TouchStone

Here is story of the Touchstone. We have it now. We intend to keep it. To do that, we must create good habits and not throw away our opportunities when we get them.

When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book; and so a poor man, who could read a little, bought it for a few coppers.

The book wasn't very interesting, but between its pages there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum on which was written the secret of the "Touchstone"!

The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm, while ordinary pebbles are cold.

So the man sold his few belongings, bought some simple supplies, camped on the seashore, and began testing pebbles.

He knew that if he picked up ordinary pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebble hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold - throw it into the sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea.

The days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months. One day, however, about midafternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He had formed such a strong habit of throwing each pebble into the sea that when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are vigilant, it's easy to fail to recognize an opportunity when it is in hand and it's just as easy to throw it away.

This is why you finish every play...

Practice Monday

See you at practice 4-6pm today. It's Montrose week.

Defensive Things

Watch this video and how Coach Saban is working with the DBs. The first scenes are the DBs taking on a cut block. The next is tackling and you'll hear him say "Near" leg and shoulder. That's what we call "Strong Shoulder". Then you'll see them working on covering a fade or Go route. Then you'll see a drill where they swat the ball away while curling the second arm around the receiver. Also, there's a drill about taking on a blocker and bouncing or spinning back to get to the runner...LOTS OF GOOD STUFF...We do a lot of these already.

2010 DBs @ Yahoo! Video

Freebie

Hey...free pass on a mule run to the first person that can describe how to perform a tackle properly. I'll also give a free pass to another person that describes 80 pro properly.

See you on Monday 8am. Scrimmage is on Thursday, the time is now at 1:30....Bus leaves at 12:35 from Goodrich.

Equipment/Practice/Physicals

I apologize to anyone that did try to go to get equipment. I did send an email a while ago that said we would probably be getting equipment after practice on Tuesday the 10th. I am sorry for any confusion. Practice is still Monday the 9th, starting at 8am. Please bring proof of physical on or after April 15th. If you turned it into the office or me already, that is fine too.
Some have asked about a special form that is needed for the physicals. It's ok if you just have a note from the doctor for now. I will have paperwork to send home if that's what you have. That is how it was taken care of before.
See you Monday.

Iso

Check out this Iso play. Watch how the center first doubles the d-tackle and then gets to the second level to get the Linebacker. Great play. Watch it a few times and watch a different player each time. Don't just "watch the ball" like every other football fan.

Free Extra Shirt

Ok, under the post College Football Must See Plays, I have 2 questions. JUST ANSWER ONE OF THE QUESTIONS TO GET AN EXTRA GOODRICH FOOTBALL TSHIRT.

1. A Michgan player is featured in one of the highlights. What is his first and last name?

2. A Boston College QB is featured throwing a deep pass. What is his first and last name?

So, whoever watches that post and then comments on this one with one of the answers gets one free tshirt. You can only get one.

If you can't find that post, click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page!

Free Pass

Hello,

So Stinch and Saunders get the free "Mule Run" passes. They can use them one time, any time we have a mule run. If you didn't know where it was, there are LOTS of posts on this site. You can either click on the links on the right side of the page that will take you back to the previous months or click on the bottom of the page where it says "Older Posts".

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO AND GIVEAWAYS!

Secondary Reads

I took this from the same site as the "Boom" drill. If you are a corner or a safety you have to listen and watch this clip (there is a coach talking). The only thing I would add is to read the QBs FRONT arm before he throws. A QB will first turn the shoulders, then you will see the FRONT arm stick out (long arm) before the throw. When a QB "fakes" a throw, he won't stick out the long arm in the front. So reading that arm gives you a split second advantage on all throws.

pattern @ Yahoo! Video

Boom Drill for any Runners

Check this out for both offense and defense. Even though this coach calls the drill "Boom Drill", it is about getting low. The defenders come in too high and expose their chest. A huge part of football is attitude. Can you bring it?
Thanks to Chris and Coach Hoover at brophyfootball.blogspot.com for letting me borrow their info to make us better.

RB Boom Drill @ Yahoo! Video

Coach Payton Breaks Down Superbowl

QBs, backs and receivers, please watch the video. This is Coach Payton breaking down the Saints offense vs. the Colts. The Colts usually play cover 2 defense. Watch in the last play how they go to cover 3 by bringing the one safety up into the flats. The 4 vertical route works well against this as you can see. If they are dropping 3 deep, they can't cover 4 going deep! As Coach Payton says, it is usually one of the middle 2 vertical routes that pops open because the safety alone in the middle has to go one way or the other.

Saints video: Coach Payton breaks down 2nd quarter

D Line Outside Pursuit and Tackle

Think good footwork is just for the backs? Watch these big boys hop over some piles and blow up the running back. Big men, get that jump rope working this summer. The best $3 you will ever spend. Watch how the drill work shows up in the game.

DL_PJenkins04 @ Yahoo! Video

D Line Pass Rush (Pull Swim and Pull Rip)

Just some Tough Nasty Terrible guys rushing the QB. Watch the footwork AND the handwork. Both of these moves are similar and effective. Watch the whole video so you can see what they do in practice and how it looks in the game film too.

DL_PJenkins01 @ Yahoo! Video

Free Pass

The first 2 players to post that they have read this get a free pass on a mule run. You must of course include your name and also add something specific that you saw in a video on this site.

More Ball Security

Watch this for defense as well as offense. The defenders do a nice job of "creating" the turnover and exposing the bad ball carrying habits of the RB.
Fumbles @ Yahoo! Video

College Football Must See Plays

Watch and also learn. Make sure you see how some of these defensive backs don't play it right. If you CAN'T catch it, knock it down with ONE arm. ONE ARM IS LONGER THAN TWO. Think about it. Some great plays. Knowing the history of the game makes you that much more well rounded.

Tackling

I've been waiting for Coach McD to send me some defensive stuff but he hasn't. Here is a tackling video that shows some good and bad technique. 2 things you should notice and NOT do: Don't lead with your facemask! Always slide the head to the side. Also, do not "wind up". Watch how some of the players throw their arms way back like they are an airplane. That is a waste of time. Run through the tackle and generate the power with the legs and hips, not by swinging your arms back. Keep your eyes and head up.

Watch until the end and see some decent blocking on that 1 man sled. The players winds up, but he gets good control and a nice drive.

QUARTERBACK FOOTWORK AND DROPS #2 - Gridironsource Network Video - It's all about the game!

QUARTERBACK FOOTWORK AND DROPS #2 - Gridironsource Network Video - It's all about the game!

Ball Security

The above video does a great job showing how the football should be carried.

Keep the point "clawed"

Wrist stays above the elbow

Elbow tucked in

Two hands in traffic
Ball Security @ Yahoo! Video

One on One

Whether you enjoy competition or not, it is a reality of life. Football in my opinion is the ultimate team sport and competition. However, every player still has to "win" individually at his assignment during every play. As in life, there are always situations where you have to make a decision in a 1-on-1 setting. Someone is right and someone is wrong. Someone wins and someone loses. Watch: