THE QATSPY® Yankee Performance Sports Training & Apparel Quarters
By: Charles W. Boatright
Running Beyond The Timeline: Basketball, there’s a Timeline that the player has to advance the ball beyond to Avoid a Back Court Violation
In Basketball, the team has a certain amount of seconds to bring the basketball down the court and over the timeline, at midcourt, to avoid a backcourt violation. In the NBA, this is 8- seconds and in the NCAA, this is 10- seconds.
There are no such rules in football once the ball is snapped. The only rule that governs football, in regards to time, is when the football is snapped by the offense before the play clock expires. But time is critical for the play to develop behind the line of scrimmage to be successful. Once the football is snapped by the offense, getting the football over the line of scrimmage is paramount. The quarterback has nowhere near even 5- seconds before trying to get the football out of their backfield and advance the ball downfield for a first down or score.
The PODS Play Calling in Football by Coaching Staff
But the time principle used in basketball should be applied in regards to how coaching staff drawing up plays that can help offenses gain yardage and move the football down the field and get first downs and into scoring position. This general time for the Play Option Development Strategy to develop is about 2.7 seconds to get the football past the line of scrimmage, either on the ground or through the air.
The only way the offense can extend this PODS is to stretch out the defense with a boot leg or wishbone style option, where blocking can develop over a stretched out defense. This can also be accomplished with a double pass play to a wide receiver, tight end, or running back or a flea flicker. This pass is usually to a player that is accustomed to handling the ball and/or can pass the ball.
I Personally Have a Disdain for Three (3) Types of Play Calls because of PODS
I have a total disdain for three (3) types of plays called on the field. ONE- is a screen pass play, SECOND- is a End-a-Round, and THIRD, like the End-a-Round, is the Double End-a-Round. Defenses are too savvy to these plays and can smell them out, right at the snap of the ball. Can these play work? No doubt, but the question is the degree of success and trying to develop momentum. Don’t ever rule out the importance of the team’s momentum, especially on the offense side of the ball. Momentum is a precious commodity that a team can’t afford to lose, even on one play.
I have a perfect example for the screen pass call in the Cincinnati Bengals versus the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee, in the fourth quarter, was driving down the field mainly using the ground game. The Titans got inside the Bengals 25 and decided to call a right side screen pass play that was intercepted by the Bengals. The Titans Quarterback, Tannehill, saved a Touchdown.
The Bengals went on to win the game that was a playoff game, advancing them to the semi-finals.
Generally, a screen pass play works about 1 in 7 plays (or 14.12% of the time) with minimum gains when they are successful with blocking leading the play. Screen passes take too long to develop and give the defense time to respond. Why even waste a down with a screen play that has so many obstacles to overcome? The main objective of the quarterback is to get the football past the line of scrimmage in less than 2.7 seconds by either passing or handing off to a wide receiver, running back, or tight end.
Just a side note: Compare screen plays with the following:
Onside kick– Works 60% of the time if unexpected; and 20% of the time when the other team expects an onside kick. When the other team doesn’t expect an onside kick, it works 1 in 1.6 times of being successful.
Going on 4th Down– 40% of the time when short yardage in need to pick up the first down; and 20% on 4th down and long. For short yardage gains going on 4th down works 1 in 2.5 times of being successful.
Even under these desperate measures of executing an onside kick and going on 4th down to pick up a first down to gain an advantage, a team has a better chance at these being successful than calling a screen play.
A better option than a screen pass play would be a slant pass or a short down-and-out pass. Both are fast and you have a running back or tight end usually catching these passes that has some body mass to gain yards to pound and ground after the catch in a wide open field.
I’m one who believes that if the defense can’t stop your team gaining yards on the ground or through the air, continue it until the defense can prove that they can stop you. The Titans were gaining 5-to-6 yards a carry on the drive down into the RED ZONE where they decided to call a screen pass that went honorably wrong.
The Main Objective for Offenses
The main objective for offenses should be to get the football past the line of scrimmage as quickly as possible where the defense isn’t in your backfield and avoid sacks and interceptions behind the line of scrimmage. Every time I see a screen pass play called, I just cringe and shake my head.
Running a screen play that works only 14.12 percent of the time isn’t the best game plan. If you do call a screen play, call it in the first half and NOT toward the end of the game where the score is tight and you’re in the RED ZONE, like the Titans did this past Saturday (22Jan2022). You’ve got to remember, even the defensive linemen are faster now then they have ever been, especially with conditioning that the Strength & Conditioning Coach has the team follow for strength and speed.
The Importance of Your Own Strength & Conditioning
The Strength and Conditioning that most successful teams are following is just as important to all of us, especially those, like me, that are over the age of 60. I work out 5-days per week in my Home GYM following what I call the CASEY Program- Cardio- Aerobic – Strength- Exercise Yoga Program. Cardio training focuses on improving the heart’s ability to pump blood; whereas Aerobic training focuses on improving oxygen levels throughout the body. Both are essential to your health and fitness. Yoga is for posture, balance, flexibility, and mindfulness.
If you want to improve your health & fitness and look younger, improving both your blood and oxygen circulation levels and strengthen your core muscles are essential along with a healthy diet. Strong muscle translate into strong immune system. But your true line of defense against illnesses like COVID is your Health & Fitness.
Below, in this photograph, I’m 64 years old in our hangar after we did a photo shoot for our Winter Line Up for our US WINGS Leather Jackets that we supply to the U.S. Military. I credit my DELPHI AD DIET & FITNESS System for the condition and shape I’m in at 64 soon to be 65.
To Take Better Photographs Check the Weather Conditions:
I would like to thanks Our local Meteorologist team at FOX 40 and WLBT Dave Roberts, Patrick Ellis, Peyton Garrison, and Branden Walker were spot one with the temperatures and weather. Lower temperatures and humidity are essential for taking clear and sharp photographs. If we have a photo shoot schedule, I check the weather condition especially for temperature and humidity. High humidity can cause the photographs to be a little out of focus and fussy.
If you have a Strength, Conditioning, and Diet program that works this well even being in your mid 60’s; stick with it. IF NOT try The DELPHI AD DIET & FITNESS System. Believe me when I say that your life depends on your Health & Fitness.
The Leather Jackets that we are wearing are from the:
THE QATSPY® AMERICAN CLASSIC LEATHER JACKET COLLECTION
The U.S. A-2 Leather Jacket has been a major part of our history (both military and civilian) since 1931 when the U.S. Army Air Corps developed and issued the leather flight jacket to pilots during World War II. A version of this iconic and classic A-2 Leather Flight Jacket became the persona of two legendary entertainers/actors- Fonzie in Happy Days and Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
