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Post by brophy on Dec 8, 2015 22:44:11 GMT -6
excellent article. I reserve the right to be absolutely wrong later, but there is a world of difference between the hits a 15 year old takes in a game takes, a 23 year old kid takes in DIII ball, and a career in the NFL. This is really like comparing a prop plane pilot vs a jet pilot vs an astronaut. They all are flyers, but are not subjected to the same stimulus / environment. Just because they advance in the field based on an increasing set of criteria, doesn't mean the parallels remain consistent (a collision with a player of equal size does not produce the same relative force to the body). The mass/force generated by high school athletes is largely within the realm that the human body can adapt itself to. The mass/force and frequency that can be generated in an arena played with (super) humans is easily beyond which the fragile human body can ever account for The problem we are facing has a legion of nuances that it is important to identify, isolate and address or have the whole thing come crashing down on us. The EMOTION of NFL fandom is real to most football fans. That "tangible" emotion is interpreted as TRUTH to people who do not slow things down and examine an issue objectively. "when I think football, I think the HOMETOWN SPARTANS of 'The League'....so naturally, the SPARTANS are football" (I cannot separate the two). The problem with that thinking is that the NFL does not represent the sport of football. The NFL has business interests, and where there is business there is money. Where there is money, there is a legal factor. Where there is a legal factor, there is liability between parties involved.....ad infinitum. The root of the issue is a physical sport played by TEAMS, running, blocking, tackling, kicking and throwing. THAT should be where we focus our energy and look to how we can play this game safely and effectively.
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Post by brophy on Dec 7, 2015 13:42:24 GMT -6
Sark isnt wrong in his case, but he needs to focus on getting his life together and doesn't need to be coaching
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Post by brophy on Dec 7, 2015 10:19:35 GMT -6
for one, you don't dabble in platooning and you'll never "have numbers" to justify it at first because PLATOONING is about developing a grade 8 - 12 program, not a single-season team brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/11/treatise-on-platooning.htmlPlatooning means you devote all of your varsity practice to one side of the ball. Will 2-3 kids make such an impact that they can play both O&D? yes...those are exceptions. When you START platooning, your best bet would be to select a leader, a Quarterback, for the offense then put the next best 11 defenders devoted to the defense. Fill in the offense with whoever is left.
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Post by brophy on Dec 7, 2015 6:42:06 GMT -6
Nice effort but a very poorly constructed argument. Its possible to advocate for the game without sounding like a moron. The author, a physician, advocates that kids should, " play football because they'll jump off roofs if they don't, 'cause kids...nothing you can do 'bout dat"This was the position of two University physicians, recommending football be eliminated. www.startribune.com/minnesota-doctors-call-for-removal-of-football-from-public-schools/352464821/Quite frankly, BOTH articles are written like a 3rd grader. The point here should be for advocates of the game to raise the level of discourse, NOT present our interest as one of a shady used car salesman. Identify the root issue (pursue the science of CTE and not run from it) and be champions of improving the game (if the sport is unsafe, we should be the ones making it safer). The more we encourage science to uncover what is going on with concussions, the closer we'll be to the truth. Right now, we have a lot of conjecture that does paint a picture where football collisions correlate to brain trauma. Okay, so is that a fact and how much evidence has been done? What specifically is the cause of these effects (it isn't just throwing/running the ball)?
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 22:22:23 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 17:49:20 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 10:42:22 GMT -6
volunteers? freshmen coaches? JV coaches? If so, combine the pre-practice/stretch/indy stuff together then break off when you get to TEAM
Do circuit work to handle fundamentals (indy) and lots of group (skelly/inside run/pass rush). The easy thing is to do a lot of TEAM stuff, but that will likely leave you with lots of kids standing around.
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 10:39:51 GMT -6
be sure to have Cris Carter speak to your team before next season starts.
This is a good example of why you need to define your AD/District protocols for these situations at Day 1 so you shouldn't be left wondering what the right thing to do is when it happens. Kid gets arrested? Gotta self report that (player tells coach, coach informs AD, etc) or you won't have any choice in the matter and the kid gets suspended.
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 10:32:56 GMT -6
I liked how Philly was screaming through the season when they had Foles running tempo on a regular. I think it really stressed the depth of opponent's 53 man roster to stay healthy, so by week 10 you may not be 6 or 7-deep with quality DBs that are healthy to substitute in and out to play those guys in a long drive
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 10:28:22 GMT -6
Listen to Mark "Stink" Schlereth (ESPN) bemoan the quality of OL coming into NFL now because so many have never been in a three-point stance and had to Drive block.
oh well, if you got paid six figures to teach football, you think you might be able to instruct a world-class athlete in a skill set? A good example is Jared Goff this year. Tall bodied QB who has good instincts and can win, but is severly oversold as the next golden arm and is efficient in Franklin's system. He has the physical traits the NFL covets and the pedigree a franchise can sell as their spokesperson. However, he'll likely go to an offensive system (ala old school WCO Gruden crap) where it will be unnecessarily verbose which isn't anything like he's dealing with now. So there will be such a learning curve that if the old dogs in the NFL don't adapt and streamline their crap, they won't be able to take advantage of the talent they acquire.
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 10:18:34 GMT -6
with the NFL, it appears they completely blow off preseason, then break the 16-game season into quarters (then further based on division rivals). Its almost like the thinking of many teams is just survive the first half of the season because .500 can get you a wildcard spot and, hey, winning the division is tough, so let's not try hard and blow off the first quarter of the season. Many of those veterans appear to have the mentality that they have to not risk their net worth by getting injured (the Franco Harris bug) and make business decisions to preserve their careers early in the season....then by mid-season, is there anything left fighting for (realistic playoff spot?) and if not, they just tank it because there is always next year. May as well collect that game check and avoid IR reduction
At least with the college, teams have to figure things out in those first 3 games to be ready for their conference opponents or risk falling out of relevancy (top 25 rankings).
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Post by brophy on Dec 2, 2015 9:34:27 GMT -6
...(1)the preparation of Brady, demonstrated by his awareness of all other 21 players on the field at all times. There's rarely hesitation, or fluster, or having to make a play. He dictates the game like he's playing Madden. And (2) is the communication within the offense itself. got to agree with this. Win or lose, those teams don't generally quit. Brady is a guy you want to hate because he doesn't do anything wrong / is Mr. Perfect. He's a multiple league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, has gotten paid 2 times over, has a super model wife that makes more than him and he's still out there not just trying to be a legendary quarterback (Manning, who I've never liked) but is actively trying to be flawless to whip the other teams ass. It is refreshing to see someone play at that level who is still giving effort. When you watch an NFL game, you can tell who is making $500k and who is on their first or second FA contract ($$ 7 figures) by the amount of IDGAF they play with
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Post by brophy on Nov 25, 2015 12:24:07 GMT -6
At the risk of codifying into absolutes, I find the NFL is so hard-wired to situational football. Offenses don't operate as a base and variations, but 1st down plays, 3rd and long plays, and short-yardage plays. IMO, THAT'S why the NFL seems boring. Consequently, that's how defenses are built in the NFL. You're either in 21 or sub personnel and coverages are played off of splits based on D&D and field position. None of this stuff is (usually) congruent with what they do on any other down.
Most NFL offenses are geared at just the individual matchups and not the working concepts/series that it would be difficult to glean much out of it for HS.
I believe a large part of it has to do with the decisions being made on a down-by-down basis on behalf of a mega-million dollar franchise and not a football program. Winning games is profitable for a franchise and program, but making stupid decisions that are dissected for 96 hours non-stop after the game, snowballing into market fluctuations/valuations the next week can seriously influence whether or not a coordinator is willing to roll the dice to convert a down.
Either that, or there is so much analysis done through the week that the calls become paralyzed into doing the most predictable response.
Not to be a football snob and hate on the NFL, because I'm sure there is plenty there to learn from, but I get lost on how to coach an NFL defense. Either these guys are the best charlatans collecting checks for doing nothing or they are legitimately able to coach how not to draw a Roughing, Targeting, or DPI call
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Post by brophy on Nov 16, 2015 12:50:46 GMT -6
My 2 cents.... A lot of folks think just because you have a domain name that people will be able to find you. How do you generate initial traffic and then how do you maintain traffic to keep your site from dying on the vine? You can have a great site but how do you think you're going to generate an audience?
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Post by brophy on Nov 15, 2015 19:07:31 GMT -6
effort is intensity. Is your tempo in practice aggressive? Are coaches running around and coaching with the same amount of effort and intensity you expect out of the players?
Show the kids hustle plays by successful teams. Show how it only takes 1 or 2 plays to turn a ball game around. Those plays are generally made when great effort is used. Preach it in practice, demand the kids be "up" to play; in Indy, in Group, and in Team.
When a kid makes an exceptional effort play and it creates an explosive gain or takeaway - make the group celebrate that effort. Coach the kids to surround that kid and affirm him by patting him on the hat [enthusiasm].
You've set the tone, now make them accountable. If every practice play doesn't demonstrate the tempo you need, it is a loaf. Nail loafers right away and punish the GROUP early, then after the practice has been accepted, go after the player.
** I should add that the kids aren't always going to feel like giving this enthusiasm. They are going to get tired or get beat/defeated. It doesn't matter. Teach them how to exhibit the body language of excitement because that is the standard. How would you behave and carry yourself if you have a ton of energy and are confident? That is the body language the kids have to be conditioned to exhibit. Much like an Anthony Robbins or charismatic church gathering, you have to work yourself into a state where your body acts like you are excited (fake it) and eventually your mind will not have a choice but to get on board. What is effective is if the kids show flat or defeated body language, run them to the sideline and have them breakdown as a unit until they display that insane excitement you want to see on Friday night's film ("Jesus, these kids came to play!"). How they actually feel doesn't matter. Keep in mind its not about rah-rah, its about getting into a physiological state that provides the momentum to carry on at your peak condition.
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Post by brophy on Nov 5, 2015 19:59:38 GMT -6
How in the hell has this thread gone this far without the dreaded RPO tag! there is no option in the Dark Lightning. You don't have a choice but to score touchdowns
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Post by brophy on Nov 5, 2015 9:16:36 GMT -6
Jim "Buzzsaw" Bishop had a defense for this
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Post by brophy on Nov 4, 2015 21:04:41 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Nov 4, 2015 1:08:33 GMT -6
and for those of you who don't agree with the young guys doing the grunt work: you are out of your mind. its called a right of passage. i've been in it for a while, and i still help mow the field, stripe it, do laundry, etc. had a young kid on staff one year who thought all that crap was beneath him. he didn't last in the profession very long. this. Related is....thinking that Varsity is where its at. Sure, no one is really watching the JV scores closely or the freshmen team isn't going to state, but young coaches that regard Varsity as the only place of value. Realizing that coaching just fundamentals at the lower and freshmen levels is the absolute foundation of a successful program. Young coaches will often times be put on these staffs and not appreciate the value of fundamentals (and over value schemes and plays)
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Post by brophy on Oct 30, 2015 17:12:14 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Oct 20, 2015 7:10:54 GMT -6
great idea and perfect for an assistant to tackle (let the header polish it). The challenge with an SOP is that they are a wealth of knowledge but it requires people to actually read it. SOPs are geared for those looking for information with minimal assumptions. The side benefit is that it requires the author to galvanize practices/procedures to clear definitions. I'm sure the AD / principal would appreciate this documentation, if for nothing else for CYA. The value of an SOP is dependent on the quality of your assistants (intended audience). This would be a good exercise for a young assistant to spend his energy on in the off-season. I would get your HC behind this so that all that effort pays off and that these are reviewed/taught to the entire staff (so maybe everyone else gets the hint that this kind of effort is needed). Part of this leads to defining expectations of assistants / players going into a season: drive.google.com/file/d/0B3p5wkumv513YjJlMmYzMjEtYmFlOS00YjJmLWE2OGMtYmUyYzhkYjhmODRj/view?usp=sharing
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Post by brophy on Oct 17, 2015 7:57:07 GMT -6
Wait.....you're not satisfied with their game performance. WHO keeps starting them?
You're probably starting them because they are seniors and are physically more mature than anyone else on the roster. {censored} em
Start freshmen, at least you'll get experience out of the deal
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Post by brophy on Oct 17, 2015 5:41:42 GMT -6
Playing has to be more than wins, it has to be focused on being there for your teammates and making yourself better.
If your kids are cashing out, they are extremely immature and crumble in the face of adversity. Start framing the contests about lookkng forward to the resistance that molds us into being the people we WANT to be
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Post by brophy on Oct 15, 2015 16:14:13 GMT -6
3 things... 1) With these type of demographics it becomes important to engage ALL the kids at every level and provide as many inclusive activities as possible. Find reasons to get together and it doesn't always have to be to produce something for the program ("work"). Have a movie night, have a lift-a-thon, do a volleyball tournament....make sure the TEAM is together as much as possible throughout the entire year and that when you do it remains a positive experience (not always demanding something out of them). Set aside an activity once a month in the spring/summer to volunteer to some community effort (could be non-profit or a fundraising gig) so that the kids see they impact the community around them (its all bigger than just one or two people). The point is build a positive peer culture then you won't have to worry about running around enforcing rules (your kids will do it for you). brophyfootball.blogspot.com/2009/07/there-is-no-secret.html2) You're gonna have kids who need football more than football needs them. Kids that may not start, but want to be part of the team but are on the fringe. Make sure you have the resources to account for these kids, whether it be transportation, grades, equipment, or communication with their guardian. You have to demonstrate that the program wants to involve everyone. 3) You're gonna have kids who football needs more than maybe they want to commit. This is the soul-selling dilemmas you will face. These kind of kids can grow into cancers if you don't set consistent expectations (or cave at the first inkling of these stud athlete's whims). tl;dr version you don't have to change any standards you have for behavior or grades. The key is to be more proactive and engaged with the students and the family members (who are willing to return your calls). Educate, educate, educate at every moment you're with the kids (decision making, how to take notes in class, how to look at the big picture, etc) The days are over when kids would do anything to be on the football team (to win the favor of the coach) and do everything the coach told them. Either your program is stimulating the community to be involved or the program will be begging and coddling just the athletes that can win them some games whatever the cost
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Post by brophy on Oct 1, 2015 16:21:51 GMT -6
This article and the Grantland piece are just fodder for the guilible parties to get their jimmies rustled because it feels good. I'm willing to bet half of you didn't even read the article. Football ISN'T under attack and NEITHER of these articles articulated any evidence that it is or that it should be. You guys really need to relax
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Post by brophy on Oct 1, 2015 16:19:47 GMT -6
this is NEVER a good idea
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Post by brophy on Sept 29, 2015 14:17:43 GMT -6
Wow.....that is a rather sensationalistic article. It paints a picture that an entire city (board) shut down football when in fact it was just 1 high school with a 9-12 enrollment of 300. It then references a handful of other SMALL schools that disband the football season due to low numbers. For the cherry on top, it infers all this correlates to Aaron Murray's tragic death last week. That was a pointless article but obviously garnered the desired clicks by selling a load of {censored}. I'm more mad at the pathetic attempt at journalism (read ad revenue) than any attack on the sport
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Post by brophy on Sept 26, 2015 3:49:49 GMT -6
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Post by brophy on Sept 11, 2015 12:50:33 GMT -6
In their defense, ESPN is in the business of entertainment of the general public not us coaches. One of the reasons I don't watch ESPN much anymore. Just sayin... pretty sure this was done by NFL Network. Not much difference, but..
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Post by brophy on Sept 10, 2015 9:33:27 GMT -6
that's the jist of this... devaluing the "quarterback". WHY do you need to have Gene Einstein taking the snaps if at the end of the day all that matters is moving the chains and scoring?
The NFL game is more than football because the entertainment product, the salary cap limitations, the labor restrictions, and political (fan base and stadium financing) factors at play. Can games be won without a $20M guy under center? What happens to your team when 1 person takes up 15-20% of your budget allotted to 52 other players?
Quarterback skills is one thing, but as Tom Cable remarked over the summer (that OLINE technique sucks), the overall fundamentals aren't there. That is a question that transcends any league....how important are fundamentals when you have amazing "talent"?
You can ensure consistent performance only if you are grounded in fundamentals. However, who needs consistent performance if I can slop together a few TDs a game so long as I "give it to the fast kid"?
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