I stumbled on this and happen to think about this a lot. I'd like to put this out there, since this is a Super Bowl team:
Pittsburgh Steelers-Rugby Lineup (If I were Coach Bill Cowhrer)
Loosehead Prop-Marvel Smith (Offensive Tackle)
Hooker-Alan Faneca (Offensive Guard)
Tighthead Prop-Kimo van Oelhoffen (Defensive End)
Left Lock-Heath Miller (Tight End)
Right Lock-Jerame Tuman (Tight End)
Blindside Flanker-Joey Porter (Linebacker)
Outside Flanker-James Farrior (Linebacker)
Number 8-Jerome Bettis (Captain, Running Back, power-oriented)
Scrumhalf-Antwaan Randle El (Wide Reciever/Punt Returner, but played quarterback in college)
Flyhalf-Ben Roethlisberger (Vice-Captain, Quarterback)
Left Wing-Hines Ward (Wide Reciever)
Inside Center-Duce Staley (Running Back, power-oriented)
Outside Center-Willie Parker (Running Back, speed-oriented)
Right Wing-Deshea Townsend (Cornerback)
Fullback-Troy Polamalu (Strong Safety)
Front Row
I remember watching the US play Scotland in the Rugby World Cup three years ago. Even though Scotland won, they had to contend with a massive size disadvantage in the scrum (the first eight players on this list are involved), which means that whoever Pittsburgh plays (unless it's another NFL team) would have a size disadvantage in the scrum and would be forced to rely on technique. Not convinced? Smith, Faneca, and van Oelhoffen are all linemen, whether offensive or defensive, so they have experience in throwing their bulk around.
Second Row
To be a good lock, you need to be a large target with good hands for the lineouts while also strong enough to handle scrums, so the first people I looked to were the tight ends, Miller and Tuman. They have blocking experience on offense and have good hands as well, so I'd feel comfortable with them as the Steeler locks.
Back Row
Porter, Farrior, and "The Bus" (Bettis) are not the largest Steelers, but they are all strong in their own right. All three would not be clueless at the scrum because it is not unusual for them to duke it out with the opposition at the line of scrimmage (blitzes for Farrior and Porter, up-the-gut runs for Bettis.) Moreover, Porter and Farrior would certainly lend themselves to open-play defense, while I can't see many rugby players at all stopping Bettis if he gets the ball close to the try line (the goal line in rugby.)
Halves
I initially penciled in Randle El at wing, but he was an option quarterback in college, so his hands would be greatly appreciated at scrumhalf (the scrumhalf restarts play after every tackle, normally with a pass, unless he makes a run and is tackled) and I expect he'd be able to do damage with the occasional dummy (fake pass, then run) and score a try or two. Not only that, but his wideout experience with Pittsburgh means that he's someone for the opposition to worry about if the Steelers can get a good kick forward. Flyhalf was a given with Big Ben Roethlisberger, since he's the best passer on the team and the flyhalf is the closest thing rugby has to a quarterback. He'd have to get used to lateralling pitching and tossing rather than overhand spirals forward, but that overhand could be useful as a lateral if he wants to get the ball out wide quickly.
Centers
This is a position very similar to running back, so it was fairly easy picking these out. Parker is not Marshall Faulk or Shaun Alexander, but he can blast through a hole and pick up a handful of ground before you can blink, so he was a near-given at outside center. Meanwhile, Staley made the squad because of his once being a starter for the Eagles and his power.
Back Three (wings + fullback)
When trying to create a rugby lineup for an American football team, I like to put one wide reciever and one cornerback at wing and then a safety at fullback because the back three have to be strong both on offense and defense. All three of these are fleetfooted enough for the task, with Ward having a very good pair of pass-catching hands, Townsend having coverage experience, and Polamalu being especially fast. He normally plays safety, but he is fast to the point that I can see him providing an extra spark on offense, because his mentality after an interception is "try to score".
Strengths (some suggested by you): good positional sense, physical talent, try-scoring ability, good defensive backfield, size and pushing power in scrum
Weaknesses (some suggested by you): not used to two-way play, kicking ability
Some other notes concerning this:
-Team England wing Ben Cohen was once scouted by an unidentified NFL squad.
-Another Team England player, flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, made 4 penalties (field goals in rugby) and the winning drop goal (drop kick) in the Rugby World Cup final against Australia-with a Charger scout in the stands.
-Former Team England left lock and captain Martin Johnson is a self-confessed NFL fanatic and traveled with English goalkeeper David James to Seattle and San Francisco to shoot a documentary featuring the Seahawks and 49ers entitled "Beyond The NFL" for British network Sky One. Moreover, in a recent BBC interview, Johnson argued that while less stamina is demanded in American football, it is more physical.
This post has been edited by santosphillipcarlo: Feb 3 2006, 06:59 PM
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Topic: Pro Rugby Vs. Nfl Players (Read 580 times)