First up.. the news that Andy Reid claims there have been no “serious talks” with other teams about trading QB Kevin Kolb…
It’s classic Andy Reid, who might have written the new post-Rapture rule of Life: ” I’m not okay, you’re not okay, and that’s okay…”
How you all feelin’ out there? You survived “The Rapture”… nice.
So the world’s not really ending prior to the next (whenever) NFL season… that’s cool.
The Eagles cannot “legally” be talking to anyone about a trade at this point ….However, they had a number of discussions going on pre-Lockout…
I personally think that the Eagles already have a deal cut with Arizona—but they just can’t talk about it until after the Lockout…I am hoping Peterson for Kolb…..I can think of no other reason why Arizona did not take a QB in the Draft…other than the obvious reason it was a very weak group of college seniors— and they are ready to trade for Kolb…
None of the QB’s drafted (with the possible exception of Jake Locker)…is even close to playing and playing well next year….Locker played in a system where he was taught Pro-style reads…and in a Pro-Style Offense…He is comfortable taking snaps from under center…(he has some problems with his form that will need to be worked out)… but NO DRAFTED QB will be able to do for a team what Kolb can do— he is NFL and WEST COAST READY….
That said, Reid seems to have backed off the whole discussion…but that could be a classic “Big Red” misdirection play…Reid told Les Bowen that the team didn’t have the chance to talk seriously to other teams about Kolb before the lockout, and that there’s obviously been no talk since.
“You have an idea of who’s interested in quarterbacks, but you couldn’t do any deals then. You never got to that point where it’s real serious; it was too far in advance,” Reid said. “And you can’t talk at all now. So, if he ends up going somewhere, more power to him, he deserves that opportunity. But I also like him here.”
Thanks for clearing that up, Andy…
Now, as for “taking plays off”…
I remember the halcyon days at PE.com where guys would debate over the possible acquisition of Julius Peppers prior to the Bears signing him as a Free Agent last year, and the general conclusion was: “No, don’t sign him…he’s too expensive, and HE TAKES PLAYS OFF….”
Welp, maybe taking a play off here and there is actually A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE !!!
This concept was introduced to me by Vincent Jamal… I know, you’re sayin’ to yourself, Vincent WHO? Well, Vincent Jamal currently plays for the Phoenix Raiders in the Arizona Semi-Pro Football League, and has produced a series of videos to teach kids the fundamentals of football…and he’s actually got a piece on “taking plays off” strategically in order to set up another play…
I found the concept fascinating.
Vincent Jamal has taken some heat for this instructional theory. But here’s his response, which I respect:
“My future is legit and bright…more than i can say bout some of u…keep doin’ u… Being a loser… Me— Going to play division 1 football for Louisville, then D1AA for Montana, is more than most people get to do. Especially coming from Canada— and u wanna bust on me????LOL I hope u dont look as dumb as u talk. Peace. I dont need to validate myself to u, you’re just a kid. A nobody…what’s your name anyways? Lets google u and see if anythin’ comes up. Prob just a waste of time right. Thought so lol “
Vincent is not lacking for confidence. He’s convinced his instructional videos will be a huge hit for secondary school and collegiate football teaching programs…
Here’s Vincent’s description of the decoy route—and the “taking off a play” route—which sets up the real payoff:
“Now, the importance of the decoy route, once again, is to make sure that everything looks the same. So we’re going to run the route, but we’re going to do this as if the WR was really just taking the play off because he knows he’s not getting the ball. So go ahead— hike in full speed… Set, go. Your WR route’s got no pop to it; it’s got no zip. And if the CB is the defender that I think he is–he’s an intelligent guy–he’s going to know that this ball is going nowhere near him and that the WR is essentially just being a body taking the play off. So let’s go ahead and run it back in full speed like you actually are running it. Set, go. You’ve gotta have that pop. You’ve gotta be able to sell to the defender and everybody else on the field that you are a legitimate threat, and this time that ball is coming. So let’s go ahead and run–let’s go ahead and run a post route. But once you get to your break, kind of just slack it off. Set, go. Now the ball is coming but, you know, but because you slacked it off, he’s not looking, his hands are barely up, he’s not even really on the angle or the depth that he should be at… Bam—you explode past him… “
“Now you’ve got the CB set up… By taking off the previous play, you’ve got it set in the CB’s mind that they’re not going to you….but guess what—they just did…”
“Now, with the decoy route again… This opens up so many other things, so what the receiver has to do is he’s gotta make sure–and we’ve gone over this before–that his initial steps look like he’s getting the ball every time. It’s not just a matter of which route he’s running, but just the fact that he’s even running a route. So the WR is going to explode out into the five-yard stop. And he’s gotta force the CB to still make that decision and to back off of him; he doesn’t want him to get too close. This is where he can sit and open up. Now that opens up many things for any other plays or players on the field. This might be a running play, but he’s got to run his route, essentially, just like the play before when he did get the ball. So this time let’s fire it out in full speed. Set, go! There you go. It forces the CB to make a decision; meanwhile, the ball may be going someplace else. But what the WR’s done is he’s locked in his defender’s attention and caused him to not be able to read and react to anything else going on in the field. He has to respect that this man (the WR) can possibly get the ball and get down the field.”
And we thought we were so smart when we accused DJax of “taking plays off” last season!
Obviously there’s a method to the madness…
I should mention, Andy Reid was in my neck of the woods this past week when he stopped by to observe Kentucky Derby winner “Animal Kingdom” working out in the 3-year-old’s morning exercise at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland.
For that reason alone, I’ve got $100 on “Animal Kingdom” to win the Preakness. If Andy’s horse wins, I pledge the winnings toward funding a weekend spa and retreat for “3d”, the former baseball historian and Eagles booster who once thrived under the old regime of the GateKeeper Brizer and his Bored of Merry Men at PE.com’s On The Inside fan gallery. “3d” has recently hit a bad patch of asphalt at the old raceway. We wish him a speedy recovery…and honorable reinstatement…pending full apology.
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