saundena Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 I've been watching the game for almost 30 years but admittedly, I'm not a very strong X's and O's fella. I know the basics of course and understand at a high level the chess match that is Offense versus Defens; but always find myself watching the ball versus diagnosing and recognizing what is happening before and after the snap. I think having a better understanding of these things and increasing my ability to recognize them in real time will enhance my enjoyment of the game. Do anybody have recommendations for a really good football X's and O's book that really goes into the details on thing like blocking schemes, coverage packages, how players' talent and physical traits impact personnel groupings and substitutions, etc? Thanks! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Donuts and Doritos Posted December 14, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted December 14, 2022 Is this Ken Dorsey? 48 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 I think YouTube is going to be a better tool than books here. My favorite channel is Brett Kollman’s. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a K-Gun Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 My 13 year old son just started watching football last year and I am amazed at what he has picked up X's and O's wise simply by playing Madden. He is able to call out coverages now and then when we are at the game and he will identify where Josh should go with the ball based on the look the defense is showing...and he's usually right! Smarter than me, which admittedly isn't saying much. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 7 minutes ago, saundena said: I've been watching the game for almost 30 years but admittedly, I'm not a very strong X's and O's fella. I know the basics of course and understand at a high level the chess match that is Offense versus Defens; but always find myself watching the ball versus diagnosing and recognizing what is happening before and after the snap. I think having a better understanding of these things and increasing my ability to recognize them in real time will enhance my enjoyment of the game. Do anybody have recommendations for a really good football X's and O's book that really goes into the details on thing like blocking schemes, coverage packages, how players' talent and physical traits impact personnel groupings and substitutions, etc? Thanks! Ken crippen on Facebook has a football learning academy that posts neat stuff about the history and some background stuff. A former member here, as well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saundena Posted December 14, 2022 Author Share Posted December 14, 2022 4 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said: Is this Ken Dorsey? Crap. How did you know!!!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 4 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said: Is this Ken Dorsey? No, it's Jerry Sullivan. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacklabel Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 I would strongly suggest the Take Your Eye Off the Ball books by Pat Kirwan. He breaks things down really well and the books are super informative and not difficult to comprehend. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 The best way to do this is join football knowledgeable folks to watch the games with. One of my favorite experiences was years ago when @GGcame up to the nosebleeds and we watched part of the game together pretty much color commenting and analyzing each play. He has a great grasp of the game. I also did this to @Royale with Cheeseand 4 or 5 Texans fans in Houston. The Texans fans thought I was a wizard because I called 5 plays accurately in a row at one point. anyway, if there are specifics you want I like x's and O's more than anything and would love to bloviate about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epstein's Mother Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 17 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said: Is this Ken Dorsey? Tiresome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 (edited) Recommend the following YouTube channels/sites that break things down really well and explain things: Cover1 - Bills focused coverage with a wide variety of content and breakdowns on just about anything and everything...exceptionally well done most times and very informative https://www.youtube.com/@Cover1 JT O'Sullivan QB School - former NFL QB that has a TON of content on pretty much everything NFL related from what happens during the weekly preparations, film study, meetings, etc to breaking down QB film and games. Has several on Josh Allen. https://www.youtube.com/@TheQBSchool Kurt Warner - former NFL MVP and Super Bowl winning QB with tons of great content on QB play and many other topics https://www.youtube.com/c/kurtwarnerqbc Coverage Concepts: Steve Spagnuoulo - Chiefs DC breaking down defense Great site with a lot of good content...college based but most is relevant for any level of football: https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/football-101 Another great site with tons of film breakdown on wide variety of topics: http://nflbreakdowns.com/ Former NFL Player Brian Baldinger with his breakdowns of plays/players...does a wide variety and always has some Bills ones in there. https://www.nfl.com/videos/channel/baldy-s-breakdowns-vc Edited December 14, 2022 by Big Turk 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 this might be what your looking for. i remember kirwan talking about it on his show, and some of the callers were raving about it. https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1600783910/ref=asc_df_1600783910/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8533917222913187789&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005574&hvtargid=pla-573468647692&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61851652293&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312094794926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8533917222913187789&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005574&hvtargid=pla-573468647692 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 14 minutes ago, WhoTom said: No, it's Jerry Sullivan. He sure does have a lot more time on his hands these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 Just now, teef said: this might be what your looking for. i remember kirwan talking about it on his show, and some of the callers were raving about it. https://www.amazon.com/Take-Your-Eye-Off-Ball/dp/1600783910/ref=asc_df_1600783910/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312094794926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8533917222913187789&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005574&hvtargid=pla-573468647692&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61851652293&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312094794926&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8533917222913187789&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005574&hvtargid=pla-573468647692 edit: i saw it was released in 2010, so i'm not sure if you feel that current enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 2 minutes ago, teef said: edit: i saw it was released in 2010, so i'm not sure if you feel that current enough. There is so much great content out there to watch on Youtube/Twitter/NFL.com etc I am not sure buying a book is even worth it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMM Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 23 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said: Is this Ken Dorsey? Possibly the post of the YEAR! 🤣👏👏 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoTom Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/rookies-guide/ https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/nfl-basics/formations-101/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rc2catch Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 20 minutes ago, Son of a K-Gun said: My 13 year old son just started watching football last year and I am amazed at what he has picked up X's and O's wise simply by playing Madden. He is able to call out coverages now and then when we are at the game and he will identify where Josh should go with the ball based on the look the defense is showing...and he's usually right! Smarter than me, which admittedly isn't saying much. You are correct on madden. It has limits but it’s pretty great for diagnosing coverage and blitz packages etc etc.. I actually learned quite a bit about different RPO packages just from playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyjj Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 8 minutes ago, teef said: edit: i saw it was released in 2010, so i'm not sure if you feel that current enough. Great read and allows one to follow personnel/formation/coverages to determine pre-snap reads. Take Your Eye OFF the Ball by Pat Kirwan from Moving the Chains show on Sirius NFL is a great and easy read. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocCityRoller Posted December 14, 2022 Share Posted December 14, 2022 (edited) 34 minutes ago, SageAgainstTheMachine said: I think YouTube is going to be a better tool than books here. My favorite channel is Brett Kollman’s. I agree, I would recommend youtube coaching videos/ websites A search of 'coaching football defenses' or 'coaching football offenses' will yield a treasure trove. IMO Cover1 and Baldy's breakdowns are really educational film review of NFL games/ plays. My knowledge came from playing up to high school, and then admittedly video games. The game evolves so quickly I look things up all the time with new innovations and terminology. Stuff I have had to look up: What the heck is a wide-9 Defensive alignment? When did we start calling calling offensive packages 11 or 21? (Pro-set or 3 Wide anyone?) How is a Pistol different than shotgun? Also keep a chart like this one handy. Any video or text (book or site) going into depth will talk about defensive alignments and offensive gaps. The game is still largely determined by controlling/ exploiting the line of scrimmage. Edited December 14, 2022 by RocCityRoller 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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