Monday August 07, 2006

The Worksheet; Football Practice; Top 20?

The Worksheet
I was doing a radio remote the other day and had my folders out for reference. A listener came by and was looking at some material when he stumbled across my prized game worksheet. He really liked it and wondered if he could have a copy so I game him the one I had on hand. His interest gave me the idea of putting this worksheet on the blog.

Below you will find what I use each week to evaluate some games I watch. The worksheet has two main parts. The first is a sheet of goals for the offense, defense and special teams. The second is a subject look at the details of each game.

These goals are for specific statistics for a college game. High schools play 12-minute quarters and the NFL is so different from the college game that these goals do not apply. Also note that the games may be shorter this season because the game clock will start on a change of possession this year.

Offense
More than 27 points
More than 150 yards rushing
More than 225 yards passing
More than 20 first downs
More than 4 yards per carry
Better than 60% pass completions percentage
Less than two turnovers
Red Zone-60% touchdowns
Ed Zone Scoring-80%
Less than 3 sacks per game

Defense
Less than 18 points
Less than 125 yards rushing
Less than 200 yards passing
Less than 18 first downs
Less than 3.5 yards per carry
Less than 55% pass completion percentage
More than two turnovers
Red Zone-40% touchdowns
Ed Zone Scoring-70%
More than 3 sacks per game

Penalty yardage less than 50 per game

The second part of the worksheet is a subjective analysis. It is a report card with room for comments on more specific parts of each game. Below you will find Part two of my worksheet:

Overall Report Analysis-Grades and Comments on:

Offense-Rushing
Interior running game
Perimeter running game
Option game
Draws
Short yardage running game
Yards after contact

Offense-Passing
Pass protection
Underneath passing game
Intermediate passing game
Vertical passing game
Screens
Drops
Yards after catch
QB throws on time

Offense-Overall
First down yardage
Third down conversion
Big Plays
Trick plays

Defense-Overall
Tackling
First down yardage
Third down conversion
Limit of Big Plays

Defense-Running game
Interior running game
Perimeter running game
Option game
Draws
Short yardage running game
Yards after contact

Defense-Passing Game
Pressure
Underneath passing game coverage
Intermediate passing game coverage
Vertical passing game coverage
Screens
Passes broken up
Open field tackling

Special Teams
Kickoff returns-Blocking, returners
Kick off coverage

Punt return/block-Blocking, returners
Punt coverage-Snap, protection, punt, coverage

Field Goals/extra points-snap, hold, protection, kick

Overall Team
Energy, Enthusiasm, Leadership

Coaching
Emotionally prepared
Game plan
Adjustments
Personnel
Time outs

Throughout the season I may publish these two worksheets after each game. I think it would be interesting to see your thoughts on whether the blog should publish this information each week. Please e-mail me your vote and comments on this subject at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Football Practice
I know a lot of people would like to go to football practice and wish the practices were open to the public. However, they are closed for a reason. I am not sure football practice is for everyone. It is violent. Sometimes the language is out of control. It is not a pretty scene. Besides I think most fans would think after a few hours that football practice can become a boring thing to watch. Please respect the coaching staffs decision here because I agree with them that practice needs to be closed.

Top 20?
President Barker issued his top 20 goal and while I don’t agree with it I would like to make one suggestion. My suggestion will not do anything to increase Clemson’s chances of becoming a top 20 institution by some magazine or panel’s judgment. But it would help Clemson restore its spot as an industry leader in one field.

I know the university has made tremendous strides in recent years and the plans for the future includes more progress. But we are not as good in one area that we were once the industry leader for many years. Many of you may not even know this but since moving from the P & A building to the Hendrix Center, the milkshakes are not what they used to be. In fact, they are now average at best.

There was a time when Clemson was second to none in this field but somehow that has changed. There was a time when I made special trips just for milkshakes. It was a major production and I would imagine it was a profitable one. Now you stand in line at the Hendrix Center while others ahead of you order smoothies. And get this, now you can order ice cream that is not Clemson ice cream. In my opinion this should not be a option. There was a day when I could not look at the P & A building and not think of milkshakes. If you have not tried the new system and new ice cream or milkshakes, don’t waste your time. You will be extremely disappointed.

The old arrangement was unique. It was special. Now it looks like any other cafeteria on any college campus. I could even overlook the hassle of the new set up if the milkshakes tasted close to what they used to taste like.

I say top 20 is not enough. I think the goal should be higher. No, not in some magazine’s polls. Instead I say Clemson needs to return to its spot as number one in something that really matters—milkshakes.

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