Louis Rees-Zammit has acknowledged that he is still coming to terms with the complexity of studying NFL playbooks since making the transition from rugby union to American football earlier this year.

The 23-year-old flyer swapped sports codes in January and underwent an intense 10-week training course as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program (IPP).

In March, the ex-Wales and Gloucester representative signed a contract with the Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs but unfortunately he struggled to learn the nuances of his new sport quickly enough.

Part of Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad

That led to him failing to make the Chiefs’ 53-man NFL roster but he received a lifeline when the Jacksonville Jaguars came in and added him to their practice squad.

Rees-Zammit‘s NFL career is yet to take off and moving from the Chiefs to the Jaguars meant he had to study different playbooks and what made things even more complicated is that he changed positions from playing as a running back to a wide receiver.

“Yes, it’s definitely a tough experience,” he told reporters. “You know, obviously when I first joined the Chiefs playing running back, I was trying to obviously learn that playbook and learn that role.

“And you probably have to learn a lot less than you do if you’re a receiver.

Louis Rees-Zammit makes honest admission on the transition from rugby to NFL

“You need to know all the routes, you need to know all the concepts, all the formations (as a receiver). So, you know, when I joined the Jags, it’s taken a lot of my time because I want to try and learn this as quick as possible to be able to go out there and not have to think when I’m playing.

“I just want to be able to play fast and kind of know everything, you know, stepping up to the line.

“So I’d say it’s taken up a lot of time, but I’m here and I want to be here.

“So I know it’s going to take a lot to get an opportunity, but I know what I’ve got to do and I’ve got to just focus on the small details and then wait for an opportunity to come.”

Although studying two different playbooks must have been very difficult for Rees-Zammit, it also helped with his development as a professional American football player and he’s just happy that he has finally settled on a position.

“I mean one of the big things for me was finding a position that would suit me best,” he said. “And unfortunately it didn’t work out at the Chiefs and playing running back, we figured out that that probably wasn’t the best position for me.

Happy with new position

“Coming here and the Jags giving me the opportunity to play receiver and I feel like that position suits me a lot more.

“It allows me to use my speed a lot more than it did at running back. Just little things like that. So, you know, I’m so happy to be here.

“And as I said, I’m loving it.”

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