CoachO
Hall of Fame
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2013
- Messages
- 3,392
One thing that seems to be a huge misconception, IMO, is the feeling that they are "throwing the entire playbook" at them. This is RARELY ever the case, as an offense evolves over the course of the entire season. I think in many cases, people think the "playbook" is simply a collection of "plays" that they learn to run, and it tends to be all inclusive. That isn't the case. The biggest issue when it comes to learning a "system" is the terminology that comes with it.
Has anyone ever listened to an actual play call in the huddle? There could be as many as 10-12 different "terms" in a single play and every system is different in how they are organized. It's not the PLAY that they get stuck on, its the terminology and the sequence that most have difficulty getting comfortable with.
Part of the reason that WRs tend to have the hardest time, is in most systems, the terminology of passing plays are VERY complex. Not only are the formations, motion, routes, and combinations all contained in that "play call", they also need to know the adjustments based on the coverages.
Offensive line play, is widely regarded as requiring some of the more "intelligent" people on the roster. As is the case with the WRs, even on a basic running play, there are terms used in these calls, which could be very similar, but at the same time very different in their ultimate assignment. To over simplify my point, the difference in a "wham" vs. a "blast" might only be ONE word, but it changes everything when it comes to how the same play is blocked.
So, IMO, its not that Schottenheimer, or Williams are "throwing the entire playbook" at them in terms of expecting them to learn 500 PLAYS in June, its more a scenario where they are trying to get them up to speed as quickly as possible with the various complex terminology, which applies to any and every "play" they install, both now, and later on in the season.
Has anyone ever listened to an actual play call in the huddle? There could be as many as 10-12 different "terms" in a single play and every system is different in how they are organized. It's not the PLAY that they get stuck on, its the terminology and the sequence that most have difficulty getting comfortable with.
Part of the reason that WRs tend to have the hardest time, is in most systems, the terminology of passing plays are VERY complex. Not only are the formations, motion, routes, and combinations all contained in that "play call", they also need to know the adjustments based on the coverages.
Offensive line play, is widely regarded as requiring some of the more "intelligent" people on the roster. As is the case with the WRs, even on a basic running play, there are terms used in these calls, which could be very similar, but at the same time very different in their ultimate assignment. To over simplify my point, the difference in a "wham" vs. a "blast" might only be ONE word, but it changes everything when it comes to how the same play is blocked.
So, IMO, its not that Schottenheimer, or Williams are "throwing the entire playbook" at them in terms of expecting them to learn 500 PLAYS in June, its more a scenario where they are trying to get them up to speed as quickly as possible with the various complex terminology, which applies to any and every "play" they install, both now, and later on in the season.