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Post by wingtol on Jan 20, 2011 10:07:31 GMT -6
Sounds like you have a great kid who is a not so great football player. We have had several of those play for us. As many others have stated get him on as many special teams as possible. Make a big deal of his work ethic to the team. Heck we had a kid one year we even nicked named Rudy! He loved it, the other players loved it, the fans loved it! He got in during a blow out and we made it a point to give him the ball and get him a TD....he did. Crowd went wild chanting RUDY RUDY RUDY!
I can go and put hours upon hours into studying Physics and Calculus but it isn't gonna make me Steven Hawkins. It also does not mean I should get the Nobel prize.
At the end of the day you have to play your best. At our year end banquet we give out a character award, it goes on a plaque just like our team MVP and leadership type award. Hangs right next to them in the hallway. Sounds like this kid would be a great first recipient of an award like this if you don't already have something in place like it.
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Post by coachcb on Jan 20, 2011 10:12:48 GMT -6
dubyah and wolverine - remember, OP said he made 17 tackles in a JV game! Varsity whole 'nother deal. And OP didn't say how many he missed. "Undersized, slow, and weak" doesn't sound like Special Teams starter, much less "captain." No it was a varsity game. We don't have a JV program. And, yes, he will have some sort of captain nod next year because he LEADS by example.
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Post by blb on Jan 20, 2011 10:15:49 GMT -6
dubyah and wolverine - remember, OP said he made 17 tackles in a JV game! Varsity whole 'nother deal. And OP didn't say how many he missed. "Undersized, slow, and weak" doesn't sound like Special Teams starter, much less "captain." No it was a varsity game. We don't have a JV program. Sorry, I misread original post. My aged mind focused on "Sophomore" too much and jumped to a conclusion. Never mind.
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Post by mhcoach on Jan 20, 2011 10:36:15 GMT -6
CB
I see what I was missing, it's 8 man ball. That makes things a little clearer, even so wait & see how Rudy develops.
Joe
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Jan 20, 2011 10:44:30 GMT -6
Like others have said, his hard work and toughness earn him a chance not a spot. The best player plays...
I would start him during team camps, preseason, and up until the first scrimmage. Every week he will have to keep his spot and it's up to the other more athletically inclined kids to nut up and take it from him.
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Post by cnunley on Jan 20, 2011 12:09:39 GMT -6
My view would be it is his spot until someone beats him out. You said he's the hardest worker you've got. To me that gives him the chance above everyone else to start things off. I think that also shows others within your program you reward the hard workers with a chance to earn a starting spot.
Let him prove he can keep that spot. If someone else shows they are clearly better, then see if he can contribute somewhere else on defense or try him on offense somewhere.
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Post by coachcb on Jan 20, 2011 12:19:03 GMT -6
My view would be it is his spot until someone beats him out. You said he's the hardest worker you've got. To me that gives him the chance above everyone else to start things off. I think that also shows others within your program you reward the hard workers with a chance to earn a starting spot. Let him prove he can keep that spot. If someone else shows they are clearly better, then see if he can contribute somewhere else on defense or try him on offense somewhere. That is good advice; several guys mentioned that. Plus, I can use him to push my two lazy-a-- sloths. Both of them are better athletes but they have a hard time with the concept of "work ethic". Setting "Rudy" ahead of them on the depth chart will force them to put-up or shut-up.
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Post by mariner42 on Jan 20, 2011 12:29:02 GMT -6
I don't think there's anything wrong with telling the kid he's not there yet, but you're going to find somewhere for him to contribute because he deserves it. He should absolutely get 1st group reps until someone unseats him, but if/when it happens, acknowledge what it means for both players and move on.
Regardless, he's only a Jr and maybe something funny happens between Jr and Sr year and he becomes a player.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2011 18:11:07 GMT -6
Can you make him a WR and teach him to crack and stalk block? How are his hands? Can he block well enough to be a C, pulling G, or FB if your offense uses one? Can he kick or punt?
I'm not sure how small, how weak, or how slow this guy is relative to your other players and the competition you face, but you might be able to find a role for him somewhere. For a lot of "Rudy" type kids, that's all they really want: a role that matters.
The best players deserve to play, but the best players aren't always the best athletes.
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Post by coachcb on Jan 20, 2011 20:43:13 GMT -6
Can you make him a WR and teach him to crack and stalk block? How are his hands? Can he block well enough to be a C, pulling G, or FB if your offense uses one? Can he kick or punt? I'm not sure how small, how weak, or how slow this guy is relative to your other players and the competition you face, but you might be able to find a role for him somewhere. For a lot of "Rudy" type kids, that's all they really want: a role that matters. The best players deserve to play, but the best players aren't always the best athletes. He's about 5'10'' and maybe 140lbs, soaking wet. He benches 135 lbs, squats about 165lbs, cleans 115lbs and probably runs a 5.2 forty. I don't generally like getting into stats, but those numbers are the reality of the situation. But, he's got a pair on him; he's friggin fearless and is very coachable. He's very fundamentally sound; you'd have to be to be as slow and weak as this kid is and walk away with 17 tackles in a game. He's played Strong End for us (8man ball) and he was alright at that. He's gutsy; he took on some very good LBs and DEs this last year. But he basically only slowed them down long enough for them to kick his a--. He's got great footwork when it comes to blocking and he was good on double teams. But, the responsibilities of the End position are going to be expanded this next year. We're going to release them out on more routes and we're also going to ask them to do more 1-1 blocking. Two of the guys we have coming back are End types for us and they're very good athletes.
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coachood
Sophomore Member
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. -Vince Lombardi
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Post by coachood on Jan 20, 2011 22:09:13 GMT -6
What about long- snapper
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Post by coachbuck on Jan 21, 2011 2:21:41 GMT -6
If he is a true RUDY, then he will accept his role whatever it is. The whole movie was about a guy that practiced hard for the team and he got to play in one game and at that time it was irrelevant. Just because you like a kid and he practices hard, you dont compromise what is best for the team. Team is above individuals, right?
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Post by dubber on Jan 21, 2011 9:30:30 GMT -6
Sounds like a NG/1-tech to me...........
But here's the bottom line:
Don't beat yourself up right now........let competition pick the starter.
As far as building the program, I can tell you WINNING does that better than anything else................if you all go 5-5 with Rudy on the pine (versus 2-8 with Rudy starting), your program is better off.
One last thing, NEVER put this kid into a box he can't escape. Don't think because he's THIS, he can't do THAT.
It's 8 man football...........not a ton of D1 guys out there, right?
Slow safeties become very fast DL guys.........if he has zero chance at safety, then put him a position where he can compete.
my 2 cents.......
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Post by coachcb on Jan 21, 2011 10:06:28 GMT -6
Sounds like a NG/1-tech to me........... But here's the bottom line: Don't beat yourself up right now........let competition pick the starter. As far as building the program, I can tell you WINNING does that better than anything else................if you all go 5-5 with Rudy on the pine (versus 2-8 with Rudy starting), your program is better off. One last thing, NEVER put this kid into a box he can't escape. Don't think because he's THIS, he can't do THAT.It's 8 man football...........not a ton of D1 guys out there, right? Slow safeties become very fast DL guys.........if he has zero chance at safety, then put him a position where he can compete. my 2 cents....... I am avoiding this as much as I can, especially since he proved everyone wrong this last year. He racked up those 17 tackles at homecoming; the entire school was floored by his performance. I'll just have to see how it pans out.
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Post by mhcoach on Jan 21, 2011 10:20:27 GMT -6
CB
Years ago at a clinic I heard something that was invaluable to me. Coach ability not potential. That is to say if a player doesn't fit the normal requirements for a position, but all he does is make plays, then coach him up. How many times have we seen Johnny who has all the physical make up never play to his potential? While Jimmy who is smaller, slower & weaker do nothing but make plays. You can't measure his desire or heart. Your physical description of Rudy was not what I anticipated. He sounds like an average sophomore not a runt. He will develop & find a place to play. Remember players play.
Joe
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mce86
Junior Member
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Post by mce86 on Jan 21, 2011 11:11:00 GMT -6
You said 5 or 6 guys...so "Rudy" is just one spot...
That being said, Are the other guys filling their obligation to the team? If yes, then it is a competition just like anything else. Let him know he is going to have to compete, and let him start trying to outwork them now.
Have him buy the book Sport Speed and let him follow the program and work on his speed....
He can also be a special teams captain, or a second string guy too...you never know when you will be needed!
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Post by phantom on Jan 21, 2011 11:13:42 GMT -6
CB Years ago at a clinic I heard something that was invaluable to me. Coach ability not potential. That is to say if a player doesn't fit the normal requirements for a position, but all he does is make plays, then coach him up. How many times have we seen Johnny who has all the physical make up never play to his potential? While Jimmy who is smaller, slower & weaker do nothing but make plays. You can't measure his desire or heart. Your physical description of Rudy was not what I anticipated. He sounds like an average sophomore not a runt. He will develop & find a place to play. Remember players play. Joe You could argue that playing Rudy would be an example of "potential". The 17 tackle game was only one game. What about the rest?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2011 21:02:58 GMT -6
If he's as skinny, weak, and slow as you described, then it's likely a big part of his problem is that he's just not eating properly (not getting enough protein or overall calories). There may also be vitamin or sleep deficiencies there that are keeping his hormones lower than they should be.
With the passion for football you've seen in him, sit him (and his parents) down and told him "Son, you've got potential and I love your work ethic, but you need to bulk up a bit to get the most out of it. Here's how..." Then point him in the direction of the whey protein and creatine at the nearest Wal-Mart, and tell his parents to invest in some meat, eggs, milk, and oatmeal for him and LOTS of it.
He needs to be eating a minimum of 4,000 calories a day. If he's not gaining a pound after 3 weeks, he needs to up it by 500 a day. Wash, rinse, repeat until he starts filling out. It sounds like he may be able to comfortably put on 35 lbs of bulk before the season starts, then another 20-30 the next year. He might not get much faster, but his desire and fundamental soundness coupled with that added mass might turn him into a decent lineman or linebacker.
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Post by coachcb on Jan 21, 2011 21:07:01 GMT -6
CB Years ago at a clinic I heard something that was invaluable to me. Coach ability not potential. That is to say if a player doesn't fit the normal requirements for a position, but all he does is make plays, then coach him up. How many times have we seen Johnny who has all the physical make up never play to his potential? While Jimmy who is smaller, slower & weaker do nothing but make plays. You can't measure his desire or heart. Your physical description of Rudy was not what I anticipated. He sounds like an average sophomore not a runt. He will develop & find a place to play. Remember players play. Joe You could argue that playing Rudy would be an example of "potential". The 17 tackle game was only one game. What about the rest? I coached sophomore/JV ball for a long time and, physically, our boy isn't a standard sophomore. He's developed more like a freshman. But, he has started fill out and that's bright spot. The rest of his games were mediocre at best. He did get better as the season went along. But, that should be a given as he continues to practice. The biggest issue is coverage; he isn't fast enough (at this point) and gave up a lot of scores when he started. He knows his drops and the DB fundamentals but guys just fly by him in coverage. I am in the process of begging my AD for a JV schedule next year and that would be a great thing for everyone, including this kid. I am essentially building the program; this is only the second year the school has had a football program. My predecessor left things in shambles and that's an understatement. The enthusiasm for football has really kicked into full gear and we're going to have a large group of freshman come out next year so a JV schedule is something we really need. But, I really don't know that I'll get it because our numbers were so bad this last year. Distance is a factor as our closest opponent is three hours away. There's no harm in establishing a JV schedule and then canning it but I don't know if he'll do it.
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Post by champ93 on Jan 22, 2011 10:57:22 GMT -6
We moved our Rudy to D-line this year, He wasn't an every down player, but contributed because he had different skills than our standard d-lineman. Unfortunately he broke his collar bone on special teams--as we was our 2nd landsnapper on punt an was in due to injury to #1.
If he's one of your best 11 ( or 8), find a spot for him once the season begins. No one wins or loses a spot in the off-season.
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Post by mhcoach on Jan 22, 2011 19:27:48 GMT -6
Phantom
You could be right. It's hard here on the board, when CB first described Rudy I had something else in mind. We still don't really know the whole picture; however it could be Rudy is actually a player. Isn't that the beauty of what we do? I get no greater thrill then watching a player develop. There is such a large growth that occurs between the sophomore & Jr year. I think in Jan it so hard to determine what Rudy will be in 6mths., why not wait till then & make a decision.
Joe
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Post by coachcb on Jan 23, 2011 17:00:12 GMT -6
Phantom You could be right. It's hard here on the board, when CB first described Rudy I had something else in mind. We still don't really know the whole picture; however it could be Rudy is actually a player. Isn't that the beauty of what we do? I get no greater thrill then watching a player develop. There is such a large growth that occurs between the sophomore & Jr year. I think in Jan it so hard to determine what Rudy will be in 6mths., why not wait till then & make a decision. Joe I am going to follow everyone's advice and set him as the starter at CB for us this year. It didn't start this thread with the a black and white answer in my head; I know he has to fight to keep that starting spot. But, it is going to be hard for me not to have a bias towards the kid and that is something I really need to work on. When the chips were down and we were running with 8 guys, he not only kept the team together, he helped me keep my head out of my own a-- by playing so hard and keeping his chin up. We're going to get our best 8 on the field and that's just an given. But, I've been thinking about this and I realized that he does have an advantage over a lot of other kids; he soaks everything up. Like I said, I'm building a program here and many of our kids had only played a few years of football. One senior only had a year of experience under his belt. This kid is in the same boat but he's very coachable and he absorbs everything that you throw out there. It's not that the other players are blockheads or uncoachable but it takes them longer to learn things. So, I could see "Rudy" being consistently average while the kids competing for his spot are bipolar. They'll either blow peoples' minds or they'll screw up. At least for the first few weeks.
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