The Wulf Den: Training Camp Preview

[Biggems]

nice read........i am frustrated with this 53 man roster though..........still feel the NFL needs to hurry up and make it a 60 man roster. we have so much young talent at WR and LB, I hate that we cannot keep a few extra of them to develop.....yes there is the practice squad, but they arent protected there.

i am surprised that you did not have beasley making the team. he has been the one wr on our roster that has made noise the entire offseason, and in a positive way.

i am rooting for hamilton to make the team. if it came down to hamilton and butler.........i believe hamilton would offer more upside. I also keep seeing that whiteside has been doing good things all offseason. it will be interesting to see the lbs battle it out for the next month or so.

 

[xwalker]

I agree whole-heartedly. This is exactly what I saw when I watched him on film. And it's why I believe he could actually be serviceable as the starter with bigger guards on either side. When defenders tried to go around him last year, there were some pretty significant gaps for them to go through because the guard on one side or the other either wasn't taking up as much space or were getting pushed around. When that happened, his arm reach wasn't sufficient to make up for it. The combination of better guard play and Callahan's scheme, though, should go a long way towards fixing that problem.

I think that Callahan's scheme (primarily Zone Blocking) will force the issue with Costa.

The scheme will either make him significantly better or significantly worse, IMO. Obviously it will not improve his shotgun snaps. He better have that taken care of himself.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Actually, if the offensive lineman has his hands inside, where they're supposed to be (to prevent the holding call), and has a lower center of gravity, a defender getting close to him is exactly what he wants. I played center, and even though I was taller than a lot of the defenders, I played low to the ground. If a defender came at my chest and I got my hands on him, he was history. I could either lift up and back him up or drop straight down and take him with me. Either way, he's not making a play.

If Costa has learned how to anchor his feet after the snap, a defensive player getting in on him is going to do nothing but negate his disadvantage of having shorter arms and allow him to use his brute strength. Only time will tell if he's developed that ability on a more consistent basis.

...from an o-lineman. It's one of my pet postions and one I feel many football head coaches ignore.

On the point of larger guards. This is one of the remedies for Costa failings as the gap or defensive sphere becomes smaller mathcing his smaller sphere. This is important because the radius of Costa's sphere of stability is so small. Having bookend guards with mass reduces the defensive sphere closer to Costa's giving less space for the d-lineman to operate.

This way defensive lineman can't jump to either side of Costa getting him off balance.

There has been much talk of Costa's short arms. I can't say for certain if this is true, but the remedy for short arms is a lightning fast first step and quick following steps.

He can't be the first lineman in the NFL with shorter arms, but it shouldn't be a death sentence in terms of being a good starter. He just has to be technically that much better on the field.

As for distance from center to d-lineman the closer they are the better. If you have "anchor" (that's what I called it when coaching kids), you have inside leverage with your hands there's no better position and the defender can't get away from you.

It's the only legal position where you can "hold" the d-lineman and typically not get a flag from the ref.

I always taught the players get facemask to facemask right away, get your hands inside, grab and lock down the breastpads and when they pull away extend your arms is an explosive pushup and put them on their rear end. On the way to the second level make sure you step directly on the defensive player with your cleats to make sure you let him know he's been pancaked.

My approach to the o-line is to bring the "offensive" back into the offensive line. Let's hope Callahan can do that.

We all long for the days of Larry Allen and Erik Williams.

 

[MapleLeaf]

you really do not know much about O line play do you?

The closer the Defensive player can get to you the more edge he has unless the other player is a much better technician which clearly Costus a season is not.

...for a defensive player is to avoid having the o-lineman get his hands on you. That's why you get them starting at different stances, different angles, jumping side to side on the line and twisting and bending at the snap.

Sometimes you can accomplish this by bullrushing and closing the gap before they get out of the stance and sometimes this is done by shooting a gap or taking the long way around the lineman.

One of the best in business is Ware who can get around the edge with an extremely low center of gravity with his torso twisted to keep the lineman from getting his hands on his body and still maintain his speed. He's basically a body contortionist.

I think his problem is he relies on the outside so much because he can get around the lineman without being touched. Are OCs designing the play to keep the inside of the pocket on Ware's side clean so the QB can step up away from Ware?

 

[CCBoy]

...for a defensive player is to avoid having the o-lineman get his hands on you. That's why you get them starting at different stances, different angles, jumping side to side on the line and twisting and bending at the snap.

Sometimes you can accomplish this by bullrushing and closing the gap before they get out of the stance and sometimes this is done by shooting a gap or taking the long way around the lineman.

One of the best in business is Ware who can get around the edge with an extremely low center of gravity with his torso twisted to keep the lineman from getting his hands on his body and still maintain his speed. He's basically a body contortionist.

I think his problem is he relies on the outside so much because he can get around the lineman without being touched. Are OCs designing the play to keep the inside of the pocket on Ware's side clean so the QB can step up away from Ware?

I was a linebacker in college. I was on the defensive side of the ball. But the concepts of contact remain the same. That boils down to individual ability to handle and direct physical contact...and not it's avoidance.

That involves application of forces, and not mere positionig and stance. Under stress, the instinct then is to rise up...but become more stationary or vulnerable. Confronting force directly, isn't dependent upon arm length, but the delivery of a blow.

A big problem with Costa, was that he remained in his stance and somewhat immobile at the point of snapping the ball. This added to his inability to extend out to meet a later movement with added force.

But remove the space to do just that, and add in larger players that restrict the real estate open, and is another thing that will benefit Costa and allow him to get his own hands on someone. Costa is still a pretty strong dude.

He would benefit from both larger, stable players beside him, and increased awareness and reactions immediately following his own snap. Efficiency in snapping is a matter of repitition and coaching...and that aspect will be overcome, as Costa is too intelligent a player not to improve there over time.

Now, it would become a matter of who is able to present the overall package to merit a starting position. Then it is putting the five best players on the field and develop things from there.

I don't have any problem with the players that win positions. Only I don't declare Dallas and Jerry ignorant for going the way that they did...as there is still plenty of room for this to work out.

I'll still enjoy watching, as I enjoy the elements of the sport, and not just an end of season record...where I can then start placing blame and trying to strut my own feathers.

 

[MapleLeaf]

A big problem with Costa, was that he remained in his stance and somewhat immobile at the point of snapping the ball. This added to his inability to extend out to meet a later movement with added force.

He would benefit from both larger, stable players beside him, and increased awareness and reactions immediately following his own snap. Efficiency in snapping is a matter of repitition and coaching...and that aspect will be overcome, as Costa is too intelligent a player not to improve there over time.
QUOTE]

...Costa was trying to get out of his stance. It's just that defensive players were often faster.

As a center he needs to work on his technique so he can blend the snap and his first step together to meet the challenge of NFL calibre tackles.

I think the key to Costa will be focused coaching and better lower strength workouts with Woicik looking for explosive power in his legs.

He looks like he's "heavy legged" in my opinion. Some of that can be cured. The question is whether he is committed to to the work and do the Cowboys and Romo have time to wait for him to catch up.

 

[Wulfman]

...from an o-lineman. It's one of my pet postions and one I feel many football head coaches ignore.

On the point of larger guards. This is one of the remedies for Costa failings as the gap or defensive sphere becomes smaller mathcing his smaller sphere. This is important because the radius of Costa's sphere of stability is so small. Having bookend guards with mass reduces the defensive sphere closer to Costa's giving less space for the d-lineman to operate.

This way defensive lineman can't jump to either side of Costa getting him off balance.

There has been much talk of Costa's short arms. I can't say for certain if this is true, but the remedy for short arms is a lightning fast first step and quick following steps.

He can't be the first lineman in the NFL with shorter arms, but it shouldn't be a death sentence in terms of being a good starter. He just has to be technically that much better on the field.

As for distance from center to d-lineman the closer they are the better. If you have "anchor" (that's what I called it when coaching kids), you have inside leverage with your hands there's no better position and the defender can't get away from you.

It's the only legal position where you can "hold" the d-lineman and typically not get a flag from the ref.

I always taught the players get facemask to facemask right away, get your hands inside, grab and lock down the breastpads and when they pull away extend your arms is an explosive pushup and put them on their rear end. On the way to the second level make sure you step directly on the defensive player with your cleats to make sure you let him know he's been pancaked.

My approach to the o-line is to bring the "offensive" back into the offensive line. Let's hope Callahan can do that.

We all long for the days of Larry Allen and Erik Williams.

Yup. This has been the point I've been trying to make. My goal when playing was to anchor as low as possible, and deliver a shot following the snap of the ball, getting both hands on the front of the shoulder pads inside his arms. If I was able to deliver a square shot and get both hands on the defender, he was done, and it didn't matter what he did to get away from it.

It also helped a great deal in the running game, as it allowed me to "steer" the defender to whichever side I needed to away from the ball. Some of the best plays I ever had when we watched later in the film room were inside running plays where I pushed the defensive tackle back so hard that he tripped backwards over the defensive end to that side, taking them both out of the play.

I actually had it happen on a couple of occasions when the two of them going down actually took down a third defender who was in backside pursuit. Coach gave me credit for a triple pancake.

 

[jobberone]

And you never know who might become available at the end of camp. There are teams that have centers that were drafted in the last year or two who may be stepping into starting roles, and that usually means that the veteran they're replacing gets released, not retained as a back-up.

Not an odd occurrence at all. Again wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.

 

[TwoDeep3]

I was a linebacker in college. I was on the defensive side of the ball.

Thanks for clearing that up, CC.

 

[jobberone]

I agree with others that Costa needs to get out of the snap faster. I'm not dismissing him although I'd love a significant improvement. They should get a pretty good idea where Costa is fairly quickly once the pads come on.

 

[CCBoy]

A big problem with Costa, was that he remained in his stance and somewhat immobile at the point of snapping the ball. This added to his inability to extend out to meet a later movement with added force.

He would benefit from both larger, stable players beside him, and increased awareness and reactions immediately following his own snap. Efficiency in snapping is a matter of repitition and coaching...and that aspect will be overcome, as Costa is too intelligent a player not to improve there over time.
QUOTE]

...Costa was trying to get out of his stance. It's just that defensive players were often faster.

As a center he needs to work on his technique so he can blend the snap and his first step together to meet the challenge of NFL calibre tackles.

I think the key to Costa will be focused coaching and better lower strength workouts with Woicik looking for explosive power in his legs.

He looks like he's "heavy legged" in my opinion. Some of that can be cured. The question is whether he is committed to to the work and do the Cowboys and Romo have time to wait for him to catch up.

There is no conflict in either statements. He was slow reacting due to poor trigger points in explosions.

Experience would help as well, as he would anticipate and remove reaction times along with technique subtleties.

He still has to blend a tendency to over react with a tendency to remain too imobile to meet projected challenges. It's not a blank slate there.

There is no doubt he is committed. As to the blending, they brought in just the person to coach those contingencies. It is more a matter of when and who shows the greatest promise in the now.

I see guards as more of a source for short yardage and forcing the issue in the Red Zone. Not as a last refuge for Costa, the 'bulldog.'

 

[CCBoy]

Thanks for clearing that up, CC.

...cute

 

[CCBoy]

Yup. This has been the point I've been trying to make. My goal when playing was to anchor as low as possible, and deliver a shot following the snap of the ball, getting both hands on the front of the shoulder pads inside his arms. If I was able to deliver a square shot and get both hands on the defender, he was done, and it didn't matter what he did to get away from it.

It also helped a great deal in the running game, as it allowed me to "steer" the defender to whichever side I needed to away from the ball. Some of the best plays I ever had when we watched later in the film room were inside running plays where I pushed the defensive tackle back so hard that he tripped backwards over the defensive end to that side, taking them both out of the play.

I actually had it happen on a couple of occasions when the two of them going down actually took down a third defender who was in backside pursuit. Coach gave me credit for a triple pancake.

I was All District at fullback and linebacker in High School. At the Academy, one had to have both an offensive and a defensive position. I earned a slot at middle linebacker, but first day, after first working out with the linebackers I was sent to the backfield workouts. The Coach put us through a simple line hand off drill. After watching me take the ball, he stated: 'I don't want you ripping the arms off any of my quarterbacks, so go on down with the linemen. My 'tryout' was nothing more than three handoffs.

They wanted to get some actual film on me at guard, so against Colorado State I was put in at right guard. On the second play, a screen was called and I timed the turning of a safety with my arrival and planted outside the sidelines marker. I got a B on that day's game. I was way too small to have survived at guard, and thankfully returned to the linebacker position from then on out.

But head up, I would take on the largest tackle presented. But rarely manhandled them, despite winning many engagements. I didn't pancake many that didn't tote the rock, although. But I did often stop them in their tracts.

Speed and the open field aren't the friend of anyone but the receivers and running backs. Especially when real estate is your product. Technique and grit are the greatest assets then, when confined.

 

[TwoDeep3]

...cute

Anything I can do to help you in these first difficult days of military service.

 

[CCBoy]

Anything I can do to help you in these first difficult days of military service.

Your sarcasm usually supercedes the message.

Still in Government Service now, for a total run of forty years now. But 23 years a Veteran sticks with you bud...in case the memory fails you.

Oh, and still not slow on the draw, or shot...

 

[TwoDeep3]

Your sarcasm usually supercedes the message.

Still in Government Service now, for a total run of forty years now. But 23 years a Veteran sticks with you bud...in case the memory fails you.

Oh, and still not slow on the draw, or shot...

It was a quote by Myron McCormick from the film "No Time For Sergeants" starring Andy Griffith.

If you've never seen it CC, it is well worth the look.

 

[Wulfman]

I agree with others that Costa needs to get out of the snap faster. I'm not dismissing him although I'd love a significant improvement. They should get a pretty good idea where Costa is fairly quickly once the pads come on.

I agree. When the pads come on in Oxnard, I think we'll get a pretty good feel fairly quickly. We've seen and heard about some good upfield burst by some of our young defensive linemen, and we know that Lissemore, Hatcher, and the rest are going to crank that up even more. I believe we'll have a pretty good indication about whether or not Costa has significantly improved even before the first preseason game.

 

[CCBoy]

It was a quote by Myron McCormick from the film "No Time For Sergeants" starring Andy Griffith.

If you've never seen it CC, it is well worth the look.

Thanks, Deep3...as always. My Brother...

 

[xwalker]

I was All District at fullback and linebacker in High School. At the Academy, one had to have both an offensive and a defensive position. I earned a slot at middle linebacker, but first day, after first working out with the linebackers I was sent to the backfield workouts. The Coach put us through a simple line hand off drill. After watching me take the ball, he stated: 'I don't want you ripping the arms off any of my quarterbacks, so go on down with the linemen. My 'tryout' was nothing more than three handoffs.

They wanted to get some actual film on me at guard, so against Colorado State I was put in at right guard. On the second play, a screen was called and I timed the turning of a safety with my arrival and planted outside the sidelines marker. I got a B on that day's game. I was way too small to have survived at guard, and thankfully returned to the linebacker position from then on out.

But head up, I would take on the largest tackle presented. But rarely manhandled them, despite winning many engagements. I didn't pancake many that didn't tote the rock, although. But I did often stop them in their tracts.

Speed and the open field aren't the friend of anyone but the receivers and running backs. Especially when real estate is your product. Technique and grit are the greatest assets then, when confined.

>

This thread is turning into a Bruce Springsteen song...just change baseball to football.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5-IoEcolp8

 

[Wulfman]

nice read........i am frustrated with this 53 man roster though..........still feel the NFL needs to hurry up and make it a 60 man roster. we have so much young talent at WR and LB, I hate that we cannot keep a few extra of them to develop.....yes there is the practice squad, but they arent protected there.

i am surprised that you did not have beasley making the team. he has been the one wr on our roster that has made noise the entire offseason, and in a positive way.

i am rooting for hamilton to make the team. if it came down to hamilton and butler.........i believe hamilton would offer more upside. I also keep seeing that whiteside has been doing good things all offseason. it will be interesting to see the lbs battle it out for the next month or so.

I'd personally like to see a roster expansion as well, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen.

I didn't have Beasley making it because the roster was made on the same day they reported. If I were making the roster now, Beasley would be on it. My roster is fluid as training camp goes along, so you'll see several iterations of it before we're all done.

I think you may be correct about Hamilton's upside, and I'd love for them to find a way to get him on the roster. But you can't go solely on potential, so unless Hamilton shows he can beat out Butler right now, or unless there are injuries, practice squad may be the best he can shoot for.