Sad. Wish it could've worked out for another year because I don't care too much about what's at the very end of the bench anyways. Good luck to him. Hope he finds some more agility and a role in the NBA.
feel like the odds of him making the team are SlimThe Tacko Celtics Era was brief but very long.
Meh. There would have been a lot of posts about Greg Kite ("pound for pound the least talented player in the NBA") and Eric Fernsten too.Only SoSH could have 756 posts about Tako Fall when the words 'Hmm. Tall.' would have been sufficient He played fewer than 170 minutes, but we loved us some Tako.
Arguably the highlight of his professional career this far. The kid has charisma I’ll give him that.
Unless you consider fouls per minute a talent.Meh. There would have been a lot of posts about Greg Kite ("pound for pound the least talented player in the NBA") and Eric Fernsten too.
Boston sports fans have historically rallied around the last men of the Celtics bench going back to Terry Duerod and Connor Henry. It’s like a right of passage to want the underdog to make his mark. I was going to include ML Carr and his towel waving but it annoys me that too many people forget that the swing man from my alma mater was only a couple years off an All-Star game appearance when he assumed his cheerleader role. (My cross to bear)Meh. There would have been a lot of posts about Greg Kite ("pound for pound the least talented player in the NBA") and Eric Fernsten too.
when you're talking about the least talented person in the NBA, I do!Unless you consider fouls per minute a talent.
(average 2.3 fouls and 2.5 points in 14 min)
Boston sports fans have historically rallied around the last men of the Celtics bench going back to Terry Duerod and Connor Henry. It’s like a right of passage to want the underdog to make his mark. I was going to include ML Carr and his towel waving but it annoys me that too many people forget that the swing man from my alma mater was only a couple years off an All-Star game appearance when he assumed his cheerleader role. (My cross to bear)
I worked for the sneaker company that outfitted Greg Kite (and Sam Vincent and Xavier McDaniel) . Kite wanted money from us for a summer camp, the joke in the office was “what would he teach them, what to do after fouling out?”Unless you consider fouls per minute a talent.
(average 2.3 fouls and 2.5 points in 14 min)
Chuck Nevitt of the 80s Lakers says hello. He was a less-mobile Tacko if memory serves.when you're talking about the least talented person in the NBA, I do!
I don't think there was anyone bigger and less talented. Maybe Tacko takes that bill. At least Greg Kite had a lefty jump hook that he famously showed off during one of the playoff blowouts against the Lakers.
I had forgotten this but Google tells me that Nevitt only weighed 235 so pound for pound, Greg Kite (at 250) would be ahead, or below, him.Chuck Nevitt of the 80s Lakers says hello. He was a less-mobile Tacko if memory serves.
Spot Bilt? Or something like that?I worked for the sneaker company that outfitted Greg Kite (and Sam Vincent and Xavier McDaniel) . Kite wanted money from us for a summer camp, the joke in the office was “what would he teach them, what to do after fouling out?”
You are correct. SpotBilt/Saucony. Same company also owned the PF Flyer brand. And had OJ Simpson as a VP.Spot Bilt? Or something like that?
Nice! I was a Saucony fan for years and only bought their running shows until NB ultimately won me overYou are correct. SpotBilt/Saucony. Same company also owned the PF Flyer brand. And had OJ Simpson as a VP.
Spot Bilt was cool shit to have in the early 1980s, at least in East Somerville it was.Nice! I was a Saucony fan for years and only bought their running shows until NB ultimately won me over
Yeah but there is an enormous difference between Osweiler and Tacko’s wingspan along with the advantage of the latter having years working on the timing of blocking shots. It’s a league of specialists now so in that respect it wouldn’t be that outlandish……I just wouldn’t want to be the company insuring Tacko’s knees if this does come to fruition.The Denver Broncos tried it with a 6'8" backup QB named Brock Osweiler.
I would think someone like Tacko would just get immediately pushed backward off the line far enough where his reach would be neutralized. Someone built like Shaq on the other hand, with his strength and bulk, might be able to maintain his spot and get his hands up into the ball flight zone.Hearing whispers from an ex-Philadelphia Eagles coach that there are advanced discussions about Tacko or a Tacko-like player being utilized as a kick-blocking specialist by an NFL team. I know some have been throwing this around for years. Stay tuned.
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He'd be behind the line, though. Current rules don't allow rushers to engage with the center. That probably means Tacko could stand right over center and time his block. It could work, especially against long dustance kicks.I would think someone like Tacko would just get immediately pushed backward off the line far enough where his reach would be neutralized. Someone built like Shaq on the other hand, with his strength and bulk, might be able to maintain his spot and get his hands up into the ball flight zone.
edit: Is Tacko's reach so crazy that he could be a factor from behind the line, without having to engage with a lineman?
If he could in fact block a decent percentage of long field goal attempts, he absolutely would be worth the roster spot. However, if he only gets his hand on a fraction more of kicks, then no, he wouldn't be worth the spotI'm skeptical that a player whose only value is ability to (maybe) block long field goals would be worth the roster spot.
Indelible TV football memory ahead.If he could in fact block a decent percentage of long field goal attempts, he absolutely would be worth the roster spot. However, if he only gets his hand on a fraction more of kicks, then no, he wouldn't be worth the spot
What if he just affects the kicker enough? By being inside their head and/or causing them to adjust the trajectory enough to decrease make %, especially on longer kicks?If he could in fact block a decent percentage of long field goal attempts, he absolutely would be worth the roster spot. However, if he only gets his hand on a fraction more of kicks, then no, he wouldn't be worth the spot
He'd retire after getting blocked hard, which will happen if he's anywhere near the line.If he could in fact block a decent percentage of long field goal attempts, he absolutely would be worth the roster spot. However, if he only gets his hand on a fraction more of kicks, then no, he wouldn't be worth the spot
Tacko goes like 3 bills.I would think someone like Tacko would just get immediately pushed backward off the line far enough where his reach would be neutralized. Someone built like Shaq on the other hand, with his strength and bulk, might be able to maintain his spot and get his hands up into the ball flight zone.
edit: Is Tacko's reach so crazy that he could be a factor from behind the line, without having to engage with a lineman?
300 pounds is a lot, no doubt, but high center of gravity also makes a big difference. Tacko has no experience being blocked / tackled. Take his awkward, lumbering play on the court and multiply it several times.Tacko goes like 3 bills.
Don't get me wrong--the whole idea is asinine. And Tacko has no experience being hit below the waist by NFL players or anything. But he's 300#. Folks don't just toss aside that kind of weight.
Edit: just checked. Google has him at 311.
I disagree on it being asinine. No NFL should have experience being blocked below the waist on kicks since that isn’t legal. He wouldn’t be positioned ON the line but just behind the lineman who occupy the O-line on every challenged kick now. The only difference is it’s Tacko at 7-6 jumping with arms extended and not a 6-2 safety. There is literally no chance of him being blocked as the O-lineman will a) be occupied by the D-lineman and b) they are not allowed to go downfield on a kick.Don't get me wrong--the whole idea is asinine. And Tacko has no experience being hit below the waist by NFL players or anything. But he's 300#. Folks don't just toss aside that kind of weight.
If his NBA play was any guide, Tacko cant really jump more than a few inches. In all seriousness, someone with some skills could probably use a picture of a FG kick and get some idea how high off the ground it is at various points along the way.I disagree on it being asinine. No NFL should have experience being blocked below the waist on kicks since that isn’t legal. He wouldn’t be positioned ON the line but just behind the lineman who occupy the O-line on every challenged kick now. The only difference is it’s Tacko at 7-6 jumping with arms extended and not a 6-2 safety. There is literally no chance of him being blocked as the O-lineman will a) be occupied by the D-lineman and b) they are not allowed to go downfield on a kick.
There are certain aspects of this scheme which I'm skeptical of, but I don't think it would be outlandish to experiment. As for the bolded part, one of the benefits such a player would bring is that they don't really need to jump much to have some effect whereas a normal athlete needs to jump high and time it perfectly. The tall player could focus more of their attention on getting their arms/hands in the path of the ball. Again, this would be more likely to pay dividends on longer kicks with lower trajectories.If his NBA play was any guide, Tacko cant really jump more than a few inches. In all seriousness, someone with some skills could probably use a picture of a FG kick and get some idea how high off the ground it is at various points along the way.
(The crossbar is 10 feet up, same as a rim, so he certainly might be able to block one at the goal post. The thought of him then trying to run with it is pretty amusing.)
What I mean is that he's not really used to being hit at all. And guys playing out of position, let alone a different sport, bring some serious risks. What's an NFL team planning to pay that FG block specialist, and is it worth him walking away from that money or more from his primary sport.I disagree on it being asinine. No NFL should have experience being blocked below the waist on kicks since that isn’t legal. He wouldn’t be positioned ON the line but just behind the lineman who occupy the O-line on every challenged kick now. The only difference is it’s Tacko at 7-6 jumping with arms extended and not a 6-2 safety. There is literally no chance of him being blocked as the O-lineman will a) be occupied by the D-lineman and b) they are not allowed to go downfield on a kick.
I'm doubtful that this ever happens, but most 7 foot stiffs from the basketball team don't have a 10'2" standing reach. Tacko is elite there.Feel like college teams would have tried this already with some seven foot stiff from the basketball team.
I’m guessing this talk is for when Tacko’s NBA checks stop coming in which really should have been at the end of last year. I can’t imagine them continuing for much longer and the guy is going to need a job…….and apparently there is at least one NFL team seriously considering this.What I mean is that he's not really used to being hit at all. And guys playing out of position, let alone a different sport, bring some serious risks. What's an NFL team planning to pay that FG block specialist, and is it worth him walking away from that money or more from his primary sport.
I agree that his long paws would probably knock down some kicks, and maybe that's worth a roster spot to a team. But is it worth it for Tacko? I'd think not.
I think TL would be better than Tacko despite being at 9'4.I'm doubtful that this ever happens, but most 7 foot stiffs from the basketball team don't have a 10'2" standing reach. Tacko is elite there.
Most NBA draft combines have a top guy around 9'4", and the average 7'0" stiff is closer to 9 flat.
That might be true. But the reason he might be better at this is the same reason why he has way better options.I think TL would be better than Tacko despite being at 9'4.
That isn’t practical though as TL has a 4/$54m NBA contract……while Tacko may be available for camp next summer (or sooner).I think TL would be better than Tacko despite being at 9'4.