Search
Relearning the game
Canadian DE learning the American way to play
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-20
Iowa State freshman defensive end Cleyon Laing is sure there’s more to American than football. But he wouldn’t know it.
The Canadian native arrived in Ames 20 minutes before the Cyclones first team meeting and hasn’t been able to familiarize himself with Tila Tequila, “Gossip Girl†or the Jonas Brothers because he’s spent the last two and a half weeks taking a crash course in American football.
“I haven’t really had time to get culture shock yet,†Laing said. “It’s just practice, sleep, meetings, sleep, and repeat. It’s football 24/7.â€
And that’s almost been too much for Laing.
Laing started playing football in sixth grade after one of his cousin Adrian Williams signed on as a running back at Idaho State. But in Canada, football is just another sport. The level of competition isn’t like it is in America and the rules are different.
There are 12 men per side. Defenders have to line up one yard off the ball. The field is 150 yards long and 65 yards wide. In America, its 120 yards long and 53 1/3 feet wide.
Laing wasn’t just coming to a new country when he landed in America; he was entering a completely different football world.
“The speed of the game is so fast,†Laing said. “The speed of the players, I’ve never played with people like this. It’s a big difference compared to high school and Canada.â€
But he’s slowly picking things up.
Defensive line coach Mike Pelton says Laing is asking a lot of questions and following the lead of the upperclassmen, specifically senior Kurtis Taylor. And while no one expects Laing to do more than spend his first year adjusting to a new culture, he has shown enough potential to have the coaches intrigued about his future.
“Cleyon is still learning the game, basically understanding the game, the technique and things you have to do,†Pelton said. “He’ll be fine. He is a big old guy that can run.â€
It was Laing’s athleticism that first drew ISU’s attention.
Recruiting coordinator Scott Fountain said he has a few connections in Canada from his days as Central Florida coach. Whenever he hears a name that could fill a team need, Fountain will take a look.
And when he watched Laing on film, Fountain saw a 6-foot-3, 250 pound kid extremely quick for his size. Laing has a frame the Cyclones believe they can pack 25 to 30 pounds on, combining that with his natural athletic ability; ISU felt Laing was a long-prospect it couldn’t pass up.
“We weren’t expecting him to come in and help this year,†Fountain said. “We saw a big body that could run well.â€
Over the years, Fountain has learned that most Canadian players struggle through their first year adjusting to a new country and a new style of football. And by their second year, there isn’t much separating them from their American teammates.
“They have football up there, but it’s not the most important thing up there,†Fountain said. “Normally after a year they’ve gotten settled in and have learned the American way.â€
Laing initially had reservations about redshirting. He believed there was a negative connotation with it. But now he sees the benefits in it. He can use the year to get bigger and develop pass rushing techniques. In Canada, he relied squarely on his size and speed to get around smaller offensive lineman.
If things work out over the next 12 months, he’ll be in a position to earn playing time in 2009. And he’ll be able to explain to his Canadian friends who Blair Waldorf and her New York City classmates are.
“No one ever wants to sit out, but it should be the best thing for me,†Laing said.
Notes: After having the last two days off the Cyclones returned to practice Tuesday in shells … ISU secondary coach Shawn Rainey said the time off really helped cornerbacks Devin McDowell and Chris Singleton. McDowell has a shoulder injury while Singleton has a groin injury. Both players participated in Tuesday’s practice and Rainey doesn’t expect the injuries to limit them in the final days of camp.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
Canadian DE learning the American way to play
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-20
Defensive end Leyon Laing, a native of Canada, has spent the last two and a half weeks taking a crash course in Americn football.
Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
Iowa State freshman defensive end Cleyon Laing is sure there’s more to American than football. But he wouldn’t know it.
The Canadian native arrived in Ames 20 minutes before the Cyclones first team meeting and hasn’t been able to familiarize himself with Tila Tequila, “Gossip Girl†or the Jonas Brothers because he’s spent the last two and a half weeks taking a crash course in American football.
“I haven’t really had time to get culture shock yet,†Laing said. “It’s just practice, sleep, meetings, sleep, and repeat. It’s football 24/7.â€
And that’s almost been too much for Laing.
Laing started playing football in sixth grade after one of his cousin Adrian Williams signed on as a running back at Idaho State. But in Canada, football is just another sport. The level of competition isn’t like it is in America and the rules are different.
There are 12 men per side. Defenders have to line up one yard off the ball. The field is 150 yards long and 65 yards wide. In America, its 120 yards long and 53 1/3 feet wide.
Laing wasn’t just coming to a new country when he landed in America; he was entering a completely different football world.
“The speed of the game is so fast,†Laing said. “The speed of the players, I’ve never played with people like this. It’s a big difference compared to high school and Canada.â€
But he’s slowly picking things up.
Defensive line coach Mike Pelton says Laing is asking a lot of questions and following the lead of the upperclassmen, specifically senior Kurtis Taylor. And while no one expects Laing to do more than spend his first year adjusting to a new culture, he has shown enough potential to have the coaches intrigued about his future.
“Cleyon is still learning the game, basically understanding the game, the technique and things you have to do,†Pelton said. “He’ll be fine. He is a big old guy that can run.â€
It was Laing’s athleticism that first drew ISU’s attention.
Recruiting coordinator Scott Fountain said he has a few connections in Canada from his days as Central Florida coach. Whenever he hears a name that could fill a team need, Fountain will take a look.
And when he watched Laing on film, Fountain saw a 6-foot-3, 250 pound kid extremely quick for his size. Laing has a frame the Cyclones believe they can pack 25 to 30 pounds on, combining that with his natural athletic ability; ISU felt Laing was a long-prospect it couldn’t pass up.
“We weren’t expecting him to come in and help this year,†Fountain said. “We saw a big body that could run well.â€
Over the years, Fountain has learned that most Canadian players struggle through their first year adjusting to a new country and a new style of football. And by their second year, there isn’t much separating them from their American teammates.
“They have football up there, but it’s not the most important thing up there,†Fountain said. “Normally after a year they’ve gotten settled in and have learned the American way.â€
Laing initially had reservations about redshirting. He believed there was a negative connotation with it. But now he sees the benefits in it. He can use the year to get bigger and develop pass rushing techniques. In Canada, he relied squarely on his size and speed to get around smaller offensive lineman.
If things work out over the next 12 months, he’ll be in a position to earn playing time in 2009. And he’ll be able to explain to his Canadian friends who Blair Waldorf and her New York City classmates are.
“No one ever wants to sit out, but it should be the best thing for me,†Laing said.
Notes: After having the last two days off the Cyclones returned to practice Tuesday in shells … ISU secondary coach Shawn Rainey said the time off really helped cornerbacks Devin McDowell and Chris Singleton. McDowell has a shoulder injury while Singleton has a groin injury. Both players participated in Tuesday’s practice and Rainey doesn’t expect the injuries to limit them in the final days of camp.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
| Comments |
| aceflooringgirl@aol.com my little nephew will do well. Good Luck Cley!1 the wall.ha ha. 3/8/09 aceflooringgirl@aol.com cley: you will go far.So keep working out and get a little bigger cause your still our little nephew. ps I've seen you run and it's great. 3/8/09 |
|
We welcome comments on all sides of all issues. We want our comment forums to be a respectful, comfortable place for people of all opinions to discuss topics of interest. Toward that end, we will not approve comments that contain profanity, obscenity, libel, name-calling, or personal attack. We reserve the right to disapprove any comment for any reason.
|