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Introduction and First Presser
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Rising quickly through the rankings and looking likely to be the first feature back to go in this draft, O'Connell has proved to be a real prospect in the run up to tonight. As a Scot in America, the only Pittsburgh declarant for this draft, he's a unique player and many believe he can be a leader in the locker room. Though only time can tell with much of the above, Kieran is here today to shed some light on whatever might concern you.
So, fire away.
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Perhaps he was simply thrown into the ring too early. Unlike Hayne, I've had four years to make my transition - whereas Hayne had only four games - and I've more than proven my capability to step up to the stage in this new sport.
As it is, I've been thrown instead into a situation which most prospects could only dream of. In many ways, Colorado are the most complete team in this league and personally I'm sure they're certainly the most talented. If falling in the draft means I've the opportunity to be a part of that, then I'm happy.
Introduction and First Presser
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Rising quickly through the rankings and looking likely to be the first feature back to go in this draft, O'Connell has proved to be a real prospect in the run up to tonight. As a Scot in America, the only Pittsburgh declarant for this draft, he's a unique player and many believe he can be a leader in the locker room. Though only time can tell with much of the above, Kieran is here today to shed some light on whatever might concern you.
So, fire away.
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BenderRodriguez Wrote:1) Can you describe the excitement you're feeling for the draft tonight?I'm trying the best not to get excited, but it's not easy going - It's hard not to give in to the spectacle of it all. At the moment, it's home comforts, cold beer and just doing my best to keep a calm head.
Tomen Wrote::interview: 2. How long did it take you to get used to the culture in the States?
BenderRodriguez Wrote:2) How has the transition between living in Scotland and America been?The move's been fairly easy if I'm honest. Luckily, I'm coming from a country that generally Americans have a very positive attitude to so I've always been made to feel right at home and some more. The only real barrier's been the accent, but even then most people love it so I can't complain.
BenderRodriguez Wrote:3) As we wind down closer to the draft, which team do you feel has its eye on you the closest?I've been in conversations with a couple of GMs, so I won't be giving away any secrets on these ones. What I can say is that teams have been talking about taking me anywhere between the third and the seventh rounds.
BenderRodriguez Wrote:4) You are labelled as an all-purpose back, but what are your thoughts on screen plays and swing passes as opposed to running between the tackles?I'm more than capable as a receiver and have been utilised making both routes in college, so I have full confidence I can continue to be an option running wide out the backfield in the NSFL.
BenderRodriguez Wrote:5) Do you ever miss playing rugby or running track?Aye, definitely. I'm of course committed to football now, but I still watch rugby and play touch when I can. While nothing beats the intensity of football, I do miss the non-stop action and brutal physicality of a rugby match. Maybe in eight, ten years time I can look at dropping the pads and taking my chances back over the pond.
theFlock Wrote:1.) How long have you been studying American Football?I've been studying since I was 16 and obviously I've been lucky enough to add to that with playing experience over the past four years.
theFlock Wrote:2.) Do you think you know enough to transition and be successful?Talk of my transition and whether my background as a rugby player might effect me are long overdue. If you look at my numbers in college, if you look at my tape, it's clear I've fully taken on the task and I've no deficiencies in my football knowledge.
theFlock Wrote:3.) We've seen a rugby player attempt to transition over into the NFL, and after the hype died down we all realized hes below average, and he was promptly cut. What makes you any different?The Jarryd Hayne situation was very unfortunate. He was obviously a brilliant athlete, yet was hindered by a front office that evidently did not trust him and an apparent inability to cope with the pressure. I can promise I'm free of the latter issue and can only hope with the first.
Perhaps he was simply thrown into the ring too early. Unlike Hayne, I've had four years to make my transition - whereas Hayne had only four games - and I've more than proven my capability to step up to the stage in this new sport.
theFlock Wrote:4.) What do you bring to the table other than strong running style, a great lateral throw, and good tackling?I bring agility, I bring speed, I bring a capable route runner and receiver, I bring a solid blocker and good positional awareness. I bring a player ready to take the game to the opposition on every down, a leader in the locker room and on the field.
theFlock Wrote:5.) When the bruising running style wears off, do you have any tricks up your sleeve that would potentially make tacklers miss?All I can say is I've got the best of two sports in one bag. And just to be clear that rugby players can step.
Tomen Wrote::interview: 1. What do you miss the most about Scotland?The people. There's a lot of genuine friendliness in Scotland, in Glasgow, which isn't quite the same in the US. Over here, it often comes across as forced politeness which can sometimes be a bit off-putting.
Tomen Wrote::interview: 3. Why did you choose Pitt as your College?Well, I sent my tape out and a handful of colleges came back to me. It was Pitt who seemed most genuinely interested in me as a prospect, as a player they were willing to take on and develop. The similarities between Pittsburgh and Glasgow as proud industrial cities, forced to adapt in the face of harsh deindustrialisation, with strong people certainly helped my choice.
Tomen Wrote::interview: 4.Favorite brand of Scottish whiskey?Probably Laphroaig or Auchentoshan.
Tomen Wrote::interview: 5. Would you play on the special teams if asked?Definitely. If it means I'm on the field longer, if it means I can do more for the team then I'm willing to do so.
Ltsmashie Wrote:1) What do you have against Irishman Luke Tiernan?Nothing. If the lad keeps opening his mouth, I'll keep fighting my own corner. If he wants to close it, I'll keep mine to myself.
Ltsmashie Wrote:2) Where do you expect to be drafted this evening?I've been giving assurances by a few GMs, so I'm looking to go somewhere from the third to the seventh round.
Ltsmashie Wrote:3) What is your greatest achievement in football to date?Leading Pittsburgh to the Conference Championship Game. Although we came off second best, I'm proud of our fire and fight through the season and I'll be looking to bring that into the NSFL.
Ltsmashie Wrote:4) Would you prefer to be a bird or a fish?A bird, for sure. Although maybe I wouldn't do so badly as a shark.
Ltsmashie Wrote:5) What's your favourite thing about Ireland?I could repeat my answer for Glasgow and say the folk, but I'll vary a bit and go for the history of my people. We've gone through a hell of a lot, but we've always kept the fight and our spirit strong. We're unique, we're fierce, and as you know - You'll never beat the Irish!
xdave2456 Wrote:1. What made you decide to transition to football?I honestly believe that football is the highest level of athletic competition in the world. The specialisation of positions means you're always up against the best, always having to perform your best to come out on top, and I love that level of challenge.
xdave2456 Wrote:2. Do you have any prior football experience?I have played for four years in college as a Pittsburgh Panther prior to this draft.
xdave2456 Wrote:3. Do you think the length of a rugby game vs that of a football game will affect you?If anything, that stands me in good stead. There is little in the world to match the prolonged physical intensity of a rugby match and I think that benefits me going into the latter stages of a football game.
xdave2456 Wrote:4. Do you have a heavy accent?I'm from Glasgow.
xdave2456 Wrote:5. How will you serve as a leader in the locker room?The first thing of course is to lead by example. Players won't follow someone who panicks on the field, who makes poor decisions and comes out second best to the opposition. Other than that, you've just got to hold your head high and stand by your teammates. Be prepared to say what you have to say, and make sure you play as a team not as individuals.
acki Wrote:1) Since you hail from the birthplace of golf, how is your game?Not too bad, better than my old man at least.
acki Wrote:2) Where have you visited here that felt the most like home?Colorado, obviously.
acki Wrote:3) Any problems switching to fullback if asked?No, not at all. Like I've said before, I'm willing to adapt to become the most complete team player possible.
acki Wrote:4) Would you prefer to be the deep back on special teams or a blocker?I'm most comfortable taking on players with the ball in hand, so I'd prefer to play as a deep back but would certainly be willing to fulfill a role as a blocker.
acki Wrote:5) Which part of your game will you spend the most time trying to improve?I'm looking first to work on my routes and my hands, as I feel this looks to be a hole my team has in an otherwise extremely talented RB group. Other than that, I'll keep going through the basics and see what my coaches assess.
Sweetwater Wrote:What made you choose your major?I've always had an interest in how things work, the process behind the machines we take for granted, and that led me down the rabbit hole into mechanics and engineering. If not for football, I'd probably be working on cars back in Glasgow.
Sweetwater Wrote:Have you ever played any other positions?No, although I've played out the slot a couple of times if that counts.
Sweetwater Wrote:If you had to choose one superhero to marry, who would it be?Wonder Woman's the whole package, aye? That said, if we're talking about Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow...
Sweetwater Wrote:Crust or no crust?Crust, who the fuck wastes food like that?
:.Elite.: Wrote:What is your best attribute amongst your skill set?The power I bring onto the field. There are some RBs who can match me for strength, some who can match me for speed, but none can match me for both and that's a potent combination out the backfield.
:.Elite.: Wrote:Do you want to be a bell cow or are you more of a specialty back?I always want to be the bell cow. We've got a talented group of RBs in Colorado, but I'm sure every one of them is with me on saying we're all fighting to take the lead in this team - And that competition can only make us stronger.
PigSnout Wrote:1. How did you first find out about American football while living in Scotland?I stumbled across the NFL Red Zone on Sky Sports and become completely obsessed with the level of talent and athleticism on the screen. Playing rugby, I appreciated the physicality of the sport and made use of the internet to get into it as best I could from across the pond.
PigSnout Wrote:2. You started playing football later in life than many of the other prospects. How do you think this will impact your future development?I've had four years to develop and come into my own, which I think showed in my last year of college. Obviously playing with Pitt was a steeper learning curve for me than for others coming out of high school programs, but I've made up on it and I'm ready for the next stage.
PigSnout Wrote:3. Which NFL running back do you think your play style is most similar to?I'd see myself as similar to David Johnson, being an exciting physical running back who's also proved to be a a reliable option for his team in the aerial game.
PigSnout Wrote:4. Were there any particular players or teams you went against in college that presented a tough match up for you?Virginia Tech and Clemson were always big games for us to go into, as we knew they had the capability to grind our run game to a halt if we weren't executing perfectly. Matches like that can really bring out the best in players, but it can also highlight those who weren't ready for the challenge. I knew going in to every match I had to make sure I wasn't going to be one of those players.
PigSnout Wrote:5. If you had to choose after retiring, would you rather be a coach or a GM?Coach. I like the idea of being able to work with a new generation, to shape and mould players as a leader on the ground. For me, the role of GM is somewhat too detached.
enigmatic Wrote:How do you feel about being drafted by the Yeti?
enigmatic Wrote:Early thoughts on your teammates?
enigmatic Wrote:Thoughts on the team's management?Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I've had a talk with my coaches, my new teammates, they're a great bunch and we've got far more talent than we deserve. We've got great diversity in our backfield, something of a blessing for our coaches, and it means that I'm promising nothing less than maximum efficiency when I get my touches. You know, I've spoken of my ability to lead and now's my chance to prove that on the football field.
enigmatic Wrote:Do you feel you've been picked early/late/when you were supposed to?I had assurances from two separate GMs that I would be going between the third and the seventh. I have not spoken to them since, I don't know what happened there - Whether they were giving false promises, whether they were surprised at the talent still remaining in those rounds, maybe they got what they needed earlier. I honestly couldn't care less.
As it is, I've been thrown instead into a situation which most prospects could only dream of. In many ways, Colorado are the most complete team in this league and personally I'm sure they're certainly the most talented. If falling in the draft means I've the opportunity to be a part of that, then I'm happy.
enigmatic Wrote:Excited that Luke Tiernan is now a teammate :lol: ?I am. Competition builds strength, it demands perfection and I know with Tiernan on my back I'll be providing that. For all I've said, he's damn good at what he does and, together with Tweed, I think we've got a set of backs who are the perfect compliment to one another. It's up to one of us to take the lead in that group and that's the next fight.
BasedPooter Wrote:Are you happy with where you went?Aye, definitely. We've got an extremely talented roster, what appears to be a very competent front office and perhaps one of the best shots at the title.
BasedPooter Wrote:Did you have any clues or hunches that would be picked by the Yeti before the draft?No, so it was a pleasant surprise. I definitely think I got lucky.
BasedPooter Wrote:What will you buy with your first big paycheck?I'm not a flashy, big purchase kinda guy so at the moment I'm just sorting out training fees and looking for a house in the Denver area. Other than that, there are a few smaller things I might splash out on - A new guitar (looking at a Gibson Les Paul Axcess Stopbar), a high-end PC, maybe a neat watch and a nice suit. Things that'll add up, but nothing headlining.
BasedPooter Wrote:Are you prepared for the rookie hazing that will occur?No, not at all. If I was prepared, then it'd be disappointing to be honest.
BasedPooter Wrote:Are you expecting a lot of playing time right off the bat?We've got a top-level backfield with three players competing for one or two positions, so my best bet is to prove myself in pre-season. I know I've got the ability to be that RB1, to be the team's bell cow, but it's on my performances to prove that to the coaches.
[div align=center]![[Image: 87TOyVe.png]](http://i.imgur.com/87TOyVe.png)
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Best Feature Back in the League
Player Page || Intro and Presser
@KieranOC_RB
![[Image: 87TOyVe.png]](http://i.imgur.com/87TOyVe.png)
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Best Feature Back in the League
Player Page || Intro and Presser
@KieranOC_RB