Bird Seed

[Brian]

Just gonna give you guys general observations not completely football related.

The other day I was leaving practice, crossing the road that the players use to get to the locker room. All of a sudden I see DRC climbing up out of this gulley he had no business being in. So I asked him "Hey! Dominique, what the heck were you doing down there?" His reply (and this was classic) "I was chasing chimpmunks." I wish all of you had the joy of watching this guy in camp. Just an extremely talented big kid.

Timmy was lining up against Steve Williams in 7 on 7's (I have no idea why). So Steve is getting set up along the sideline and Timmy "pants" him. Awesome. Then Timmy steps on his toes so Steve can't break off the LOS. Next down Timmy bends down and unties Steve's shoes. Just won't give the guy a break. Classic.

Fitz is catching passes streaking down the sideline. About the third route he catches the ball and is "finishing his run". No DB contact, just Larry running down the sideline. Well, it just so happens Kevin Spencer is standing on the sideline and BOOM, Larry just jams the ball into Kevin's gut. No warning, just full on gut check to the old man.

Today we were loading up the truck after practice and Tommie Robinson walks up, he asks if we were from Phoenix and if the kids got all of the sigs that they wanted. My older son said " I missed Greg Toler" so Coach Robinson gave me his personal number and said to call him after training camp so he could arrange it. Unbelievable. I will not call him but I thought the gesture was great. As he was walking off I yelled "Hey Coach!" He turned around and all he heard was me yelling "Beat San Fran!" He gave me a thumbs up and a smile and continued on his way.

Darnell and Joey won't shut up. That is all.

Fitz ran a 20 yard down and in. When he broke on the in, DRC got ALOT of Larry's jersey. Fitz was mad, DRC just laughed and said "All day baby, you know you can't beat me!"

Jay Feely is such a great guy. Talked with him for awhile. Can't get over how much that guy loves football.

Was talking to Wolfley, and out of nowhere this guy asks if Ron has any "extra" VIP passes so he can have one. Nice.

Speaking of idiots, I have never been to camp where there are more brain dead morons. I have heard the following:

"# 7 is cute, who is he?"

"Max Hall has no chance. Every ball he throws will be batted down" Never mind the fact that batted passes have more to do with quick release than anything.

Darnell! Darnell! Look over here!

Larry! Larry! look over here!

"Who is that number 9 out there?" (It's Adrian, as a tribute to his high school). The fact that he is lining up as the strong safety with the 1's should tip you off.

Herman Johnson evidently is quite large.

Coach Spencer is loud.

Anyway, the weather is amazing. 75-80 degrees is tough getting used to. The altitude is another thing. I get winded walking to the Durango.

Autograph ****** suck. If you are one, I hate you. No idea who you are talking to, just a number. "28....28...over here!" Idiots.

Early Doucet has a HUGE female posse.

Shane H hit me with a rock. Almost started a fight until I realized it was him. Shane....you suck.

That is all folks. Gonna hit Bearizona tomorrow. Head back down Saturday am.

P.S. Paul Calvisi has quite the porn stach going. It's sad really.

The other day I noticed John Clayton was there. I asked him what was up since ESPN had already done their Cards Camp report. Apparently he was doing an exclusive with Matt. Haven't found it yet on ESPN. Any input would help!!

 

[Shane]

It's to bad you turned around. Was coming in for the 2nd strike when you turned and saw me.

 

[kerouac9]

"Max Hall has no chance. Every ball he throws will be batted down" Never mind the fact that batted passes have more to do with quick release than anything.

Great post. I loved the stories.

But this doesn't make any sense. What does a quick release have to do with batted passes?

"Man, Dan Marino had so many passes batted down." Really?

Batted passes have to do with the QB not being able to his his release point over the hands of the defensive line, or his throwing motion being slow enough that opponents know that the ball's coming out and are able to get their hands up.

 

[Mitch]

The paragon here was Joe Montana. He was not a big QB per se, but Bill Walsh taught Montana how to shuffle his feet in the pocket to create clear passing lanes. Tom Brady is exceptionally good at this too. As a result...not too many batted passes.

 

[kerouac9]

The paragon here was Joe Montana. He was not a big QB per se, but Bill Walsh taught Montana how to shuffle his feet in the pocket to create clear passing lanes. Tom Brady is exceptionally good at this too. As a result...not too many batted passes.

Tom Brady's 6'4".

 

[Mitch]

Tom Brady's 6'4".

You're missing the point...no matter how tall the QB is, he often has to throw between trees...the vertical reach and jumps of 6'-5" DTs is well over 8 feet, sometimes 9 feet...even Peyton Manning has to slide his feet to create clear passing lanes.

 

[82CardsGrad]

The paragon here was Joe Montana. He was not a big QB per se, but Bill Walsh taught Montana how to shuffle his feet in the pocket to create clear passing lanes. Tom Brady is exceptionally good at this too. As a result...not too many batted passes.

The better comparison is Drew Brees...

 

[JeffGollin]

Sweet.

A StL Post Dispatch sportswriter once described his job as "taking the average fans into places they'd normally never get access to."

Shane and others have been giving us an inside peek at roster battles and what actual drills are like.

But "camp chemistry" and "what it's like to be there" is also an important part of the deal and, Brian, you definitely turned on the color and added HD and 3-D to our view of TC.

Loved every word. Thanx

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Shane H hit me with a rock. Almost started a fight until I realized it was him. Shane....you suck.

lol

 

[kerouac9]

You're missing the point...no matter how tall the QB is, he often has to throw between trees...the vertical reach and jumps of 6'-5" DTs is well over 8 feet, sometimes 9 feet...even Peyton Manning has to slide his feet to create clear passing lanes.

Joe Montana was 6'2". The question is whether or not there are trees that you can throw over, or do you always have to look for clear passing lanes (because if the DE/DT has to reach "up", it's harder than when they can reach "out"--and it takes more time).

If you don't think that it's a different set of circumstances for QBs like Drew Brees, Jeff Garcia, Doug Flutie, etc., then I don't know what to tell you. You can see it on film. Guys like Brees and Garcia either have to move much further laterally or oftentimes up toward the line of scrimmage to see where their targers are, much less find passing lanes that are wide enough to get the ball through. Brady and Manning will either "shuffle" or drop further back in the pocket because they can see where they'll be getting the ball and can throw it over-the-top and get over/around the defensive linemen.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

The paragon here was Joe Montana. He was not a big QB per se, but Bill Walsh taught Montana how to shuffle his feet in the pocket to create clear passing lanes. Tom Brady is exceptionally good at this too. As a result...not too many batted passes.

Tony Romo slides very well in the pocket.

 

[Brian]

Great post. I loved the stories.

But this doesn't make any sense. What does a quick release have to do with batted passes?

"Man, Dan Marino had so many passes batted down." Really?

Batted passes have to do with the QB not being able to his his release point over the hands of the defensive line, or his throwing motion being slow enough that opponents know that the ball's coming out and are able to get their hands up.

That is exactly my point. That's why I said quick release.

 

[kerouac9]

That is exactly my point. That's why I said quick release.

Because you meant "slow release"?

 

[Duckjake]

I seem to remember that 6'5" Kent Graham used to have a higher than normal number of his passed tipped at the LOS. But then its been awhile since he was around so I may be mistaken.

 

[40yearfan]

Because you meant "slow release"?

C'mon K9. Quit being such a stickler.

Great write-up Brian. I really appreciate the time you took to do this. I didn't have time to make the trip this year.

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Thanks, Brian! Great DRC story. (Going up middle of the week. Will be looking in gullies.)

 

[crisper57]

The other day I noticed John Clayton was there. I asked him what was up since ESPN had already done their Cards Camp report. Apparently he was doing an exclusive with Matt. Haven't found it yet on ESPN. Any input would help!!

Can't find a Matty interview, but here is Clayton's article from his camp visit.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5455742

 

[82CardsGrad]

Can't find a Matty interview, but here is Clayton's article from his camp visit.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp10/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5455742

Nice write-up by Dr. John!!

 

[Brian]

Because you meant "slow release"?

Yes. Re-reading my OP I realize I said it backwards. My point was having a quick release prevents balls from being batted down more than height does. Actually my point was how annoying it is watching practice and having to listen to the "experts".

I was 2/3rds through a bottle of Crown when I wrote it.

 

[kerouac9]

Yes. Re-reading my OP I realize I said it backwards. My point was having a quick release prevents balls from being batted down more than height does. Actually my point was how annoying it is watching practice and having to listen to the "experts".

I was 2/3rds through a bottle of Crown when I wrote it.

I agree with you that the "fans" in the stands are super-annoying because they don't know anything.

 

[Gee!]

Sweet.

A StL Post Dispatch sportswriter once described his job as "taking the average fans into places they'd normally never get access to."

Shane and others have been giving us an inside peek at roster battles and what actual drills are like.

But "camp chemistry" and "what it's like to be there" is also an important part of the deal and, Brian, you definitely turned on the color and added HD and 3-D to our view of TC.

Loved every word. Thanx

Yup.. Gotta say this was my favorite report from camp this year.. Thanks Brian... You POS..

 

[jw7]

Thanks, Going up middle of the week.

Well, take a memo pad and a pen and jot down notes and post a report!

You don't have to be an expert, just post what you see. We are always starving for camp reports.

 

[abomb]

Great stuff. Thanks Brian.