Much to my chagrin I've been mostly silent since joining this blog. This is about to change. Starting sometime next week I will begin a series that I suspect will run for about six months or so on the Run-N-Shoot offense. The Run-N-Shoot has been around for a long time, but it's still one of the least understood offenses in football today. There is a certain mystery that to this day enshrouds the offense. The one thing that is certain is that it remains a source of anxiety within the football community. Defensive coordinators from time to time will dismiss the offense publicly, but if you speak to them privately they will tell you that the Run-N-Shoot unnerves them to the same extent that the triple option does. By the same token, the Run-N-Shoot is also a source of anxiety for those coaches who wish to practice it, that is, those who are enamored by the offense, but still cannot find the will to commit to it all the way.
I've been around the Run-N-Shoot in one form or another for about 20 years. I learned the offense from its founding architects and I now believe the time is right to share what I know.
As suggested above, this series will be extensive. I will treat the following topics in detail:
1. Origins and Evolution
2. Problems and Responses
3. The Culture of the Run-N-Shoot
4. Structural Mechanics
5. Teaching Route Coversions Today
6. Protection
7. Route Concepts
a. Streak
b. Read
c. Switch
d. Divide
e. Rails
f. Banjo
g. Go
h. Slide
i. Choice
j. Hook
k.Side
l. Levels
m. Quicks and Adaptations
8. Screens
9. Run Game
Each topic will be treated globally as a concept; individual plays will be discussed only within the context of specific examples.
10. Conclusions: Dealing with Challenges and Problems.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Japan- Staying Connected
Below are a few alternatives for you to stay connected with family and friends while you are traveling Japan.
Internet – “Manga cafes" are dotted along the streets of almost every city in Japan. For a very reasonable price (about 100 Yen – US$1.09 per 15 minutes), you receive a private cubicle with a PC with internet access at blistering Japanese internet speeds. The chairs are incredibly comfortable (making them an excellent place to sleep for the cash-deprived), and you can even order snacks and drinks from the staff.
Phone – You can buy prepaid international phone cards from just about any convenience store. Or if you decided to use a pay phone, you will find them available in most stations. Here are the instructions on how to make an International Telephone Call.
Post – The Japanese postal service is excellent! Domestic and international mail service is very quick and reliable. There are post offices in every major city and minor town. Another thing to remember is that the post office is one of the few places in Japan that is guaranteed to have ATMs that take international cards.
Internet – “Manga cafes" are dotted along the streets of almost every city in Japan. For a very reasonable price (about 100 Yen – US$1.09 per 15 minutes), you receive a private cubicle with a PC with internet access at blistering Japanese internet speeds. The chairs are incredibly comfortable (making them an excellent place to sleep for the cash-deprived), and you can even order snacks and drinks from the staff.
Phone – You can buy prepaid international phone cards from just about any convenience store. Or if you decided to use a pay phone, you will find them available in most stations. Here are the instructions on how to make an International Telephone Call.
Post – The Japanese postal service is excellent! Domestic and international mail service is very quick and reliable. There are post offices in every major city and minor town. Another thing to remember is that the post office is one of the few places in Japan that is guaranteed to have ATMs that take international cards.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Japan: History
Traditional Japanese legend sustains that Japan was founded in 600 BC by the Emperor Jimmu, a direct descendant of the sun goddess and ancestor of the present ruling imperial family. It is believed that Japan was born from the love between two gods: Izanagi and Izanami. This is one of the reasons the Japanese population deems the emperor is a living god, and the characters which make up Japan's name mean sun-origin. So that is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun."
The first Japanese settlers go back to the Jomon Period more than 8 000 years ago. But the first real Japanese state wasn’t created until the 8th century, whose first capital was Nara. This city was built following the model of Chinese cities.
During the first years of existence of the Japanese state the emperor lived in Nara. However, at that time there were many fights and wars between divisions and at one point the emperor was forced to move to Kyoto. Today, Kyoto is one of the most beautiful cities in Japan and absolutely a must see!
Kyoto
About AD 405 the Japanese court officially adopted the Chinese writing system. During the sixth century Buddhism was introduced. These two events revolutionized Japanese culture and manifested the beginning of a long period of Chinese cultural influence!
The first Japanese settlers go back to the Jomon Period more than 8 000 years ago. But the first real Japanese state wasn’t created until the 8th century, whose first capital was Nara. This city was built following the model of Chinese cities.
Temple in Nara
The Real Use Of The iPad....
to jump on the stimulus money chase for fully integrated EMRs and CPOE compliance.
http://www.epocrates.com/company/news/020410.html
http://geekdoctor.blogspot.com/2010/04/ipad-goes-live-at-bidmc.html
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/ipad-er-hands-physician-review.html
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/02/10-ways-apple-ipad-doctors-improve-patient-care.html
http://blogs.ubc.ca/dean/2010/04/apples-ipad-arrives-for-doctors/http://labs.eweek.com/review/review-ipad-has-some-quirks-but-mostly-meets-high-expectations/
Being a third of the cost of the standard Windows Tablet and worlds more intuitive (without many of the quirks of its OS), Steve Jobs' main consumer of these devices will likely come from Health System Networks across the country.
Blog (Defense)
If you like blowing shit up, setting fire to cats, and breaking whatever comes your way.....
Be sure to check out the always informative defensive-centric blogs:
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Japan: Language Barriers
So you are ready to travel to Japan, but are asking yourself “Do I really need to learn Japanese? Fortunately, the answer is no. BUT because the majority of Japan doesn’t speak much English it is important to learn a few key phrases and know how to translate common Japanese characters.
First and foremost, learn directions in Japanese AND how to ask for them. The language has a formula and is kind of backwards in form compared to English. Luckily, the bigger road signs in cities tend to be bilingual, as are signs in train stations, most train station maps, and the buses in Kyoto city (meant mostly for tourists.)
For example:
If you want to ask, where is Shibuya? : Shibuya wa doko desuka.
**Doko means where, Desu means is and the ka turns it into a question.
I do not understand Japanese: Nihongo o wakaranai
In english please: Eigo ni kudasai
Do you understand English: Eigo wa wakarimasuka
There is an abundance of free online material that can aide in your Japanese schooling Also, make sure to purchase a pocket guide so that you have a something to fall back on. This may all seem difficult at first but being in Japan with NO Japanese would be far more difficult.
Everyone is very helpful if you ask them politely. The only turn off is if you appear angry or frustrated, Japanese people do not like to deal with this and it is disgraceful to show ones frustration. Most visitors to Japan report that it is fairly easy to get by with little to no knowledge of the Japanese language, so do your homework and you will feel more than prepared!
First and foremost, learn directions in Japanese AND how to ask for them. The language has a formula and is kind of backwards in form compared to English. Luckily, the bigger road signs in cities tend to be bilingual, as are signs in train stations, most train station maps, and the buses in Kyoto city (meant mostly for tourists.)
For example:
If you want to ask, where is Shibuya? : Shibuya wa doko desuka.
**Doko means where, Desu means is and the ka turns it into a question.
I do not understand Japanese: Nihongo o wakaranai
In english please: Eigo ni kudasai
Do you understand English: Eigo wa wakarimasuka
There is an abundance of free online material that can aide in your Japanese schooling Also, make sure to purchase a pocket guide so that you have a something to fall back on. This may all seem difficult at first but being in Japan with NO Japanese would be far more difficult.
Everyone is very helpful if you ask them politely. The only turn off is if you appear angry or frustrated, Japanese people do not like to deal with this and it is disgraceful to show ones frustration. Most visitors to Japan report that it is fairly easy to get by with little to no knowledge of the Japanese language, so do your homework and you will feel more than prepared!
Spring Handout
I am nearing completion on this spring football's video handout/playbook.
Once I get this completed, then all I have to do is show up and sip margaritas at practice for three weeks.
I hope this ends up even better than previous handouts .
[Powerpoint animation captures courtesy of Camtasia ]
The only thing left is to add the important narration and some Easter eggs for the players (incentivizing watching the material). We will likely have no returning players to the secondary, so getting this new (sophomore-heavy) group ready (and avoid many of the unnecessary mistakes) right away will be a welcome challenge.
Introduction of alignment, assignment, keys, and leverage. Then followed up by pattern matching examples of common concepts we will face. The DVD will also feature the C1 and C3 video clips of NCAA teams, as well. I intentionally included clips of when a DB was 'wrong', followed up with a clip of correctly playing a route, so they could see what kind of common mistakes to avoid.
UPDATE:
Here is the 10 minute overview with narration. Yahoo couldn't take the entire clip, so I had to break it into thirds. The audio was forced and I tried cramming a lot into short amount of time, but this is something the players can review again and again (ala a crash course in 'whats important').
Once I get this completed, then all I have to do is show up and sip margaritas at practice for three weeks.
[Powerpoint animation captures courtesy of Camtasia ]
The only thing left is to add the important narration and some Easter eggs for the players (incentivizing watching the material). We will likely have no returning players to the secondary, so getting this new (sophomore-heavy) group ready (and avoid many of the unnecessary mistakes) right away will be a welcome challenge.
Introduction of alignment, assignment, keys, and leverage. Then followed up by pattern matching examples of common concepts we will face. The DVD will also feature the C1 and C3 video clips of NCAA teams, as well. I intentionally included clips of when a DB was 'wrong', followed up with a clip of correctly playing a route, so they could see what kind of common mistakes to avoid.
UPDATE:
Here is the 10 minute overview with narration. Yahoo couldn't take the entire clip, so I had to break it into thirds. The audio was forced and I tried cramming a lot into short amount of time, but this is something the players can review again and again (ala a crash course in 'whats important').
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