Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Communication 101: The Verbal System

The verbal system is really not a system of its own.  It is usually part of either the symbol or numeric systems already discussed.  In many cases, the coach well tell (yell) a coded play to a player (usually the QB) who will in turn relay that message to the rest of the team.  This is similar to the way many huddle teams run, with the only change being the QB telling the play from the backfield.  
Pros:
  1. Easy - Literally the easiest way to go no huddle.  If your verbage is coded than you can be no huddle tomorrow with the system.
  2. Clear Message - All players are getting the same information from the same source.  No signal confusion.  QB will have a smaller chance of misinterpreting the play.
Cons:  
  1. Restricts Speed - Some would argue that very little is gained in this system because there is still an intermediary handling the play on the field.  In my opinion, it is at least a step in the right direction.
  2. Can Be Picked Up - Without detailed verbage that is nondescript, it may be possible for a defense to catch on to what is being called.  
Again, this is a good start but probably not a final answer.  Many huddle teams will even use this approach for the 2 minute drill when they need to save a few seconds.  It is the most simple to quickly employ and can work well for huddle teams to change the pace.  

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