Question I've been meaning to ask. How does this work?

[coult44]

Everyone uses the term "vanilla" when talking about offensive plays, defensive packages, blitzes, etc. during pre season games. So this is what I've been trying to figure out. Most practices are open to the media, fans, and I'd assume spies from other teams throughout the preseason. How and when do teams work on what they are going to actually do in the regular season without anyone knowing or seeing it? Why does it matter if we hide it or don't show it in preseason games, if it can all be seen during the practices? Also, I assume anyone can take pictures and videos at training camp and preseason practices, how many spies are really out there snapping up all kinds of info? Again, when do they have time to practice this stuff and perfect it in non-game time situations without it being seen anyways. Especially with the new CB deal that takes away all the practices. (side point, that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard of in my life) I've always thought this would be an interesting discussion, any thoughts???

 

[CowboyStar88]

Well they haven't put actual game plans into place. They do that after the first part of practice

 

[CowboyStar88]

I should mention I'm referring to after the 20 min open media practice

 

[Lonestar94]

Good question, I've wondered that myself

 

[Bungarian]

Parts of practice are closed. Plus they run vanilla plays in the preseason to evaluate talent.

 

[Staggerlee]

From what I understand, the vanilla stuff is just come out in your base defense no matter what. I can tell you from experience that there is a ton of adjusting and tweaking to your scheme once you watch the film.

For example, I coach defensive backs for a high school team and we typically run a 4-4 scheme that is similar to cover 2 in coverage but a little different. Well for our first game, after watching tape and scheming, we arent going to run our base AT ALL. We changed to a 3 man line and have different coverages than we ever have in our base. And we might never use this scheme again, just for this upcoming game. So things can change a ton for each opponent. I would imagine this is even more true in the NFL.

And concerning how they hide it? Probably discuss it in the film room and implement it during closed portions of practice.

 

[jday]

From what I understand, the vanilla stuff is just come out in your base defense no matter what. I can tell you from experience that there is a ton of adjusting and tweaking to your scheme once you watch the film.

For example, I coach defensive backs for a high school team and we typically run a 4-4 scheme that is similar to cover 2 in coverage but a little different. Well for our first game, after watching tape and scheming, we arent going to run our base AT ALL. We changed to a 3 man line and have different coverages than we ever have in our base. And we might never use this scheme again, just for this upcoming game. So things can change a ton for each opponent. I would imagine this is even more true in the NFL.

And concerning how they hide it? Probably discuss it in the film room and implement it during closed portions of practice.

I would add to this that being vanilla doesn't mean we won't see it in the regular season. In fact, what we are seeing will be a big part of what we see in the regular season because you have to play your opponents straight the majority of the time so that the variances in playcalling will be more effective. In much the same way playaction fools defenses, offensive coordinators will call plays out of their base formations that are designed to invite defenders towards a certain expectation, while countering with a different route combination, screen, draw, etc that exploits the defenses over-reaction.

 

[Hoofbite]

I was getting excited about the defense but knowing that other teams are running "vanilla" schemes as well really makes me hesitant to think they're really all that good.

 

[MWH1967]

I was getting excited about the defense but knowing that other teams are running "vanilla" schemes as well really makes me hesitant to think they're really all that good.

hahah i see what you did there. you should be ashamed, but i know you're not.

 

[CowboyDiver]

Everyone uses the term "vanilla" when talking about offensive plays, defensive packages, blitzes, etc. during pre season games. So this is what I've been trying to figure out. Most practices are open to the media, fans, and I'd assume spies from other teams throughout the preseason. How and when do teams work on what they are going to actually do in the regular season without anyone knowing or seeing it? Why does it matter if we hide it or don't show it in preseason games, if it can all be seen during the practices? Also, I assume anyone can take pictures and videos at training camp and preseason practices, how many spies are really out there snapping up all kinds of info? Again, when do they have time to practice this stuff and perfect it in non-game time situations without it being seen anyways. Especially with the new CB deal that takes away all the practices. (side point, that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard of in my life) I've always thought this would be an interesting discussion, any thoughts???

Pretty sure that I have read in the past that other NFL teams are not allowed to have "spies" attend other team's practices.....it's similar to the Patriots deal.

If you have seen video taken by bloggers and stuff, it's usually from bad angles and would be hard to take much from it. We see people say that you can't scout teams reasonably using NFL broadcast film, so I doubt it's gonna be all that helpful looking at the blogger's stuff.

Most practices once teams break camps are not open to the media.