I think what he is trying to get across is that in soccer skill level is the 1st concern of coaches (maybe factored in with a fitness/endurance standard). In FB or Basket Ball there are physical attributes coaches look at first then they consider skills knowing that many of the skills in those sports can be quickly taught and learned, not mastered but learned enough to play well using those physical advantages they were looking for to begin with!
Look at Charlie Ward, heisman winner (Nat Champ too, I think) but at 5'10"(generous) no NFL team was even really interested in him but he also had great Basket Ball skills so he goes NBA and has marginaly decent career. The key was the skill for BB were there but the size for FB was not, he was a great college athlete but at the next level he was never going to pan out in FB.
