American football

[RAM]

 

Originally posted by funked:
Since you saw two games I will remove the "completely" so you are now just ignorant.`

I've seen much more than two   I say that I've seen matches, INCLUDING the 2 last superbowls...not only the 2 last superbowls  

[sling322]

Ummm...by the way RAM, we dont call them "matches"....matches are what we use to start fires.  

And Dowding....the professional soccer league here in the US was started to give the immigrants who were always complaining about not understanding American football something to watch.    

[Mk10 225th]

Hey Santa.  (An American Greeting format)

For some reason, someone did something that makes this thread go caddy wampus on my IE 1024x768 browser size, and I have to scroll at the bottom to keep it all in place.

But seriously, if you'd like to e-mail me any questions on American Football, I'd be more than happy to answer.

The main thing to keep in mind is that comparing Soccer to American Football, or even comparing it to Rugby, is not an accurate comparison at all.

All three, and including Australian Rules Football, so four, are excellent games in their own right.

To attempt to directly compare them against each other is total folly, and is definitely not comparing apples to apples, but more appropriately, it winds up comparing apples to oranges.

I think I could intelligently expound on some of the concepts of American Football, and also expupidate on why American Football really IS a big deal, and not just a bunch of overweight pansies in pads hitting each other with five minute breaks in between.

My e-mail is mk10@home.com.

Thanks for your interest dude, and I've always enjoyed the kharma behind your posts.

Mk

[LJK Raubvogel]

American football is like a well-orchestrated war game. (unless you're watching the Cinncinati Bungals hehe) There are feints, decoys, and even flanking movements lol. It takes a long time to understand the strategy behind the gameplans on offense and defense. The coach might run 3 plays that gain no yards just so he can set the defense up for another play. I find it more interesting than soccer because of the chess game that goes on between coaches during the game. Soccer is an ok sport, and it is physically demanding, but I just never saw any strategy behind it.

btw...anyone going to the Pro Bowl? I live about 2 miles away    Going to the NFCs practice tomorrow with my son to get some stuff signed.

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LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

 

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 01-31-2001).]

[AKDejaVu]

Hey Funked and RAM.. could you please abreviate that "goooal" saying.  We can get the point without have to scroll all of the text.

AKDejaVu

[StSanta]

Heh in defense of soccer; it's not always the result that counts, but the game itself. It's more dynamic than American soccer and it forces players to "think on their feet" more and is, to me, more open for individual achievements.

Also, there are several layers of tactics and strategy in soccer; watch how the three lines interact. How one runner forces the defenders to mark him up, leaving holes for other players to others to explore. Use of depth in soccer is extremely important to success  . I guess you're in sort of mine position Lepthurn; ya know the general rules but the tactics sort of elude you. it's an irritating position because it limits your enjoyment of the game somewhat.

But watching all those guys run into each other, wondering "hm, he's close to touchdown, 3'rd down and 5. Could go for a field goal, but could go for a chancy touchdown. What'll happen? <BLAMO>, BIIG impacts, lotsa people, where's the nall oh there, he'S RUNNING now what <BLAMO OUCH>".

That's FUN   .

Those guys running from side to side on the offense - they're there to dupe the defense. Yet when I watched Superbowl, it seemed as if they weren't "checked" by the defense, who mostly seemed to ignore them.

A strong defense seems to revolve around having several really heavy (some are really fat) guys as stoppers in the middle), but other than that I'm sort of missing out the details. For the offense; I love the throws, and when one Fat Dude manages to block out two Fat Dudes of the opposing team and a Little Fast Guy can run right through, it's amusing.

Also, I've noticed that the defensive team, liek sin soccer, is utterly dependant on not having a "hole" run through - in soccer, if a player beats the offside trap, he can pretty much have a run all the way to goal. Similar in American football. What measures are taken in such eventualities, if any? Or are they simply dead set on "it won't happen!"?

Sheesh. Soon I bet I'll begin to watch baseball, too. Sick.

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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
 
"I don't necessarily agree with everything I think." - A. Eldritch

[This message has been edited by StSanta (edited 02-01-2001).]

[leonid]

Okay, StSanta asks about American football, but you bums haveta start trashing the REAL football!!!  Hey, we can talk politics, we can talk religion, but don't ever trash the real thing - F.A .FOOTBALL!!!(Soccer to you ignoramuses)

Anyone who can't see the beauty in a soccer game is just plain ignorant.  The world plays soccer, and offers so many different styles of play that tavern discussions can last forever.  The amazing art form of Brazillian football, the speed and long play of English football, the methodical almost robotically precise play of Germany.  The strange mix of art and practicality in Italian ball.  The conflict of Argentinian ball, between art and roughness.  And in the last few decades we've seen African football emerge with its almost maniacal and reckless pace.  And then there are the smaller countries with all their own unique styles, ready to upset any of the big guns.

Sure, football can be boring, just like any bad match, but more often than not, one can watch a game that reveals the tactics, the style, and the caliber of players, in a game.  I still remember the world cup of '94 in the USA when Italy were playing Ireland(?), and lost their goalkeeper to a red card very early in the match.  They needed to win the match to move on in the series, so things looked very dire for the Azzuri.  But, somehow they pulled it off in an amazing game.  There are so many memories like this, so many.

I think what I like best about football is that here is one 'thing' that the world enjoys almost as a whole.  Almost anywhere in the world you can strike up a conversation about the national teams, or even the local league teams.  Football is the world's sport.

Btw, the term soccer comes from the old official name of Association Football.  Back then, rugby was also known as football, so to distinguich the two, the English came up with first asoc, then soccer.

[TheWobble]

"REAL football"I assume if your name was Bill, you would be the "Real Bill"

[funked]

Santa, the game is won and lost by the fat dudes up front (linemen).  In 75-90% of games, the team with the best linemen wins.

They are all huge (average is over 300 lb now).  So the ones that dominate are the ones who have better skills or are just smarter.

The offensive linemen (the 5 to 7 fat guys in the middle of the field for the team with the ball) try to block the defensive linemen.  The term blocking refers to any physical contact with defensive players.

On a passing play this means they set up a barrier ("pass protection") to keep their quarterback safe.  The defensive linemen try to break through ("pass rush") and tackle the quarterback or disrupt his pass attempt.  If they can do this consistently, even the best quarterback will look like a moron.  

For this kind of blocking, an offensive lineman often must move backwards and sideways while fighting a rushing defender with his hands.  Even a small man can topple a large offensive lineman in this situation if his balance is not good.  The offensive lineman must have quick feet, good balance, and strong, quick hands.  Each offensive lineman must also be able to pick the correct person to block as soon as the play starts, so he must be able to think very quickly.

To get a clean shot at the quarterback, the defense will send different players from directions in order to confuse the offensive linemen.  If you can make two offensive linemen try to block the same guy, it means someone else will be free.  Or they will will try to overload the offensive linemen by sending a large amount of players - this is a "blitz".

On a running play the offensive linemen will do one of two things.  The simplest is that they will charge "straight ahead" at the defensive lineman in front of them and try to push him back or impede him from tackling the runner.  This kind of blocking is all about power and leverage, and the ability to "fire out" instantly into the defender as the play starts.  The shoulders are used more than the hands to block.

The other thing offensive linemen do on running plays is called "pulling".  A pulling offensive lineman will leave the defensive lineman in front of him alone, and run along the line to block somebody else.  Often they will run ahead of the ball carrier and clear his path.  This is where speed and agility will make a big difference.  Some guys just can't do this well.  They are too slow to get to the right spot in time, or they don't have the agility to collide with a quick defender who is trying to avoid them.  The ones that can pull well are a great asset, because they become a moving shield for the ball carrier.

As a play develops, most of the defensive players base their expectations on what the offensive linemen are doing - are they blocking for a pass or a run, and in which direction.  Therefore the blocking scheme can be used to deceive the defense.  The offensive linemen will block as if a running play is coming, but the quarterback will throw a pass.  Or they will block as if a pass play is coming, but the quarterback will hand the ball to a runner.  Or they will block as if there will be a run to the right, but the run goes to the left.  

These deceptions will not always fool the defense, but even if they cause a split second's hesitation by a defensive player they can still be valuable to the offense.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 02-01-2001).]

[StSanta]

Thanks for the description funked!

I'll look closely at these fat dudes in the future  .



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Baron Claus "StSanta" Von Ribbentroppen
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"

"I don't necessarily agree with everything I think." - A. Eldritch

[RAM]

Preach on, Brother Leonid!!!!

BTW F.C.Barcelona ROCKS!!! (hehehe,love my team  )

[Dowding]

It's true that I don't understand American football totally - I know the basics, but I find it dull to watch. Rugby is better.

Like Leonid says, football is far more complicated BECAUSE of the simple rules. There are so many tactics on the pitch, so many styles of play from different players from different countries. The English play aggressively and physically, whereas the Italians have a little more finesse.

The Argentinians are just bastards.  

And for once, I agree with RAM.   Although why he supports Barcelona when he lives in Bilbao, I'll never know. Or is it like how people from London support Manchester United? Fair weather fan, eh?  

BTW RAM - I'm coming to Spain next year - my cousin is getting married to a Spaniard, and I've also agreed to do that Bull Run thing (all my more youthful cousins are going to do it).

[RAM]

 

Originally posted by Dowding:

And for once, I agree with RAM.Although why he supports Barcelona when he lives in Bilbao, I'll never know. Or is it like how people from London support Manchester United? Fair weather fan, eh?

Ohhh its a long long story...starts in 1983 when F.C. barcelona came to Bilbao to play against Athletic. Was my first "live" match and I LOVED Barça. Since that day...I'm Barça's fanatic  

P.S. Barça lost that match 1-0...and Athletic de Bilbao won league and league and cup the following year (1984).

P.S.2 Real Madrid won 5 leagues in a row (1985-1990)...and I was always supporting my loved Barcelona  

P.S.3 I lived 3 years in Toledo (1992-95) where EVERYONE is Real Madrid's supporter. Still I kept on supporting OPENLY Barça, and even went to my team's training sessions with the complete equipation of F.C Barcelona  

As you see...heheh far far from being a "fair weather fan"  

 

BTW RAM - I'm coming to Spain next year - my cousin is getting married to a Spaniard, and I've also agreed to do that Bull Run thing (all my more youthful cousins are going to do it).

If you are talking 'bout Pamplona's San Fermines then I hope that if you do it, you do it reasonably sober. Because almost 80% of the guys that do it are completely drunk...and of course ,then happens what has to happen  

Hey! and dont forget to come to Bilbao!  

[Dowding]

Hey, I won't be doing that run an anything other than steroids or at least a hefty dose of adrenaline!   Most of the people who do it are stupid foreigners, so if there are no locals participating, I don't think I'll go ahead.

Unfortunately, both my cousins (the one getting married and her sister) did it last year. I can't back out now otherwise I'll look like a wuss. Oh dear.  

I think they live in Saragosa (sp?) BTW - that anywhere near Bilbao?

[mrfish]

cure for soccer boringness:

get rid of the goalies - like 2 shots on goal anyway for the whole game and the guy blocks it.......