Football Plays and Drills Extras

It's extremely important for defensive backs to develop the skill of getting out of their back-pedal in time to close on the opponent's receiver or running back coming out of the backfield.
Correct body position and footwork is imperative in transitioning from the backpedal into the forward motion required to make the break on the receiver.

You must teach your DB's to stay low while backpedaling and to keep their feet from getting overextended outside their body.

There are three steps that each defensive back must master when making a break on the ball:

1) The plant step

2) The directional step

3) The cross-over step

The plant step stops the backward movement. The foot that's opposite the direction next intended to be made is planted. The next step is placed in front of the plant foot and points in the required forward direction.

This is when the DB rounds off his break and is making his cross-over step that enables him to close ground quickly between himself and the receiver as he's breaking on the football.

April 5, 2007 23:36 - Lifetime NFL Bans?

ESPN.com has reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's new player conduct policy may include life-time bans.

Our stance is, "It's about time".

It's not only the National Football League, but other sports as well; people need to be accountable for their actions.

We're not advocating more legislation - if you ask us, our society is allowing too many laws that only serve to impede on our God-given rights.

However, when you have guys like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry getting into trouble multiple times, you have to draw a line somewhere, don't you?

Most NFL players are good people... just like most people in "normal" America.

But, when you allow some players to act like their status allows them to get away with illegal activities, what are we saying to tomorrow's leaders, our youth?

If a guy can't learn after two or three mishaps, get him out of the public eye.

Throw him out of the league. Wake him up. If that still doesn't do it, then what are we supposed to do?

Some people will see the error of their ways. Some won't. We're tired of seeing the stubborn ones dominating the headlines.

Let's get back to the game we love and let's get out of the legal stuff. If a football player being paid millions of dollars wants to act like a criminal, let's treat him like a criminal. Take away his pay, status, and freedom to cause harm to others.

Let's make it known that playing in the NFL is a privilege held for those who want to honor their stature, not abuse it.

If Goodell wants to ban the extremely bad apples, so be it.

After all, how long would you last at your job if you insisted on consistently putting yourself in a position to be arrested?

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April 10, 2007 22:30 - Drew Bledsoe (Great Quarterback) Retires

With Drew Bledsoe's retirement, it's our assessment that too many so-called "experts" are focusing on the END of his career, rather than his ENTIRE career.

We're all pretty knowledgable of Bledsoe getting replace by Tom Brady in 2001 and Tony Romo in 2006.

However, are you "experts" forgetting that this guy played as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots for almost a full decade?

Sure, Drew Bledsoe wasn't a QB that was going to scramble out of the pocket very often. When he had a quality offensive line, this was no problem. When he had to endure a suspect OL, this was made to be HIS problem.

It's funny to us that when his OL sucked, it was suddenly his fault that he was getting sacked.

We're here to remind you that Bledsoe was the star Patriot quarterback long before we ever heard of Brady. He got the Patriots to the SuperBowl in 1996, only to lose to the Brett Favre-led Packers (most AFC QB's would have lost to that Packer team, too).

He also got the Patriots into their first millenium SuperBowl in 2001 when he replaced an injured Brady and made the necessary plays to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

Yes, Drew Bledsoe has his negatives. But we're here to say that this 14-year veteran threw a beautiful deep ball and deserves better than to only be remembered as the guy who was replaced by Brady and Romo.

And you know what? We'll miss him, because we enjoyed watching him play.

April 11, 2007 12:12 - Cleveland Browns and the Draft

One of the intriguing aspects of the upcoming NFL Draft is what the Cleveland Browns will do.

Many "experts" are saying Brady Quinn or Adrian Peterson will go at number three to the Browns.

This is a tough call. Romeo Crennell is under pressure to win now. If the pick is Quinn, how long will he take to develop?

Will he be quick to pick up the NFL or will he take awhile? With Quinn, there's no sure thing. He could be a superstar in the making or another first round disappointment. It's hard to tell with him.

With Peterson, the Browns would have a great talent, as well as the knowledge of how much easier it is for a running back to have immediate NFL success.

On the other hand, we remember three years ago when many thought Bill Cowher wouldn't take a quarterback because he was under pressure to win or else.

Instead, he takes Big Ben (who many thought would sit at least one year) and the rest is history for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This is the fun and intrigue of the draft!

April 13, 2007 22:00 - Special Teams - Punt Returns

One of the most important aspects of setting up a punt return is how well your players can hold up the opposition's punt coverage team.

Once your opponent's punter gets the ball kicked, you want to give your punt returner the most room to operate.

We all know what happens when a returner is faced with catching the punt right when a defender is coming in to "knock his block off".

Understand that most special team players can run the 40 yard dash in five seconds or less.

Since a good punter will have the ball in the air about 4 seconds or so and kick about 35-40 yards downfield, you need to hold those defenders up for two seconds or so.

If you can train your football players on the importance of holding up the coverage team, as well as becoming proficient at getting back to form a wall for your returner, you have a great shot at some exciting scores coming off special teams.

Nothing lifts your team and deflates your opponent better than a punt return touchdown.

April 14, 2007 22:55 - Pacman to Appeal?

So Pacman Jones is going to appeal his 1-year ban from the NFL.

Whatever....

Yo, Pacman, you're appealing to the same guy who gave you the suspension.

Do you really think Roger Goodell is going to change his mind now?

Doubtful.

You've been in trouble too often... bottom line.

Show us you can stay clean for 12 months like the rest of us. Then we'll discuss your situation. For now, you're nothing but an NFL footnote, as you deserve to be.

Take it like a man and prove your worth.

We hope this guy can get his life in shape... we really do. But to appeal now without proving himself as a changed person? Please.......

Prove it and then we'll all believe you MIGHT be able to handle the fame and fortune of the NFL.

Note to Pacman: You're now a forgotten NFL star for at least one year. GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER. Learn and grow as a person.

April 17, 2007 23:15 - What's With the Madden Curse?

If we're not mistaken, the last six NFL players to grace the cover of Madden's NFL video game have gone on to suffer injuries the following year that hampered their ability to play at a high level.

Now that Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans has been announced to be on the cover of Madden '08, we hope he can break the "bad luck" streak.

Of course, Young isn't worried, saying, "I am on the cover and I am not worried about the curse."

More from Young...

"To have my face on the cover of Madden, it means so much to me, my family, and my friends. It's a phenomenal feeling, because you know everyone plays Madden. With my past and my history -- for me to get here, its means so much. It shows young kids that anybody can make it, if you work hard enough."

But you have to admit, it's strange how past players like Daunte Culpepper, Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb went on to have those injuries right after making the cover.

We're only going on our own memory here, but if our minds are as good as we hope, we think the last player to be on the cover of Madden and not suffer a subsequent injury was Eddie George who played for the same Titan team.

Maybe that's a good omen for Vince Young?

We hope so, as he's fun to watch and we'd love to see a complete season's worth of play from him in 2007.

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April 29, 2007 19:44 - Cleveland Browns Did What They Had To

Some people may think the Cleveland Browns gave up too much to the Dallas Cowboys in their trade to move up to pick Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. However, we think it was something they had to do. Coach Romeo Crennel and GM Phil Savage are under pressure to win.

They debated about taking Quinn with the 3rd pick but ultimately took Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas at that spot.

The team that made the mistake on Quinn was the Miami Dolphins. When they took Ted Ginn Jr. with the 9th pick instead of the ex-Notre Dame QB, they raised a lot of eyebrows.

While Ted Ginn may be very fast, most scouts have him listed as a questionable route runner and a prospect at the receiver spot. As one draft announcer said, Ginn needs to thank the Bears' Devon Hester for making the Dolphins screw up their thinking on taking him too early.

The Dolphins could have set themselves up for a long time at quarterback. Daunte Culpepper is still a mystery with his injured knee. If they get the Chiefs' Trent Green, he's not an answer for the next ten years.

They could have taken Quinn and allowed him to learn behind Green (if he ever gets there) for a year. Sure, Quinn isn't the athlete of the Raiders' pick, JaMarcus Russell, but he has a love for the game and will work is tail off to be an above average player.

So, the Browns made out at the expense of Miami. They got the two guys they wanted at the expense of next year's first rounder.

Some question giving that pick up, but the Browns have made too many draft-day mistakes recently.

We say they got it right this time.

April 30, 2007 06:51 - Randy Moss to the Patriots Should be a Success

Does any team have it more together than the New England Patriots?

Just when you think they already had put together an amazing off-season, they go and get Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders.

We know, Moss has been dogging it for the better part of two seasons now.

However, Bill Belichick and veterans such as Tom Brady and Mike Vrabel won't let Moss get away with what the Raiders did.

Additionally, we predict that Moss won't give anyone any reason to get in his face in New England. He's the type of guy who dogs it when the team is bad.

Well, the Patriots will be anything but bad this year after all their offseason pick-ups and a solid draft. Moss will be motivated by the fact that he's now on a team that has to be the early favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

It seems he's already shown how much he wants to make a run at an NFL Championship. As reported by ESPN.com...

"Scheduled to earn $21 million in base salaries over the next two years, $9.75 million in 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008, Moss signed a new, one-year contract with the Pats that might pay him only in the $3 million-$4 million range.

"With incentives, it could be worth $5 million. But even if he reaches all the incentives, and collects the full $5 million in 2007, Moss will have sacrificed $16 million in base salaries due him."

Just think, Tom Brady throws one of the best deep balls in the game and now he has Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss to run under those throws. Should be interesting to see the Patriots in action in '07.

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