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USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, and the NFL Players Association have selected fullback Moran Norris of the San Francisco 49ers and 25 other NFL players to the inaugural USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team. This 26-man roster honors the NFL's most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.
This honor recognizes Norris as an example for youth players – particularly fullbacks – to emulate due to his superior run blocking ability.
The USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team was selected by a six-person selection committee:
-JASON BELSER, former NFL player, USA Football board member, and NFLPA senior regional director
-TOM CARTER, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
-HERMAN EDWARDS, former NFL head coach and player, ESPN NFL analyst
-SCOTTIE GRAHAM, former NFL player and NFLPA regional director
-LARRY KENNAN, former NFL assistant coach and NFL Coaches Association executive director
-CARL PETERSON, USA Football chairman, former NFL team executive and assistant coach
In addition to his fundamentally-strong play, Norris does exemplary work in the Houston and San Francisco communities. The Moran Norris Foundation helps Houston-area students become champions in athletics, character and education.
As part of this honor, Norris will designate a youth or high school football program to receive a $1,500 equipment grant from USA Football. USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFLPA, the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers and the league's 31 other teams. Each player also receives a pewter-dipped "All-Fundamentals" Team helmet trophy produced by Riddell, USA Football's official helmet and equipment partner.
A video clip of each of the 26 players, spotlighting their sound football technique for young players to emulate, resides at AllFundamentalsTeam.com. These exciting game-action clips offer visual instruction for youth players and coaches alike.
The USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team consists of:
-All 11 offensive positions
-All 11 defensive positions
-Four (4) special teams positions (LS, K, P, KR/PR)
USA Football teaches the game's fundamentals and inherent values through more than 80 annual training events and innovative football training resources employed by its members who reside in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
2009 USA Football/NFLPA "All-Fundamentals" Team:
NAME
POSITION
TEAM
FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTAL
Tony Gonzalez
TE
Catching in traffic
Ryan Clady
T
Hands in pass protection
Joe Thomas
T
Pass blocking footwork
Alan Faneca
G
Combo/zone blocking
Steve Hutchinson
G
Pulling, run blocking
Jeff Saturday
C
Snapping and blocking
Larry Fitzgerald
WR
Proper catching with hands
Wes Welker
WR
Proper catching with hands
Ryan Grant
RB
Ball security/proper cuts
Moran Norris
FB
San Francisco 49ers
Run blocking
Drew Brees
QB
Throwing mechanics
Osi Umenyiora
DE
Takeoff and pass rush
Kyle Vanden Bosch
DE
Playing the run
Darnell Dockett
DT
Arizona Cardinals
Defeating blocks
Haloti Ngata
DT/NT
Footwork and leverage
Mike Vrabel
LB
Shedding blocks
London Fletcher
LB
Angle tackling
DeMarcus Ware
LB
Pass rush/bull rush
Cortland Finnegan
CB
Tennessee Titans
Man-to-man coverage
Nnamdi Asomugha
CB
Breaking up the pass
Troy Polamalu
S
Playing the ball
Eric Weddle
S
Open-field tackling
David Akers
K
Kicking mechanics
Brian Moorman
P
Punting mechanics
David Binn
LS
San Diego Chargers
Long-snapping mechanics
Clifton Smith
KR
Kick catching and returning
About USA FootballUSA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, 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 youth football development partner of the NFL Players Association, the NFL, and its 32 teams. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competition and provides $1 million annually in equipment grants and subsidizes youth league volunteer background checks. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.
