[CBFF] Muscle Memory and True Instinct

[Jim Ferolie]

The plays, yes. But avoiding the rush is responding to a broken play, and 
that comes down to instinct and quick thinking.

I think Tom's analysis was spot-on.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dwayne" <dwayne at wctc.net>


> Tom,
> Is it not Turners job, to recognize what the defense is doing, and play 
> call
> accordingly?
>
> (Not giving, ot taking credit from Rex)
> D
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Shannon" <tshanno at gmail.com>
>
>
>> When Rex Grossman began his first full year as a starting QB in 2006, the
>> one thing that impressed me the most was his ability to move in the
> pocket.
>> Grossman had a gift for stepping up right before the rush got to him and
>> delivering the ball.  It was something that we hadn't seen in a Bear
>> quarterback in a long time.  It had been so long that I interpreted it as
>> something it wasn't - the true instincts of an NFL quarterback.
>>
>> Unfortunately, like most players in the NFL, opposing coaches eventually
>> figured Grossman out.  It became common knowledge that if they brought
>> pressure up the middle and didn't allow him to step up, Grossman would
> panic
>> because he wouldn't know what to do.  This single flaw was a large part 
>> of
>> the reason why the latter part of Grossman's season was literally ruined
> and
>> the Bears were forced to rely more on a strong defense to win football
>> games.
>>
>> To the credit of the Bear coaches, this problem was recognized by them, 
>> as
>> well.  In order to combat it, they brought in Pep Hamilton as the new
>> quarterback coach.  From the day Hamilton arrived we heard two words over
>> and over again.  "Muscle memory".  Hamilton planned to drill and drill
>> Grossman in the lateral movements necessary to avoid that pesky pass rush
> up
>> the middle.  This actually worked.  The great thing about "muscle memory"
> is
>> that your brains can be in your biceps.  Even before Grossman was 
>> benched,
>> his movement in (and out of) the pocket was noticeably better.  This has
>> been a valuable area of improvement in a season which has not been as 
>> good
>> to him in other ways.
>>
>> Unfortunately (again) the NFL does not remain static.  Coaches are
>> constantly adjusting and Grossman's improvement was duly noted.   Along
> came
>> the New York Giants who, having watched the film, adjusted yet again.
> Thus
>> we observe the problem with "muscle memory".  They started bringing the
> pass
>> rush from the outside where Grossman, with all that "muscle memory"
> stuffed
>> inside his skull, stepped right into it.
>>
>> Grossman now enters a critical cross roads on Thursday against the
>> Washington Redskins.  Head coach Joe Gibbs and assistant defensive head
>> coach Gregg Williams are not dumb.  Even given the funeral shortened week
>> they're going to know what the Giants did and they're going to do it
> again.
>> The question is, can Grossman adjust to the outside rush and, inevitably
>> when its necessary, adjust back when teams pressure up the middle.  In
> other
>> words, will he be able to adjust to the game situation on a play-by-play
>> basis.
>>
>> If Grossman can actually do this, I'll consider it to be a tremendously
> good
>> sign.  The reason is that it will require a bit more than "memory" with
>> "muscle".  This will require "thought" with "brain".  It will require the
>> ability to use a very small part of his brain to sense and move away from
>> the rush - wherever it is coming from - and at the same time to use the
> rest
>> to concentrate on what is going on down field.  In other words, it will
>> require true instincts that only genuine NFL quarterbacks have.
>>
>> If the thoughts and responses are there and are quick enough, it may mean
>> that the Bears have a real quarterback on their hands.  If, on the other
>> hand, they are not there or if the thoughts occupy too much brain space
> and
>> don't allow concentration on other things going on around him, the Bears
> are
>> once again starting over at the most important position on the field.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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