dolphins. CHECK

LUG your getting very predictable dude.
 
The only position that I worry about experience is quarterback. Football is not a complicated sport, only for the quarterback.
 
Considering the track record former Canes have playing for the phins, LUG has every right to be skeptical.

Its safe to say that the most "successful" was V Carey. Though, I am hopeful re: Lamar Miller.
 
LikeUntoGod said:
This is not really about Vernon who I think only played two years at UM.

For the last couple of years I've been reading that this player or that one did not start playing football till the 9th or 10th grade. Which only give them 6-8 years playing before the reach the NFL.

So unless you started playing football when you were 9-10 years old, you are still "new" at it.

Does this sound right to everyone?
Click to expand...

I think it depends more on what position you are playing.

QB, defenitly requires years and years of games, tape, planning, technique etc.... I remember John Elway once saying after his 15 years as a Broncos QB, he still had alot to learn about the QB position.

Positions that require more "instints" rather than learning are just god given ability. (Reference Boobie Miles "Friday Night Lights"). Sure it takes time to learn proper technique and reads, but some players just have that natural talent for a position.

Look at Suh from the Lions, only played football for a few years and is now one of the top D-line men in the league.
 
This is hard to guage....

You really don't "learn" alot from the coaches before high school anyway...but what you learn on your own from playing is a "feel for the game...instincts." So, having a short time may imply that he does have added upside...but not really from an X's and O's standpoint.
 
OMG, I said this is not any one player. I've just been reading this same thing for years now. That such and such has "only" been playing since High School.

I personally think in a lot of the early years players are learning very basic things that most players could pick up in their first season or two of play anywhere or anytime. I also think that most fo this time you are simply growing and getting bigger and stronger. it seems to me that the real learning comes in the last couple of years in college and the first few in the NFL.

This is where most players are now growing into the player they will become and are only playing one position. Plus the coaches are better and to be honest, they are "real" coaches but a English teacher coaching the WRs or someone's dad coaching Pee Wee. Does your average 8-9 year old really pick up more then how to put on a uniform, how to line up and which direction to run in. I'm really old so we did not have football before High School so I really do not know how much it helps.

There are sports writers that seem to think unless you also played 5-6 years of Pee Wee football you are behind everyone else.
 
utahphinsfan said:
Considering the track record former Canes have playing for the phins, LUG has every right to be skeptical.

Its safe to say that the most "successful" was V Carey. Though, I am hopeful re: Lamar Miller.
Click to expand...

The last one we drafted from there started at right tackle for 8 years. if you want to go back to Yatil Green you may have a point
 
fishfanmiami said:
The last one we drafted from there started at right tackle for 8 years. if you want to go back to Yatil Green you may have a point
Click to expand...

Getting off the point again but I had high hopes for Y Green. As i remember it, it was injuries that knocked him out of playing in the NFL, not because he was not a good player.

If I was the owner of the Dolphins, anytime there was a choice between and player from out of the state and one that played in a school in Florida and grew up in Florida, and they were very close, I'd almost always draft the local kid.

Not just because of bringing in local fans, but because the player would have a better support system, family that would help make sure he stayed on course and I've love it if the players we draft had been big Dolphin fans growing up.
 
Cam Wake didn't start playing football until he was a junior in high school. It's all dependent on the person and the position.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if EVERY lineman in the NFL did not play football until high school along with a lot of other players in the NFL. Pop warner and little league football have weight limits. Most players in the NFL were a lot bigger than their age group so probably did not step on a football field until high school unless they played flag football.
 
Torero71FinFan said:
I wouldn't be surprised if EVERY lineman in the NFL did not play football until high school along with a lot of other players in the NFL. Pop warner and little league football have weight limits. Most players in the NFL were a lot bigger than their age group so probably did not step on a football field until high school unless they played flag football.
Click to expand...

Huh? When I was a kid they had weight MINIMUMs...not weight LIMITS...

If you were heavier, you just got moved up to play with the bigger kids...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom