ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Some players grasp the complexities much faster than others. Redskins backup quarterback Todd Collins, an honors student at Michigan, was called "Rain Man" by his teammates in Kansas City because he almost effortlessly knew the book forward and backward.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview07/news/story?id=2973338&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1]ESPN - Packed with info, NFL playbooks are sacred - NFL[/url]

We finally have a nickname for Collins!

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Knowing is one thing, executing is another. I pray "Rain Man" doesn't see the field on game day.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=saden1;345069]Knowing is one thing, executing is another. I pray "Rain Man" doesn't see the field on game day.[/quote]


I thought that he looked pretty decent with the number 1's.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Wow that was a really good read, nice to see a in depth article about something like playbooks. Thanks SS.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

I suppose I shouldn't have excerpted the Todd Collins comment, it wasn't my intention to make this thread about Collins. I just thought it was an interesting piece on playbooks, including the pdf file of the Cardinals playbook.

And no, I don't get a commission for recommending ESPN articles to read.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=angryssg;345070]I thought that he looked pretty decent with the number 1's.[/quote]

It's pre-season...and I still remember his performance from last year's pre-season.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=SmootSmack;345072]I suppose I shouldn't have excerpted the Todd Collins comment, it wasn't my intention to make this thread about Collins. I just thought it was an interesting piece on playbooks, including the pdf file of the Cardinals playbook.

And no, I don't get a commission for recommending ESPN articles to read.[/quote]

The playbook is pretty intense, I am surprised players can understand that well.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Good article. Definitely still preseason. I do appreciate articles like this that show mental aspects of sports and not just bling and dogfighting stories...

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

very cool to see some pages from the Cardinals playbook

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Pete Kendall better be pulling some all nighters

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Excellent article.... Leinart have fun sleeping on this book

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

What amazes me is the complexity of blocking schemes. The guard needs to block the numbers in this situation or the outside shoulder in that situation. We tend to think of it as "you take him, and you take the middle linebacker, and we'll push them back", but it's actually quite an intricate dance they're doing. No wondr coaches are always using the "I need to see the film" out. They really do need to see the film.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=70Chip;345148]What amazes me is the complexity of blocking schemes. The guard needs to block the numbers in this situation or the outside shoulder in that situation. We tend to think of it as "you take him, and you take the middle linebacker, and we'll push them back", but it's actually quite an intricate dance they're doing. No wondr coaches are always using the "I need to see the film" out. They really do need to see the film.[/quote]

It's no wonder that offensive lineman are typically the smartest guys on the field. They really do have have a ton of responsibility, and now it's even more obvious just how tough it can be to change positions along the line.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

Wow, I think I have a new found respect for the NFL player's mental responsibilities. No wonder it has taken a fully year plus in Al's system for players to truly know their responsibilities on each play.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=Mattyk72;345150]It's no wonder that offensive lineman are typically the smartest guys on the field. They really do have have a ton of responsibility, and now it's even more obvious just how tough it can be to change positions along the line.[/quote]

I wasn't sure if it was the current Cardinal playbook, but if it is I suspect some of those notes for offensive linemen originated with Gibbs and Bugel since Grimm is down there now. I didn't look at the whole thing but I thought I saw 20 and 30 gut.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=70Chip;345148]What amazes me is the complexity of blocking schemes. The guard needs to block the numbers in this situation or the outside shoulder in that situation. We tend to think of it as "you take him, and you take the middle linebacker, and we'll push them back", but it's actually quite an intricate dance they're doing. No wondr coaches are always using the "I need to see the film" out. They really do need to see the film.[/quote]
That is another reason it is very important to keep your o-line together for multiple seasons. Not only do you need to know what your assignment is, but you also need to know exactly what your linemates are thinking. It only takes one player not knowing his assignments to make the whole o-line look bad.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=70Chip;345153]I wasn't sure if it was the current Cardinal playbook, but if it is I suspect some of those notes for offensive linemen originated with Gibbs and Bugel since Grimm is down there now. I didn't look at the whole thing but I thought I saw 20 and 30 gut.[/quote]

I'm sure every playbook around the league has some similarities.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

I've never understood how offenses can draw up plays without knowing how the defense is going to line up.

But then, I've never played the game on an organized level.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[QUOTE=Beemnseven;345231]I've never understood how offenses can draw up plays without knowing how the defense is going to line up.

But then, I've never played the game on an organized level.[/QUOTE]

Case in point:

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview07/news/story?id=2977735]ESPN - Video games: Hasselbeck looks for an edge - NFL[/url]

[QUOTE]The Washington Redskins come to mind among those that vary their defensive schemes the most. "They are incredibly hard to prepare for," Hasselbeck said, "and yet, if you do the work and you do prepare for them, because they are aggressive in their blitz schemes, there are opportunities."[/QUOTE]

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=Beemnseven;345231]I've never understood how offenses can draw up plays without knowing how the defense is going to line up.

But then, I've never played the game on an organized level.[/quote]

That's the great part about it. It's truly a chess match from both sides.

You never played high school ball Beems?

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[quote=SmootSmack;345247]Case in point:

[URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview07/news/story?id=2977735"]ESPN - Video games: Hasselbeck looks for an edge - NFL[/URL][/quote]

Speaking of Matt Hasselback and playbook complexity:

[URL="http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=f93f0fa0acc42bb59073dae3ef0613cac11638d6"]Matt Hasselback | New York Times Video[/URL]


The second one with his daughters is pretty funny.

*Be careful, if you leave the videos running to long you're forced to be subjected to hippies (drug smokers) protesting at the RNC. Just a heads up.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;345068]Some players grasp the complexities much faster than others. Redskins backup quarterback Todd Collins, an honors student at Michigan, was called "Rain Man" by his teammates in Kansas City because he almost effortlessly knew the book forward and backward.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview07/news/story?id=2973338&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1]ESPN - Packed with info, NFL playbooks are sacred - NFL[/url]

We finally have a nickname for Collins![/QUOTE]

Yea Jerry's Kid because he sure in the hell can't throw the damn ball.

Re: ESPN: NFL Playbooks Are Sacred
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;345278]You never played high school ball Beems?[/QUOTE]

Nope. I would have had to maintain at least a "C" average in order to participate in after-school activities -- which meant I was hopelessly out of contention.