As high school football season beckons, tis the season for 7-on-7
matchups or taking a break before the calm reaches the storm.
matchups or taking a break before the calm reaches the storm.
Here in the Napa Valley, which is the North Bay region of San
Francisco in Northern California, season opening games for all six
high schools from American Canyon to the South to Calistoga to
the North get underway in earnest on the weekend of Aug. 16.
Francisco in Northern California, season opening games for all six
high schools from American Canyon to the South to Calistoga to
the North get underway in earnest on the weekend of Aug. 16.
In the interim, teams throughout the state and country frequently
engage in 7-on-7 matchups. It is similar to flag football and/or
two-hand touch. There is no offensive or defensive line. On
offense, there are quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and running
backs. Defensively, there are just linebackers and defensive backs.
On offense, you might employ a designated snapper.
engage in 7-on-7 matchups. It is similar to flag football and/or
two-hand touch. There is no offensive or defensive line. On
offense, there are quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and running
backs. Defensively, there are just linebackers and defensive backs.
On offense, you might employ a designated snapper.
There are theories that 7-on-7 football is the future given the
increasing concern adults have in terms of post concussion effects.
While I think 7-on-7 football can serve a purpose, I’m not ready to
make that grand proclamation yet. Call me an old school 46-year
old curmudgeon if you will but so be it. Having reached middle-aged,
I have discovered my cranky old man side for better or worse.
increasing concern adults have in terms of post concussion effects.
While I think 7-on-7 football can serve a purpose, I’m not ready to
make that grand proclamation yet. Call me an old school 46-year
old curmudgeon if you will but so be it. Having reached middle-aged,
I have discovered my cranky old man side for better or worse.
Though the participation numbers in football have dwindled
significantly, I still believe the sport will have a place but the
demographics will continue to change. For inner city kids, football
can serve as a way to deliver physical contact without getting in
trouble with the law. For kids that came from blue collar households,
because they are not averse to physical work, football can serve a
purpose. Plus, for all of the complaints about today’s youth and their
video game culture, people still love violence. You can debate
whether that is good or bad but it is there.
significantly, I still believe the sport will have a place but the
demographics will continue to change. For inner city kids, football
can serve as a way to deliver physical contact without getting in
trouble with the law. For kids that came from blue collar households,
because they are not averse to physical work, football can serve a
purpose. Plus, for all of the complaints about today’s youth and their
video game culture, people still love violence. You can debate
whether that is good or bad but it is there.
The upper and middle class, however, will likely continue to diminish.
For further insight, refer to this column:
For further insight, refer to this column:
Instead, I focus on the hot takery that comes from some that witness
7-on-7 events.
7-on-7 events.
When I was a sports reporter, I rarely covered 7-on-7 scrimmages
in person, unless they were being hosted locally, mainly because
they tell me very little. However, in the summertime when in need
of local copy for the newspaper, I was open to following up with the
coach to write a story.
in person, unless they were being hosted locally, mainly because
they tell me very little. However, in the summertime when in need
of local copy for the newspaper, I was open to following up with the
coach to write a story.
As a fan, I’ve been known to sneak in viewings of 7-on-7 involving
any of the six local high schools in the Napa Valley because I hope
to once again be involved in high school football coverage in the
fall for the Napa Valley Register. The only thing that would prevent
that is my own kids sports events/practices.
any of the six local high schools in the Napa Valley because I hope
to once again be involved in high school football coverage in the
fall for the Napa Valley Register. The only thing that would prevent
that is my own kids sports events/practices.
In a sense, I find it comical how people (coaches, parents, etc.) think
that the score of a 7-on-7 event is a reflection of how things may
transpire in a regular game in the fall. That theory is both
preposterous and a joke. For openers, there is no offensive and
defensive lines. There is simply a clock to blow the play dead after
say four seconds as opposed to an outside linebacker to pulverize
the quarterback.
that the score of a 7-on-7 event is a reflection of how things may
transpire in a regular game in the fall. That theory is both
preposterous and a joke. For openers, there is no offensive and
defensive lines. There is simply a clock to blow the play dead after
say four seconds as opposed to an outside linebacker to pulverize
the quarterback.
Though rules continue to get made to benefit the offense, receivers
catch passes knowing they will not get lit up like a Roman Candle.
catch passes knowing they will not get lit up like a Roman Candle.
The cynical side of me came out in my six years of covering the
Oakland Raiders as a freelance writer for a fan magazine, titled
Silver & Black Illustrated. Why so cynical? Because when covering
mini-camp and training camp, you feel like a total desperado. Oh
that sixth round draft pick made a one-handed catch against that
undrafted free agent. Take note.
Oakland Raiders as a freelance writer for a fan magazine, titled
Silver & Black Illustrated. Why so cynical? Because when covering
mini-camp and training camp, you feel like a total desperado. Oh
that sixth round draft pick made a one-handed catch against that
undrafted free agent. Take note.
Then there was the time that I was in complete awe. It was 2001,
the 49ers released Jerry Rice after 16 years in a salary cap move
and signed with the Raiders, who had Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.
I remember consecutive plays, one with Rice and the other with
Brown, where quarterback Rich Gannon threw a pass near the
sideline where either the receiver could catch it or no one could.
What do I remember? Watching two feet go “tap, tap” with
centimeters to spare in-bounds. Fellow media members turned
toward each other and asked, “My goodness, did we really see
that in person?” You came away amazed at how guys like Rice
and Brown worked so maniacally at their craft.
the 49ers released Jerry Rice after 16 years in a salary cap move
and signed with the Raiders, who had Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.
I remember consecutive plays, one with Rice and the other with
Brown, where quarterback Rich Gannon threw a pass near the
sideline where either the receiver could catch it or no one could.
What do I remember? Watching two feet go “tap, tap” with
centimeters to spare in-bounds. Fellow media members turned
toward each other and asked, “My goodness, did we really see
that in person?” You came away amazed at how guys like Rice
and Brown worked so maniacally at their craft.
So what can you take away from viewing a 7-on-7 event as it
translates to when teams don the full pads? Is the quarterback
making the right reads? Are receivers catching the ball? Are
defenders using the right coverage techniques? Most of all,
regardless of position, do they know and execute their
assignments? Why is all of this significant? If they are having
trouble in 7-on-7, they will probably have trouble when it’s
11-on-11.
translates to when teams don the full pads? Is the quarterback
making the right reads? Are receivers catching the ball? Are
defenders using the right coverage techniques? Most of all,
regardless of position, do they know and execute their
assignments? Why is all of this significant? If they are having
trouble in 7-on-7, they will probably have trouble when it’s
11-on-11.
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