Moran Norris: Good Fundamentals?

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2009 8:25 AM PST Comment 10 comments

As was printed in the laudable San Francisco Chronicle (that's how you conjugate the verb "to laugh," right?), Moran Norris was given an award for his strong fundamentals. I'll excerpt it here, because paraphrasing would really do no justice.

Fullback Moran Norris was named to the initial "All-Fundamentals" team, a joint project by the NFL Players Association and USA Football, governing body for youth and amateur football. Norris and 25 others were named to the team for being fundamentally sound players and for their service to their communities.

Link.

It's unclear exactly what this is rewarding. I mean, fundamentals are pretty intangible when you think about it. But I don't think they're too far off. Moran Norris is a hard worker. He really tucks his shirt in the right way. Come game time, he's always at the stadium. His shoes are never on the wrong feet. When he's told to go play fullback, he lines up on the field just like he's a real fullback.

The page doesn't list the other 25 players who made the team, and so I got to thinking who else could have made it. Starting quarterback Jay Cutler. Starting tailback Steve Slaton! I heard that Kwame Harris was nominated to the team but was disqualified for being unemployed.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to come up with a community list of players who you would elect to this so-called "all fundamentals" team. Who, like Moran Norris, just plays the game the way it's "supposed" to be played? Really, go nuts.

Please be assured that I am making this FanPost in jest, and that while I do not specifically know what projects Moran Norris is involved in to better his community, I do not in any way want to belittle those efforts or suggest that they are unworthy or uncommendable. Community service is an excellent thing to be rewarded for, and I'm proud to say that we have players like Moran Norris on our team who are committed to helping the community, even if it would also be nice to have players on our team who are equally committed to not missing blocks.

Poll

Your reaction to hearing that Moran Norris is being rewarded for his "fundamentals"?

LOL

3 votes

LMAO

8 votes

ROFL

6 votes

I don't want to make a joke vote in this poll because I want to acknowledge and extend my appreciation for the great things that Norris has done for the community.

19 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments

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Comments

Rest of the team

I actually got a press release about this, and kinda was thinking what you were thinking. According to the release it was for run blocking fundamentals. Here’s the rest of the team (it was one for each position):

Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Clady, Joe Thomas, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Saturday, Larry Fitzgerald, Wes Welker, Ryan Grant, Drew Brees, Osi Umenyiora (wasn’t he just demoted), Kyle Vanden Bosch, Darnell Dockett, Haloti Ngata, Mike Vrabel, London Fletcher, Demarcus Ware, Cortland Finnegan, Nnamdi Asomugha, Troy Polamalu, Eric Weddle, David Akers, Brian Moorman, David Binn (long snapper), Clifton Smith (KR)

by Fooch on Dec 11, 2009 9:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Beat me to the punch!

I don't know about that, to the groin.

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2009 9:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s the link to the full team:

http://www.allfundamentalsteam.com/

And Moran Norris’ individual page:

http://www.allfundamentalsteam.com/roster/player/7

Moran Norris is the All-Fundamentals Team Fullback for his ability to run block out of the backfield. He fires out toward the defender, stays low on contact and drives his legs until the whistle blows.

During the offseason, Norris can be found working within his community through the Moran Norris Foundation – an organization seeking to help Houston area students become champions in athletics, character and education.

Which is certainly a good thing.

I don't know about that, to the groin.

by howtheyscored on Dec 11, 2009 9:23 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ulbrich

I’d like to think that someone like Jeff Ulbrich would be right up there with Moran Norris. Maybe he doesn’t have the same community contribution that Norris does?

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2009 10:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Norris has horrible blocking fundamentals

His basic blocking technique seems to be a cut block, which leaves him on his face.

Yes Drew K, Tim Tebow will get picked in the first round.

by smileyman on Dec 11, 2009 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hang on, I've spotted a link ...

… Umenyiora was born and raised in London. London Fletcher is called London. Jeff Saturday is called Saturday and we have one of those EVERY week in London. We get a nice Brees coming in off the sea, being an island, and Ware is a town quite near to where I live, just outside London. So fundamentally, you have to be from London to be fundamental. I therefore am more fundamental than anyone else here. Right?

"This could be another Very Special Team" ... Superbowl winning Niners lineman Dan Audick ...

by LondonNiner on Dec 11, 2009 1:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs