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• Don't underrate the sumo's ability to use his hands — especially
to hold — which, though illegal, is vitally important
to offensive line success. For those unfamiliar with sumo
moves, there is a list of sixty moves sumos have used to
end matches since 2000, about twelve of which are the
key sumo moves — http://www.sumotalk.com/rules.htm.
Hand punch is a big deal in sumo — just as it is in the
nFL.
• Don't underrate the sumo's ability to train, and the rigorous
discipline and drive it takes to succeed at the elite
sumo level. A pro sumo would likely be VeRY coachable,
and could probably pick up nFL blocking or run-stuffing
techniques pretty quickly. You give a makuuchi to say, Dallas
oL coach Hudson Houck for one to two years, and I
would not bet against that guy being at least a useful situation
player. Sumos pick up technique astonishingly well.
• Don't underrate the sumo's balance. Consider that to win
a sumo grappling match, a wrestler must force his opponent
to step out of the ring, oR force his opponent to
touch the ground with any part of his body other than
the bottom of his feet. Sumos are exceptional athletes at
leverage; that is a crucial skill for nFL intterior lineman.
• Don't underrate the sumo's toughness. These are four
to five hundred pound men who pummel and slam into
each other at speed WITHoUT PADDInG oR eQUIP-
MenT. That toughness translates exceptionally well to
nFL positional requirements. Rugby players have made
it in the nFL (albeit primarily as kickers so far). Why
not sumos?
• Sumos are athletes; they are not just big, fat guys. These
athletes have great quickness, especially on initial strikes
and blows; that also translates well to the type of interior
line contact they would see in the nFL.
Overall, I don't think a four hundred plus pound sumo
could make it in the NFL as an every-down player. But as
a situational player (goal line; short yardage; etc.), I could
absolutely see it. Anyone who remembers three hundred and
sixty plus pound William "Refrigerator" Perry scoring in Su-
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