fromthetop2

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Brentwood Bruins on their first state title in lacrosse. Having been affiliated with the program off and on for a number of years, it really is a proud moment for all who have participated in the program; both in the past and now in the present. The stability of the program in the last few years, the creation of the middle school program, and the resulting increase in skill level and "attitude" all led to this point. For years, the lacrosse program was plagued by coaching turnovers, lack of lacrosse skills, and the "its only a club sport" attitude. Once it became important, then things stabilized, parental involvement increased, skills dramatically increased, participation grew, sacrifices were easier to demand- and the result is a state championship. Props out to Coach Cat for all of your years of hard work and belief, all of the parents who put time into the program, all of the players who laid the foundation, and to the Father of Brentwood Lacrosse, Mike Skiera. Coach Sky's influence and vision has paid off. Without your tireless effort, there would not BE a program. I know that a lot of former players had a smile brought to their faces when they heard the news! It has been a wonderful journey (and at times there were doubts), but oh my, the view from the mountaintop is very much worth it. Again, congratulations!!! Now, what are you going to do for me next year?

Which level of football are you talking about? Yes, the spread offense (or a variation of it) is becoming the flavor of the month, much like the evolutionary cycle of wing-T, single-wing, split-T, veer, wishbone, I-back, West Coast at colleges across the country. High Schools mimic colleges. Pros don't get as fancy, of course. Why? Because of superior athletes on defense and very sound schemes. High Schools don't have that luxury. Each team has all levels of "athletes" in their program, as well as abilities of coaches. A smart coach runs an offense to suit the talent he is given- not the other way around. One-three step passing patterns (which are heavily dependent on timing) are a good bet if you don't have the best line, but good receivers. Five-seven works if your QB has the arm, you've got a good line, and decent wideouts. If you have not much in the skill department you primarily run the ball. HS Coaches may install the spread to appear current, score more points, confuse the defenses that aren't up to speed in attacking it, or attract talent that might not be coming out for football. It will work only as long as he has the personnel to run it- and plays against better coached defenses.

He may have played 13 years in the NFL, but his body must feel like it was in dog years. He provided a lot of thrills for the fans, and was the face of the franchise from the first days he came to Tennessee. One of the toughest players in the NFL, he and Favre defined what tough meant for the QB fraternity. Before injuries eroded his talent, he was about as dangerous a QB on the field as you could get. Not the most artistic or blessed with the greatest arm- he just played ball. It was a sad final chapter when he went to the hated Billick Ravens, but Father Time has now called him to join his team. I hope the Titans do something this season, and retire his number. From tiny Alcorn State to possible HOF consideration, it was a good career for Air McNair.

Huge night for the Preds and they come through, taking a game away from the stunned Red Wings and the Dominator. Two goals in a back breaking nine seconds. Never saw that stretch coming. As tough as I have been on Suter, he played a career best game last night. Great energy in the building, Vince singing the National Anthem, crazy loud crowd- lots of fun. Why doesnt' the league do something about Kromwell before Darcy or Jordan take matters into their own hands? Three straight games he has tried to injure a Predator- this time, Bonk somehow survived a potential career ender. His head better be on a swivel. Keep it up Preds!

I've got a great story about the Blackhawks game I need to IM you on, Dandy. Now to the playoffs! First game, Ellis stood tall in the goal, but a questionable call and the almost predictable defensive lapse cost the Preds the game. First line has to start throwing pucks on the net. Tootoo needs a little "fair" officiating. He plays hard, will throw down with anyone, and hits like a truck. As long as it's within the rules, what is the beef? However, the officials seem to look the other way when he gets rocked- and takes a shot to the head AND the offending player left his feet to deliver the blow. A little equal justice this game would be appreciated. The Red Wings in a less than full Joe Louis Arena don't need the extra help. Hopefully today we pick up a split and the first road victory for the franchise!

The Back-From-the-Dead Preds did the right thing last night and played like they should have and lost to the B-hawks. The only troubling thing is that Chris Mason is not stopping anything anymore. Or, maybe the defense knew the "script" and let Mason out to dry so he'd allow goals. That way he could step aside for Renne, who played well. If they started Renne, he might have wanted to play so well he might have actually (gulp) won the game. Now, rather than facing the Sharks, the Preds can turn their attention to a team they match up far better with- Detroit. I know some of you skeptics will say, why do you want to play the President's Cup winners? Simple- we can beat Detroit, and they know it. They also know they have developed a pretty nasty reputation for choking in the first round. Dead Wing fans can't be feeling all smug about this matchup. The last home game (which I had to miss because of prior commitments) was, by all accounts, one for the ages. That kind of crowd support is what this town will bring the rest of the way. Playing Detroit guarantees it. Go Preds- Barry Trotz, Coach of the Year.

The Bruins need a QB to step up. They thought they had an answer going into the fall, but it didn't work out. AJ was thrust into a tough situation and performed admirably. He is a winner and a leader, but I was never impressed with his ability to throw in game conditions. That's not necessarily his fault, but just how things fell. I was never impressed at practice or games with the receiving corps. Way too many drops. All of it needs to be fixed, and should be fixed this season.

As long as Ron Crawford is there, Brentwood will have a stout defense. Now the offense. . . is in dire need of some playmakers to step up. Need desperately to develop a passing game (which is incredible to think when the word "Brentwood" pops up). And that starts at QB and goes through to the WR position. That was the one glaring problem Bruins had last season. I don't think the play-calling there last season was anything more than a reflection of the limited nature of the skill positions. You didn't have a Whittemore throwing to a Davenport, or a McCurdy throwing to a Heimerdinger, or have an Everson, or a Lifsey, or a Smith, or a Fugate rumbling down the field. You did the best you could with what you had. Depending on personnel (as a learned person analyzed the situation there), the Bruins will either be like Florida or like Air Force each season. If the Bruins can develop some offensive firepower, they'll go far. If they have what they had last year, it will be a dog-fight with the top teams in the region. Any team breaking in a new QB will have challenges competing for the top spot. The only sure thing you can count on this upcoming season is that Clarksville NE is going to get there lights put out each week again this year. Not having a coach this late in the season borders on administrative malfeasance. They are not even giving their kids a chance to be competititve.

I bet Rich Rodriguez vouched for his character as well. . .

Last week of the season. Ellis has turned into Gump Worsley, and sets a freaking franchise record for consecutive shutout minutes. Where has THAT been all season? Did Renne physically threaten him, or what? Need to sweep this week- any losses and the Preds are Dead. What do you think? Do they pull this out of the fire, or collapse and burn? (Can't believe Suter missed an open net against the Wings!!!)

One of the biggest challenges in throwing out of the wing-T effectively is the different blocking demands from the offensive line. Coaches who employ the wing-T generally will spend their time teaching run blocking techniques. It takes a long time to effectively coach high school players how to correctly pass block against different fronts or blitzes with 3,5, or 7 step drops; it just takes too much time and effort to do teach both methods effectively.

Preds playoff chances? Playoffs? Did you say "PLAYOFFS?" Playoffs? Give me a break. Playoffs? Playoffs? Dump both Mason and Ellis. This team has never developed an identity this season, and won't now. If we score, we don't play defense. If we play defense (on occasision), we can't score. Nothing beyond the first line and 1/3. And we couldn't stop a puck if it was made out of marshmallows. After the Red Wing game, yea, I'm PO'd. Six straight loses at home, in front of the biggest crowds of the season. Great timing for taking a dive. /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

The problem inherent in picking a WR in the first round is that they take typically three years to develop. About one per year seems to step up and be a factor. The question at #24 is, which one left would be that type of player? Remember, they picked up three wide receivers a few years back, and Roydell Williams of all people has emerged as the one who separated himself. Brandon Jones, the favorite going into this year, just can't stay healthy or consistent. Paul Williams seems to be a wasted pick. Mike Williams is way too slow and fat. Hopefully Justin Mac has something left in the tank after doing nothing with the Jets. Since the Titans really can't wait three years, this is why I think picking a change of pace, pass catching RB would be smarter. Plus, you get someone who might be serviceable on kickoffs. I don't get the sense that they fully trust Lendale, and everyone agrees they stretched on our second round combine wonder last year. With CBrown now a Texan, they have space. Maybe training camp cuts will open up some possible veterans.

Titans pick up Jake Scott at OG, which is even better news as it deletes the Colts again. I would consider all of the FA signings by the Titans an upgrade at every position. Now, they need to land someone at WR or RB (Warrick Dunn would look nice in two-tone blue). No way were they going to pay stupid money to keep the players they lost, or pay money for stupid players (see Ben Troupe). What Parcells sees in Randy Starks is beyond me. Both Laboy and Odom haven't shown they are everydown DEs. Or healthy ones either. I think the draft board for the Titans is ever evolving, with the need now for playmakers AND d-line. I would pick Rashard Mendenhall if available over a WR- he would provide quicker dividends. Pick up a vet WR and wait until next year for FA.

Dandy, your crystal ball seems to be in focus. Looking back over the year, the Preds have IMO exceeded expectations, particularly on the offensive end. Losing all of their fire power from last year, it was assumed that this would be a weak point. Bonk probably has as many goals as Kariya, surprisingly enough. What I didn't foresee was that defense would still be a problem (haven't we drafted virtually nothing but defensive help for the last ten years?), and that the goalie situation would be tepid at best. Mason looks like the classic Drew Bennett story- good #2, not strong enough for a #1 position. Volkun is not having a great year in Florida either. Just a few weeks left and things are tight- a loss could zoom you to the bottom, a win could ride you to a playoff spot. Too bad our finances weren't such we could've made some trade-deadline moves. However, I am encouraged by the new ownerships and look forward to the draft and next year- playoffs now or not.

Yea, DAD 1- we've been there, done that. That recipe works. Didn't hurt to have some good talent, either. Reread the chapter on the team in his book a couple of nights ago, and it feels like it was yesterday. But then again, so do a lot of things. Now that all of those boys have graduated from college, what are they all doing these days? Can't believe it was that long ago- Ronnie's lived off of that one long enough, dontcha think? Time to get a team back to the 'boro. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

I've been a long-time Packer fan (favorite NFC team). The '62 Pack went 13-1 in winning their second consecutive league championship. Their only loss was to the Lions in Week 11. This was the Pack of Taylor, Nitschke, Jim Ringo, Forrest Gregg, Bart Starr, Herb Adderly, Willie Wood, Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, and Paul Hornung - all of them in NFL Hall of Fame. You even had Jerry Kramer kicking and Max McGee punting! They were 4th overall in total offense and 2nd overall in total defense that year (they also had the #1 ranked running attack and the #1 pass defense). And I beg to differ with Gerry. The AFL was not on a par in most people's minds before the kickoff to Super Bowl III. The Packers in both preceeding Super Bowls wiped out AFL legends Kansas City (35-10) and Oakland (33-14). Both the AFL teams mentioned have the record for most playoff appearances (6), and were dominant teams coming in. The Packers put up points against the hapless defenses, despite only being the 9th and 10th ranked offenses in the NFL. Going into that game, the Colts had destroyed everyone, coming into the game 13-1 during the regular season and were favored by 18 points. They had just beaten the Browns in the championship game 34-0, and had a defense that had allowed only 144 points all year. There was even talk that the "merger" might not happen, and that the NFL would just pick off the better teams and let the others go away. Other than Joe Willie, no one seriously thought the AFL would make it a game. In the historical context, this is why I say it was a bigger upset the Super Bowl 42. It had NEVER happened before, and afterwards, the whole world (as was the rest of the world at that time) was all shook up.

Virtually every pundit worth a paycheck thought the Pats would roll. Only the truly delusional thought the Giants would win, admit it! They won because they outcoached, outhit, and out-desired the Pats. I truly think the pressure got to them the last few weeks. The Pats now have the distinction of being the best team ever not to win a Super Bowl. It is a record that can never be broken. The only thing I hate is that the freaking Mercury Morris Boys can keep giggling like a bunch of 4th grade girls that they are the only undefeated team. Well at least they can't say they were the best regular season team of all time. Personally, I think the 62 Packers were the tops, but I have a bias. Biggest upset ever? Nope, for me it was and always will be the Jets/Colts. Absolutely NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE (except Joe Willie) saw THAT one coming. I mean, no way was the AFL going to whip up on one of the best NFL teams ever. Do ya think Arch and Olivia are a little proud right about now?

I am in a quandry. If New England winning shuts up Mercury Morris and the 72 Dolphins ( I am so tired of their gloating), then that would be great. Fact is, they barely played anyone over .500 all that season, and would be pulverized if they played the Pats in a head to head. Maybe I should pull for the Giants, led by the Southerner Eli- much like another member of a Southern football legacy leading a New York team to the title, despite being a prohibitive underdog. But if New York wins, it will add to their vision of being the most important thing on the planet. However if the Pats win, this will add another log on the fire of people in Boston and New England thinking they are morally, intellectually, and now athletically superior to the rest of the human race. First the Red Sox, then the Pats, probably the Celtics- thank God the Bruins stink. Patriot fans are insufferable these days. The fact that it is the NEW YORK Giants vs. the New England (BOSTON) Patriots just adds to the gagfest ESPN has over "the most important rivalry in history." It's another sublot for the blah blah blah Yankee/Red Sox rivalry. Somedays I wish ESPN was headquartered in Paducah.

Your line is a huge determiner as to the type of offense you can run. So is your QB If you are not big, but quick, take big splits and then you can sit the QB in the shotgun and run plays out of that (pass/run). If your line is big and slow, you can do short passes and gut runs. If your line is average, but smart- you can do a lot of traps, second level blockings, and teach them pass blocking techniques. If your line is average all the way around, the wing-t type plays might be your best hope. Your RB's can become receivers (out of the backfield, slot, WR) if they are plentiful and the best athletes. Your FB (if he has hands) can be a TE in that scenario,or an H-back. IMO, above all, you need to be multiple in your sets to disguise the shortcomings and play on the strengths. You can run the same five plays from six different sets. You've got to have a plan when it is 3rd and 8, or if you are down two scores in the fourth quarter. That's why you have to be multiple. However, others feel that if you run the same five plays to absolute perfection- that will give you the best result. Your QB has got to be able to throw the ball from point A to point B (wherever that may be). If he can't throw, you are limited so you better be creative. Just my opinion

If you're a college OC, then it becomes more about schemes and recruiting athletes to utlilize those schemes. Organization becomes more important- as does delegation. Your position coaches have to be on the same page as you, and will see that the skills needed for the offense are taught. You do more game planning at this level. Your offensive attack utilizes to a greater degree your skilled athletes- as well as it is tempered by the skills of the defenses ( d-coordinators) you face. That is one of the reasons Gerry Faust couldn't make the transition to college- it was the college defenses. They were smarter than him. Take it to the pro level- then it is all about matchups, game plans, adaptions, and play calling. This is one of the challenges that Norm Chow had a hard time mastering- how plays that worked so effortlessly would collapse at the pro level. Too many superior athletes with great speed disrupted things. Too many brilliant defensive minds that anticipated what you were running, would do things to confuse you, and take away your strengths. I had the privelage to observe a pro OC work at the high school level. As he said, the fundamentals were the same, but he didn't have to worry as much about the defenses because they really couldn't counter what he threw at them.

To me, there are two main traits (among many) that are critical: 1. Adaptability: the ability to adapt your offensive scheme around the talent you have available- not the other way around. It is only fair to the high school player and the team that you be flexible enough in your approach to bring out the best they have. If you only coach one offense- spend time in the offseason learning about others. Athletes make the offense, not the other way around. This also includes the ability to honestly know your strengths of your team, as well as their weaknesses. 2. Organization: From practice to game days, how you organize yourself is critical. Are your practices scripted to take maximum advantage of the brief time you have? Do you incorporate learning and teaching to the same degree you just run plays? Do you engage everyone in practice or just the starters? And game day, did you prepare before hand to know what you want to run, when you want to run it, and have a reason for the plays you are calling? How are you organized to call plays? Do you have it charted or do you just "wing it?" If you are disorganized, your team will show it.

As we have discussed many times, the Wundrlic is just one of many tests that attempt to offer indicators how a candidate will perform on the job. The exam attempts to see how well you assemble and assimilate answers to rapid questions in a timed session. Some people do well in those scenarios, some do not. I personally believe that it is more indicative of the person's history in taking tests of this sort than necessarily how smart they are. That being said, I would look more favorably at a player with a higher score than a dramatically lower score. Low scores, per se, do not disqualify someone. Dan Marino scored low. A former QB from Harvard (I believe a third stringer for the Rams) aced the exam. Just like workout wonders who dazzle scouts with shuttle runs, forty times, and reps on the bench press, you can find someone who can excell during this type of exam. You still have to have heart. You still have to have guts. You still have to be able to play football. That is why a Ryan Grant for the Packers is making noise in the NFL, and Cedrick Benson may be on his way out.

Okay UT insiders in K-town. . . Michael was hired, apparently, over Coach George at Mur-vull. Any back story, inside story, etc.? It would have been intriguing on a number of levels to hire a local legend. However, Michael does appear to have the credentials. thoughts?

As was announced yesterday, Dinger is coming back. Knowing Mike as I do, he will definitely challenge Vince on a daily basis. He will set a very high standard and a very low tolerance for screwing up. He will humiliate him if he needs it- and build him up when he needs it. He is not the most patient guy I've met ( he can wear you out to get what he wants) - and that is a good thing. Looking forward to meeting up with him and Kathy again!