Aussies and Kiwis in the NFL

Originally posted by Who-is-Hayne:

Originally posted by Drift:

Looks like Mailata could come available after Jets took Dillard... do we need a new OT yet?

Don't get it. What do jets have to do with Jordan? What did I miss?

Ah, eagles took dillard.
Mailata is project player. He'll play when he does.

Originally posted by Who-is-Hayne:

Ah, eagles took dillard.
Mailata is project player. He'll play when he does.

Ah, sorry with that.

Originally posted by 16to87:
I'll start to worry when the kiwi invasion starts

Originally posted by 5_Golden_Rings:

Originally posted by 16to87:
I'll start to worry when the kiwi invasion starts

I, for one, welcome our new overlords. So cute!

Originally posted by 5_Golden_Rings:

Originally posted by 16to87:

I'll start to worry when the kiwi invasion starts

Still a better player than Jimmie Ward.

My dudes! Super stoked to have Mitch on the team. I've been wanting an Aussie punter for a while now. They just seem to have much better control and power than traditional punters in the NFL. I'm curious to see if Mitch can still maintain his sideways running style kick in the NFL. The guys rushing in from the sides are going to be a lot faster in the NFL as opposed to college. I have confidence in him to still be successful if he has to change his motion, but I'd love for it to still work for the 49ers. Gives an extra advantage if the defense has to worry about him pulling it down and running with it. Something else I'm curious to see how much of a green light the team will give him with that.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
My dudes! Super stoked to have Mitch on the team. I've been wanting an Aussie punter for a while now. They just seem to have much better control and power than traditional punters in the NFL. I'm curious to see if Mitch can still maintain his sideways running style kick in the NFL. The guys rushing in from the sides are going to be a lot faster in the NFL as opposed to college. I have confidence in him to still be successful if he has to change his motion, but I'd love for it to still work for the 49ers. Gives an extra advantage if the defense has to worry about him pulling it down and running with it. Something else I'm curious to see how much of a green light the team will give him with that.

The NFL wont phase him in the least.

Since he was an Australian Football League player (not rugby as some have stated) he is used to punting under pressure most of the time and used to punting accurately and long under pressure with people running at him from all angles.

In NFL forward movement is gained by the QB passing the ball forward to a player and the player running it further if they can, passing it to a back to barge through the defensive line or punting it on the 4th down.

In AFL you can pass it but the passes are not long. Ground is gained by punting it forward to a player further down the field until you are in reach of the goal posts.

Some freaks can punt it 70 metres (yards) downfield. In the clip below you can see the first punt for a goal is 65 metres and accurate. Throughout the clip you can see some guys punt it on the run with guys trying to run them down and they still punt it accurately to their team mate. Wishnowsky is a master of this type of punting and the pressure that comes with it.

Guys running at him head on or from his flank just wont worry him in the slightest.

No worries in the slightest mate. He is an outstanding pick and well worth it in the 4th round against conventional wisdom. The naysayers will end up with egg on their face, you just watch

Aussie History about to be made.

Even though it's just preseason never before has their been 4 Aussies in 1 NFL game. Don't even think there has been 3.

NY Jets v Philly Eagles

Jets- Valentine Holmes (Great pornstar name) RB/WR Long shot international pathway debutante guaranteed Practice squad as 12th man (unique to Eastern conference teams) but won't be allowed to be on active roster for the season if not picked on the 53. He was only given a handful of snaps to avoid the Jarred Hayne type scenario - unlike the British Rugby guy from the same program who scored a TD from a punt return and generally impressed.
- Lachlan Edwards P

Eagles- Jordan Mialata (Man Beast) OT Who also came through the international pathway program last year and was picked in the 53 but shined the bench while he learned the nuances of NFL. Like Hayne he is ex Rugby League but is only 23 and is a monster that can run.
- Cameron Johnston P

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
My dudes! Super stoked to have Mitch on the team. I've been wanting an Aussie punter for a while now. They just seem to have much better control and power than traditional punters in the NFL. I'm curious to see if Mitch can still maintain his sideways running style kick in the NFL. The guys rushing in from the sides are going to be a lot faster in the NFL as opposed to college. I have confidence in him to still be successful if he has to change his motion, but I'd love for it to still work for the 49ers. Gives an extra advantage if the defense has to worry about him pulling it down and running with it. Something else I'm curious to see how much of a green light the team will give him with that.

I have faith in Mitch (Schnauzer) Wishnowsky but not much in ST coach Hightower.

Originally posted by KeepRabbitsOut:
I have faith in Mitch (Schnauzer) Wishnowsky but not much in ST coach Hightower.

wondered if anyone else had discovered that nickname

Valentime Holmes didn't make the cut for the 53 at the Jets but still is holding out hope for the 53. He didn't get much action in the pre season. Had some rushing yards but was not spectacular. However, he proved he had safe hands and made some good receptions.

He said if picked for the practice squad he will take it despite having potential offers for Ruby League at more then five times the pay rate of the practice squad salary. Holmes seems dedicated and seems to be taking a smarter approach with a better attitude then Hayne did.

Best of luck to him.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/nfl/valentine-holmes-waived-by-new-york-jets-as-53man-roster-named/news-story/4cd3bc7cceaacd2e2793ab1388490a39

Originally posted by Goatie:
Valentime Holmes didn't make the cut for the 53 at the Jets but still is holding out hope for the 53. He didn't get much action in the pre season. Had some rushing yards but was not spectacular. However, he proved he had safe hands and made some good receptions.

He said if picked for the practice squad he will take it despite having potential offers for Ruby League at more then five times the pay rate of the practice squad salary. Holmes seems dedicated and seems to be taking a smarter approach with a better attitude then Hayne did.

Best of luck to him.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/nfl/valentine-holmes-waived-by-new-york-jets-as-53man-roster-named/news-story/4cd3bc7cceaacd2e2793ab1388490a39

If nfl designate him as 11th PS player, would be best thing for him.

Originally posted by Who-is-Hayne:

Originally posted by Goatie:
Valentime Holmes didn't make the cut for the 53 at the Jets but still is holding out hope for the 53. He didn't get much action in the pre season. Had some rushing yards but was not spectacular. However, he proved he had safe hands and made some good receptions.

He said if picked for the practice squad he will take it despite having potential offers for Ruby League at more then five times the pay rate of the practice squad salary. Holmes seems dedicated and seems to be taking a smarter approach with a better attitude then Hayne did.

Best of luck to him.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/nfl/valentine-holmes-waived-by-new-york-jets-as-53man-roster-named/news-story/4cd3bc7cceaacd2e2793ab1388490a39

If nfl designate him as 11th PS player, would be best thing for him.

You are right. It is better he start low key and learn the game properly out of the limelight. There he can progress without pressure and start when he is up to it and avoid the mistakes made with Hayne. It will take him a year to get his head around it and he is still young enough. Big potential for a starter in a year.

When it come to places other than punter/kicker, growing up with the game complexities and expectations is a definite advantage.
Rugby (any code) hasn't produced as many successful transitions as you may expect considering the "similarities"
I don't think there has even been a successful AFL --> NFL punter transition that hasn't involved college ball since Sav Rocca.

Of course there are exceptions - Jordan Mailata was drafted from IPP (international pathway), but eagles took him as a project player and wore his roster spot. Simply a beast of a man who really is showing his worth.