Patrick Willis-I Can't Wait to Return to the Field

Originally posted by Otter:
ill

Originally posted by valrod33:
I Can't Wait to Return to the Field
Posted by Patrick Willis 44 Hours Ago
Category: Straight from Patrick

Despite the uncertainties of the labor situation, it hasn’t been a bad off-season. I enjoyed a few weeks off after the season ended, have recovered from surgery on my right hand and have been very pleased with my training.

In January, I underwent surgery to repair the fourth metacarpal bone or ring finger on my right hand. Doctors inserted three screws into my finger to repair the fracture. I suffered the injury last December vs. the Seahawks and played with a cast for two weeks before missing the season-finale against the Cardinals.

When the injury first occurred, I worried about losing strength in my hand. During my first reps in the weight room after the surgery, I felt kind of nervous. I didn’t want to tweak my finger again. Those concerns steadily went away over the past few weeks. I put up 365 pounds on the bench press and followed it up with several reps at 320. I’m very happy with my performance in the weight room considering how my hand felt after the season ended.

Besides lifting, I’ve been staying in shape with two-a-day sessions during the week. I usually train from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. each day, then play three hours of pickup basketball each night. I just love playing basketball – behind football it’s my favorite sport. It’s great exercise getting up and down the court. The pickup games also help me work on my lateral movement, hand-eye coordination and vertical leap.

In addition, I’ve been doing on-field drills with receivers Josh Morgan and Kevin Jurovich. I’m trying to understand the concepts of routes better by covering them in the wideout and slot positions. If they feel me inside, I’m able to read if they’re going to go outside. On the other hand, if they come straight at me there’s a good chance they’ll go inside.

I’m not trying to be Darrelle Revis, I just want to be in position to make plays. Throughout the drills, I’ve defended all types of routes – go routes, comebacks, outs and slants. Hopefully, the extra work will help me in pass coverage when we return to the field.

Also, this month ESPN.com ranked me as the top linebacker in the NFL in their linebacker power ratings. It’s a tremendous honor and extremely humbling. Still, though, I have so much to learn and have so much room for improvement. I take it as a way to make me hungrier and to continue to elevate my play.

There are some outstanding linebackers in the NFL such as Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and DeMeco Ryans. I need to continue to improve to keep pace with them. If I ever get to the point where I don’t think I need to get better, it’s time for me to hang it up.

We open next season at home against the Seahawks. Last year, we dropped our opener on the road in Seattle. Last season is over and we need to start a new chapter. We then follow it up with games against the Cowboys, Bengals, Eagles and Bucs.

Both the Eagles and Bucs will present a challenge with running backs LeSean McCoy and LeGarrette Blount. When Blount runs, he does a nice job of staying patient behind his line and stretching you to the outside. By the time he makes one cut and heads down the field, it already seems like he has four yards per carry. McCoy reminds me of Reggie Bush for his quickness. If you lose focus, he can take it to the end zone before you know it.

On Thanksgiving Night, we will face the Ravens in Baltimore. It will be Harbaugh v. Harbaugh in a matchup of brothers, just like last year when Rex Ryan took on his brother Rob. It will also give me a second chance to face Lewis.

In my rookie year, I faced the Ravens and we had an opportunity to talk on the field after the game. We have always been close and now text each other all the time. Eventually, he gave me the nickname “the young lion,” for my passion for the game. It’s extremely gratifying to hear, especially coming from one of the best linebackers of all-time.

There are some talented guys in this week’s draft, specifically on defensive side of the ball. I’m not sure what direction the team’s headed in, but several of our starters are free agents. We might need some security if nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin or safety Dashon Goldson leave San Francisco.

I can’t wait to return to the field.

PatrickWillis52

Go check out my website! http://willis52.com/pt/I-Cant-Wait-to-Return-to-the-Field/blog.htm

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:

Originally posted by valrod33:
I Can't Wait to Return to the Field
Posted by Patrick Willis 44 Hours Ago
Category: Straight from Patrick

Despite the uncertainties of the labor situation, it hasn’t been a bad off-season. I enjoyed a few weeks off after the season ended, have recovered from surgery on my right hand and have been very pleased with my training.

In January, I underwent surgery to repair the fourth metacarpal bone or ring finger on my right hand. Doctors inserted three screws into my finger to repair the fracture. I suffered the injury last December vs. the Seahawks and played with a cast for two weeks before missing the season-finale against the Cardinals.

When the injury first occurred, I worried about losing strength in my hand. During my first reps in the weight room after the surgery, I felt kind of nervous. I didn’t want to tweak my finger again. Those concerns steadily went away over the past few weeks. I put up 365 pounds on the bench press and followed it up with several reps at 320. I’m very happy with my performance in the weight room considering how my hand felt after the season ended.

Besides lifting, I’ve been staying in shape with two-a-day sessions during the week. I usually train from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. each day, then play three hours of pickup basketball each night. I just love playing basketball – behind football it’s my favorite sport. It’s great exercise getting up and down the court. The pickup games also help me work on my lateral movement, hand-eye coordination and vertical leap.

In addition, I’ve been doing on-field drills with receivers Josh Morgan and Kevin Jurovich. I’m trying to understand the concepts of routes better by covering them in the wideout and slot positions. If they feel me inside, I’m able to read if they’re going to go outside. On the other hand, if they come straight at me there’s a good chance they’ll go inside.

I’m not trying to be Darrelle Revis, I just want to be in position to make plays. Throughout the drills, I’ve defended all types of routes – go routes, comebacks, outs and slants. Hopefully, the extra work will help me in pass coverage when we return to the field.

Also, this month ESPN.com ranked me as the top linebacker in the NFL in their linebacker power ratings. It’s a tremendous honor and extremely humbling. Still, though, I have so much to learn and have so much room for improvement. I take it as a way to make me hungrier and to continue to elevate my play.

There are some outstanding linebackers in the NFL such as Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and DeMeco Ryans. I need to continue to improve to keep pace with them. If I ever get to the point where I don’t think I need to get better, it’s time for me to hang it up.

We open next season at home against the Seahawks. Last year, we dropped our opener on the road in Seattle. Last season is over and we need to start a new chapter. We then follow it up with games against the Cowboys, Bengals, Eagles and Bucs.

Both the Eagles and Bucs will present a challenge with running backs LeSean McCoy and LeGarrette Blount. When Blount runs, he does a nice job of staying patient behind his line and stretching you to the outside. By the time he makes one cut and heads down the field, it already seems like he has four yards per carry. McCoy reminds me of Reggie Bush for his quickness. If you lose focus, he can take it to the end zone before you know it.

On Thanksgiving Night, we will face the Ravens in Baltimore. It will be Harbaugh v. Harbaugh in a matchup of brothers, just like last year when Rex Ryan took on his brother Rob. It will also give me a second chance to face Lewis.

In my rookie year, I faced the Ravens and we had an opportunity to talk on the field after the game. We have always been close and now text each other all the time. Eventually, he gave me the nickname “the young lion,” for my passion for the game. It’s extremely gratifying to hear, especially coming from one of the best linebackers of all-time.

There are some talented guys in this week’s draft, specifically on defensive side of the ball. I’m not sure what direction the team’s headed in, but several of our starters are free agents. We might need some security if nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin or safety Dashon Goldson leave San Francisco.

I can’t wait to return to the field.

PatrickWillis52

Go check out my website! http://willis52.com/pt/I-Cant-Wait-to-Return-to-the-Field/blog.htm

Originally posted by billbird2111:
I have a rather hard time believing Mr. Willis wrote this.

I smell a ghostwriter.