USA Football has selected Jacksonville Jaguars kicker JOSH SCOBEE to its third annual USA Football All-Fundamentals Team, which honors 26 NFL players – 11 offense, 11 defense, four special teams – who exhibit exemplary football techniques for youth players to emulate.
USA Football's All-Fundamentals Team recognizes NFL players at each offensive and defensive position as well as four special teams positions. Employing proper technique, particularly when blocking and tackling, fosters better on-field performance and inherent safety benefits.
Year in and year out, Scobee has been consistent and accurate because of great kicking fundamentals. Game after game, he keeps his head focused on the ball and lands a powerful strike with the center of his foot to send the ball downfield.
USA Football, the sport's national governing body in the United States, is the official youth football development partner of the Jaguars, the NFL and each of the league's other 31 teams.
Each player chosen for the All-Fundamentals Team will receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football to donate to the youth or high school football program of his choice. USA Football also will present selected players with a custom-made Riddell helmet trophy.
Employing core football fundamentals advances a youth player's performance and safety, particularly in the areas of blocking and tackling. USA Football has educated more than 75,000 youth football coaches in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., through its online courses and single-day coaching clinics since 2006. Approximately 3 million American children age 6-14 play organized tackle football, placing it among the country's most popular youth sports.
The USA Football All-Fundamentals Team was assembled by a five-person selection committee:
- CHARLES DAVIS, USA Football spokesperson, football analyst for NFL Network and FOX Sports
- HERM EDWARDS, ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL head coach
- MERRIL HOGE, USA Football board member, ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL running back
- JIM MORA, USA Football Tackle Advisory Committee member, UCLA head coach
- CARL PETERSON, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach
NFL game footage showing USA Football All-Fundamentals Team players' techniques is available at www.usafootball.com/all-fundamentals-team.
2011 USA Football All-Fundamentals Team – Offense:
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Aaron Rodgers
QB
Green Bay Packers
Throwing mechanics
Arian Foster
RB
Houston Texans
Following blocks/ball security
Michael Robinson
FB
Seattle Seahawks
Run blocking
Eric Decker
WR
Denver Broncos
Catching with hands
Donald Driver
WR
Green Bay Packers
Catching with hands
Heath Miller
TE
Pittsburgh Steelers
Run blocking/catching
Nick Mangold
C
New York Jets
Run blocking/combo block
David Diehl
G
New York Giants
Run blocking
Carl Nicks
G
New Orleans Saints
Run blocking/drive block
Jordan Gross
T
Carolina Panthers
Run blocking/combo block
Joe Thomas
T
Cleveland Browns
Pass blocking footwork
2011 USA Football All-Fundamentals Team – Defense:
* *
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Tamba Hali
DE
Kansas City Chiefs
Pass rush
Julius Peppers
DE
Chicago Bears
Defeating a block
Haloti Ngata
DT
Baltimore Ravens
Defeating a block/arm over rush
Justin Smith
DT
San Francisco 49ers
Defeating a block/bull rush
Sean Lee
LB
Dallas Cowboys
Tackling
Patrick Willis
LB
San Francisco 49ers
Defeating a block/tackling
NaVorro Bowman
LB
San Francisco 49ers
Gaining ground downhill/tackling
Brent Grimes
CB
Atlanta Falcons
Pass coverage
Charles Woodson
CB
Green Bay Packers
Playing the ball
Malcolm Jenkins
S
New Orleans Saints
Breaking up the pass
Eric Weddle
S
San Diego Chargers
Footwork in coverage
* *
2011 USA Football All-Fundamentals Team – Special Teams:
* *
NAME
POS.
TEAM
FUNDAMENTAL SKILL
Devin Hester
KR-PR
Chicago Bears
Kick catching/returning
Cullen Loeffler
LS
Minnesota Vikings
Long snapping mechanics
Josh Scobee
K
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kicking mechanics
Shane Lechler
P
Oakland Raiders
Punting mechanics
About USA Football: USA Football, the sport's national governing body in the United States, 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 football development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference. 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 the NFL Players Association in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
