Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage

08-05-2017, 01:43 PM

Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage

BY JOEL A. ERICKSON | JERICKSON@THEADVOCATE.COM
AUG 4, 2017 - 4:00 PM

Every night, when the Saints' Ken Crawley heads into the film room to break down his performance in practice, he pops in a tape from last year first.

Crawley likes to see how far he has come.

An undrafted free agent who was forced into heavy action last season after a rash of injuries at cornerback, Crawley knew he would face far tougher competition in camp this year after the addition of first-round draft pick Marshon Lattimore and the returns of Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams. And he also knew the Saints planned to ask their cornerbacks to play more man-to-man this season.

"The only thing I'm worried about right now is perfecting my press technique, because we're going to run a lot of man this year," Crawley said. "We've got to hold up outside this year."

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and the rest of the coaching staff set up a special summer opportunity for the defensive backs to prepare for that tweak.

Crawley, safety Kenny Vaccaro, defensive end Alex Okafor and a group of young defensive backs that included De'Vante Harris, P.J. Williams, Damian Swann, Marcus Williams and Arthur Maulet traveled to Los Angeles in July to train at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center.

For years, Glazer has been using mixed-martial-arts principles to train NFL players at his gym on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Combat sports possess an obvious correlation to the hand fighting and battles that take place on the football field, and Glazer, the longtime Fox Sports reporter, has built workouts that tailor MMA skills to the football field.

"Some of the techniques we used: hand speed, boxing, kickboxing, all of that stuff, the technique of taking down guys," Crawley said. "Bringing the physicality in our games and using the hands — we put more emphasis on that in the offseason."

Few of the players involved had ever trained in combat sports, but the application was obvious.

More here ...

SmashMouth · 08-05-2017, 02:09 PM

That'll stop the PI flags fo' shur'!

Rugby Saint II · 08-05-2017, 02:22 PM

Judo helped my rugby game tremendously. Martial Arts can benefit people in a fight on the street or playing field.

Edt: I've been preaching this for years on the bng. Playing with power and explosiveness along with hand placement will put you in a position to win.

The Dude · 08-05-2017, 02:49 PM

Good thing they aren't in the MMA. They would all get injured climbing into the ring.

Beastmode · 08-05-2017, 04:01 PM

Totally agree. I'm a small dude but just horsing around I have taken down much larger guys due to wrestling in H.S.. The look on their face after releasing them lol! I think it transfers to football. A flying headlock, a shoot for the ankles. One starts understanding the physics of it. I feel sorry though for anyone tackling LF of AD at full speed. I have no answer for that one but help!

The Dude · 08-05-2017, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by Beastmode

Totally agree. I'm a small dude but just horsing around I have taken down much larger guys due to wrestling in H.S.. The look on their face after releasing them lol! I think it transfers to football. A flying headlock, a shoot for the ankles. One starts understanding the physics of it. I feel sorry though for anyone tackling LF of AD at full speed. I have no answer for that one but help!

One swift kick under the kneecap and even the biggest mofo will go down.

neugey · 08-05-2017, 04:17 PM

From yoga to MMA ... are we going to be visiting a witch doctor next?

Crusader · 08-05-2017, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by neugey

From yoga to MMA ... are we going to be visiting a witch doctor next?

Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing?

neugey · 08-05-2017, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Crusader

Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing?

Considering how bad things were with the bounty accusations, figured it's too risky to be caught with voodoo dolls of NFC South rivals.

SmashMouth · 08-05-2017, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Crusader

Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing?

Well the SuperDome I think has that taken care of. If I remember correctly, it's built over some sort of old burial ground or something.

The Girod Street Cemetery Buried Underneath Louisiana's Superdome

08-05-2017, 01:43 PM	#1
Threaded by AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 24,391 Rating: (0 votes - average) Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage BY JOEL A. ERICKSON \| JERICKSON@THEADVOCATE.COM AUG 4, 2017 - 4:00 PM Every night, when the Saints' Ken Crawley heads into the film room to break down his performance in practice, he pops in a tape from last year first. Crawley likes to see how far he has come. An undrafted free agent who was forced into heavy action last season after a rash of injuries at cornerback, Crawley knew he would face far tougher competition in camp this year after the addition of first-round draft pick Marshon Lattimore and the returns of Delvin Breaux and P.J. Williams. And he also knew the Saints planned to ask their cornerbacks to play more man-to-man this season. "The only thing I'm worried about right now is perfecting my press technique, because we're going to run a lot of man this year," Crawley said. "We've got to hold up outside this year." Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and the rest of the coaching staff set up a special summer opportunity for the defensive backs to prepare for that tweak. Crawley, safety Kenny Vaccaro, defensive end Alex Okafor and a group of young defensive backs that included De'Vante Harris, P.J. Williams, Damian Swann, Marcus Williams and Arthur Maulet traveled to Los Angeles in July to train at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable Performance Center. For years, Glazer has been using mixed-martial-arts principles to train NFL players at his gym on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. Combat sports possess an obvious correlation to the hand fighting and battles that take place on the football field, and Glazer, the longtime Fox Sports reporter, has built workouts that tailor MMA skills to the football field. "Some of the techniques we used: hand speed, boxing, kickboxing, all of that stuff, the technique of taking down guys," Crawley said. "Bringing the physicality in our games and using the hands — we put more emphasis on that in the offseason." Few of the players involved had ever trained in combat sports, but the application was obvious. More here ...
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08-05-2017, 02:09 PM	#2
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 36,958 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage That'll stop the PI flags fo' shur'!

08-05-2017, 02:22 PM	#3
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 23,720	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Judo helped my rugby game tremendously. Martial Arts can benefit people in a fight on the street or playing field. Edt: I've been preaching this for years on the bng. Playing with power and explosiveness along with hand placement will put you in a position to win. hagan714 likes this.
	Last edited by Rugby Saint II; 08-05-2017 at 02:33 PM..

08-05-2017, 02:49 PM	#4
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,006	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Good thing they aren't in the MMA. They would all get injured climbing into the ring.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,006

08-05-2017, 04:01 PM	#5
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Totally agree. I'm a small dude but just horsing around I have taken down much larger guys due to wrestling in H.S.. The look on their face after releasing them lol! I think it transfers to football. A flying headlock, a shoot for the ankles. One starts understanding the physics of it. I feel sorry though for anyone tackling LF of AD at full speed. I have no answer for that one but help! Rugby Saint II likes this.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

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08-05-2017, 04:12 PM	#6
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,006	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Originally Posted by Beastmode Totally agree. I'm a small dude but just horsing around I have taken down much larger guys due to wrestling in H.S.. The look on their face after releasing them lol! I think it transfers to football. A flying headlock, a shoot for the ankles. One starts understanding the physics of it. I feel sorry though for anyone tackling LF of AD at full speed. I have no answer for that one but help! One swift kick under the kneecap and even the biggest mofo will go down. Rugby Saint II likes this.
The Dude 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 9,006

08-05-2017, 04:17 PM	#7
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,590 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage From yoga to MMA ... are we going to be visiting a witch doctor next? WillMacKenzie likes this.

08-05-2017, 04:24 PM	#8
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 7,983	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Originally Posted by neugey From yoga to MMA ... are we going to be visiting a witch doctor next? Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing? Seer1 likes this.

08-05-2017, 05:24 PM	#9
neugey Hu Dat! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,590 Blog Entries: 13	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Originally Posted by Crusader Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing? Considering how bad things were with the bounty accusations, figured it's too risky to be caught with voodoo dolls of NFC South rivals.

08-05-2017, 05:51 PM	#10
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 36,958 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Saints secondary taps into MMA training to improve press coverage Originally Posted by Crusader Wouldn't a Voodoo priestess be more our thing? Well the SuperDome I think has that taken care of. If I remember correctly, it's built over some sort of old burial ground or something. The Girod Street Cemetery Buried Underneath Louisiana's Superdome