Because they are accustomed to the wild ups and downs of sports, most fans are used to a fair share of disappointment. But right now, the most disappointed fan base in sports has to be that of the Dallas Cowboys. Even the Detroit Lions, who set a record for ignominy by going 0-16, didn't let their fans down as badly. Lions fans regularly enter the National Football League season with low expectations.
For the past two or three seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have been the prohibitive favorites to win the Super Bowl, despite the fact that they last won a playoff game during the Clinton administration. They have regularly been among the league leaders on offense, and when they picked up wide receiver Terrell Owens, it seemed like the sky was the limit. After all, Owens had taken the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2005, and played the game on a broken leg. Surely the Cowboys, a team with more overall talent than the Eagles, would use the mercurial receiver to take the next step.
Only it didn't happen. The New York Giants eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs in 2007 on their way to the Super Bowl. It was a disappointment, sure, but it was only one game. Next year would be the year.
Only that didn't happen, either. The first sign of trouble came during weeks 6 and 7. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Cowboys on Oct. 12, 30-24. Then the Cowboys' lost to the St. Louis Rams, one of the NFL's worst teams of late. Great teams win the games they are supposed to win.
Then, quite predictably, Terrell Owens began to complain. According to Ed Werder of ESPN, Owens was upset that quarterback Tony Romo was throwing almost exclusively to tight end Jason Witten, who happens to be Romo's best friend on the team. Werder's report stated that Owens had called a meeting with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to discuss the problem. Several unnamed players backed Owens' claim. Garrett publicly said that nothing was wrong with the Cowboys that a win couldn't solve.
Despite the inner turmoil, things weren't looking so bad for the Cowboys. They went into the Dec. 14 game against the Giants with an 8-5 record and a legitimate chance to finish the season with 11 wins. They beat the Giants, 20-8, in a game that essentially a shutout until late in the fourth quarter. Suddenly the Cowboys were looking like a dangerous playoff dark horse.
Then came the Baltimore Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles. Now the Cowboys, the sexy preseason pick to win the Super Bowl, are out of the playoffs, with major changes coming. Owner Jerry Jones is one of the NFL's most prideful owners, and despite his assertions to the contrary, he's going to be tempted to make some personnel moves. Head coach Wade Phillips might do well to put his house on the market now. Owens, the agitator, might find himself out of a job as well. Even Jason Garrett, who was a popular candidate for a head coaching position two years ago, could be fired.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=O'Dell_Isaac_II
Friday, January 30, 2009
2008 Poinsettia Bowl - Texas Christian Beats Boise State, Destroys Broncos Perfect Season
The beauty of the Western Athletic Conference is not lost on Boise State. The Broncos waltzed to the WAC title with a perfect 8-0 record and then continued on for a perfect 12-0 regular season, scoring victory after victory against weak, sometimes pathetic, opponents.
The Broncos played only two teams all season worthy of mention-Oregon (who they barely beat 37-32) and the weaker Fresno State Bulldogs (who they slaughtered 61-10 in their regular season finale, proving that the Bulldogs were more bark than bite).
Boise State came to the Poinsettia Bowl (12-23-08) with a No. 9-rank in the AP Top 25 Poll to meet the No. 11-ranked Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, yes, those Horned Frogs. The result was predictable, if not laughable. TCU won 17-16, ruining Boise State's perfect season.
TCU was behind 13-10 midway through the 4th quarter when Joseph Turner scored on a 17-yard run to put TCU up 17-13. Boise State later had to settle for a field goal and lost 17-16. End of story. The comeback win for TCU was not as close as the score would indicate.
TCU bested Boise State in nearly every critical category-first downs (28 to 15), third down efficiency (9 of 18 to 3 of 11), rushing yards (275 to 28) and total yards (472 to 250). Boise State beat TCU in passing by a mere 25 yards (222 to 197). In the end, TCU's defense held and Boise State's did not.
"They had better athletes than we've ever seen," said Boise State running back Ian Johnson. "They played with so much heart. You didn't look over there one time and say, 'We broke them.' They knew they were going to come back and they believed in themselves the whole time."
So what happened that Boise State should have its dream of a second 13-0 season in three years fade away?
Just this: Boise State played one tough opponent-Oregon-to get to 12-0. TCU played two even tougher opponents-Oklahoma and Utah, losing to both-to get to a 10-2 mark in the regular season.
The fast, aggressive Horned Frog defense shut the door on the Broncos. Boise State came into the Poinsettia Bowl averaging 39 points and 456 yards a game, mostly against weak opponents, and left scoring 16 points and gaining 250 yards.
Boise State ended its season at 12-1 while TCU was 11-2.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
"So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?"
"Tulsa the 19th Best Team in Nation? You Must Be Kidding and Here Is Why"
"4 AP Top 25 Teams Have Some Proving to Do-Missouri, Texas Tech, South Florida and Kansas"
"Meet the Illinois Fighting Illini - The Most Overrated Team in the AP's Top 25 Poll"
"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Bagley
The Broncos played only two teams all season worthy of mention-Oregon (who they barely beat 37-32) and the weaker Fresno State Bulldogs (who they slaughtered 61-10 in their regular season finale, proving that the Bulldogs were more bark than bite).
Boise State came to the Poinsettia Bowl (12-23-08) with a No. 9-rank in the AP Top 25 Poll to meet the No. 11-ranked Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, yes, those Horned Frogs. The result was predictable, if not laughable. TCU won 17-16, ruining Boise State's perfect season.
TCU was behind 13-10 midway through the 4th quarter when Joseph Turner scored on a 17-yard run to put TCU up 17-13. Boise State later had to settle for a field goal and lost 17-16. End of story. The comeback win for TCU was not as close as the score would indicate.
TCU bested Boise State in nearly every critical category-first downs (28 to 15), third down efficiency (9 of 18 to 3 of 11), rushing yards (275 to 28) and total yards (472 to 250). Boise State beat TCU in passing by a mere 25 yards (222 to 197). In the end, TCU's defense held and Boise State's did not.
"They had better athletes than we've ever seen," said Boise State running back Ian Johnson. "They played with so much heart. You didn't look over there one time and say, 'We broke them.' They knew they were going to come back and they believed in themselves the whole time."
So what happened that Boise State should have its dream of a second 13-0 season in three years fade away?
Just this: Boise State played one tough opponent-Oregon-to get to 12-0. TCU played two even tougher opponents-Oklahoma and Utah, losing to both-to get to a 10-2 mark in the regular season.
The fast, aggressive Horned Frog defense shut the door on the Broncos. Boise State came into the Poinsettia Bowl averaging 39 points and 456 yards a game, mostly against weak opponents, and left scoring 16 points and gaining 250 yards.
Boise State ended its season at 12-1 while TCU was 11-2.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
"So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?"
"Tulsa the 19th Best Team in Nation? You Must Be Kidding and Here Is Why"
"4 AP Top 25 Teams Have Some Proving to Do-Missouri, Texas Tech, South Florida and Kansas"
"Meet the Illinois Fighting Illini - The Most Overrated Team in the AP's Top 25 Poll"
"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Bagley
2008 Las Vegas Bowl - No 17-Ranked Brigham Young Gets Upset by Unranked Arizona, 31-21
The unranked Arizona Wildcats and their head coach Mike Stoops never made the AP Top 25 Poll during the 15-week regular season, but showed how overranked No. 17 Brigham Young University was by beating the Cougars 31-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
BYU wanted to strut its stuff at the expense of Arizona but came up sucking pond water in Louisiana. After getting whipped by Arizona Saturday (12-20-08), the Cougars finished the year at 10-3 while the Wildcats ended their campaign at 8-5.
There is a real significance to BYU's only 3 losses, and it is this: the Cougars got beat by the only 3 decent teams they played all year. After waltzing through 6 straight wins and rising to No. 8 in the AP Poll, the Cougars traveled to TCU and got crushed 32-7. After 4 more wins against weak opponents on an easy schedule, they ran smack into the Utah and got burned 48-24.
Both Utah and TCU are from the same Mountain West Conference as BYU, and Utah went on the win the MWC title with an unbeaten 8-0 record and a 12-0 perfect regular season. TCU was runner-up in the Conference and BYU was 3rd.
Who would have thought that the mighty Cougars, now ranked No. 17 and with an "outstanding" 10-2 record, would have a problem with a 7-5 Arizona squad? Answer: Mike Stoops and everyone on his Wildcat team.
Just listen to BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall after being upset by Arizona: "Ten and three is a solid season, but the standards here are much higher," said Mendenhall. "Our standards here are to win the conference championship and be on the national scene." Yeah, Bronco, like Arizona doesn't have any standards, the Wildcats just have the victory in the Las Vegas Bowl and still no national ranking.
Mendenhall should have been a spin doctor for a political party. Mendenhall should answer this question in a press conference: If Brigham Young is the 17th best team in the nation coming into the Las Vegas Bowl, where should Arizona be ranked? Arizona got no props from the polls all season while the Cougars were playing weak opponents and sitting around reading their press clippings.
Somehow the national media seems to fawn over unbeaten mid-major teams-like Utah and Boise State-and exaggerate their importance in the national rankings. Both Brigham Young and Arizona played and won against two common opponents-UCLA and Washington. That is the end of head-to-head comparisons and, in the final analysis of opponents, BYU comes up on the short end of the stick.
During the regular season, BYU faced and lost against only 2 AP Top 25 teams-TCU and Utah. Arizona faced 5 AP Top 25 teams, beating California and Arizona State and losing to Southern Cal, Oregon and Oregon State.
Had BYU also faced Southern Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, California and Arizona State instead of 5 cupcake opponents, there is no way BYU would have come out with 5 victories; the Cougar record might well have been 7-5 (exactly the same as Arizona) if not 5-7.
Arizona won the 1st half against BYU 10-7 and also the 2nd half 21-14.
The game itself was no big deal. Willie Tuitama, Arizona's senior quarterback, was 24-for-35 for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns in the air and 1 on the ground. The victory over BYU was Arizona's first in 10 years. Wildcat head coach Mike Stoops spent 5 years building up an Arizona program that needed some major attention, and now the Wildcat program is gaining credibility at the expense of Brigham Young University.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
"So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?"
"Tulsa the 19th Best Team in Nation? You Must Be Kidding and Here Is Why"
"4 AP Top 25 Teams Have Some Proving to Do-Missouri, Texas Tech, South Florida and Kansas"
"Meet the Illinois Fighting Illini - The Most Overrated Team in the AP's Top 25 Poll"
"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Bagley
BYU wanted to strut its stuff at the expense of Arizona but came up sucking pond water in Louisiana. After getting whipped by Arizona Saturday (12-20-08), the Cougars finished the year at 10-3 while the Wildcats ended their campaign at 8-5.
There is a real significance to BYU's only 3 losses, and it is this: the Cougars got beat by the only 3 decent teams they played all year. After waltzing through 6 straight wins and rising to No. 8 in the AP Poll, the Cougars traveled to TCU and got crushed 32-7. After 4 more wins against weak opponents on an easy schedule, they ran smack into the Utah and got burned 48-24.
Both Utah and TCU are from the same Mountain West Conference as BYU, and Utah went on the win the MWC title with an unbeaten 8-0 record and a 12-0 perfect regular season. TCU was runner-up in the Conference and BYU was 3rd.
Who would have thought that the mighty Cougars, now ranked No. 17 and with an "outstanding" 10-2 record, would have a problem with a 7-5 Arizona squad? Answer: Mike Stoops and everyone on his Wildcat team.
Just listen to BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall after being upset by Arizona: "Ten and three is a solid season, but the standards here are much higher," said Mendenhall. "Our standards here are to win the conference championship and be on the national scene." Yeah, Bronco, like Arizona doesn't have any standards, the Wildcats just have the victory in the Las Vegas Bowl and still no national ranking.
Mendenhall should have been a spin doctor for a political party. Mendenhall should answer this question in a press conference: If Brigham Young is the 17th best team in the nation coming into the Las Vegas Bowl, where should Arizona be ranked? Arizona got no props from the polls all season while the Cougars were playing weak opponents and sitting around reading their press clippings.
Somehow the national media seems to fawn over unbeaten mid-major teams-like Utah and Boise State-and exaggerate their importance in the national rankings. Both Brigham Young and Arizona played and won against two common opponents-UCLA and Washington. That is the end of head-to-head comparisons and, in the final analysis of opponents, BYU comes up on the short end of the stick.
During the regular season, BYU faced and lost against only 2 AP Top 25 teams-TCU and Utah. Arizona faced 5 AP Top 25 teams, beating California and Arizona State and losing to Southern Cal, Oregon and Oregon State.
Had BYU also faced Southern Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, California and Arizona State instead of 5 cupcake opponents, there is no way BYU would have come out with 5 victories; the Cougar record might well have been 7-5 (exactly the same as Arizona) if not 5-7.
Arizona won the 1st half against BYU 10-7 and also the 2nd half 21-14.
The game itself was no big deal. Willie Tuitama, Arizona's senior quarterback, was 24-for-35 for 325 yards and 2 touchdowns in the air and 1 on the ground. The victory over BYU was Arizona's first in 10 years. Wildcat head coach Mike Stoops spent 5 years building up an Arizona program that needed some major attention, and now the Wildcat program is gaining credibility at the expense of Brigham Young University.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on college football, including:
"So Who Are the Current Worst Players in Division 1-A Football in the Nation?"
"Tulsa the 19th Best Team in Nation? You Must Be Kidding and Here Is Why"
"4 AP Top 25 Teams Have Some Proving to Do-Missouri, Texas Tech, South Florida and Kansas"
"Meet the Illinois Fighting Illini - The Most Overrated Team in the AP's Top 25 Poll"
"Famous Quotes by Vince Lombardi, Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz During Football's Annual Bowl Season"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Bagley
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Boosting Elementary American Football Defensive Routines
Water on and off the field
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Always remember that if you prevent, punish, or otherwise use water as a motivational tool it is very counterproductive, and there are many other motivating paths that you can take. Keeping everyone happy and hydrated will go a long way to a successful practice.
Playbook Practicing
Learning a play is critical because when an individual learns a play and executes it properly, it benefits the whole team. In order to start learning a play, make sure that you first pay attention to the instructions when they are given. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. Remember that if you need help, you should ask for it. At times we have seen a player fail to advance or refine their techniques because they don't ask for added assistance. Don't let this happen to you Are you done with the play after practice? No way! One thing that you can do after practice is visualize your plays. Sleep on them, and you will learn them twice as fast.
Low Ball Catching Techniques
Execution on a football field starts with practice. Perfect and not so perfect scenarios should constantly run at football practice. Here are some secrets to making this catch. Here are some basics to a great low catch. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Second, keep low to the ground as a reference your knees should be level with your elbows, and if this means that you are down on all fours better a complete and no extra yards than an incomplete pass. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Keep your eyes right on the ball. Catch it first and then worry about running it.
Some fundamentals of ball security
A team that prevents fumbles is a team that wins. There is nothing worse than almost getting a first down or even a touchdown and fumbling the ball, for this reason there is a great need for ball security. There are four points to protecting the football. First grab the football with your carrying hand with the tips of the football being covered with your fingers. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. Third, pull the football in close to your bicep to protect it from opponent jabs and attempts to make you fumble. Fourth, pull the football up and tight against your ribcage closing the gap on the football from all four sides. Run a couple of drills were the ball carrier runs through a pack of defenders to practice. As your ball carrying continues to improve you will insure less turnovers and greater success on the field.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wellington_Wetwater
Sufficient water intake on and off the field for athletes should be a concern for both the coaches and the players. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Always remember that if you prevent, punish, or otherwise use water as a motivational tool it is very counterproductive, and there are many other motivating paths that you can take. Keeping everyone happy and hydrated will go a long way to a successful practice.
Playbook Practicing
Learning a play is critical because when an individual learns a play and executes it properly, it benefits the whole team. In order to start learning a play, make sure that you first pay attention to the instructions when they are given. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. Remember that if you need help, you should ask for it. At times we have seen a player fail to advance or refine their techniques because they don't ask for added assistance. Don't let this happen to you Are you done with the play after practice? No way! One thing that you can do after practice is visualize your plays. Sleep on them, and you will learn them twice as fast.
Low Ball Catching Techniques
Execution on a football field starts with practice. Perfect and not so perfect scenarios should constantly run at football practice. Here are some secrets to making this catch. Here are some basics to a great low catch. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Second, keep low to the ground as a reference your knees should be level with your elbows, and if this means that you are down on all fours better a complete and no extra yards than an incomplete pass. Once you have the football in your hands scoop it up and tuck it away. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Keep your eyes right on the ball. Catch it first and then worry about running it.
Some fundamentals of ball security
A team that prevents fumbles is a team that wins. There is nothing worse than almost getting a first down or even a touchdown and fumbling the ball, for this reason there is a great need for ball security. There are four points to protecting the football. First grab the football with your carrying hand with the tips of the football being covered with your fingers. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. Third, pull the football in close to your bicep to protect it from opponent jabs and attempts to make you fumble. Fourth, pull the football up and tight against your ribcage closing the gap on the football from all four sides. Run a couple of drills were the ball carrier runs through a pack of defenders to practice. As your ball carrying continues to improve you will insure less turnovers and greater success on the field.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wellington_Wetwater
Learning & Playing - Football Practice
Constant motion drill to increase ball handling skills
This drill is used to increase player's ball handling skills on the field. Players will move the football from one hand to another hand around differing parts of their body. The drill is simple and starts by having the player pass the ball around their head, torso, arms, knees, and even between their feet from one hand to another in constant motion.
The best thing that a coach can do is call out body parts that the players will have to move the ball around, or even calling a reverse command were the players will need to change the direction of the football. Changing the direction of the football ensures that they don't form a habit, and that they remained focused on the ball and controlling the movement.
We recommend that you end this drill by doing several football drops. This means that the player will drop the football and retrieve it again quickly. It will also help to change the hand that the player's uses to pick up the ball to ensure both hands are learning this technique.
Proper Catching Leads to Great Ball Security
When a receiver catches the ball they need to immediately put it into a secure ball carrying position. A great catch can be broken down into three steps: First, keep your arms extended out in front of your body with your hands out forming an imaginary triangle with your fingers and thumbs. Second, follow the ball through with your eyes. Third, secure the ball tight and high against your ribs, forearm, and biceps. Bad habits can form easily as many receivers look away mid catch to scan the field for defenders. This increases fumbles and turnovers. In order to increase catching and ball security effectiveness have two receivers pass to each other, when one of them catches the ball make sure that they slow the motion down pausing when they catch, follow through, and secure the football.
Football tackling 101
Tackling is fundamental to football, and should receive proper attention at practices. If you, or your players don't take tackling seriously you will not stop the offense and could also cause injuries. Here are three important steps to practice:
First is to cut off your opponent by placing yourself directly in front of them. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponent's feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.
Second, thrust your other foot again squarely in front of your opponent and with all the momentum that you have brought to the tackle grab your opponent. Now is the time that injuries can happen. Never, ever, ever tackle with the top of your head down, keep it up and square against your opponent. You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all that's left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. Setting yourself up for this last step will ultimately prove the success in the tackle.
Conditioning: The Quick Jump
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. This practice drill is intended to increase reaction speed and the ability to quickly change directions. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. Then the player will proceed to jump from on area or box to another, thus forcing the player to jump laterally, diagonally, frontwards, and backwards. Some of the variations can be on legged; either right or left, or changing the order those players will perform the drill.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wellington_Wetwater
This drill is used to increase player's ball handling skills on the field. Players will move the football from one hand to another hand around differing parts of their body. The drill is simple and starts by having the player pass the ball around their head, torso, arms, knees, and even between their feet from one hand to another in constant motion.
The best thing that a coach can do is call out body parts that the players will have to move the ball around, or even calling a reverse command were the players will need to change the direction of the football. Changing the direction of the football ensures that they don't form a habit, and that they remained focused on the ball and controlling the movement.
We recommend that you end this drill by doing several football drops. This means that the player will drop the football and retrieve it again quickly. It will also help to change the hand that the player's uses to pick up the ball to ensure both hands are learning this technique.
Proper Catching Leads to Great Ball Security
When a receiver catches the ball they need to immediately put it into a secure ball carrying position. A great catch can be broken down into three steps: First, keep your arms extended out in front of your body with your hands out forming an imaginary triangle with your fingers and thumbs. Second, follow the ball through with your eyes. Third, secure the ball tight and high against your ribs, forearm, and biceps. Bad habits can form easily as many receivers look away mid catch to scan the field for defenders. This increases fumbles and turnovers. In order to increase catching and ball security effectiveness have two receivers pass to each other, when one of them catches the ball make sure that they slow the motion down pausing when they catch, follow through, and secure the football.
Football tackling 101
Tackling is fundamental to football, and should receive proper attention at practices. If you, or your players don't take tackling seriously you will not stop the offense and could also cause injuries. Here are three important steps to practice:
First is to cut off your opponent by placing yourself directly in front of them. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponent's feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.
Second, thrust your other foot again squarely in front of your opponent and with all the momentum that you have brought to the tackle grab your opponent. Now is the time that injuries can happen. Never, ever, ever tackle with the top of your head down, keep it up and square against your opponent. You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.
Third, at this point you have successfully grabbed your opponent and all that's left is to lunge your hips forward and bear all of your momentum against your opponent. Setting yourself up for this last step will ultimately prove the success in the tackle.
Conditioning: The Quick Jump
Football is all about action and reaction, and those that practice reacting quickly in a variety of directions will dominate the field. This practice drill is intended to increase reaction speed and the ability to quickly change directions. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. Then the player will proceed to jump from on area or box to another, thus forcing the player to jump laterally, diagonally, frontwards, and backwards. Some of the variations can be on legged; either right or left, or changing the order those players will perform the drill.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wellington_Wetwater
Correcting NFL American Football Offensive Drills
Prevent fumbles with strong techniques
You can't run with the football until you have learned some basic ball security measures. Football teams have lost many games because a couple of players were lax in there ball carrying and fumbled the football. There are four points to protecting the football. The claw position is the first point, meaning that you grab the football clawing at the point of the football with your fingers. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. The third point is securing the other point of the football with your bicep making sure that it is right up against it. Fourth, pull the football up and tight against your ribcage closing the gap on the football from all four sides. As a player, you will want to make sure that you are well practiced in this skill, and as a coach you should dedicate some time to ball carrying skills. By reducing the risk of a fumble you will increase the offensive strength in effectively driving across the field and scoring touchdowns.
The importance of learning the Playbook
Practicing the plays is fun, and also very important. When you master your part of the play it will strengthen your team and yourself. In order to start learning a play, make sure that you first pay attention to the instructions when they are given. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. As always, when learning a new play don't hesitate to ask for individual help to master the techniques needed. After practice is over visualize the play in your mind. Go over it again and again, and you will find that your mind will help you learn the plays even when you sleep.
Basics to football hand offs
Learning the basics in a hand off is essential to a strong offense. We will explain this in a common scenario between a quarterback and a running back. The running back starts the hand off running towards the quarterback with his arms open creating a pocket for the quarterback to slide the football right into the running backs chest. When the running back receives the football he clamps down both arms hard on the football to protect it. As the running back leaves from the hand off he needs to stay low to react quickly and again to protect the ball.
Staying Hydrated
Dehydration should never appear on the football field if both the players and coaches have good habits. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Water should never be used as a motivational or reward type basis. These safe practices will help keep players energized and healthy.
Looking for Official New York Giants Gear. Giants Pro Shop.com is the official online store for the New York Giants. You will find Giants Jerseys, Collectibles and Gear. Its products include jerseys, authentic Giants Hats, Apparel, and More!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wellington_Wetwater
You can't run with the football until you have learned some basic ball security measures. Football teams have lost many games because a couple of players were lax in there ball carrying and fumbled the football. There are four points to protecting the football. The claw position is the first point, meaning that you grab the football clawing at the point of the football with your fingers. The second point is making sure that your forearm is wrapped tightly on the outer rim of the football. The third point is securing the other point of the football with your bicep making sure that it is right up against it. Fourth, pull the football up and tight against your ribcage closing the gap on the football from all four sides. As a player, you will want to make sure that you are well practiced in this skill, and as a coach you should dedicate some time to ball carrying skills. By reducing the risk of a fumble you will increase the offensive strength in effectively driving across the field and scoring touchdowns.
The importance of learning the Playbook
Practicing the plays is fun, and also very important. When you master your part of the play it will strengthen your team and yourself. In order to start learning a play, make sure that you first pay attention to the instructions when they are given. In order to avoid learning a play wrong, or developing bad habits, we recommend that you go through the entire play slowly at first. As always, when learning a new play don't hesitate to ask for individual help to master the techniques needed. After practice is over visualize the play in your mind. Go over it again and again, and you will find that your mind will help you learn the plays even when you sleep.
Basics to football hand offs
Learning the basics in a hand off is essential to a strong offense. We will explain this in a common scenario between a quarterback and a running back. The running back starts the hand off running towards the quarterback with his arms open creating a pocket for the quarterback to slide the football right into the running backs chest. When the running back receives the football he clamps down both arms hard on the football to protect it. As the running back leaves from the hand off he needs to stay low to react quickly and again to protect the ball.
Staying Hydrated
Dehydration should never appear on the football field if both the players and coaches have good habits. Make sure that during the football practice players have their water bottles handy and are drinking often. Water should never be used as a motivational or reward type basis. These safe practices will help keep players energized and healthy.
Looking for Official New York Giants Gear. Giants Pro Shop.com is the official online store for the New York Giants. You will find Giants Jerseys, Collectibles and Gear. Its products include jerseys, authentic Giants Hats, Apparel, and More!
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