British stone. JOSEPH, Mo. — Last month, Louis Rees-Zammit laughed as he shared how much he wanted to experience his first full-contact hit as an NFL player. Former Wells football star Rees-Zammit joined the Kansas City Chiefs in March knowing he was only days away from his first training camp practice wearing full pads.
“I can’t wait to see the difference,” Rees-Zammit said.
His real “Welcome to the NFL” moment came on the morning of July 28, when the intensity level surprised him, the Chiefs’ third consecutive padded practice. Reese-Zammit’s one-on-one drill that day is one that every running back in the NFL must endure: A blitzing linebacker or safety rushes into the backfield, and the running back’s only job is to prevent the defender from reaching the quarterback.
Opposite Reese-Zammit on the field is linebacker Cole Christiansen, who, like Reese-Zammit, is trying to earn the final spot on the Chiefs’ original 53-man roster. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes puts the ball in his pocket and Christiansen attacks from the B gap. After the hit, Reese-Zammit lost his impact and found he could seriously lose reps blocking passes. Christiansen eliminated Rees-Zammit.
“It is Very physical,” Rees-Zammit said after Wednesday’s training. “I had to learn to adapt and get my height down. In rugby, it’s not a big deal. You get hit pretty hard here. It’s a completely different sport to be honest.
“I’ve never had to pass protection before. It’s actually illegal in rugby. I had to pick it up as quickly as possible. I wasn’t going to be great in the first place.
#chiefs Louis Rees-Zammit takes over in pass protection during Sunday’s training camp practice pic.twitter.com/BLjhyi0ZLC
— Aaron Ladd (@aaronladdtv) July 28, 2024
Still, reps like the one against Christiansen are to be expected. No rookie on the Chiefs’ 91-man roster is as new to the game as 23-year-old Reese-Zammit, who will play when the Chiefs take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in their preseason opener on Saturday. Playing his first organized rugby game.
For Rees-Zammit, Saturday’s game — and training camp, for that matter — was about showing the Chiefs how quickly he learns and improves with each new experience on the football field.
Just seconds after his most embarrassing moment of training camp, Rees-Zammit stood up, wiped sweat from his eyes, and returned to his two-point stance. When the next one-on-one came up — again against Christiansen — Reese-Zammit did a better job of withstanding his teammate’s force, pushing him away from Mahomes.
“This transition has been great for him,” Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco said of Reese-Zammit. “As a (leader) player in the (running back) room, (I) said in his ear, ‘Keep working hard, keep getting the job done.'”
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With just three exhibition games before Aug. 27, the NFL’s annual reduction date, Reese-Zammit will try to do with the Chiefs what he has done in football: perform faster than anyone expected.
At the age of 18, he signed his first professional contract with Gloucester, becoming the club’s youngest-ever Premier League player. Reese-Zammit was also an impact player as a rookie. Not only was he Gloucester’s youngest European try-scorer in 2019, but he also managed 12 tries in 15 games, progressing at a pace not often seen in professional rugby. One of world rugby’s emerging wingers, his most undeniable attribute is his elite pace, which has earned him the nickname “Rees-Lightning”.
Fans were fascinated by Rees-Zhamit’s confident playing style, appearance and youthful desire to become an international celebrity.
In 2021, Rees-Zammit helped his native Wales win the Six Nations Championship. He also produced his biggest highlight of the game, a crucial game-winning try that showcased his vast array of skills – speed, hand-eye coordination and daring creativity. In the final minutes of the away game against Scotland, Rees-Zammit caught the ball outside the pitch knowing he only had one defender to beat. The sprinting Rees-Zammit cut the ball past the defender with his right foot before sprinting past him and catching the ball on the first bounce to win the game.
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In 32 games for Wales, he scored 14 goals.
A few months after the Six Nations, Rees-Zammit received one of the greatest honors in the sport: he was named a member of the British and Irish Lions squad, which features players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. But in the 2022 offseason, he began a career change, working with longtime performance coach Chip Smith in Atlanta in hopes of becoming a viable NFL player. Professional athletes.
“I achieved everything I wanted in rugby,” Rees-Zammit said in early May. “I’ve always wanted to live in the United States. This is the perfect time to try to make it in the NFL and live here.
the winner #GUINNESSIXNATIONS Try the winner is…🥁Louis Rees-Zammit! 👏 pic.twitter.com/yUR12z8lwE
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) April 5, 2021
Rees-Zammit’s transfer to the NFL is the biggest success for the league’s International Player Pathway program since its launch in 2017, which recruits athletes from around the world in the hope of improving the league’s international player pool. At his pro day last month, he rushed for yards in 4.43 seconds in front of scouts from 31 NFL teams.
He signed a three-year, $2.83 million contract with the Chiefs because he wanted to join a Super Bowl contender and believed coach Andy Reid could best utilize his skills as a versatile running back. role. General manager Brett Veach said the Chiefs are committed to giving Reese-Zammit ample time to show what he can do in the NFL. Even if Rees-Zammit struggles in the preseason, much of his rookie season could be spent on the practice squad to further develop his skills.
“We knew he had unbelievable top speed,” linebacker Drew Tranquill said of Reese-Zammit. “He has to learn pro passes, how to sit down and how to take blocks. He has to understand the ins and outs of the game, but he’s a great athlete and that will come over time.
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Since joining the Chiefs, Reese-Zammit has earned the admiration of his teammates with his passion for learning as much as possible about the game, the business of the NFL and how to best utilize his skills as a running back.
“Anything I can learn from these boys who have been in this sport for so long is amazing,” Rees-Zammit said. “Isiah helped me a lot.”
Pacheco often teaches the Reese-Zammit technique during individual training sessions. In a video released by the Chiefs, Pacheco gave Reese-Zammit pass-blocking advice, sharing the same lesson he learned from Jerick McKinnon as a rookie two years ago.
“We can all help each other”
Chiefs starting RB Isiah Pacheco is awesome coaching Louis Rees-Zammit (via @chiefs) pic.twitter.com/1oMMX08jVr
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) July 31, 2024
The 6-foot-2 Rees-Zammit gained 16 pounds over the summer and reported to training camp at 209 pounds to help him better prepare to endure the league’s conditioning regimen. He didn’t miss a single session, and despite training in warmer temperatures than he was used to, he still showed endurance and strong physical attributes. Certain details have also been improved, such as aligning with his pre-snap posture and body language when lining up so he doesn’t tip off defenders about the upcoming play.
“The biggest difference is just mental,” he said. “I’ve been studying the playbook hard because once I can play fast, that’s the most important thing. We don’t finish the meeting until 8 p.m., so I spent an extra two hours studying plays , because I’m catching up and I don’t have time to rest and I have to give it my all because this is ultimately my dream.
“The No. 1 goal is to build the team. I know special teams is going to be huge for me.
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For Reese-Zammit, the best and most direct way to earn a spot on the roster is as a great kickoff returner. After most of practice, special teams coordinator Dave Toub named Rees-Zammit and receiver Nikko Remigio as the Chiefs’ two go-to players. A kickoff receiver.
“We always tell the guys, there are three or four guys that are on the team because of their special teams,” Reed said of Reese-Zammit and Remigio. “These two guys may fall into that category, but they still have to be good at their positions. In order for them to be a team, they have to help in that area.
Toub believes Reese-Zammit could be the perfect player to comply with the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
Louis Rees-Zammit kicks back 👀 pic.twitter.com/VYiD7qrOMW
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) July 31, 2024
The NFL modified the kickoff to bring the game back to reality. Last season’s kickoff return rate was only 21.8%, the lowest in the league’s 104-year history. Super Bowl XVIII did not kick off. League officials hope to increase the return rate to at least 30% this season.
The Chiefs hope Rees-Zammit can combine the ball-carrying skills he perfected in rugby with the ever-improving vision, acceleration and elusiveness he displayed in training camp with the ball in the open field. Making an impact on preseason kickoff returns.
“We’re trying to get him up to speed as best we can,” Toub said of Rees-Zammit. “He’s great. He’s done a great job as a returner.
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Reese-Zammit didn’t just join the Chiefs to be known as a kickoff returner.
He wants to keep the ball in his hands as much as possible and prove to the Chiefs that he can be a competent running back. He also hopes to succeed for his father, Joseph Zammit, who introduced him to the NFL. Rees-Zammit grew up in Penarth, Wales, attending many NFL games with his father, who was so passionate about American football that he became a member of the British Football Association in 1987. He plays receiver and running back for the Cardiff Tigers of the American Football Association.
“I told him about training camp and how hard it was,” Rees-Zammit said of his father. “He’s been giving me some tips and tricks on pass protection — getting close, shooting, getting my length down.”
Stack those reps ⚡️ @LouisReesZammit pic.twitter.com/dK3IeHbwfh
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 28, 2024
Rees-Zammit has had some small wins in training camp. The Chiefs’ first padded practice was tough for Rees-Zammit, who was hit and tackled again and again behind the line of scrimmage. The next day, he missed an open track and instead hit the back of tight end Owen Smith Jr. Vision and patience, representing the finish without a defender touching him.
Reese-Zammit’s most impressive performance last week came as a receiver during a one-on-one drill with linebacker Leo Chenauer. Rees-Zammit flashed speed on a small drop route near the sideline, bursting past Chenal, tracking a long pass and catching the ball 30 yards downfield. Reese-Zammit even won a one-on-one battle with rookie linebacker Swizz Bozeman in pass protection, and Pacheco yelled in celebration.
“I’m extremely proud of myself and the journey I’ve been on,” Rees-Zammit said.
For Rees-Zammit, one of the highlights of Saturday’s game is that his parents, Joseph and Maxine, will be watching from the stands at Everbank Stadium.
“Oh, he’s just as excited as I am,” Rees-Zammit said of his father. “Being able to put on the uniform and embrace this moment will be amazing and a dream come true. I’m going to go out there, focus on my job and give it my all.
(Photo: Danny Medley/USA Today)
