Updated: Friday 30th October
After NFL UK ambassador Osi Umenyiora revealed that two World Cup stars had been offered the chance to move to the NFL, we dug out our all-Irish rugby player NFL team from last November (That's why Gordon D'Arcy is involved).
The idea was to determine how it would look if the Irish rugby team were instead an American Football team.
The criteria was pretty simple, current Irish rugby players make up the squad. Skill players in skill positions, big people in big people positions, and although not everyone will agree with our selections, we explain why we picked who we picked, and why they would go 16-0 in an NFL regular season.
Offence:
Quarterback:
Poor Johnny Manziel will have to hand over his title of Johnny Football, as Johnny Sexton is absolutely everything that an All-American Quarterback embodies (apart from being American in any way). Incredible vision, a great pass, scrambling ability, and the toughness to take big hits and get up quickly make Sexton the natural choice as leader of the offence.
Running Back:
Gordon D'Arcy is our best bet at the running back spot. His quick feet and eye for a gap give him big play potential, and the fact that he has never been brought down behind the gain line (or line of scrimmage in this case) makes him a three-down back.
Full Back:
Sean Cronin is probably the only player in this list who could go and play in the NFL next week, so perfect is his transition to the full back position. A short yardage battering ram, Cronin will pound the ball over for the TD and pick-up his blocks on passing downs.
Wide Receiver:
Ireland's flying wingers Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo would make great wideouts. Their speed, agility, and handling make this decision a no-brainer.
Tight End:
Jamie Heaslip would be best used in the TE spot, in a Rob Gronkowski/Jimmy Graham role. Size, speed, and good hands make Heaslip a miss-match for the defence, and he could put in a block in the run-game too.
Offensive Line:
This is pretty self explanatory, the grunts put in the grunt work, and Rory Best is handed the additional responsibility of snapping the ball due to his responsibilities at the hooker position.
Slot Receiver:
Ian Madigan is our slot receiver, think Percey Harvin, Wes Welker, or Cole Beasley. A play-maker who doesn't quite suit one position, but must be accommodated in the offence due to his ability. See the connection?
Back-Up QB:
While some may see this as an insult, it really isn't. Conor Murray is our backup QB. A player who knows the offence inside and out, who has playmaking ability and leadership skills, Murray will have to settle for holding the ball for field goals until Sexton gets injured.
Defence:
Nose Tackle:
Cian Healy is the obvious choice as the nose tackle in our 3-4 Defence due to his strength. Healy will have to be double teamed in order to keep him away from the QB, and will use his strength to stuff the run.
Defensive End:
Paul O'Connell will lead the defence ala J.J. Watt as his tears through the offensive line to sack the QB. Devin Toner on the other side is just a complete nuisance for an offensive line, and the added bonus of quarterbacks not being able to throw over his head, which effectively nullifiedsthe passing attack.
Middle Linebacker:
There will be NOTHING available over the centre of the field with Peter O'Mahony and Sean O'Brien destroying everything that comes near them. These two will organise the troops and strike fear into the heart of anyone who tries to make a play.
Outside Linebacker:
Both Chris Henry and Rhys Ruddock will play on the outside and drop back into coverage when not committing to the run, two ball winners to sweep up and create turn-overs.
Cornerback:
The Kearney Bros are tasked with stopping the opposition in the passing attack and we couldn't be happier with these roles as Dave will stick to his man and allow no separation, while Rob will back off and try to bait the QB into a mistake, as well as being unbeatable under a high ball in Hail Mary situations.
Strong Safety:
Jared Payne will offer additional cover in the passing defence and look to make a play wherever possible, his tackling and positional awareness are key here.
Free Safety:
Robbie Henshaw is at FS to provide big hits when facing the run. Again positional awareness is a big plus in defending the pass, but Henshaw is there to lay the wood.
The Result:
A 16-0 season. Johnny Sexton pulls the strings as Bowe and Zebo rack up the yards. D'Arcy's gains on the ground make it impossible for teams to guess what is coming next, and Madigan lights the league up when he appears in the slot. Jamie Heaslip leads the team in TD receptions and Sean Cronin comes away with 10 touchdowns despite only rushing for 25 total yards.
On D, Healy ensures that no team gains more than 20 yards of total rushing offence, while Paul O'Connell leads the league in sacks. O'Mahony and O'Brien ensure that no passes are completed over the middle, and Dave and Rob Kearney share the lead for most interceptions in the league.
