So many lives on the line, careers to be made and maybe broken.
So excited about the combine coming up this week.
This is where we find out who the weak are and who the strong are. Young athletes work and strive and slave to get to this point. The doorway to Sunday. Every aspect poked and prodded and examined. Drills ran, reps counted and questions answered and brains boggled.
I tell ya, I am really looking forward to keeping a close eye on a select few in anxious wait to see how they fare.
Matt Barkley, Senior USC Trojans
12,327 yards, 116 touchdowns, 48 int (career)
Matt's best year was his junior year where he threw for 3528 yards 39 touchdowns and only 7 picks, with an overall rating of 161.2.
Geno Smith, Senior West Virginia Mountaineers
11,662 yards, 98 touchdowns, 21 INT
Geno saved his best for last recording 4205 yards, 42 touchdowns and just 6 picks and an overall rating of 163.9. He is fast with a strong arm, I'm anxious to see how fast, how strong and maybe most importantly how accurate he is.
Notre Dame's Manti Te'o is on every one's watch with 101 tackles and 7 INT's his senior year. He was the recipient of 7 awards including the Bendarik and the Butkus Awards. He also came in a mere second in the Heisman running.
Jarvis Jones is another however he is skipping the combine activities to focus on his pro day.
So, Alec Ogletree, 6'3" inside linebacker from Georgia is another to watch. 4.5 forty time (UO) finished his junior year with 99 tackles and 1 pick. (I kinda think he would be a top 5 pick if he stayed his senior year, but what ya gonna do?)
These are four of my watch list, tell me who you have on your board for your teams!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Player Leadership
The dictionary defines a leader quite simply as some one who leads. A leader is said to have as few as one grand trait to several traits that define his or her leading ability. We as coaches look long and hard at our team from the time the student steps into the weight room until the hum of the first Friday night light flickers on at the stadium. We look at the intangibles on and off the field. Intangibles like grades and politeness in the hallways to forty times and bench reps as well as who was the last one to show up to practice and who was the last one to leave the film room. Its human nature, we are all either leaders or followers. Some of us are leaders and we don't even know it yet. Not to mention some of us think we are leaders and we are far from it.
Leadership shows itself in a very unusual way sometimes. Charles Follis, who is believed to be the first black man to ever play professional football, played from 1902-1906 for the Shelby Blues and who was a two sport athlete, did not see any pay at all until 1904. To stick with an organization who does not pay, even for the "love" of the game shows loyalty, respect of people and of the game, honor, and selflessness, all of which are substantial traits of leadership.
When the NFL was at a stand still with a lock out in 2011, players all over the league including Drew Brees were conducting OTA's and practices the best they could without the direction of a coaching staff. The players who put these practices together are without a doubt leadership material.
Its also these same traits that can make a great leader fall flat on his face in front of the whole world. Kellen Winslow Jr, a superb athlete who was playing for the Cleveland Browns, arguably one of the best tight ends in the game at the time, had all the trait of a great leader in the locker room and on the field. But he decided to something off the field that caused embarrassment to the team, the organization, the coaching staff, and to himself as well as caused an injury which took playing time away. Once this happened, his leadership ability had become tainted and doubt began to follow.
Did you know that college scout are told not only to look at things such as grades, game stats, weight room stats, and agility, but they are also to note how they are dressed, manner of speech, and the way the carry their own body while they are standing completely still? Could these be other qualities of leadership?
What traits do you look for? What is the most important quality a young man can have that would make him a stand out leader among any other? If a young junior quarterback has deadly accuracy, tremendous arm strength, a sub 4.6 forty, and a 3.9 GPA gets a young girl pregnant or gets caught drinking underage or is reported as being abusive at home to his single mother is he still team captain material? Or is it OK because he wins games? Is there a lacking trait you are willing to over look in hopes of improvement or increase in maturity?
Let me know what you think!!! In a time where leadership and commitment to a higher standard can be scarce, a generation of young people can take a few lessons from a Charles Follis and Drew Brees in order to be men amongst boys.
Leadership shows itself in a very unusual way sometimes. Charles Follis, who is believed to be the first black man to ever play professional football, played from 1902-1906 for the Shelby Blues and who was a two sport athlete, did not see any pay at all until 1904. To stick with an organization who does not pay, even for the "love" of the game shows loyalty, respect of people and of the game, honor, and selflessness, all of which are substantial traits of leadership.
When the NFL was at a stand still with a lock out in 2011, players all over the league including Drew Brees were conducting OTA's and practices the best they could without the direction of a coaching staff. The players who put these practices together are without a doubt leadership material.
Its also these same traits that can make a great leader fall flat on his face in front of the whole world. Kellen Winslow Jr, a superb athlete who was playing for the Cleveland Browns, arguably one of the best tight ends in the game at the time, had all the trait of a great leader in the locker room and on the field. But he decided to something off the field that caused embarrassment to the team, the organization, the coaching staff, and to himself as well as caused an injury which took playing time away. Once this happened, his leadership ability had become tainted and doubt began to follow.
Did you know that college scout are told not only to look at things such as grades, game stats, weight room stats, and agility, but they are also to note how they are dressed, manner of speech, and the way the carry their own body while they are standing completely still? Could these be other qualities of leadership?
What traits do you look for? What is the most important quality a young man can have that would make him a stand out leader among any other? If a young junior quarterback has deadly accuracy, tremendous arm strength, a sub 4.6 forty, and a 3.9 GPA gets a young girl pregnant or gets caught drinking underage or is reported as being abusive at home to his single mother is he still team captain material? Or is it OK because he wins games? Is there a lacking trait you are willing to over look in hopes of improvement or increase in maturity?
Let me know what you think!!! In a time where leadership and commitment to a higher standard can be scarce, a generation of young people can take a few lessons from a Charles Follis and Drew Brees in order to be men amongst boys.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Choose your weapons
OK, as promised, lets talk football!! Specifically Shotgun football.
The shotgun formation as we all know has its upside and its downside just like any other formation, however are the upsides and downsides player driven or are they play driven? Are the mistakes and miscues because of the personnel on the field or on the side lines?
Lets look at the stats...the three quarterbacks with the best pass completion rating in the NFL in 2012 were all shotgun QB's. In fact Matt Ryan, who dominates the category had a whopping 98% completion rating when in the shotgun. Sure his receivers had a lot to do with it, but the stats don't lie! Matt Schaub came in second place with a 93% rating out of the shotgun formation. Both teams have a fierce running attack and some of the best wide outs in the game today, not to mention some pretty darn good linemen. Now lets look at number three of that passing class, the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning. Out of all the snaps he received, 83% of them were out of the shotgun where Peyton completed 89% off his passes. Unlike Ryan and Schaub, the Broncos had a platoon of inconsistent running backs which would force the passing game at times letting defenses know what was coming. His receiving corps has not seemed to matter in the past, he has an uncanny way of making anyone a good receiver. All three of these quarterbacks had help from play action as well.
One person I absolutely have to speak about though is Tim Tebow. This man made a legacy out of the shotgun as a Gator at the University of Florida under the tutelage of Urban Meyer. He broke and set record after record, won games, and won trophies, yet coming out of the NCAA into the NFL, he is not a good quarterback with bad footwork, bad arm work , and bad everything in between. In the 2011-2012 season Tebow led his team to the playoffs where he beat the highly favored Steelers in an overtime playoff game. Tim only had a passer completion rating of 46% and a season QB rating of 72%, a little more than slightly different than that of Mr. Ryan in the ATL huh? Lets not forget that he ran for almost 700 yards even though he has "bad footwork".
Colin Kaepernick, who ran the pistol formation which is the shotgun with a slight modification, only threw for 1800 yards with a passer rating of 62% and took his team all the way to the Super Bowl.
On the other side of the coin, Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has said he prefers to be under center in order to hear everything and to see everything the defense is saying and doing on the other side of the ball.
There are ups and downs to this formation, I particularly like the aspect of giving more time to the QB through the distance created. So what do you think? Do you like it some of the time , all of the time , not at all? Does it depend on the players around him or does the QB make the formation work? Let me hear ya!
The shotgun formation as we all know has its upside and its downside just like any other formation, however are the upsides and downsides player driven or are they play driven? Are the mistakes and miscues because of the personnel on the field or on the side lines?
Lets look at the stats...the three quarterbacks with the best pass completion rating in the NFL in 2012 were all shotgun QB's. In fact Matt Ryan, who dominates the category had a whopping 98% completion rating when in the shotgun. Sure his receivers had a lot to do with it, but the stats don't lie! Matt Schaub came in second place with a 93% rating out of the shotgun formation. Both teams have a fierce running attack and some of the best wide outs in the game today, not to mention some pretty darn good linemen. Now lets look at number three of that passing class, the Sheriff himself, Peyton Manning. Out of all the snaps he received, 83% of them were out of the shotgun where Peyton completed 89% off his passes. Unlike Ryan and Schaub, the Broncos had a platoon of inconsistent running backs which would force the passing game at times letting defenses know what was coming. His receiving corps has not seemed to matter in the past, he has an uncanny way of making anyone a good receiver. All three of these quarterbacks had help from play action as well.
One person I absolutely have to speak about though is Tim Tebow. This man made a legacy out of the shotgun as a Gator at the University of Florida under the tutelage of Urban Meyer. He broke and set record after record, won games, and won trophies, yet coming out of the NCAA into the NFL, he is not a good quarterback with bad footwork, bad arm work , and bad everything in between. In the 2011-2012 season Tebow led his team to the playoffs where he beat the highly favored Steelers in an overtime playoff game. Tim only had a passer completion rating of 46% and a season QB rating of 72%, a little more than slightly different than that of Mr. Ryan in the ATL huh? Lets not forget that he ran for almost 700 yards even though he has "bad footwork".
Colin Kaepernick, who ran the pistol formation which is the shotgun with a slight modification, only threw for 1800 yards with a passer rating of 62% and took his team all the way to the Super Bowl.
On the other side of the coin, Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has said he prefers to be under center in order to hear everything and to see everything the defense is saying and doing on the other side of the ball.
There are ups and downs to this formation, I particularly like the aspect of giving more time to the QB through the distance created. So what do you think? Do you like it some of the time , all of the time , not at all? Does it depend on the players around him or does the QB make the formation work? Let me hear ya!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Nice rides
OK...call it what you will..."grocery getter" "chick magnet" or even the urban "whip"....cars have always been on man's "wish I had one of those" lists.
I sit an watch Guy Fieri on the Food Networks "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" and I don't even care where he is going or what he will be eating...I just want to drive the car! I sit and picture myself rolling down the road while the Boss' "Born in the USA" echoes behind me as I cruise at a cool 65 MPH with a "catch me if you can" grin on my face, which at that point the dream is jutted to a halt by the sound of my son's voice. "Dad, is he allowed to drive and talk to the TV camera at the same time?"
Love me some good ole American muscle cars!! I could definitely roll up to practice in one of these gems!
Have a good week every one! Tomorrow we talk Shotgun football!!
I sit an watch Guy Fieri on the Food Networks "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" and I don't even care where he is going or what he will be eating...I just want to drive the car! I sit and picture myself rolling down the road while the Boss' "Born in the USA" echoes behind me as I cruise at a cool 65 MPH with a "catch me if you can" grin on my face, which at that point the dream is jutted to a halt by the sound of my son's voice. "Dad, is he allowed to drive and talk to the TV camera at the same time?"
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Intros Please!!!
Hello everyone!
My name is Coach Shane Griffith. I coach high school football at Open Door Christian School in Elyria, Ohio. I have been married to Rachel Griffith (of PS.IQuilt) since 2004, and we have four wonderful children together all under the ages of 12. I was in the Marine Corps from 1997-2006 where I was an ammo tech. (I counted bullets!!) Most importantly I have been a Christian since 1995. I have had ups and downs, made mistakes and had victories.I by all means know that I am NOT perfect and do not know everything and I do not and will not claim that I do. I welcome all who want to be apart of this journey with me, and I wish well to all those who do not wish to be.
I have found that, like many coaches believe, football translates into everyday life often and very fluidly. Where else can a young man get hands on experience at being pushed around at a very physical and demanding way and have no choice but to push back in a structured manor? I created this blog just as a resource not just for football coaches, but for anyone who might need a little help or clarity in any area whether it be football or in life. We will be able to share drills, planning techniques, life skills, testimonies, scriptures and more.
Ok, so lets talk football....are you defense or offense? Did you play before you coached or did you just get thrown in?
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