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Post by cmow5 on Mar 10, 2008 21:36:42 GMT -6
OK I know its not "real football". But I love watching the AFL.
Just wondering if I am the only one?
Also, being a new coach and trying to learn everything I can, do you think there is something to be learned by watching AFL games or should I just sit back and watch as a fan?
What I mean by learned is line play, DB play ETC......
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Post by khalfie on Mar 10, 2008 22:27:16 GMT -6
Yes... You are nuts... Yes... You are the only one... or I hope so... wish they would just make a summer league and have at it... No... I can't stand it... basically refuse to watch it... haven't watched much, except for a highlight... probably not the best to speak on this... Nevermind.
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ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
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Post by ramsoc on Mar 11, 2008 0:42:09 GMT -6
No, I watch it too. Buddy of mine is actually heading up college scouting for the Sabrecats. Get's us into the games for free.
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Post by morris on Mar 11, 2008 5:10:44 GMT -6
I have been watching the AFL since the 80s (Detriot Drive and such). There have been some very interesting things in the AFL/AFL2/IFL that I wish I could get tape on. Franklin coached the Lexington team and ran the Air Raid. Jenkins ran a version of the Run and Shoot in the AFL2.
I use to watch the CFL a ton too growing up. Toronto with Pinball Williams and the likes. If it is football I will watch it just about.
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Post by brophy on Mar 11, 2008 5:32:05 GMT -6
nothing wrong with AFL - it is all relative.
Like morris said, Franklin ran all his same concepts with the team he had.
I think you'll see a lot of borrowed ideas in route packages and since you'll see 90 passes a game, it will be hard to miss.
The only thing that bothers me is the forward motion, because at times it gets ridiculous with guys 3 yds past the LOS before it is snapped. 50x 23 yds is a funky field
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Post by lochness on Mar 11, 2008 5:43:13 GMT -6
Walt Housman, who was our DL and OL coach in High School is now the DC and Associate Head Coach for the Chicago Rush, who won the championship 2 seasons ago. He's been there about 7 years I think.
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Post by tog on Mar 11, 2008 6:27:35 GMT -6
I would like it more if they got in the gun and actually ran the ball some. There would be a ton of interesting wrinkles they could do run game wise.
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Post by groundchuck on Mar 11, 2008 6:32:57 GMT -6
I like to watch it. But it is not like I plan my schedule around the game like I would a Bears playoffs game for example.
I agree with Tog that I would like to see gun and have them run the ball more. That bug FB for the Chicago Rush, Dan Alexander, used to be Nebraska's I-back and he's a stud. I also played HS ball against a member of the Chicago Rush so it neat to watch a game and remind my wife "hey I beat him off the edge once....just once."
I kind of like the iron-man mentality too.
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Post by morris on Mar 11, 2008 6:45:48 GMT -6
That is one rules change I think they made I do not like is they can free sub now. I am not sure how many people play both ways now. Franklin and Jenkins both ran their offense out of the gun. I think the reason you see less/no gun is because they want to get the ball out as fast as they can at times. I knwo you cna throw quick out of the gun but you can throw faster undercenter.
I wish there was more running but I think that is has to do with the how wide the field is. I do think it would interesting to see some zone read type stuff. The AFL suffers from the same type of QB outlook as the NFL. They are not going to pu ttheir QB in that type of position. The AFL2 on the other hand might.
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Post by tog on Mar 11, 2008 6:53:05 GMT -6
if being in the gun isn't against the rules someone will figure out how to put an athlete back there and do something cool out of it
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elkabong
Freshmen Member
El Kabong Rides Again!
Posts: 52
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Post by elkabong on Mar 11, 2008 7:01:13 GMT -6
Dan Alexander....I see he only plays on defense, though....as the Jack backer, who through rule changes is allowed to leave the box presanp this year....
One thing that bothers me - is the complete handcuffing of the defense. The defense is REGULATED to only do 1 or 2 different things. It takes the point out of playing defense.
It is fun to watch while you're doing something (working out) and catching the college / small-college guys continuing to play. I'm not sure how the one-way specialization that they are leading to is going to affect the sport, though.
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Post by hsrose on Mar 11, 2008 7:28:11 GMT -6
The thing about the AFL, which I think is a smart marketing move, is that they didn't position it as "NFL Football". You cannot compete with the NFL, or the college game (NFL-Lite). I love to go to the games and watch them on TV when I find them. My wife hates the game, hates the scoring, hates the noise, hates the whole experience. As long as you can separate it from the NFL/college game yet still appreciate that it is football, it is a fun game.
Another thing they do, at least at the San Jose games, is that they keep things popping with the fans. They are always shooting shirts into the stands, the (ugliest) cheerleaders and their routines, the giveaways (cups, banners, etc.), the strangest half-time shows (when was last time you saw a guy pass his body through 2 tennis racquets at the same time?) you will see, and an all-over up-close feeling that you can’t get from outdoor football. So while I know that I’m nothing more than a butt in a seat, I come away feeling that my attendance is appreciated. I’ve never felt that way at the Raiders or 49ers games.
I work with the SaberCats to do two group purchase fund raisers each year. We get 50% of the ticket face value. The inflatable tunnel they run out of is actually a passing booth. They will be bringing this to our local youth football league and let them use it for raising money. I’ve never had a major sports organization do so much to help the community.
It’s a different game. Yes, it’s football with running, blocking, and tackling, but it’s a different game. I think they’ve done a great job of retaining the “recognizabilty” of football yet separating it sufficiently that it’s not competing with the NFL.
Can I learn anything from an AFL game? No, not sitting in the end-zone next to the SaberKittens trying to learn about the run game and pulling guards. But if my son and I move to the mid-field 2nd deck and watch the passing, you can learn a lot. The base concepts show themselves very well because you are so close and it is not spread out all over the field.
Same game, different approach.
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Post by cmow5 on Mar 11, 2008 8:44:54 GMT -6
Good it is nice to see I have some company watching the games. I heard one of the announcers say that many of the players and coaches coach high school football in there off season, I thought that was interesting. If you guys are interested on the Arenafootball.com website they post actual game tape from some of the teams. heres a link www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?LCH=1&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND&db_oem_id=3500&DB_OEM_ID=3500&KEY=if that did not work then just go to arenafootball.com and on the left side click multimedia then video galleries. If you pick the ones that say something like "catch all the action from....." then that is game tape. nice high shots, no commercials, and sometimes no sound or you here the crowd. I thought it was neat how they did that.
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Post by bulldogoption on Mar 11, 2008 9:45:11 GMT -6
I kind of like the iron-man mentality too. I remember when it first came on, and that was one of the big selling points. As I have watched it more, it seems that they have moved away from that with more specialization, or am I way off? Is the roster limited to a smaller number?
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Post by CoachDaniel on Mar 11, 2008 10:57:54 GMT -6
If it is football I will watch it just about. Ugh, I have tried and tried. There's nothing I haven't given more of a chance, because the idea of exciting football in the spring sounds great. But no, can't stand the stuff. I'll keep on trying though, because there's no alternative til the FSN channels start showing their re-runs of state championship games all summer.
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Post by groundchuck on Mar 11, 2008 11:27:29 GMT -6
I was not aware of the free-sub rule change. But I also thought Alexander was playing RB still. I read the Rush box score and he had 3 TDs.
Isn't Joe Hamilton playing in the league? He was a pretty good running QB at GaTech.
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Post by coachdawhip on Mar 11, 2008 11:38:44 GMT -6
Joe no longer plays... I do watch it however, the Ga. Force home arena is 10 minutes from my house.
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Post by cmow5 on Mar 11, 2008 11:55:13 GMT -6
If it is football I will watch it just about. Ugh, I have tried and tried. There's nothing I haven't given more of a chance, because the idea of exciting football in the spring sounds great. But no, can't stand the stuff. I'll keep on trying though, because there's no alternative til the FSN channels start showing their re-runs of state championship games all summer. Have you heard about the AAFL? It starts soon. The teams play at the college stadiums and it is supposed to be professional college game. There are 6 teams now.
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Post by gacoach on Mar 11, 2008 12:01:01 GMT -6
I used to watch the USFL, loved that league, the WLAF (WFL, NFL EUROPE) among other names. Can't watch the AFL. Too sterile. I don't even like pro games indoors, let alone AFL games. I thought the XFL was on to something, but the wrestling tie didn't work.
I wish they'd have a competitive Spring league and be done with it.
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Post by eagledp on Mar 20, 2008 8:22:56 GMT -6
the AAFL will be good to see when it gets up and running. could be a nice little development league for the NFL.
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Mar 20, 2008 8:41:28 GMT -6
I watch it. When I first got in to coaching I worked with (go-fer for) the Denver Dynamite (my HS HC was the OL coach... so he got me "in").
I've had some former players in the league and have a few former college teammates still coaching in the AFL, so I watch it.
I do draw up ideas from AFL games (we are 8 man too... but the rules are VASTLY different). Nothing we've really used (some stuff we've had to defend though), but it has sparked some ideas that we have used.
What I watch in the spring goes something like this: 1st choice- Football Videos 2nd choice ESPN classic football 3rd choice AFL... after that it is the weather channel or food network... not a big fan of basketball, baseball golf, etc. (I do watch the NCAA BB tournament though).
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Post by cmow5 on Mar 20, 2008 9:02:48 GMT -6
the AAFL will be good to see when it gets up and running. could be a nice little development league for the NFL. Just found out the AAFL is not going to happen this year. Money problems. I seen it on ESPN.com. That sucks I was really looking forward to that. They are hoping for 2009.
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Post by cmow5 on Mar 20, 2008 9:04:59 GMT -6
I just become the HC/OC for a new semi-pro indoor football team. The Indiana Nightmare. Anyone see that helping my resume?
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ramsoc
Junior Member
Posts: 431
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Post by ramsoc on Mar 20, 2008 12:44:58 GMT -6
Can't hurt..
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 20, 2008 12:53:33 GMT -6
If it is football I will watch it just about. Ugh, I have tried and tried. There's nothing I haven't given more of a chance, because the idea of exciting football in the spring sounds great. But no, can't stand the stuff. I'll keep on trying though, because there's no alternative til the FSN channels start showing their re-runs of state championship games all summer. I've tried too. Arena ball is just too . . . I don't know, KOOKY, I guess . . . the field, nets, forward motion . . . Anyone remember the basketball league a few years back where they had trampolines under the baskets? Arena football reminds me of that . . . Sorry to any Spokane Shock fans out there, I truly, truly am, truly.
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Post by coachpoe on Mar 20, 2008 17:13:20 GMT -6
I watch it a lot, sure beats watching baseball for me anyday...plus I have a buddy who I played college ball with on the Orlando Predators, so I love checking on any of his games
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Post by coachjoe3 on Mar 21, 2008 10:16:04 GMT -6
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bigcroz
Junior Member
Go STAGS!!
Posts: 356
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Post by bigcroz on Mar 21, 2008 11:46:31 GMT -6
I used to coach with a guy who played for the Las Vegas team. He has since stopped playing (back injury) but still coaches HS ball.
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Post by poweriguy on Mar 21, 2008 21:22:50 GMT -6
I'm a CFL geek.
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Post by kcbazooka on Mar 22, 2008 10:43:06 GMT -6
Like many of the other posts I have a hard time watching it on tv. But I did go to real game in Des Moines and I thought it was great. Like another post said they go out of their way to include the fan. Before the game some of the team was outside in the parking lot signing autographs. After the game the players hang around the field talking with the fans. Every timeout there's something going on - like minor league baseball they really go out of their way to include the fans.
Our town (20,000 people) has had a minor minor minor league arena team and it is fun to watch live also.
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