Big Blue Huddle

Not a bad little video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAW-QIcIBMA

Scott Shafer gives the pass coverage responsibilities of the nickel back in the robber cover 2.   Scott is the DC at Western Michigan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbbSHiS_lmo

BigHitter posted a similar post back in the BBWC days.  I found it to be very helpful to me personally.  I try to keep these points in mind whenever I make a post.  I find if you are careful to appreciate which catagory, a point your are making, falls into, posts are much better accepted.  If one is sure to include things like "I believe", "in my opinion" or "I feel" one usually finds that their posts and points are much better accepted by the majority of readers.  This in turn creates a higher level of respect.   


Distinguishing Between Fact, Opinion, Belief, and Prejudice

When forming personal convictions, we often interpret factual evidence through the filter of our values, feelings, tastes, and past experiences. Hence, most statements we make in speaking and writing are assertions of fact, opinion, belief, or prejudice. The usefulness and acceptability of an assertion can be improved or diminished by the nature of the assertion, depending on which of the following categories it falls into:

A fact is verifiable. We can determine whether it is true by researching the evidence. This may involve numbers, dates, testimony, etc. (Ex.: "World War II ended in 1945.") The truth of the fact is beyond argument if one can assume that measuring devices or records or memories are correct. Facts provide crucial support for the assertion of an argument. However, facts by themselves are worthless unless we put them in context, draw conclusions, and, thus, give them meaning.

An opinion is a judgment based on facts, an honest attempt to draw a reasonable conclusion from factual evidence. (For example, we know that millions of people go without proper medical care, and so you form the opinion that the country should institute national health insurance even though it would cost billions of dollars.) An opinion is potentially changeable--depending on how the evidence is interpreted. By themselves, opinions have little power to convince. You must always let your reader know what your evidence is and how it led you to arrive at your opinion.

Unlike an opinion, a belief is a conviction based on cultural or personal faith, morality, or values. Statements such as "Capital punishment is legalized murder" are often called "opinions" because they express viewpoints, but they are not based on facts or other evidence. They cannot be disproved or even contested in a rational or logical manner. Since beliefs are inarguable, they cannot serve as the thesis of a formal argument. (Emotional appeals can, of course, be useful if you happen to know that your audience shares those beliefs.)

Another kind of assertion that has no place in serious argumentation is prejudice, a half-baked opinion based on insufficient or unexamined evidence. (Ex.: "Women are bad drivers.") Unlike a belief, a prejudice is testable: it can be contested and disproved on the basis of facts. We often form prejudices or accept them from others--family, friends, the media, etc.--without questioning their meaning or testing their truth. At best, prejudices are careless oversimplifications. At worst, they reflect a narrow-minded view of the world. Most of all, they are not likely to win the confidence or agreement of your readers.

(Adapted from: Fowler, H. Ramsey. The Little, Brown Handbook. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986.)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVUXjC5LWnM

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suPMw_MjyjY

another good one

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8229064878034509036&q=giants+highlights&total=488&start=20&num=20&so=0&type=search&plindex=12

Interesting stuff

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=760381709271756837&q=giants+highlights&total=488&start=0&num=20&so=0&type=search&plindex=2

Not for the faint of heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGbmctX9WBQ&NR=1

Since it looks like the Giants will be going into next season with Boss and Shockey, I thought it might be good to review this offense.

Here are two good articles

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/10/20/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/4412/

LINK to book except


Here are a few play diagrams

Can anyone nail down the year?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI3QNIW452U

Excellent summary of the combine and all of it's events

http://www.sportznutz.com/nfl/draft/combine.htm

With the Combines approaching, this seemed like a good video.  It explains the test and has comments from coaches and GMs and players about the test.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2634763507442816912&q=nfl+combines&total=136&start=20&num=20&so=1&type=search&plindex=3

Pretty good stuff

http://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index.php?mode=2&thread=277047

Here is another good video explaining and showing how the 4-3 stop the run, this time with 8 men in the box.  Note- This coach seems to switch the terms Weak and Strong linebackers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRB_asdJBUA

What do you guys think of this write up?   First off a screen play is an outside behind the scrimmage pass play.  It's designed to take advantage of aggressive defenses.  It does this by allowing D-Linemen to penatrate and then throwing outside their penatration.   The receiver can either be a running back (the traditional screen) or a wide receiver (the bubble screen).   

Here is an animation of a bubble screen

http://static.espn.go.com/ncf/football101/BubbleScreen.swf

here is an animation of a traditional screen

http://static.espn.go.com/ncf/football101/SlowScreen.swf

Now here some links to some good articles covering the screen pass.   Also I would love to get some input from some of the other Xs and Os guys

http://espn.go.com/ncf/columns/davie/1433797.html

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2007/08/06/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/5260/

Pat Kirwin does a great job explaining the use of the double inside blitz, in the Philly game.  He goes on to explain what could be done to counter it and what was done.  Plenty of good diagrams to help explain things.   

www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d803c0bed

It's all about the game.  Anything to do with Xs and Os or other similar topics is welcome here.  If you have a question, post it and others will answer.  If you want to help educate others, post a thread.   If you want to talk about a topic, just post it up.

I know when I started to try and learn more about football, this was one of the first things I felt I needed to master.  You will often hear the names of various routes used by announcers, players and writers.   I will tell you that it's complicated concept.  You have what's called a passing tree.  What that is, is that routes are all listed, usually with numbers assigned to them.  Secondly you often will have a different passing tree for WRs, RBs and TEs.    Finally the names of routes are not universal and will vary from coach to coach.   I will start out with a passing tree that covers most of the positions.

Found this excellent summary of pass rushing and pass blocking techniques.

Techniques of pass blocking

1. Rider:
Blocking uses the rushers reactions and momentum to keep him out of the pocket. He relies on his balance, maneuverability and use of his hands to ward off hand grabs. He is most susceptible to the shoulder and quick drive, with a counter move off of each.

2. Pop & recoil:
This technique is used to stop the overpowering type player. It is an aggressive head block from the numbers up under the chin and recoiling back to position for a follow up, pop, cut or ride. He is susceptible to the pull and swipe. Quickness in getting by this type blocker before he can regain his recoil position is important.

3. Set & cut:
Generally employed by shorter players often used on short passes and as a change of pace for the overpowering type rusher and arm swiper. The use of the hands in pulling this blocker aside or head faking with a pull is effective. A rusher should jump or limp-leg this blocker occasionally. Always strive to get one leg over the cut block to insure maximum recoverability.

4. Aggressive:
This is a butt block used on play action passes. The fake of a run to disguise the pass holds the defender momentarily; however, the blocker generally is over extended and easily pulled or thrown off balance.

5. Quick action:
An aggressive head block through the groin designed to tie up the legs and keep the hands down on short passes. This technique is susceptible to quick pull or jumping over blocker.

Pass rush techniques

1. Shoulder drive:
Strong surge over outside shoulder of offensive lineman. It is designed to defeat the rider type blocker that lacks strength or sets inside too much. This is an all-out assault to whip your man physically, and must your first technique because it sets your man for all other escape moves.


No head fakes, pull or throw, but simply a Power thrust at the point where the QB sets up.
Force the blocker back into the QB.
Once you have been successful you have forced the blocker to commit his strength to stop you. He is ready for the fake shoulder drive and throw off-shoulder, arm and hand swipe.
It is vital that the inside shoulder is forward and under the blocker and hold your leverage and momentum throughout the drive.

2. Quick drive:
This is the speed escape designed to outrun the blocker that sets inside too much, has slow footwork or crosses over to engage the rusher. Should also be used when QB does not step back into the pocket to give blocker advantage.


It is to your advantage to widen your position slightly or drive directly upfield to avoid immediate contact with blocker. You are sprinting to a point and attempting to defeat your opponents poor footwork and quickness. The ideal time to exploit this is on an inside blitz.
Jerk blocker towards l.o.s. simultaneously stepping away from him on the side you intend to escape.
A quick head fake inside your initial move is often effective.

3. Counter:
This move is opposite the throw. You are faking a rush and pulling the blocker that sets towards you or to l.o.s. it is good against pop and recoil type, aggressive control or one who gets his head down and his weight committed forward.


Fake an inside or out rush with a strong hand grab n the shoulder pads good head fake important.
Jerk blocker towards l.o.s simultaneously stepping away form him on side you intend to escape.

4. Swim:
Charge the blockers outside and grand pull his shoulders with your outside hand. Simultaneously with this pull, reach over his shoulder with your inside arm and catapult yourself free from his block in the direction of the passer.


An inside head fake is a good combination as it is an even more effective technique if the blocker is leading away form your move.
Along with the reaching technique, the rusher should combine a quick thrust.

http://www.nflhs.com/tipsdrills/PositionIndex/dl2_06302006_jjc.asp

Excellent Xs and Os analysis of Favre's last throw of the 2007 season.  It looks like a poor throw by Favre was the real problem, not great play by Webster.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80638d16

Granted it's at the college level, but it's good reading on all sorts of technical topics

http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/

Here are a couple of good articles that cover the basics of special teams play.   Any comments or questions?

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/06/28/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/3981/

and

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/2006/07/05/ramblings/strategy-minicamps/3995/

New York Giants Road to Super Bowl XLII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRIVrGTSSe8

In honor of this year's NFC Championship win, h... (more)
Added: January 21, 2008
In honor of this year's NFC Championship win, here's a look back at some of the greatest players ever to play for Big Blue. The music used is "Unstoppable" by the composing team ES Posthumus, the musicians responsible for the NFL on CBS theme



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p9ATW3vuWU

I am sure most of you have a rough idea what hot reads are.  This video helps to explain and better understand the concept.   It's based on the WC offense and a 5 step drop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyviJJJPEfc

Part 2 of the video explaining this concept.  It's based on a West Coast offense

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8BHAzWTYbc

Anybody else here remember the 62 Championship Game
VA Jints : 9:13 am
against the Packers. I do and if my memory serves me correctly, in those days they alternated locations and it was the Giants turn to be home.

In 1961, we were beaten badly by Green Bay and we all thought it was because of the cold weather. And we thought the 1962 game would be different because in New York, the weather wouldn't be so bad.

But it was very cold and windy that day in Yankee Stadium and we lost 16-7 (?).

They didn't televise home games in those days so we had to go to my uncle's home who was able to turn his antenna around so we could watch the game.

I was 15 and heart broken. But that was the last time we faced the Packers in the Playoffs.

It is supposed to be cold this weekend in Green Bay. My wife is from that area and we travel there often to see her family. And when it is cold there, it is cold.

Hope we don't see another Ice Bowl.

http://corner.bigblueinteractive.com/index.php?mode=2&thread=267858

Tim Gardner was one of Southern Methodist University's star football players.

This series of videos (each about a minute and a half long) explains many of the advanced techniques of football.  He covers things like proper reads by the safety, how to properly catch the ball, hold, back pedal, wr route running and other topics.  It's a worth watching and I think it helps to better evaluate players.

http://homegarden.expertvillage.com/videos/advanced-football-ball-positioning.htm

Here is a sample of one of the videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9ZfjlKxFGM&feature=related

Basic run defense against 1 back sets, with seven men in the box.  Plus there are live action examples.  Again I believe the Sam and Will designations are reversed by this coach.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdkyMfYZqQA