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The Football Diner Big Interview:
Rhys Lloyd
interviewed by Brian Davis
11/12/2009
Dover-born Carolina Panthers’ kicker Rhys Lloyd is the Mick Luckhurst of his generation – a soccer enthusiast from Dear Old Blighty making serious waves in the NFL. Rhys’s jouney to prominence has been a long one – including stints in Minnesota, Baltimore, Green Bay, Baltimore and even Frankfurt of NFL Europe – but these days he’s firmly entrenched as the Panther’s designated kickoff specialist. His mission is far from over: as a former all-round kicker for the Golden Gophers back in college, Rhys is determined to make his mark in the pros as a placekicker too.
The lifelong Chelsea FC supporter – not to mention brand new father – sat down with the Diner to tell us firsthand exactly what it’s like to be one of Britain’s pre-eminent NFL exports.
 Diner
How did you end up in America?
Rhys
My family moved to the states after my Dad took a job coaching soccer in Minnesota, where he ran a club and helped develop the state soccer programs.
Diner
At what age did you realise you could get into the game and how did you get into it?
Rhys
Well I got into football purely by luck really. I was on the track team and we had a trip down to Disney World of Sports. One afternoon we went to an NFL extreme challenge. I kicked a few field goals, and one of the track coaches was the head football coach, and he asked me to kick for the team. So I’d play soccer through the week and show up on a Friday night to kick.
Diner
Your main duty is to take kickoffs for the Panthers, so what does a kickoff specialist do on the sidelines once hes done his job at the start of the half or after a score?
Rhys
Ha ha! Well its a lot of sitting around, stretching, trying to stay loose. Trust me when I say the next day your hamstrings feel about an inch long.
Diner
So you must be good friends with the long snapper J.J Jansen?
Rhys
I get along with J.J. but I would say we are close on the sidelines. I tend to try and get involved with other players and wander around, it keeps me active.
Diner
Do you see yourself as a placekicker or punter in the NFL in the future?
Rhys
Well yeah, I did everything in college, but I want to be a full time guy at both field goals and kickoffs.
Diner
In practice, do you see yourself as the star receiver or quarterback, in the same way as every striker seems to like being the goalie in soccer training?
Rhys
Oh yeah! I fancy myself as a quarterback, really because I find that he controls the game, much like a center midfield role in football.
Diner
Youre on a relatively new franchise in NFL terms, who was your team when you were growing up?
Rhys
Chelsea FC. I dont have an NFL team, never have. I only follow two teams: the England national team, obviously, and Chelsea. I have supported Chelsea all my life, and played for them as a youth.
 Diner
What techniques do you practice/how do you train?
Rhys
Well I stem all of my kicking background from soccer and so when I train in the off season its a lot of soccer training; running, pool stuff, light weights, really just being fit. The leg strength comes with it.
Diner
How good is Steve Smith when you watch him close up in practice?
Rhys
Yeah Steve is an incredible athlete, he does things in practice that are jaw dropping, and looks like he doesnt even care.
Diner
Who is the most underrated player on the Panthers team?
Rhys
Matt Moore. He is still young, but he has a good football brain, and can make all the throws. He will be somewhere, someday
Diner
Who is your kicking role model?
Rhys
I honestly have never had one, I just sort of fell into football, so I have never followed or studied any other kicker. Im my own man.. haha!
Diner
What are the most important aspects for someone who is kicking the ball off?
Rhys
Placement, hang time, and then of course distance. After that, the 10 other guys running down should take care of the rest.
Diner
Devin Hester has the ball from your kickoff and is running back right at you, how do you go about trying to bring him down?
Rhys
Slide tackle! Haha, no you have to try and go low on him and wrap him up, if not somehow slow the returner down, and wait for the cavalry to arrive.
Diner
Your biggest game in college was arguably kicking the winning FG in the 2003 Sun Bowl to beat Oregon. What other memories have you of your time in Minnesota?
Rhys
Well I will argue that – while that was a big kick, and so was my game winner against Wisconsin – in my personal opinion Minnesota at Penn State in 2003 was a huge kicking game for me, both field goal and kickoff wise. But my experience at Minnesota as a whole was great.
 Diner
You used to punt, placekick and kickoff for the Golden Gophers. Which of these was the hardest (and easiest) to do and why?
Rhys
Punting was probably the hardest because I was used to trying to get a spiral on a ball. Kickoffs are easiest, its kind of like being at a driving range with a driver in hand… swing away.
Diner
When you were being signed off waivers, cut by teams and spending time in NFL Europe, how did you motivate yourself to keep going?
Rhys
Well, that time was difficult, because it was a roller coaster. I never knew whether I was coming or going, but thats just one of those things where you either say: “Right, Im hanging the boots up,” or keep trying. The thing was, that I knew I was good enough, its just being in the right place at the right time. I guess I didnt really think about giving it up, I just changed my approach. I changed everything really. I turned into a real professional, eating right, training harder, basically having no distractions and committing myself 100%, which I probably wasnt prior.
Diner
Thanks for dropping in and giving us an insight Rhys, we wish you all the best for the rest of the season and hope to see more of you on our screens here real soon. Keep the British flag flying high and we hope to speak again with you soon.
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