Polian Talking about EJ's return

[ghz in pittsburgh]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9925598/ej-manuel-buffalo-bills-rookie-quarterback-cleared-return

Interesting that he talked about drills to avoid hard hits at the end of a slide or going out of bounds. Didn't realized Thurman had that training while at the Bills, though I thought those skills are more of a natural to players, not learned skills.

[better days]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/99...cleared-return

Interesting that he talked about drills to avoid hard hits at the end of a slide or going out of bounds. Didn't realized Thurman had that training while at the Bills, though I thought those skills are more of a natural to players, not learned skills.

Sliding is a learned skill. Hell, there are baseball players that don't know how to slide properly.

IMO, when a QB voluntarily goes down, feet first or headfirst, he should be protected just as a defenseless WR is protected.

[The King]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Also training on this stuff will help it to become instinctual. Which with EJ it clearly is not.

[phil3782]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

It seemed that Hackett and Marrone had issues teaching this to Nassib at SU also. It took Nassib to his third year (Senior) to learn what to do outside the pocket like getting out of bounds, when to throw away the ball and how to slide. Hopefully, EJ learns this quicker.

[jimmifli]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/99...cleared-return

Interesting that he talked about drills to avoid hard hits at the end of a slide or going out of bounds. Didn't realized Thurman had that training while at the Bills, though I thought those skills are more of a natural to players, not learned skills.

Thurman got some flak from fans back in the day for running out of bounds and not finishing runs.

[better days]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Thurman got some flak from fans back in the day for running out of bounds and not finishing runs.

Thurm's career probably lasted as long as it did because he was SMART enough to not take unnecessary hits.

[kscdogbillsfan1221]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Thurm's career probably lasted as long as it did because he was SMART enough to not take unnecessary hits.

yea, he wasn't exactly jerome bettis. if memory serves me correctly, he was 5'10" and was around 185-190 pounds

[jimmifli]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Thurm's career probably lasted as long as it did because he was SMART enough to not take unnecessary hits.

Of course. Getting hit is stupid, especially if you don't need to. Once you've got the first down, that extra yard or two just isn't worth it. Step out or get down.

I was glad to see CJ make for the sideline on his runs. That lil' feller doesn't need to take anymore punishment.

[Rockstar]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

I remember Thermal (yes Chris Berman Thermal) playing at 210lbs. Anyway, Thomas did run out of bounds but never when we needed a yard. He was the master of turning nothing into something. Squirmin Thurman earned that nic-name because he would get hit at the line of scrimmage and still get three yards. He had quads like a lineman and used them when we needed it as a team.

[better days]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

I remember Thermal (yes Chris Berman Thermal) playing at 210lbs. Anyway, Thomas did run out of bounds but never when we needed a yard. He was the master of turning nothing into something. Squirmin Thurman earned that nic-name because he would get hit at the line of scrimmage and still get three yards. He had quads like a lineman and used them when we needed it as a team.

I was the Bills GM in a mock draft on WDAE Tampa the year Thurm was drafted.

I picked Thurm for the Bills & was ELATED when the Bills drafted him for real.

[OLDSRIP]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

There is not much you can criticize about Thurman's game.
He was a great all around back.
One of my favorites from back then, for sure.

[stuckincincy]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Manuel was making a play. Too bad he got his knee bummed up. What's not to like about a player making the play, going for the yards?

[better days]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

Manuel was making a play. Too bad he got his knee bummed up. What's not to like about a player making the play, going for the yards?

What's not to like? How about the QB getting INJURED picking up a few unnecessary yds.

QB is the most vital & hard to replace position in the NFL.

[stuckincincy]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

What's not to like? How about the QB getting INJURED picking up a few unnecessary yds.

QB is the most vital & hard to replace position in the NFL.

He was heading to the sidelines with gaining decent yards and got an unfortunate pop. So what? - things happen. What do want? Toss the ball into the sidelines if there is a sniff of getting whacked in the pocket? Roll out and if there is a defender, a few yards away, forget making a nifty juke and just rifle the ball into the ground?

He's a rookie. He has happy feet. Do you want to turn him into a nervous nilly, cowering in fear of injury?

[Rockstar]

Re: Polian Talking about EJ's return

There is not much you can criticize about Thurman's game.
He was a great all around back.
One of my favorites from back then, for sure.

Quite simply he is one the best all purpose backs of all time.