(09-12-2023, 08:20 AM)Mikey Wrote: It's like learning a foreign language. You may know the words, but fluency takes time of use, demonstration, observation and rehearsal. I'm assuming you're at least in your twenties. Start trying to learn Mandarin, and see how far you are in a year. How often do you still fumble around changes in syntax, or misstate a word, or someone uses words that you haven't developed familiarity yet? Are you fully conversant with someone who's been speaking the language for many years? Can you interact spontaneously based on their contribution?

It's the same thing here - Travon has spent 10+ years at least playing football in a given way, and is being introduced to a new concept/language. At this point, he's got the vocabulary. What we hope to see is the fluency. Will he know when to use which technique, which is the best way to use it, what are the likely responses and then counters to those responses, etc.

It's not the matrix, you can't just download expertise from a flash drive.

I don't think that is a fair comparison.  Besides if my fulltime job was to learn mandarin with professional trainers teaching me around the clock, I'm pretty sure within a year I would make significant gains and I'm not someone who is uncanny in my ability to learn languages.  Plus, I think there are tens of millions of Americans would could get really good at mandarin within a year if that is all they did.  There aren't tens of millions of Americans who would be good at rushing a passer if all they did was train for it.  95% of being of NFL player has nothing to do with training or technique and instead is just pure genetic gifts.  I was halfway decent football player back in high school but had zero chance of the NFL as I don't have the right combination of size and athleticism.  Walker appears to not only be blessed with those genetic gifts but appears to be unusually blessed amongst his peers.  With his raw power he should easily be able to counter a lineman who is overcompensating for that.  To your point he is in a new role so I wouldn't expect to see a wide variety of pass rush moves after a year and a half of professional development.  But how has he not developed at least one thing that is effective and can be used as a counter to his ability to bull rush?  Just one.  Maybe that'll change as the year goes on but he still doesnt seem to have anything other than his natural ability at this point.

Now it is possible that while Walker has all the physical gifts, there is something on the mental side he wasn't blessed with.  Maybe there is some innate ability to recognize when a lineman is leaning back or off balance where you instinctively know to bull rush.  Maybe there is some innate ability to recognize when a lineman is leaning in too much and you can rip around him.  And maybe that is what ultimately separates the elite rushers from the average ones.  They have the required physical tools but also some innate understanding of balance and leverage and how to apply it.  Very possible Walker has been taught a variety of moves but doesnt instinctually know how to use them.

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