July 11, 2013 · 1:06 PM

The science behind whining

Doctors say Bielema and Saban could… maybe… possibly have a point about the physical risks of no-huddle offenses.

In related news, playing football can be hazardous to a player’s health.

25 Comments

Filed under Strategery And Mechanics, The Body Is A Temple

25 responses to “The science behind whining”

  1. Cojones
    July 11, 2013 at 1:23 PM

    No shit! The reasoning behind wishes and manipulation in the SEC takes another step forward whilst we begin to understand that some coaches are just human and childlike after all.

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  2. Rick
    July 11, 2013 at 3:33 PM

    I wanted to agree with you, but then I saw that they actually relate the risk to the central nervous system. Football is a tough sport, and forever will require participants to expect all manner of horrifying fractures, dislocations, etc….and I’m totally OK with athletes choosing to take on that risk.

    However, if a compelling case can be made that a rule change will have a measurable impact on reducing trauma to the brain or spine, it should be given very serious consideration, integrity of the game be f**ked. I’m not saying that case has been made here, but if it has then it doesn’t matter that Saban is accidentally on the right side.

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  3. Castleberry
    July 11, 2013 at 3:50 PM

    I’ve always been curious about the physical fitness of defensive linemen. Some of those guys are massive and strong but don’t look like they should expect to have much quality of life after age 40. If these coaches were really concerned about long-term player health and safety, I don’t think they can reasonably argue against a scheme that requires their kids to play a game for three or four minutes without substitution.

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    • Cojones
      July 12, 2013 at 12:51 PM

      Agreed. You would think that cardio and diet would be tops on their lists what with the high fat input to round out their O lines.

      I can’t get too upset about the thunder thighs and the added weight in these young men since reading an article many years ago concerning autopsies of troops killed in Vietnam . Findings demonstrated that a very high percentage had fatty deposits and buildup in their arteries even though they were considered in shape and having good diets (same age group and diets for CFB players). Genetics play into all our lives concerning cholesterol manufacture and deposition that we never have factored in by the medical profession.

      But they sure should be able to play longer without weakening. Boxers are in good shape to resist physical blows each round without weakening. Think of CFB players as boxers who have several good breaks during a round.

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  4. Mayor of Dawgtown
    July 11, 2013 at 4:34 PM

    I (for once) agree with Saban. The no-huddle as used by Oregon and others is a cheap trick meant to exhaust the D and get easy points. When players are exhausted they are more likely to get injured. If a team wants to play fast to get more offensive snaps in a game I’m fine with that as long as the D gets to substitute as much as they want. Otherwise, try playing “grown man football.” The real wimps are the Oregons of the world IMHO.

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    • Bulldawg165
      July 11, 2013 at 6:02 PM

      You act as if Oregon’s offensive players don’t have to do the same thing. How is it “grown man” football when someone has to slow down because his opponent is too out of shape to keep up?

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      • Castleberry
        July 11, 2013 at 7:50 PM

        This

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      • Mayor of Dawgtown
        July 11, 2013 at 11:48 PM

        Players on D expend more energy than players on O. That’s a fact. The Oregons of the world are trying to exploit that to get the D tired and score cheap points. That is the essence of their offensive philosophy.

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        • Bulldawg165
          July 12, 2013 at 9:01 AM

          How is it a fact? Show me an interview of a player that went both ways (swidt? 7th grade humor at its finest) and I want to hear them state that defense is more tiring than offense. I’d really prefer multiple sources confirming your statement but I know multiple instances of what I’m asking are unlikely to exist even if your statement is indeed true.

          What’s more likely is that Oregon’s offensive players are in better shape than the opposing D and therefore they aren’t as fatigued by the scheme. That’s a big difference.

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        • Castleberry
          July 12, 2013 at 9:09 AM

          Anyone who saw John Jenkins last year think he could jog half a mile without stopping? I’m just saying an offense that exploits this lack of fitness is not hazardous to someone’s health. Letting dudes get to 350 because you know you can run them on and off the field every five plays is worse for their health IMO.

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          • Bulldawg165
            July 12, 2013 at 10:35 AM

            Yep. The funny thing that people seem to ignore is that the offense has big linemen too, not just the defense. If they had little skinny boys on the OL then the defense would crush them and the high paced offense wouldn’t work because it would always be a 3 and out.

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    • AusDawg85
      July 11, 2013 at 6:26 PM

      Dear Woody Hayes,

      It’s 2013. Do you want to limit the fastbreak in basketball? Should we not put world-class sprinters at wide receiver? C’mon Mayor…its a cycle. CTG uses his 4-2-5 scheme to deal with it, and so will the pathetic Pac-12 teams once they learn to slow that Duck offense down. I would have liked our chances better last year against Oregon than Bama’s bruising duo at tailback that wore our front 7 down.

      …and you can always call a time-out on D.

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  5. Bryant Denny
    July 11, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    There’s a difference between a no-huddle and a hurry-up-to-the-line and get set so the D can’t sub and then the whole team turn back to the sideline for the play.

    My team does it occasionally, but I think this practice totally goes against the spirit of the game.

    I’m sure there is some science behind getting tired and succumbing to injury, but that also happens when the O slows it down and rams it down your throat.

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    • Bulldawg165
      July 12, 2013 at 9:02 AM

      Your last sentence, especially the second half of it, says all that needs to be said.

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    • Cojones
      July 12, 2013 at 1:06 PM

      Your first sentence should leave us all something to dwell on with this subject. Then again, it becomes the best and last designated set of players reentering the field of play from each side that determines the chance of success. We saw the confusion that creates as well when the O coach of one team is in the middle of a chess match with the opposing D coach. while trying to sub. There are so many fakes when substituting that we would be open-jawed to see them if we were on the sideline. Whichever side wins that war usually wins the play.

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      • Bryant Denny
        July 12, 2013 at 6:01 PM

        But you could also say offense has built in advantages via movement, shifting and going in motion before the snap.

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  6. WarD Eagle
    July 12, 2013 at 11:33 AM

    I assume Saban is cancelling the Georgia State and Chattanooga games where his OL likely outweighs their DL by 50-75 lbs.

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