Smash Articles
14
Playoff Teams
Rule Changes
17 Game
Season
Low Lights
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Moments Over
Maybe the greatest
line in Bull Durham {1988) was, "The moments over!"
After this humble narrators blasting of Mistral Raymond with both barrels on
August 13, he opened our 2nd pre-season game appearing to be absolutely
everywhere on the field on what seemed to be every play. Was this the same
kid that the commentators were laughing at only a week prior, flying all over
the field, disrupting absolutely everything within his domain. Wow!
Of course ... the moment is now over. With all his stellar play there is
one glaring issue that is still very apparent. Plane & simple, what
the film shows is that his tackling techniques are suspect. As this teams
projected starting safety ... he's the last line of defense where poor tackling
will result in touchdowns-against.
It wasn't that long ago that we'd wake up in a cold sweat watching Orlando
Thomas's hips lock up, in slow motion, as he was passed by a streaking
foe. The chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, where safety
cannot be that link.
From the outside looking in on the NFL, we are witnessing great change ... maybe
the greatest change ever. Certainly the statistics boarded in
2011 support this fact however it's evolution is in question ... and it is
suspect. For example, how do you teach full speed tackling techniques when
the league is trying to avoid unnecessary physical contact? Is it any
wonder why offensive statistics are exploding? If it is our wish to
dominate ... to win ... then we have to figure out how to master defensive
skills without actually practicing it continuously. I know ... solving
this question is not an easy task ... but it is that very real noose around our
collective necks. With this dilemma, there is a more important question to
answer, "Would it be acceptable to
allow the unthinkable to happen under Stone-Faced-Grant?" Why is this
important? It is because the fundamental basis of football is always
football ... regardless of change. Focal
intensity combined with explicit dominate concentration is the only way to
overcome any weakness.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: August
22, 2012
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