November 15, 2007 - Sunshine and blue skies graced us
during our last outdoor practice. Of course, we did have our
tights, sweatshirts, and wool hats to protect us from the early
November chill. Football weather would be featured at our last 2007
practice in cleats and on the grass. It was also our biggest
turnout, and as a quarterback (and teammate) I was thrilled! The
rookies are bringing new people each week; and each time the faces
of the veterans who are present light up with excitement, but also
in relief!
We’ll be moving inside for
practices now that the weather has turned and the sun disappears
before some of us make it home from work in the evening, so put away
the cleats and lace up those cross-trainers. As a quarterback, I’m
looking forward to keeping my hands warm, but also staying loose
during the down-times of practice. Long gone are the days of
getting eaten by mosquitos at Frog Island Park! Get ready for floor
burns on your knees and ceiling lights in your eyes.
It’s exciting to see people’s
schedules clearing out and allowing them to be present at more
practices. Every time I look up I see someone new, whether she’s
coming at me from the defense, on the line in front of me
(protecting this pretty face!), behind me getting a hand-off, or
even snapping me the ball! The relationship between each person in
each position is unique. Who can I lead a little more because of
their speed? Who can handle a little more zip on the ball? Who can
go up and get the ball if I put it up for grabs? Who is the “2-back”
during which plays to maximize strengths? And who will scoop up a
low pass and have the agility to keep their balance to keep moving
downfield? Trying to form on-field relationships is a balance
between the quarterback and each person individually. They have to
learn my ways as well as I must learn theirs. If I get in trouble,
some people already know that I roll a certain way or look to a
certain person, or just tuck the ball and find some daylight.
In the pocket I don’t have to rush
my passes due to pressure coming from the defense. Our O-Line
allows me to relax and take the time to read the field. The
challenge that I have to work on is having “tunnel-vision.” The
ball gets snapped and I immediately go into “rush mode”; not seeing
defenders near my receivers; hesitating too long while someone is
open for a split-second, and by the time the ball gets there, it’s
too late. I know the more we practice with a defense the more I’ll
be able to “see” the play with new eyes. I’m glad these women are
on my side of the field, I wouldn’t want to play against them on
Saturday night.
Our daily lives are full with
school, work, family, etc… but on that field we come together to
talk about coverage assignments, lead blocking, pass routes, and
footwork! We may come from different backgrounds, different cities
– even different states – but when we put on our shoes and gloves,
we become one team. We are the Spitfire! We feel the loss when
someone is missing; we know we need each person to be a complete
team so we can move those sticks down field to another first and
ten!
From inside the (tackle) Box,
hoping your line protects you until next time!
~The Rookie Quarter-Boyce
