Post by FUBeAR on Nov 5, 2014 13:34:43 GMT -5
Kinda 'ancient history' by now, but I watched the ElCid replay last night and focused on the Defensive side of the ball. Thought I'd share my 'learnings.' Maybe someone will want to read them....
The Cadets have learned some of the 9 Principles of War quite well.
They know their OBJECTIVE (Direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective) - gain a minimum of 3.4 yards / rushing attempt.
They do an excellent job of applying MASS (Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time)...they were often able to send 5-7 players into the point of attack (including the ball carrier) on the inside runs and outnumber the Defensive Players there, not the plays where they hit the pitch man.
That (the pitch), applies the Principle of MANEUVER (Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power) because they 'force' the Defense to MASS to stop the inside run and 'flex' to outflank, i.e., out-MANEUVER the defense.
Another, much more subtle and, perhaps devious (in a good way), principle they apply on Offense is ECONOMY OF FORCE (Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts). This refers to how they use their backside blockers and give themselves an advantage in doing that. Long explanation coming, if you aren't a football 'junkie,' please ignore...
When I went to their Spring Game, I noticed that they had people 'leaving early' in addition to the motion man on almost every play. I thought it was an 'error' due to a new staff, etc. I had that same sense of somebody leaving early when I watched the game on Sat., but I have now come to realize that 'leaving early' on the backside is not a mistake, it is, instead, an essential component of their offense. They were flagged for it about 3 or 4 times on Sat., but they could be flagged on almost every play.
Here's why they do it (IMHO) and why it's not called by the refs every play...They do it because it allows their backside blockers (OG & OT) an extra gap or half-gap head-start on the backside pursuit they are trying to cut off, which even allows them to get through that gap, essentially cut off the DLman AND to get up on the 3rd-level to cut off the backside safety. As a rule, DLmen are taught to move on movement, BUT because the movement of the motion back is so close to OG/OT and happens so close (time-wise) to the snap, it 'throws off' the DLmen...they can't jump on initial movement, so they have to eye the ball or wait until 'certain' movement...so they are about a 'beat' behind the movement of the OG & OT...which is about a 'beat' ahead of the snap. VERY CAGEY BELLHOPS, THEY ARE.
Now to why it's not often called - the first reason is related, again, to the motion of those backs...notice that their motion is pronouncedly (prolly not a word) herky-jerky. Almost like a magician...their movement is designed to attract (and therefore, distract) the human eye. Most often, their movement happens directly behind the 'leaving early' guys and in very close proximity to them which further confuses the eye. Sometimes that motion is on the front side, but when it is, it is even more pronounced, takes longer (motion & back) and is further away from the LOS. So, while the backside OG/OT are not as 'covered' by the frontside motion as they are when it occurs on their side, they still have some 'early movement coverage.' Though I didn't 'study' it, I would bet that most of the time they were flagged for a False Start, the motion back was on the front side (the side away from the 'early movers').
Now, the 2nd reason I don't think it is called is because Officials are, though hard to believe sometimes, humans and they just don't want to call a penalty on nearly every play. So, unless, the early movers, CLEARLY move TOO TOO EARLY, the refs give them a 'pass.' BTW - I am NOT criticizing ElCid or their Coaches for this strategy. As a football coach, I think it's absolutely ingenious.
Bottom Line - I think when the Bears got 'beat' on plays on Sat., they were actually beat 'on alignment' most of the time. They didn't line up or quickly move to where the ball was going. Obviously, they made some adjustments - saw more Cover 2 with the safeties closer to the LOS in the 2nd half. In order to make plays, players have to be in a position to make plays and our guys weren't. I am certain the Defensive struggles in the 1st half were not related to effort and I am (now) confident, they were not related to ability either. The very sly BullPuppies ran their really smart Offense to perfection and our Bears (Players and Coaches) just needed to see it, feel it, and touch it LIVE before they really had any chance of stopping it. Boyz played hard, expected to win, and fought to the end...getting better all the time. That's all that anyone can ask of them as Players. I am additionally 'comforted' (now that I've watched the replay) that they also have/had the talent (on both sides of the ball) to win that game. Just another great learning experience and opportunity to get better. 2 more of those in 2014 and then they can show off what they've learned in 2015.
The Cadets have learned some of the 9 Principles of War quite well.
They know their OBJECTIVE (Direct every military operation towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective) - gain a minimum of 3.4 yards / rushing attempt.
They do an excellent job of applying MASS (Concentrate combat power at the decisive place and time)...they were often able to send 5-7 players into the point of attack (including the ball carrier) on the inside runs and outnumber the Defensive Players there, not the plays where they hit the pitch man.
That (the pitch), applies the Principle of MANEUVER (Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power) because they 'force' the Defense to MASS to stop the inside run and 'flex' to outflank, i.e., out-MANEUVER the defense.
Another, much more subtle and, perhaps devious (in a good way), principle they apply on Offense is ECONOMY OF FORCE (Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts). This refers to how they use their backside blockers and give themselves an advantage in doing that. Long explanation coming, if you aren't a football 'junkie,' please ignore...
When I went to their Spring Game, I noticed that they had people 'leaving early' in addition to the motion man on almost every play. I thought it was an 'error' due to a new staff, etc. I had that same sense of somebody leaving early when I watched the game on Sat., but I have now come to realize that 'leaving early' on the backside is not a mistake, it is, instead, an essential component of their offense. They were flagged for it about 3 or 4 times on Sat., but they could be flagged on almost every play.
Here's why they do it (IMHO) and why it's not called by the refs every play...They do it because it allows their backside blockers (OG & OT) an extra gap or half-gap head-start on the backside pursuit they are trying to cut off, which even allows them to get through that gap, essentially cut off the DLman AND to get up on the 3rd-level to cut off the backside safety. As a rule, DLmen are taught to move on movement, BUT because the movement of the motion back is so close to OG/OT and happens so close (time-wise) to the snap, it 'throws off' the DLmen...they can't jump on initial movement, so they have to eye the ball or wait until 'certain' movement...so they are about a 'beat' behind the movement of the OG & OT...which is about a 'beat' ahead of the snap. VERY CAGEY BELLHOPS, THEY ARE.
Now to why it's not often called - the first reason is related, again, to the motion of those backs...notice that their motion is pronouncedly (prolly not a word) herky-jerky. Almost like a magician...their movement is designed to attract (and therefore, distract) the human eye. Most often, their movement happens directly behind the 'leaving early' guys and in very close proximity to them which further confuses the eye. Sometimes that motion is on the front side, but when it is, it is even more pronounced, takes longer (motion & back) and is further away from the LOS. So, while the backside OG/OT are not as 'covered' by the frontside motion as they are when it occurs on their side, they still have some 'early movement coverage.' Though I didn't 'study' it, I would bet that most of the time they were flagged for a False Start, the motion back was on the front side (the side away from the 'early movers').
Now, the 2nd reason I don't think it is called is because Officials are, though hard to believe sometimes, humans and they just don't want to call a penalty on nearly every play. So, unless, the early movers, CLEARLY move TOO TOO EARLY, the refs give them a 'pass.' BTW - I am NOT criticizing ElCid or their Coaches for this strategy. As a football coach, I think it's absolutely ingenious.
Bottom Line - I think when the Bears got 'beat' on plays on Sat., they were actually beat 'on alignment' most of the time. They didn't line up or quickly move to where the ball was going. Obviously, they made some adjustments - saw more Cover 2 with the safeties closer to the LOS in the 2nd half. In order to make plays, players have to be in a position to make plays and our guys weren't. I am certain the Defensive struggles in the 1st half were not related to effort and I am (now) confident, they were not related to ability either. The very sly BullPuppies ran their really smart Offense to perfection and our Bears (Players and Coaches) just needed to see it, feel it, and touch it LIVE before they really had any chance of stopping it. Boyz played hard, expected to win, and fought to the end...getting better all the time. That's all that anyone can ask of them as Players. I am additionally 'comforted' (now that I've watched the replay) that they also have/had the talent (on both sides of the ball) to win that game. Just another great learning experience and opportunity to get better. 2 more of those in 2014 and then they can show off what they've learned in 2015.
