Quote:
Originally Posted by neech
Its not like they are teaching them physics and Thompson played football in college so one wouldn't think it would be very difficult to teach them how to block.
I remember when it was year two of Dee Ford's contract the Chiefs announcer were saying he's still learning the position, I'm like WTF?
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RBs in college are rarely asked to learn to pass protect, certainly not at a pro level. And pass blocking isn't necessarily the simple skill that some seem to think it is.
For instance, Adrian Peterson, wasn't considered a "3-down" back until his third year, based entirely on his pass protection skills, which were non-existent when he came into the league. Further, he was never considered a skilled pass protector, in fact after seven years with the Vikings he was ranked in the lower half of RBs in pass protection metrics; 29th out of 54 RBs that took at least 25 snaps. Since then he hasn't improved much, in spite of several off-season's worth of work on it since leaving the Vikes.
Sometimes it comes easier for some backs. Take our own Shady McCoy. Just 5 years ago he was also rated in the bottom third among backs in pass pro. But by 2017 he'd transformed himself as a pass blocker, rising to the rank of fifth overall, tied with one Ezekiel Elliot.
The bottom line, in the NFL it's pass protection by the RB that makes him a 3rd down back, not pass-catching.