Dwain Chambers football skills: All speed, no catch

Steroid Nation follows the career of Dwain Chambers with some interest.  Chambers, a world class sprinter form  UK, found himself caught up in BALCO, using THG.  Consequences included fines, and a several  year banishment from track and field.

Chambers decided to become a football player; American football.  He trained and tried out for NFL Europe.  Following camps in Europe and Florida, Chambers 'caught' on with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL-Europe.  Story here in the UK's Telegraph.  It appears Chambers struggles catching the football.

Dwain Chambers' new job title is wide receiver for the Hamburg Sea Devils, and therein lies the problem. The 'wide' part he can handle, using his speed to evade opposing corner backs and find open space on the flanks, but receiving is a different story. As Jack Bicknell, Hamburg's veteran head coach, put it: "If he could catch the ball consistently he could go to the NFL. But he just can't catch it."...

"We know about his speed. His problem is catching the ball. I've seen improvement. I can't put him in a game yet but he's really working hard. It's all new for him and he's a bit bewildered. He's got a lot more work to do."

NFL-Europe's season starts in April.  The teams carry a maximum of 8 Americans;  Hamburg sports 11 Yanks right now.  Might Chambers be in jeopardy of not making the team roster?  His athleticism and speed may be worth the risks of his rawness.  Without playing even  one American football game, Chambers is on the verge of making a pro roster.  Amazing.

Can Chambers take hits?

Last Tuesday, when his team were pitted against Cologne in a practice session, Chambers had his first taste of full-contact play. With players' careers at stake, the intensity was at times ferocious, though Chambers was relieved to avoid the crunching tackles that go with the territory of a wide receiver.

"I'm expecting to have some big hits but at the same time I know my speed is going to get me out of a lot of trouble," he said.

Chambers remind The Nation of another track project who played with the San Francisco 49ers - Renaldo Nehemiah.  Nehemiah, a world class 110 hurdler stuck with the 49ers for a couple y ears, however his lack of catching ability eventually ended  his NFL days.

However, the 'World's Fastest Human', Olympic 100M winner Bob Hayes played a number of effective years for the Dallas Cowboys.  A track star can 'catch' on  in football.