O-lineman "intelligence" improvement

[Michigan Joe]

Does anybody allow offensive lineman to be audibled if the lineman doesn't have a defensive player directly across from them? It seems to me that this would go a long way in improving the strategy of "traditional styles" of electric football. I am a big fan of the ITZ dial bases to help resolve the issue of the stupid electric football lineman, but it seems to me that allowing unengaged offensive lineman to be audibled (angled) before the snap (just as any other skill player can be) makes for a more realistic game play and would be more fun in setting up plays.

[Geno H]

Joe,
It makes perfect sense to me. I am all for making more intelligent rulings for "pre snap" movements. I frown upon multiple stops and "walking" the players through the play. I do want to reserve the "electric football" aspect of the game. Rulings such as the 10 yard stop rule (pivot defenders) is a good rule as it allows the defensive secondary some intelligence. I also like being allowed on a pass to pivot 1 offensive player to throw a block for a reciever. In addtion I like the reciever to pivoted after the completed pass as this also gives him intelligence.

Offense- sets up
defense- sets up
offense -2 pivots... lineman do not count as a pivot.
defense- equal pivot to offense
stops occur only on a pass attempt or after 10 yard gain.

Let me hear your thoughts.

Geno H

[jeff]

In the mid -Ohio league , we allow 2 movements or angles or any combimation thereof . You can angle a lineman , but it has to be part of your movements.

[Shabby J]

I find that pivoting a receiver after a pass can lead too many TDs and too much yardage, not realistic in my experiments.

I used to do this in solitaire play and then started playing LAEFL rules early this year (no pivot after the reception), I asked why they do not allow the pivot, then I began to see why, it is just not realistic.

Those who allow pivots, do you think it is too easy and too beneficial on the offense?

If you need to pivot the receiver, then really test your skill as a passer and do it with the ball. I am a pretty good passer, but find that in trying to pivot the receiver with a hard pass actually improves the passing skills in general.

I have seen a lot of skilled coaches turn the receiver with a hard pass, to me that's an invaluable skill to have and one that I continue to work on.

I know a lot of leagues allow a pivot, but now that I stopped doing it, I like it better this way.

[Michigan Joe]

Geno and Jeff- I would think you would want 3 pre snap angles if you allow lineman to be angles (and they count as an angle). This would allow you to set up more plays.

Shabby, this thread was supposed to be about lineman. However since you mentioned angling recievers after the catch then I will say this- if you only know how to play smash mouth corner back techniques and consistently allow recievers to get past your corners (even by 2 yards)then yes there will be a lot of yards after the catch. That is the whole point of the rule, to promote various styles of playing pass defense and to promote speed on the outside instead of smash mouth power (which I think is unrealistic).

[Shabby J]

Originally Posted by Michigan Joe

Geno and Jeff- I would think you would want 3 pre snap angles if you allow lineman to be angles (and they count as an angle). This would allow you to set up more plays.

Shabby, this thread was supposed to be about lineman. However since you mentioned angling recievers after the catch then I will say this- if you only know how to play smash mouth corner back techniques and consistently allow recievers to get past your corners (even by 2 yards)then yes there will be a lot of yards after the catch. That is the whole point of the rule, to promote various styles of playing pass defense and to promote speed on the outside instead of smash mouth power (which I think is unrealistic).

Yes, I am aware it is about linemen, I did not mention angling the receiver after the catch, Geno first did and I was commenting on that!!

[jeff]

Since we are a league where we would rather err on the side of the offense , we allow the defense to have 1 more angle or motion than the offense. We cap the offense on 2 angles and the defense on 3 . This is the only area where we have given the defense the advantage.

[FrustratedFinFan]

I don't think Geno advocated angling the receiver after a catch....he was lobbying for another offensive player to be angled for a block. I think that is a great idea.

I think the angling of linemen would all be solved if we used strategy dividers. You can't see pre-snap angles there....and it forces one on one blocking match-ups....and that is realistic. You can still hit gaps. You just need to angle your guy or adjust his dial pre-snap. You don't get the luxury of peeking at the other coaches set or trying to look at the dials pre-snap. I like that.

[jeff]

We have set up clocks for both the offense and defense . If a coach tries to watch the other team set up their players , then most likely they will end up with a delay of game penalty .
We do allow lineman to be angled after a pass is completed , as long as the completed pass was completed behind the line of scrimmage .

[Geno H]

Originally Posted by Michigan Joe

Geno and Jeff- I would think you would want 3 pre snap angles if you allow lineman to be angles (and they count as an angle). This would allow you to set up more plays.

Shabby, this thread was supposed to be about lineman. However since you mentioned angling recievers after the catch then I will say this- if you only know how to play smash mouth corner back techniques and consistently allow recievers to get past your corners (even by 2 yards)then yes there will be a lot of yards after the catch. That is the whole point of the rule, to promote various styles of playing pass defense and to promote speed on the outside instead of smash mouth power (which I think is unrealistic).

Joe,
You are probably right 3 pre snap angles would make sense.
Your thought process on angling recievers is exactly like mine in the fact trying to promote a more cerebral pass defense.

Shabby,
I am aware of the technique of passing to redirect the reciever with the ball. The boys in the DFW do it very well. However I would like to see Coaches be pressed to be creative on defense to overcome this. So I am actually suggesting an offensive freindly rule to provoke the the defense to up thier level of play.

FinFan,
I would like the ability to throw a block.


Geno H