Football 101...Training Camp for the Fan.

[TinyEvel]

Does Mc Graw know Krav Magrah? I mean, if Tamba is studying Judo, it might make sense.

Real question: If LJ is a paid player through this seasopn, how can he "Hold out"? Is that like a one-person labor strike? And is that legal?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by TinyEvel

Real question: If LJ is a paid player through this season, how can he "Hold out"? Is that like a one-person labor strike? And is that legal?

Happens all the time. Emmitt Smith did in 1992.

Teams can also cut a player at any time so it works both ways.

[luv]

Originally Posted by Lost in the Mail

Happens all the time. Emmitt Smith did in 1992.

Teams can also cut a player at any time so it works both ways.

He won't get paid for the games he doesn't play in, right?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by luv

He won't get paid for the games he doesn't play in, right?

Ayup.

[big nasty kcnut]

Gaz is awesome and he will be back cause the woot meter will nothing without him.

[Iowanian]

Relevant to the impending season.....methods of protecting a young QB with a reconstructed Oline.

Running the ball, 3 and 5 step drops, changes in WR routes, double TE sets.

Does anyone care to expand on this topic?

[RealSNR]

Okay, this is actually a serious question about the offense we'll be seeing next year:

We'll be playing with Croyle and not Green. Of the playaction QBs in the NFL, pretty much only Favre and Manning were better playaction callers than Green, who did a fabulous job in that offense. Now that we're going to be throwing Croyle out there, that's one aspect of the playbook that probably won't be removed, but certainly will be diminished.

How is this simplified offense REALLY going to look? I understand it will be a lot of Larry and everything, but is it that similar to Jimmy Raye's offense? Or is it more like Herm's NYJ offense with Pennington? What can Croyle do in this and what is reasonable of us as fans to expect of him? There's a leash we can put on him, obviously, but how will that help? Playaction also seems to always be a big part of our playbook. Will having the first inexperienced starting QB since Jeff Blackledge significantly diminish the roles of everyone else?

Pretty much my question is... tell me everything you know about this new offense.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Relevant to the impending season.....methods of protecting a young QB with a reconstructed Oline.

Running the ball, 3 and 5 step drops, changes in WR routes, double TE sets.

Does anyone care to expand on this topic?

Teams that has a weak offensive line and/or a inexperienced QB, more often will run Max protection on passing downs (Meaning, everybody, except the 2 WR's (or in some cases, 3 WR's.) will be pass blocking.

So, running the ball is the first (of course, we all know this from experience) and a 3 step drop is more often used for quick hooks, curls, slants, in's or outs (usually 5-7 yards from the LOS.)

5 step drop is usually used on play action plays, as well as a normal passing down.

Changes in WR routes occur on audibles before the snap, or in some cases, the WR and QB needs to know what type of a defense scheme the defense is displaying (Man-to-man? Zone? Cover 4 zone? Cover 2 Man? etc etc.) where a WR would have the option of changing the origional route to a alternative route, to beat the zones.

Double TE set is this formation:



Starting on your left, WR, TE, LT, LG, C, RG, RT, TE, WR.

Then of course, the QB, and the HB behind the C.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Relevant to the impending season.....methods of protecting a young QB with a reconstructed Oline.

Running the ball, 3 and 5 step drops, changes in WR routes, double TE sets.

Does anyone care to expand on this topic?

Iowanian for coach!

[Iowanian]

Nice illustration coach.

2 TE sets are definitely an option, but I can't see that formation being the base, unless you're using an H-back shifting and also functions of a FB for protection.

Adjustments to to the patterns of the WRs and the depths of drops by the QB, with play action passes to keep the D honest, as well as counters being part of the running game will also help slow down the pass rush, and assist a gelling Oline.

[Iowanian]

Its that time of year again, and I know some of the newer and younger fans asked for this in the past.

I recall a time when I could learn more about football in a season than the geography of the cervix.

[FAX]

Wait just a ding dang dingy dong second here, Mr. Iowanian.

Do you mean to tell me that you have expertise in cervix geography?

FAX

[RJ]

It's nice to read a thread with Gaz posts.

[Iowanian]

I know what Gaz's defensive solution for the A-11 offense, I'll wager within 5 words.

"Have some speed Dlinemen crush the pencilnecks"

[Coach]

Thought I would bring this back up.

In discussing our base 3-4 defense, I will define (to the best of my knowledge) each of these six elements for each position (front seven.) First , the huddle call would be 44 cover 3. To assist in the learning process, all calls for defenses, stunts, and coverages should be as descriptive as possible. Players will learn more easily if the defensive calls are well thought out and presented so that the players can relate one call to other calls they might hear. In this way, the whole defensive package does not involve total rote learning.

For example, the 44-front call, the first 4 is to the end to the strong side. The second call is to the other end. The nose understands that he shads to the strong end. After the offense is aligned, the Mike linebacker will make the call strong left or strong right. The front will then align accordingly.

The coach from the sideline can also make the determination by making a field call. In that case, the Mike linebacker would call "Field left." The second part of the call, the 3, refers to the coverage and tells the secondary that it's a three-deep coverage. Calls should be brief so that they can be transmitted to the huddle and given easily. I don't like the signal caller to step out of the huddle to get the call and then step back into the huddle to give it. I prefer him to give the call as he receives the signal from the sideline or reads it from a wrist band.

Nose Tackle (NT)

The assignment for the nose is to control the strongside A gap. His alignment is a strong shade, which means his inside foot will split the center's crotch. He uses a three-point stance with his inside foot staggered approximately six inches back.

His key is the center, and he will feel the guard. His technique will be to take a short power step with his inside foot keeping his pads down and thrusting his hands towards the center's breastplate. He should have his thumbs up and try to grab the cloth of the center's jersey with his fingers. If he should miss on the first try, he should keep grabbing with his hands until he gets a firm grasp on the center. If the center is trying to reach block him, he should escape fast and laterally down the line of scrimmage to the outside. If the center is trying to zone through his inside shoulder, he should hang on to the center with both hands and try to work laterally in the direction the center is going.

If it's a zone block and the guard is trying to overtake him, he should keep his focus on his primary key -- the center -- and hang on to him for as long as possible. He should make every effort to keep a strong inside shoulder and not let the center off on the linebacker. If the center blocks flat down the line, away from the nose, the nose should anticipate the counter and immediately look for the off guard pulling in his direction. He should then try to get penetration upfield to beat the down block of the strong guard. As he gains penetration, he should try to disrupt the pulling guard and tackle.

Defensive End (DE)

The end's assignment is to maintain the B gap. His alignment is a 4 alignment, or inside track of the offensive tackle. he uses a three- point stance with the outside hand down and the outside leg staggered back approximately six inches

His key is the offensive tackle, and he will feel the offensive guard. He will react based on the release of the tackle. The technique he should use is to step with a short outside step and read on the move. If the tackle is releasing to his outside, he should thrust his hands to the breastplate area of the tackle, and, keeping his pads down, try to grab cloth with both hands working to the inside V of the neck of the offensive tackle. He should work hard to maintain a strong outside arm and work his outside hip squarely down the line to the outside.

At this time, he should feel the guard to determine whether he is involved in a zone-blocking scheme. If the guard is not coming, he should anticipate trap, immediately release the tackle, and work hard back inside to wrong shoulder any trapper. If the guard is coming to the end in a zone-blocking scheme, he should continue to focus on his primary key -- the tackle -- and try to hang on to keep the tackle off the linebacker for as long as possible. If the tackle takes on inside release or cutoff angle, the end should work fast down the line in the direction of the cutoff.

This is one of the beauties of the defense in terms of stopping the run. The end should NEVER be cut off, and he should hit any cutback by the back.

Outside Linebacker (OLB)

The outside linebacker's assignment is to read the release of the tight end and work C gap to D gap, depending on the block of the tight end. His alignment is a six alignment with his tracks just outside the tracks of the tight end. He uses a two-point stance with his feet close to parallel.

His key is the tight end. His reaction should be to step to the tight end with his inside foot and react to the tight end's block. If the tight end blocks down, he should gain ground slightly upfield and to the inside, keeping his pads parallel to the line in trying to close the distance between himself and the defensive end. If the tight end reach blocks, the linebacker should thrust his hands to the breastplate of the tight end, grabbing cloth and keeping his pads square. He should keep an outside presence while keeping his eyes inside to see if the ball is committed inside or out. If the ball is committed inside, he will be a late help in the C gap. If the ball is outside, he will be a D gap player.

He must keep his hips and pads square. If the tight end attempts a base cutoff, the linebacker will work across the tight end's face to take the C gap or drive the tight end's butt into the hole. If the outside backer has no tight end over which to align, he will align over an imaginary tight end or where a tight end would be if one were on his side. His key will then be the triangle of the offensive tackle, quarterback, and tailback. He should look through the tackle, see the quarterback and tailback, and get a flow read from them. If he gets a flow-away read, he should shuffle straight down the line and play any cutback into the C gap. If he gets a flow read to him, he should spill the ball to the outside or contain, depending on the coverage being played.

Mike Linebacker (MLB)

Mike's assignment on flow to him is C gap; on flow away, he has the off A gap. His alignment is 4 and a half yards deep with a 30 alignment on the offensive guard, and outside crotch alignment. He uses a two-point stance with his weight on the balls of his feet. He should be in a comfortable position so that he does not have to bob up or down to move.

The first thing to look for at the start of the play is to see whether the linebacker has to lower or raise his body position before moving. If he does, he has a improper stance. He should be in a stance that wastes no time or action in getting on the move.

His key is the tailback, and he should underkey the guard in seeing the quarterback. So his point of vision is somewhere between the guard and the tailback. Again, I am talking about seeing the triangle of the guard, quarterback, and tailback. Mike should get a flow, or directional read from reading his keys.

Mike and Will are tied together and should react in the same direction on running plays. If Mike gets a flow to him, he should shuffle laterally and then work hard downhill to the inside of the C gap to his side. If he gets a flow-away read, he should shuffle laterally and work hard downhill to the off A gap. He should take on blocks explosively, using his hands and working into the blocker with leverage while exploding upward.

Will Linebacker (WLB)

Will's assignment is onside C gap with flow to him and onside A gap with flow away. His alignment is head up to the offensive guard and four and a half yards deep. His stance and key are the same as Mike's. His reaction on flow to him is to shuffle to the outside and attack the C gap hard downhill. On flow away, he should read whether there is a potential cut back runner to the A gap. If so, he should read the guard and angle the guard's block. If the guard is straight ahead, Will should attack him aggressively downhill with his inside arm free. If the guard takes an aggressive cutoff angle, Mike should come downhill to the backside V of the neck of the guard and try to knock him past the hole.

Mike and Will should be reading the same key against a I-formation (this would normally be the tailback), and Will should also underkey the guard. Mike and Will have the same keys and should work together as if they were attached to a string. On any given run play, they initially should be shuffling in the same direction.

The philosophy of the 44 defense is to tie up the interior five offensive linemen with the three defensive linemen. This approach allows the four linebackers to use their speed to make plays.