Making Progress: Part 2 of 3

Yesterday, Naptime Huddle introduced the phrase forward progress.  This concept comes into play quite often with touchdowns, which is why I introduce two more terms in this post:  breaking the plane and the around-the-world rule.

Remember that the goal line separates the end zone from the rest of the playing field.  The end zone also has four orange pylons placed at each of its corners, and these pylons are considered part of the end zone, and the goal line.  Extending skyward from the front edge of the goal line is an imaginary wall called the “plane” of the goal line.  When the ball touches this imaginary wall, it “breaks the plane.”  Under the rules of football, the ball only has to break the plane to score a touchdown.  Therefore, the runner’s body doesn’t have to get into the end zone to score a touchdown.  He can just stick his ball hand out far enough for the ball to cross even a sliver of the goal line or brush against a pylon. 

Moreover, the runner’s body doesn’t even have to be inbounds for a touchdown to count.  The plane of the goal line is considered to be a line that extends past the outer boundary lines of the field and around the world.  This is called the “around the world rule.”  As a result, a player can score without physically being in the field of play.  For example, if a runner is diving for the end zone and his body is heading out of bounds, he can still score if the ball touches an orange pylon or breaks the plane that’s stretching around the world before he hits the ground.  This might seem like a fantastic scenario, but you’d be surprised how often this happens.

Here is a good example of both of these concepts in action:

  

So, where does forward progress come in?  A touchdown is scored once the ball breaks the plane, regardless of where the runner is tackled, or lands.  For example, when a runner, or just the ball, breaks the plane, the defenders can push the runner back out of and away from the end zone, but the touchdown still counts.  Because these plays can be so close, two officials must be positioned at the goal line once the ball gets within a certain distance of the goal line.  These officials are then in a position to determine whether the runner’s forward progress allowed the ball to break the plane.  As you can imagine, this kind of touchdown is challenged by coaches quite often.  However, since a referee can only reverse a call with indisputable video evidence, getting these calls reversed isn’t guaranteed.

  

Making Progress: Part 1 of 3

Today’s lesson is the first in a three-part series on the concept of forward progress.  Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the impact forward progress has on scoring touchdowns.

If you have been watching preseason football, or have been a casual football watcher in the past, you may have noticed that the next play doesn’t always start where the ball carrier hit the ground, but sometimes further downfield.  Under the rules of football, the player with the football (the runner) is given credit for all of the yards he gains under his own power before he is tackled.  Therefore, if the runner starts from the 30-yard line and is tackled at the 40-yard line, the runner has gained ten yards and his team begins its next play at the 40-yard line (where the ball is “spotted” by the officials).  Simple, right?

However, if he reaches the 40 and a defender pushes him backward so that he lands on the ground at the 38-yard line, the ball is still spotted at the 40-yard line.  This is because of the rule of forward progress.  The officials determine the furthest point at which the ball advanced when the runner was stopped (or, where the ball goes out of bounds on a fumble).  This is called the point of forward progress and becomes the “dead-ball spot.”  The officials also need to determine forward progress when an airborne receiver is hit by a defender and knocked backward to the ground. 

Notice that I said the runner gets credit for yards he gained under his own power.  This idea is key for determining the point of forward progress.  If the runner gets to the 40 and then backtracks to the 35 to avoid a tackle, the 40-yard line is no longer the point of forward progress.  This is because the runner chose to retreat those five yards and did so under his own power.  Therefore, if the runner is tackled at the 37-yard line after backtracking, the dead-ball spot is the 37-yard line, not the 40.

Below are two examples of forward progress rulings.  The first involves a catch, and the receiver was awarded a first down after replay.  In the second, the official signals that the receiver stepped out of bounds short of the first down line.  However, since the contact by the defender made him go out, he should also be given the first down.

As you may expect, coaches often use challenges to question the point of forward progress.  Of course, a coach won’t typically use a review for that purpose unless the play resulted in a first down, a long gain, or a touchdown.  Touchdowns are where forward progress gets really interesting, so, naturally, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to hear about it!

Best Cornerbacks, Now and Then

We continue our discussion of the top players that are playing the game now and players that many consider the best ever.   Now, for my usual caveat:  Reasonable minds will disagree on who makes these lists and why.  I don’t claim to be the final judge.  However, these are names any respectable football fan should know.

We began this journey through history with quarterbacks.  Today, cornerbacks.

 

TODAY’S STARS

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets (2007-present):  Darrelle Revis attended the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted 14^th overall by the Jets in 2007.  As I mentioned in my last post, the athleticism and skill required of cornerbacks often gives these players a bit of an attitude and cockiness other players might not express.  Revis is one example of this phenomenon.  He has nicknamed his area of the field “Revis Island”.  Last year, he famously, and successfully, held out of training camp and the entire preseason to renegotiate his contract for more money.  He has already been selected for the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s all-star game) three times and won AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.

Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland Raiders, 2003-2011, Philadelphia Eagles, present):  Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced NAHM-dee  AH-sim-wah) attended University of California, Berkeley, and was drafted 31^st overall by the Oakland Raiders in 2003.  He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times, and from 2007 through last season, he has allowed no more than 13 receptions each season; he didn’t allow any touchdown receptions last season.  After the 2010 season, his contract with the Raiders was up and the Eagles snagged him at the end of the lockout with a 5-year, $60 million contract.

Charles Woodson (Raiders, 1998-2005, Green Bay Packers, 2006-present):  Charles Woodson attended the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) and was drafted 4^th overall by the Oakland Raiders in 1998.  Woodson won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan (edging out Peyton Manning), the only player ever to do so as a primarily defensive player.  Woodson has been to the Pro Bowl seven times, won NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and was part of the Packers victory in Super Bowl XLV (he broke his collar bone in the first half).

IN THE GAP:   Champ Bailey (Washington Redskins, 1999-2003; Denver Broncos, 2004-present):  I put Bailey in a special “in the gap” category.  By “gap” I mean the gap between active and retired players.  Champ Bailey has already cemented his position as one of the great cornerbacks of all time.  He is still in the League, but I hesitate to put him in the list of “Today’s Stars”; in my opinion, some of the younger guys are just a slight cut above at this moment.

Bailey attended the University of Georgia and was drafted 7^th overall by the Redskins in 1999.  In 2004 he was traded to the Broncos for a second-round draft pick and running back Clinton Portis.  Bailey has been selected to ten Pro Bowls, a record for cornerbacks.  In 2006 and in 2009, he didn’t allow a single touchdown out of the passes thrown in his direction. 

YESTERDAY’S LEGENDS

Mel Blount (Pittsburg Steelers, 1970-1983):  Mel Blount attended Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA) and was drafted by the Steelers in 1970.  He was a member of the famed “Steel Curtain” defense that Naptime Huddle readers know was one of the reasons the Steelers were able to build a championship dynasty in the 1970s.  It is generally believed that it was Blount’s physical dominance over receivers and aggressive style of pass coverage that gave rise to today’s pass interference and other rules limiting physical contact against receivers.  Blount was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Rod Woodson (Steelers, 1987-1996; San Francisco 49ers, 1997; Baltimore Ravens, 1998-2001; Oakland Raiders, 2002-2003):  Rod Woodson attended Purdue University and was drafted 10^th overall by the Steelers in 1987.  He played in three Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXV with the Ravens.  He still holds two NFL records:  interceptions returned for touchdowns (12) and interception return yards (1,483).  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, the first year he was eligible for the honor.  Woodson is currently the cornerbacks coach for the Raiders.

Deion Sanders (Atlanta Falcons, 1989-1993; 49ers, 1994; Dallas Cowboys, 1995-1999; Redskins, 2000; Ravens, 2004-2005):  As I mentioned in my last post, Deion Sanders is known for his supreme self-confidence and flamboyant style.  However, his reputation for theatrics and taunting his opponents should not overshadow his on-field accomplishments.  Sanders, also known as “Neon Deion” and “Prime Time,” accomplished greatness not only in football but baseball as well.  He went to Florida State and was drafted by the Falcons in 1989.  He also started playing for the Atlanta Braves* that year and would continue to play baseball part-time for nine years.  He is the only athlete ever to hit a major league home run and score a touchdown in the same week; he is also the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series.  Sanders won two Super Bowls and is only one of two players to score a touchdown six different ways:  interception return, punt return, kickoff return, receiving, rushing and off a fumble recovery.  This year, the first year he was eligible, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Famous for wearing bandanas, he put one on his bust at the induction ceremony.

*Braves fans already know that Deion Sanders is the man who brought the “tomahawk chop” to Atlanta.  The chop came from Florida State and continues to be used as a rallying cry for Braves fans today.

The Secondary: Safeties and Cornerbacks

We have already learned about the defensive players that battle the offense at or near the line of scrimmage (LOS):  the linebackers and defensive linemen.  Today’s lesson features those players who make up the last line of defense before the end zone:  the safeties and cornerbacks, known collectively as the secondary.

SUMMARY

·         Safeties and cornerbacks make up the secondary

·         The secondary has primary responsibility for defending pass plays but must also recognize and defend against running plays

·         The secondary can disrupt passes by blocking receivers, preventing catches and intercepting passes

·         Players in the secondary can also be used to rush the quarterback

·         These players are most likely to commit pass interference, illegal use of hands and defensive holding penalties

TERMS TO KNOW AND LOVE:  safety, cornerback, strong safety, weak safety, man-to-man defense, zone defense, interception, YAC, sack and blitz

GOALS OF THE SECONDARY

As we have discussed, a team’s defense aims to:  prevent the offense from scoring; cause turnovers; and score points for its own team.  The players on the secondary support these goals by:  (1) preventing offensive players from catching passes from their quarterback; (2) intercepting those passes; and (3) preventing a runner from catching a pass in the end zone or running into the end zone after catching a pass.

POSITIONS

Cornerbacks: Before the play starts, the cornerbacks (or “corners”) usually line up opposite the offense’s receivers, within a few yards of the LOS.  Under the rules, defensive players can impede an offensive player’s ability to move down the field within 5 yards of the LOS.  However, once a receiver has advanced five yards past the LOS, a defensive player is no longer allowed to keep him from running downfield.  Therefore, the corners will meet the receivers as they cross the LOS and attempt to keep them from running those first five yards by bumping or pushing them. 

Safeties:  A team might have two different types of safeties on the field at once:  a “strong safety” and a “weak safety.”  These terms are not judgments on each player’s strength or talent.  A strong safety is generally responsible for the “strong side” of the offensive formation.  For example, an offense might have a tight end and two receivers lined up to the quarterback’s right-hand side, but only one or two receivers on his left-hand side.  The strong safety, then, will be responsible for defending plays that develop on that player-heavy side of the field (which in this case is his left, since he is facing the offense).  The weak safety will take care of the other side of the offense.

RESPONSIBILITIES

When the ball is snapped, the corners will bump, or block, the receivers at the LOS (within that 5-yard zone), then run with the receivers if they continue down the field.  On a running play, the receivers become blockers for the runner, so the corners attempt to fight off the receivers’ blocks so they can pursue and tackle the runner.  Once a run play is recognized, the safeties will also converge on the runner to tackle him.

On a passing play, the secondary tries to either keep the receivers from catching the ball or will try to catch, or intercept, the pass themselves.  Generally, the secondary has two ways to do this:  (1) each player in the secondary is assigned a specific offensive player to cover, called “man-to-man defense”; or (2) each player in the secondary is assigned an area of the field to cover, called “zone defense.”  In zone defense, once a player runs out of your zone, another player on the secondary is responsible for that receiver.  There are many variations on both types of defense, but we’ll leave these for another time.

To keep a receiver from catching the ball, the defender can try to prevent the receiver from running his designated route, thus leaving the quarterback without that target.  He can also be so close to the receiver physically that the quarterback will throw the ball to a different receiver so the pass isn’t intercepted.  If the quarterback does throw the ball to his receiver, the defender can knock the ball away as it comes to the receiver (called “breaking up the pass”).

The defensive player can get an interception by either catching the ball as it comes to his receiver, or he can “break on the ball,” and run to a different spot on the field where he thinks the pass is going.  Of course, he had better be right about where the ball is going because he runs the risk of his receiver catching the ball and running free to the end zone.

If a receiver catches a pass, the corners and safeties both want to keep the yards the runner gains after the catch (called “Yards After Catch” or “YAC”) to a minimum.  Therefore, they work together to tackle the receiver as soon as possible.

Finally, one or more members of the secondary may be called upon to rush the quarterback on a given play.  This is either intended to tackle the quarterback behind the LOS for a loss of yards (called a “sack”), or to disrupt the quarterback so he is unable to complete a pass.  The use of a player from the secondary in this capacity is one form of “blitz” play.  In general terms, a “blitz” is a play in which one or more players that are usually assigned to defend the run or pass (like a linebacker, safety or corner) is committed to rushing through the offensive line to rush the quarterback.  Blitzes come in different formations and are used in a variety of circumstances, so they merit a post of their own.

As you can see, the secondary has several jobs that they must be able to perform on any given play. Therefore, as a general rule, safeties and corners are the most athletic players on a team's defense; perhaps on the entire team.  This may be why these players in particular tend to be more arrogant and outspoken.  Some corners are so successful at dominating receivers that quarterbacks avoid targeting the receivers they are covering.  A great example of one of these so-called "shut down corners" was "Neon" Deion Sanders, a.k.a. "Prime Time" (both nicknames self-given), an incredibly talented cornerback who played for several NFL teams, most notably for the Dallas Cowboys.  Though he is known for his talent as a cornerback, he played other positions including receiver and kick returner.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, the first year he was eligible for that honor.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed in the preseason, players in the secondary run the risk of committing a variety of penalties in their defense of their end zone, which can be very costly for their team.  Such penalties include pass interference, illegal use of the hands and defensive holding.  Stay tuned to this blog for a full discussion of these and other exciting infractions.

Famous Fumbles

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post about turnovers, I thought I would share a few examples of (in)famous fumbles in NFL history.  They feature a Brown, a Cowboy and an Eagle.  Enjoy!

Cleveland vs. Denver, 1987 AFC Championship

Our first famous fumble is courtesy of Earnest Byner, running back for the Cleveland Browns in their AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos on January 17, 1988.  The game had been a series of stops and starts for the Browns.  Having trailed the Broncos 3-21 at halftime, the Browns came back to eventually tie the game at 31.  Denver went ahead 38-31 with four minutes left in the game, then the Browns drove to the Denver 8-yard line with 1:12 left.  Browns quarterback handed off the ball to Byner, who ran toward the end zone.  At the 2-yard line, he was stripped of the ball and fumbled.  The Broncos recovered the fumble and went on to win the game and advance to the Super Bowl.  This moment in the game has since been known as “The Fumble.”*

While this fumble is famous for its fatal outcome, and its overshadowing of an otherwise spectacular game for Byner, the next two blunders are known for their abject stupidity.

Cowboys v. Buffalo, Super Bowl XXVII (January, 1993)

In the last moments of Super Bowl XXVII, the Dallas Cowboys had a commanding 52-17 lead over the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills, playing for pride, were attempting to drive down the field when they fumbled near midfield.  Cowboys defensive tackle Leon Lett recovered the fumble and began running toward the Bills’ end zone for a clear touchdown.  As he got to the 10-yard line, however, he slowed down and held the ball away from his body in early celebration.  What he didn’t know is that Bills wide receiver Don Beebe had been chasing him and was quickly closing the distance.  Just before Lett’s hand reached the goal line, Beebe swatted the ball out of his hand.  The ball rolled through the end zone and out of bounds, resulting in a touchback, giving the Bills the ball on the 20-yard line.  Fortunately for Lett, his showboating didn’t cost the Cowboys the game, but he will forever be known for this classic blunder.**

Philadelphia vs. Dallas, September 15, 2008, Monday Night Football

Before a national television audience, and against their division rivals, the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson committed an error that was perhaps more moronic than Lett’s.  After catching a 60-yard pass from quarterback Donovan McNabb, Jackson was racing for the end zone to score an easy touchdown when he spiked the ball in celebration . . . at the 1-yard line!  Fortunately for Jackson, the official at the spot signaled a touchdown and none of the Cowboys players in the area jumped on the ball.  Therefore, when the Cowboys successfully challenged the touchdown, the result was that the Eagles had the ball on the 1-yard line, where they were able to run the ball into the end zone on the next play.

One might forgive Jackson, to an extent, for being a young, inexperienced player overly excited about scoring on national television.  However, he did almost the exact same thing in a high school all-star game!  Check it out:

*This is not the first time that the Broncos crushed the Browns’ hope for a Super Bowl appearance.  Faithful Naptime Huddle readers will recall that it was one year earlier that John Elway led the Broncos on “The Drive” against the Browns in the last moments of the game to win the AFC Championship. 

**This wouldn’t be Lett’s last, or even worst, lapse in judgment.  The very next season, on Thanksgiving Day, the Cowboys were leading the Miami Dolphins by one point with 15 seconds left in the game.  The Dolphins tried to kick a field goal, but the kick was blocked.  Lett tried to pick up the loose ball but muffed it, and the Dolphins ended up recovering the football.  They made their second field goal attempt and won the game.  If Lett had only fallen on the ball instead of trying to pick it up, the Cowboys would have won.

Turnovers: Interceptions and Fumbles

If the word “turnover” only calls to mind fruity pastries, then this post is for you.  Today we explore the ways that a team accidentally loses possession of the ball.

A turnover is when the team with the ball loses possession of the ball to the other team.  There are two types of turnovers:  the interception and the fumble.  Notice that I didn’t say “when the offense loses possession of the ball to the defense.”  There are two reasons for this:  (1) possession can occur during a special teams play when the teams are the “receiving” and “kicking” teams; and (2) there can be multiple turnovers on the same play, so that the offense initially loses the ball but then a scene from Keystone Kops ensues and the defense loses it after gaining possession!  What fun!

INTERCEPTIONS

An interception occurs when a defensive player catches a pass that was meant to be caught by a player on the offense.  There is usually not much dispute over whether an interception has occurred, unless there is a question of whether the defensive player actually caught the ball.  However, there may be a question of whether the defensive player committed a pass interference penalty in the process of catching the ball.*  As you learned in my post on challenges, a judgment by the officials over whether a penalty such as pass interference occurred is not reviewable.

One quirk on interceptions:  if both the offensive and defensive player come down with their hands on the ball so that it looks like they both have possession, the offense keeps possession of the ball at the spot where the ball was caught.  In other words, to borrow a phrase from baseball, “the tie goes to the runner.”

FUMBLES

Once a play has begun, the player that holds the ball is called the runner.  The runner can be one of three people:  (1) the quarterback, until he hands off, or throws the ball to, another player, or if he is keeping it and running down the field himself; (2) the player, usually the running back, that the quarterback hands the ball to; or (3) the player, a wide receiver or tight end, to whom the quarterback throws the ball.

A fumble occurs when the runner drops the ball before he is tackled. **  Any player can try to get the ball by diving on it or picking it up.  A fumble is “lost” if a defensive player gains control of the ball, thus earning possession for his team.  A fumble is “recovered” if a player on offense, either the runner or another player, gains control of the ball, retaining possession for his team.

Sound simple, right?  It usually is.  However, a couple of rules make the issue more complicated.  Under the rules, a runner is tackled or “down” when one or both of his knees touches the ground and he had been touched by a defensive player (in the NFL, if a player stumbles on his own, he can get back up and keep running; this is not the case in college).  Fumbles are often challenged or reviewed when there is a question of whether the runner was down before the lost the football.  If he lost the football after one of his knees hits the ground, there is no fumble. 

Another rule you will hear often is that the ground cannot cause a fumble.  It’s hard to explain what this means; it’s one of those you’ll-know-it-when-you-see-it situations.  Generally, though, if a runner is being brought down, or has fallen, there is no fumble if he held onto the ball and it is only from hitting the ground that the ball came loose and out of the player’s grip.  This is also often the subject of review.

*The standards for a catch and pass interference are the same for both the offense and the defense, and will be explained in a later post.

**I should distinguish a “fumble” from a “muff.”  A muff occurs when a player unsuccessfully tries to get possession of a loose ball.  Therefore, the player hasn’t even had the ball yet.

Recipe Timeout: Me-Ma's Crave-able Caramel Icing

Today I'm sharing my grandmother Me-Ma’s decadent caramel icing.  She made her caramel cake whenever the grandchildren or great-grandchildren were coming to visit.  I would eat the cake part first, leaving nothing but the frosting for the last few precious bites.  I prefer to make this with white cake, but I suppose yellow cake would be good, too.  I think it would be a bit much for chocolate cake.  I have also used this recipe to ice cupcakes.  Yum!

Fair warning:  This recipe is a little tricky.  There are only a few ingredients and the directions are pretty straight-forward.  However, the cooking requires a little finesse and gets easier with practice.

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

½ cup canned milk (undiluted)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 to 3 cups powdered sugar 

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine butter, brown sugar and canned milk in a pot and bring to a boil.  Boil slowly 3 minutes, stirring constantly.  Cool to lukewarm by placing pot in a bowl or pan of cold water.  Add vanilla and gradually add powdered sugar and stir.  The icing must be a spreadable consistency, so you may not need all three cups of powdered sugar.  Spread icing quickly before it sets!