The Box Giveth and the Box Tooketh Away:The Jim Davis Story

[Reginald Rutledge]

"The Box" has been a part of the DFW League since it's existence. There have been many myths about "The Box" from it taking up too much time to things happening on every play. Now what happened up in the BAM with "Dicegate" only lends to the myths that are already perpetuated about "The Box".

Most of you probably don't know that "The Box" was brought to me by Roddy Garcia, one of the early innovators to trying to offer some type of realism to the game. For the longest, I played the game without any element of chance. Games were perfect. The only imperfection came with my inability to to hit my man and somehow hit a player from another team. But when I introduced this to the DFW in 1995, it came with great opposition.

It was frustrating getting the people here to understand that chance and luck is a part of sports. Well, over the years, guys became more in tune with that element of the game. Now, they can not live without it. We've played one game in 14 years without it and the two guys who played in that game felt a certain sense of boredom.

I've always been a recruiter of Road Warriors to things that I do. I love to bring good guys in to Texas and extend a bit of hospitality. In 2007 and 2008, I asked two guys to come here who would be limited from a disability standpoint. Both came in opposite years to play in the Shootout style. A rule, which was revised from my childhood, was put into play again concerning passing with "The Box".

One coach decided to go in a different direction. The other, Jim Davis, decided to play with "The Box". For passing, "The Box" simulated completion percentages based on yardage. The interception and incompletion elements are in there as well. I watched Jim Davis play Norbert Revels to halftime using the pass box. I could tell Norby was a little frustrated because of how Norbert was playing Jim. But Norby, being a good sport, went with it. I think he was losing 21-14 at the half. The had to stop that game because of time constraints. Norbert and I have never talked about that game since.

Fastforward to this years playoffs and Jim Davis, known for being a power coach, has Michael Robertson on the ropes. Michael is swearing over the fairness of the pass box. Jim Davis is shaking "with a smile". Guys are debating whether it works or not. I am using the now famous "It is what it is" line with other coaches justifying that it will eventually work at. By the time I left the game, Jim Davis had a two touchdown lead on Michael R. It was not half when I left.

The rate of plays for this football game was going at something like 60 plays in the opening half. That would amount to nearly 120 plays at the end of game! Fast forward to the 4th quarter and I am talking to Don Hudson and I hear, " D A M N, I've just thrown my 3rd pick" uttered by Jim Davis! At that point, I think Mike was ready to go in on a score to take a 31-21 lead. By game's end, Jeasy was exhausted, ********ed off, but loving the element of the box. Now we do know the brother can stand up and throw but for me, it ain't even about that! For what it would take Jim to stand up, move around the board in an uncomfortable manner, and then try to throw the ball, just did not seem fair to me. So this method was introduced. Jim took full advantage of it against Mike (as well he should). But by the end of the day, the method proved to work well. Jim was something like 17-27-320 yards and 3 interceptions! All crucial interceptions in crunch time. I did see him score right before the half and go up on Mike with the shake of the box and that was demoralizing for Mike. But like great champions, he battled back.

And as everything ended, Jim and I had a chance to reflect on the pass box. I told him he needed to come up with any suggestion to make it more fair to all concern. In his opinion, he felt the percentages were fair. "The Box" gaveth and "The Box" tooketh away. JEasy was probably the right person to do this because he is one of the truly outstanding coaches in the game who could easily get lulled into thinking "The Box" was his friend on every play. He started gambling too much and his luck changed!

The CBSMF will have the box in full force for coaches who have a physical disability. We want them to compete in a fast-paced manner and the simple shake of the box gives us immediate results on completions, incompletions, and interceptions. So thanks JEasy for playing with the box and providing much needed information on it's merits. It gave and took indiscriminately.

Reg

[RPD]

Originally Posted by Reginald Rutledge

"The Box" has been a part of the DFW League since it's existence. There have been many myths about "The Box" from it taking up too much time to things happening on every play. Now what happened up in the BAM with "Dicegate" only lends to the myths that are already perpetuated about "The Box".

Most of you probably don't know that "The Box" was brought to me by Roddy Garcia, one of the early innovators to trying to offer some type of realism to the game. For the longest, I played the game without any element of chance. Games were perfect. The only imperfection came with my inability to to hit my man and somehow hit a player from another team. But when I introduced this to the DFW in 1995, it came with great opposition.

It was frustrating getting the people here to understand that chance and luck is a part of sports. Well, over the years, guys became more in tune with that element of the game. Now, they can not live without it. We've played one game in 14 years without it and the two guys who played in that game felt a certain sense of boredom.

I've always been a recruiter of Road Warriors to things that I do. I love to bring good guys in to Texas and extend a bit of hospitality. In 2007 and 2008, I asked two guys to come here who would be limited from a disability standpoint. Both came in opposite years to play in the Shootout style. A rule, which was revised from my childhood, was put into play again concerning passing with "The Box".

One coach decided to go in a different direction. The other, Jim Davis, decided to play with "The Box". For passing, "The Box" simulated completion percentages based on yardage. The interception and incompletion elements are in there as well. I watched Jim Davis play Norbert Revels to halftime using the pass box. I could tell Norby was a little frustrated because of how Norbert was playing Jim. But Norby, being a good sport, went with it. I think he was losing 21-14 at the half. The had to stop that game because of time constraints. Norbert and I have never talked about that game since.

Fastforward to this years playoffs and Jim Davis, known for being a power coach, has Michael Robertson on the ropes. Michael is swearing over the fairness of the pass box. Jim Davis is shaking "with a smile". Guys are debating whether it works or not. I am using the now famous "It is what it is" line with other coaches justifying that it will eventually work at. By the time I left the game, Jim Davis had a two touchdown lead on Michael R. It was not half when I left.

The rate of plays for this football game was going at something like 60 plays in the opening half. That would amount to nearly 120 plays at the end of game! Fast forward to the 4th quarter and I am talking to Don Hudson and I hear, " D A M N, I've just thrown my 3rd pick" uttered by Jim Davis! At that point, I think Mike was ready to go in on a score to take a 31-21 lead. By game's end, Jeasy was exhausted, ********ed off, but loving the element of the box. Now we do know the brother can stand up and throw but for me, it ain't even about that! For what it would take Jim to stand up, move around the board in an uncomfortable manner, and then try to throw the ball, just did not seem fair to me. So this method was introduced. Jim took full advantage of it against Mike (as well he should). But by the end of the day, the method proved to work well. Jim was something like 17-27-320 yards and 3 interceptions! All crucial interceptions in crunch time. I did see him score right before the half and go up on Mike with the shake of the box and that was demoralizing for Mike. But like great champions, he battled back.

And as everything ended, Jim and I had a chance to reflect on the pass box. I told him he needed to come up with any suggestion to make it more fair to all concern. In his opinion, he felt the percentages were fair. "The Box" gaveth and "The Box" tooketh away. JEasy was probably the right person to do this because he is one of the truly outstanding coaches in the game who could easily get lulled into thinking "The Box" was his friend on every play. He started gambling too much and his luck changed!

The CBSMF will have the box in full force for coaches who have a physical disability. We want them to compete in a fast-paced manner and the simple shake of the box gives us immediate results on completions, incompletions, and interceptions. So thanks JEasy for playing with the box and providing much needed information on it's merits. It gave and took indiscriminately.

Reg

Indeed,
I refed that game and the box oh so turned on Jim in the 2nd have.

RD

[Jim Davis]

MIKE R. VS JIM D. IN THE DFW PLAY-OFFS

1ST QT MIKE 14 - JIM O
2ND QT MIKE O - JIM 14
AT THE HALF MIKE 14 - JIM 14
3RD QT MIKE O - JIM 7
4TH QT MIKE 17 JIM O
FINAL MIKE 31 - JIM 21

YOU LIVE BY THE BOX AND YOU CAN GET KILLED BY THE BOX.
IN THE 4TH QT 2 INT'S ,AND ONE TD CALLED BACK BY A PENALTY.
ALL IN ALL YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THE SHAKING OF THE BOX IS GOING TO SHAKE.

PS I LOVE THE BOX

[Ned Flanders]

Reg, can you send me the details on the box works for passing? I use passing sticks now but I'm always open to new ideas. eby.jeff@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Reginald Rutledge]

Barry and Jim Davis because they may have some perspectives on re-tweaking the pass box to encompass other scenarios. I was talking with RD yesterday on some very nice suggestions to the pass box in that certain other elements would have to be accounted for.

Very fine observations and for you Coach Ned Flanders, this would be great because it would not be difficult. For you, you would not even have to go through the formality of getting up and putting the sticks down.

Jim Davis seemed to love this method a lot (until it bit him in the booty). Then, he felt the risk of the box not always working in his favor. As a matter of fact, Jim and I just got through talking about the box and it was great to see one of the best use the box and not feel that it was "cheesy" but instead, a viable means to keep the game flowing and still compete at a very high level.

Yes, I will get that information to you and I hope Barry is reading this and he can send you version 5.1. A version 5.2 (enhancement) will be used in the CBSMF as we tweak the rule on this.

Reg

[artlax]

Jim was using the box a lot?

I assume that his run game got shut down to some degree?

[RPD]

Originally Posted by artlax

Jim was using the box a lot?

I assume that his run game got shut down to some degree?

You are correct on both counts. Jim went from smiling in the first half to being real outspoken as he seemed to be scolding the box to put it mildly in the 2nd half. Jim's running game was not as effective in this game as it had been during the season. Oh that little " BOX " it can be a pain in your behind side but you just have to love it. That particular box was used in my game against Hudson, in Hudson's game against Mike, and in Mike's game against Jim. This box was quite active as it caused 11 turnovers in these 3 games. It defenitely had a key role in the outcome of all 3 of these games, and it brings an element of realism as well. ******** Thing That Box!!!!

[WEIRDWOLF]

So it really is a MF box!

[Reginald Rutledge]

The DFW does allow stacking and that sometimes nullifies the running game but any great strategist or coach will tell you, if the pass is open, TAKE IT! And Jim did! I was not watching the game but if Jim gains 3 or 4 yards per carry, he is doing okay.

Mike had a stout defense but in this style of play, you can't stop everything and you have to use forms of containment. That's what happens! When I was watching, Jim was gaining 2 yards here, 7 yards here, 3 yards here, but he was also put in some 3rd and whatever situations where he had to pass the ball.

I do think that the defensive players that Mike had were FF. Net players and Jim Davis bases so he matched him for strength in a lot of cases. However, it did take Mike knowing Jim's strategies and having the right defensive techniques to stop Jim on the run.

That's why the pass dice worked to perfection for Jim. Yall act like because Jim did not gain 20 yards here, 20 yards there, that takes away from his manhood or testostone! To me, it tells me how brilliant of a coach Jim was not to run when the deck was stacked to stop the run.

You've got to give Mike props on understanding the right things to use to be effective in stopping a high powered running game. But you could also see the frustrations of a coach when you've got the run stopped and the offense goes to the air for big yardage. Mike then had to start playing less aggressively on the run defense and start playing more nickel and dime coverages. Jim was the perfect person to use the pass box because he was such an outstanding running where Mike had to account for both run and pass with equal respect.

It was a great game from what I heard. I did not stay to watch the game much but I would call and get updates. It was back and forth for a while and I have no doubt, when Jim masters this style all the way, he will definitely be one of the top contenders to win. In the CBSMF, he has to be one of the favorites because the more comfortable he gets with the rules and play styles, the tougher he will become.

But yes, I wish I could have used the box to pass! I've got a handicap of speech and the box is meant for disabilities. I probably would have been playing Mike for the title as I could not hit the broad side of a barn against Barry in Lincoln Financial Stadium!

Reg

[TVsCHACHI]

Can anyone choose to use the box, with or without a disability?