Roster/Depth Charts

Hey Everyone,

I am from the Gold Coast, Australia and have just started to look into Gridiron and have chosen to support the Houston Texan's in the NFL. I do play Rugby Union but am thinking of giving this game a go at the end of next season(Rugby Season).

One Question I do have, what happens to all the dudes that are on the roster and in the Depth Charts. Do they play for feeder teams to keep themselves game fit or do they just train and not play generaly?

I am also interested in the season length, compared to our football seasons in Australia the NFL season looks around 1 1/2 months too short Is there any second tier comp that players participate in before the NFL season.

Looking forward to reading your results and go the Texans

bruski said:

Hey Everyone,
One Question I do have, what happens to all the dudes that are on the roster and in the Depth Charts. Do they play for feeder teams to keep themselves game fit or do they just train and not play generaly?

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Most of them have holidays after the Superbowl until the training units start again in early May. After the draft there come a lot of mini training camps, throwing camps etc. But until that time you get an offseason condition program from your coaches to do by yourself or in the team facilities under guidance.

bruski said:

I am also interested in the season length, compared to our football seasons in Australia the NFL season looks around 1 1/2 months too short Is there any second tier comp that players participate in before the NFL season.

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In August you have four pre-season game comparable to warm-ups or simple tests for unexperienced players. Then follows the 17 week schedule with 16 games for each team till the end of the year. In January the playoffs finishing with the Superbowl.

After that there's also a spring league that takes place in Europe (NFLE) with 6 teams. Usually players without contracts or young unexperienced ones were send over there to compete and get game time. This League goes over 10 weeks, usually being finsihed in time for the Training Camps of the NFL. But there aren't a lot of NFLE players getting into the NFL.

Hope i Could help.

That does shed a little light on the situation, thanks CrumplerFan. One question is what are throwing camps, i cant figure that one out.

CrumplerFan said:

After the draft there come a lot of mini training camps, throwing camps etc.

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Thanks again.

Throwing camp is a specialised version of the later training camp. The training camp brings all players together: Some currently with contract, some for tryouts. Makes around 80 players. This number get cut done till the first regular season game to 53 and 8 players on the practice suad.

Throwing camp is a camp only for QB and his Receivers. The Oline or defense can stay home some more days. They only go through the plays, try to get the rhythm going or see each other the first time in case of a Rookie or Free Agent addition.

If I can help you with something else let me know. BTW i always thought that Rugby fans think of American Football as a bit tame, don't they?

Hey Guys,

Making more sense to me now.

CrumplerFan said:

BTW i always thought that Rugby fans think of American Football as a bit tame, don't they?

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I think most Rugby players do think that Gridiron is not as tough as our game, you mob wear protective gear yadda yadda yadda, i am sure you have heard it all before. I think that is a little unfair and as I have not played Gridiron yet I will reserve my judgment till then.

I am going to give it a go next year and will hopefully do OK at it, not sure what Position I will be at but I guess I could provide a more precise opinion on this age old debate.

bruski said:

I think most Rugby players do think that Gridiron is not as tough as our game, you mob wear protective gear yadda yadda yadda, i am sure you have heard it all before. I think that is a little unfair and as I have not played Gridiron yet I will reserve my judgment till then.

I am going to give it a go next year and will hopefully do OK at it, not sure what Position I will be at but I guess I could provide a more precise opinion on this age old debate.

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What are the biggest guys you play against? Any 350lb mammoths like in our football?

I dont know pounds, but we generally do not get above 120Kg's, the reason behind that though is that we have to be mobile and play a full continuous 80 (two forty minute halfs.) minutes which generally makes your weight drop.

We had a gridiron player for my rugby team last year, he was very hard hitting, could tackle like a machine. The only issue was that he could not play more than 15 minutes of our game before he had to go off, when you go off in Rugby you stay off.

So in saying that I think the two games a different beast's and you cannot draw direct parralels between them.

bruski said:

I dont know pounds, but we generally do not get above 120Kg's, the reason behind that though is that we have to be mobile and play a full continuous 80 (two forty minute halfs.) minutes which generally makes your weight drop.

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If one kg is measured as in Europe, 120 kg would be around 275 american pounds, i think. And eighty minutes is quite a lot for one game.

I goto say that 370 pounds is quite big. Could I imagine tackling one of them dudes.