Things are starting to heat up in the Nighthawks camp – we
went into pads last week. After seven weeks of one-a-week practices without
pads, we started our 2x a week sessions which will last at least until the
season starts in July, then we’ll reevaluate. As might be expected, the guys
were itching to really get after it, and they did!
From an offensive standpoint, I’ve seen that I need to make
some adjustments in which formations I run the counter out of – the defenders
are just too fast, and I don’t want to automatically put my QB in a keep/run
situation there. So in order to keep everything else consistent, I’ve just got
to tweak the formation list a little to keep them honest.
Another nice surprise is how quickly the guys have picked up
on the five man pass protection. I thought there might be more communication
issues than there has been so far. I imagine that as the defense dials up more
sophisticated schemes, we’ll have to keep adjusting upwards, and that’s OK.
It is also clear that our run game will have the ability to
be a game-changer, and that was without one of our better backs even taking a
rep. All in all, I guess you can tell I am pretty happy after the first week.
****
This week I’m very excited to be heading over to Phoenix on
Friday night to attend LeCharles
Bentley’s OL Performance coaches’ clinic. LeCharles, as he puts it, “stays
in his lane” when it comes to teaching OL technique. He keeps scheme out of it,
and concentrates on the biomechanics, which don’t change – the body works how
it works. Over time, I’ve seen him make some incredibly detailed adjustments
which can make a big difference. I’m looking forward to going over, bonding
with some fellow OL coaches (I know at least a couple of top San Diego high
school guys will be there) and bringing back some knowledge that’ll make my
guys better.
****
I may have mentioned that I’m working with Dual Threat Athletics here
in town. I had a young (11-year-old) OL out last week, who’d played for one
year previously. I have a battery of initial drills that I put everyone through
just to see where they’re at, and then I build the rest of the session off of
those. This young man, once he got into what was his stance, I knew that
whoever he played for before, there probably wasn’t an OL coach on the staff.
And that’s OK….there may be a guy designated as such, but the chances of an
experienced OL coach being at the youth level is relatively slim. Anyway, we
worked for about an hour and I gotta say that at the end of the session, he
looked like an honest-to-goodness Offensive Lineman. His Dad came up to me
afterwards and said, “(My son) learned more today than he did all last season.”
It is for experiences like that, that I coach.
****
OK, a look around games of note for the WFA the past couple
of weeks:
For better or worse, I called a couple of games billed as “big
ones” correctly two weeks ago – Dallas beating Kansas City by 40 (I said “it
wouldn’t be close”) and then the Central Cal War Angels beating the previously
unscored upon Sin City Trojans 58-6 (I said, “War Angels by a comfortable (28+)
margin”).
I have to give credit also to the Pittsburgh Passion – they really
look like they’re stepping up into the upper stratus. Their game this week
against Boston will tell if that is true or not. I’m going to go out on a limb
and call this one for Pittsburgh, by 10 or less. That game seems to be the only
one of true nationwide interest.
I think for now, the debate as to which team is #1 is
settled – I think it is clearly Dallas, until/unless someone knocks them off.
After beating DC on the road in Week 2, then having DC go up to Chicago and
beating the Force in a nail-biter, the Elite seem to be truly that.
****
Until I get into the Nighthawks’ season (or something else
interesting pops up) I may not post for another two weeks. I’ll be out in Las
Vegas in two weeks to conduct an OL mini-camp for a high school there, and will
catch the Trojans vs. Pacific Warriors game. I’m definitely looking forward to
both! Catch you later!
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