USA Football, the sport���s national governing body, and the NFL Players Association have selected Buffalo Bills guardERIC WOOD to the 2010 USA Football/NFL Players Association All-Fundamentals Team.
Twenty-six (26) NFL players (11 offense, 11 defense, 4 special teams) are chosen for this annual distinction based on an ability to consistently execute the fundamentals of their positions and for making a positive impact in their communities.
���Eric has been selected as the top linemen for displaying his run blocking and pulling abilities," said Bills offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris. "He does an outstanding job on the field and contributes to the community off the field. He���s a giving person and his skills displayed on the field really shows his dedication to this sport. It���s an honor for the Buffalo Bills and the offensive line of the Buffalo Bills, and it���s a prestigious honor for Eric Wood.���
The USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team gives youth football players examples of how to properly play the sport and show concern for others off the field. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL and NFLPA.
Employing core football fundamentals advances a youth player���s performance and safety, particularly in the areas of blocking and tackling. USA Football teaches the game's fundamentals and inherent values through more than 80 annual training events and innovative football training resources employed by its members who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Wood gets out in front of the Bills��� rushing attack with his ability to pull on running plays, displaying the kind of mechanics young players should emulate.
���It���s something I take pride in," said Wood. "My technique and fundamentals are important to me. Learning a new position last year has presented some new challenges and trying to master the nuances of a new position��� I���ve only been playing it about a year and a half and (I'm) swinging to center now. It���s been fun learning a new position and focusing on those techniques.���
Off the field, Wood serves the Buffalo community in a number of ways including making school visits and participating in events supporting the youth of Western New York. The political science major in his second year from Louisville also helps raise money for Buffalo-area veterans groups.
In 2010, Wood helped dedicate a playground in Niagara Falls that was built as a part of the Buffalo Bills Play 60 Initiative. He attended the Buffalo Bills fall kickoff dinner in September along with 10 of his teammates, and attended the Brian Moorman P.U.N.T. Foundation charity dinner which supports children with cancer. Recently, Wood attended the NFL Back to Football Friday Play 60 Super School Celebration at Armor Elementary School in Hamburg, NY. He also visited with donors, took pictures and signed autographs at the Buffalo Bills Red Cross Blood Drive.
In 2009 Wood participated in the Toyota Rookie Club, visiting with children from Camp Good Days, Northwest Buffalo Community Center and the Buffalo Bills holiday party for children.
The 2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team was chosen by a seven-person selection committee:
- Jason Belser, USA Football board member, NFLPA senior director of player services and former NFL player
- Tom Carter, NFLPA regional director and former NFL player
- Herm Edwards, ESPN NFL analyst, former NFL head coach and former NFL player
- Scottie Graham, NFLPA regional director and former NFL player
- Merril Hoge, USA Football board member, ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL player
- Larry Kennan, NFL Coaches Association executive director and former NFL assistant coach
- Carl Peterson, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach
Game-action clips supplied by NFL Films and related video from USA Football���s drills library found at www.allfundamentalsteam.com spotlight All-Fundamentals Team players��� techniques. The video is accompanied by teaching points offering youth coaches and players instruction for every position.
As part of this honor, All-Fundamentals Team players will designate a youth or high school football program that will receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football. Each player also receives an All-Fundamentals Team helmet trophy produced by Riddell, the official protective equipment partner of USA Football and the official helmet of the NFL.
2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team ��� Offense:
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Davone Bess
WR
Route running and catching
Kevin Walter
WR
Catching with hands
Jason Witten
TE
Catching with hands
LaDainian Tomlinson
RB
N.Y. Jets
Following blocks and proper cuts
Vonta Leach
FB
Houston Texans
Run blocking
Aaron Rodgers
QB
Throwing mechanics
Jake Long
T
Miami Dolphins
Hands in pass protection
Michael Roos
T
Pass blocking footwork
Casey Wiegmann
C
Snapping and blocking
Brian Waters
G
Kansas City Chiefs
Run blocking footwork
*Eric Wood *
G
Buffalo Bills
Pulling and run blocking
2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team ��� Defense:
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Justin Tuck
DE
N.Y. Giants
Finding the ball
Kyle Vanden Bosch
DE
Pass rush take off
Haloti Ngata
DT
Pass rush bull rush
Jay Ratliff
DT
Dallas Cowboys
Pass rush use of leverage
Barrett Ruud
LB
Form tackling
Jonathan Vilma
LB
Angle tackling
LaMarr Woodley
LB
Shedding blocks
Champ Bailey
CB
Playing the ball
Antoine Winfield
CB
Coverage and agility
Antoine Bethea
S
Open-field tackling
Darren Sharper
S
New Orleans Saints
Breaking up the pass
2010 USA Football/NFLPA All-Fundamentals Team ��� Special Teams:
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Joshua Cribbs
KR/PR
Kick catching and returning
Jason Hanson
K
Detroit Lions
Kicking mechanics
Sam Koch
P
Baltimore Ravens
Punting mechanics
Patrick Mannelly
LS
Long-snapping mechanics
About USA Football:USA Football, the sport's national governing body, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and awards $1 million annually in equipment grants to youth and high school football programs based on merit and need. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
