Todd Archer: Camp's abuzz about anti-sack device
'Throw it, throw it!' of Parcells replaced by high-tech QB reminder
The air horn-on-a-timer being operated by assistant equipment manager Bucky Buchanan is designed to train quarterbacks not to hold the ball beyond 2.5 seconds.
OXNARD, Calif. – During his rookie year in New England, Drew Bledsoe remembers hearing Bill Parcells in his sleep. Every time Bledsoe would drop back in practice, he'd have Parcells in his ear saying, "Throw it, throw it, throw it."
Now, 13 years later, with plenty of technological advances, Parcells is still saying, "Throw it, throw it, throw it," but the Cowboys have added a megaphone-like contraption to the practice field the last two days.
The squawk box is designed to make the quarterbacks get rid of the ball in a timely fashion. Assistant equipment manager Bucky Buchanan stands a few yards behind the line of scrimmage, and when the ball is snapped, he hits a button.
The quarterback has 2.5 seconds to get rid of the ball before the buzzer goes off.
"Don't even ask me about it," said Bledsoe, coming off the practice field.
Bledsoe was sacked 49 times last year, the fourth time in the last five years he was sacked more than 40 times in a season. He has long been criticized for holding on to the ball too long, and it's something Parcells has harped on since they came together in 1993.
Bledsoe admits he holds on to the ball longer than most in an effort to make the big play.
With receivers such as Terry Glenn, Eric Moulds, Shawn Jefferson, Peerless Price, Keyshawn Johnson and now Terrell Owens to throw to, that makes sense, but the offensive line must give him more than 2.5 seconds to throw this year.
Bledsoe was sacked nine times in the first four games before left tackle Flozell Adams was lost for the year with a knee injury, which put him on pace to be sacked 36 times.
In the final five games last season, Bledsoe was sacked 25 times and sometimes had little chance to get throws off.
Parcells said he used something similar when he was with the New York Giants, but he has not seen the quarterbacks holding on to the ball too long since training camp started.
"Don't make this too complicated, OK?" Parcells said.
It's more of an emphasis tool, according to quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer. Part of it is to get the ball off quickly. Part of it is to have the quarterbacks speed up their five- and seven-step drops.
In Wednesday's morning practice, Bledsoe, Tony Romo and Drew Henson had just one throw apiece that came after the buzzer in the team and seven-on-seven drills. All three had at least one throw that came as the buzzer went off. Most of the throws went well before the buzzer sounded.
Romo almost sounded unaware of the device.
"Oh yeah, that thing that goes off? Yeah, that's real fun," Romo said. "You don't think about it when you're out there. Really, for me, it's like the crowd. You don't even think about it. I think it just gives Bill something to yell at you about."
The air horn-on-a-timer being operated by assistant equipment manager Bucky Buchanan is designed to train quarterbacks not to hold the ball beyond 2.5 seconds.
OXNARD, Calif. – During his rookie year in New England, Drew Bledsoe remembers hearing Bill Parcells in his sleep. Every time Bledsoe would drop back in practice, he'd have Parcells in his ear saying, "Throw it, throw it, throw it."
Now, 13 years later, with plenty of technological advances, Parcells is still saying, "Throw it, throw it, throw it," but the Cowboys have added a megaphone-like contraption to the practice field the last two days.
The squawk box is designed to make the quarterbacks get rid of the ball in a timely fashion. Assistant equipment manager Bucky Buchanan stands a few yards behind the line of scrimmage, and when the ball is snapped, he hits a button.
The quarterback has 2.5 seconds to get rid of the ball before the buzzer goes off.
"Don't even ask me about it," said Bledsoe, coming off the practice field.
Bledsoe was sacked 49 times last year, the fourth time in the last five years he was sacked more than 40 times in a season. He has long been criticized for holding on to the ball too long, and it's something Parcells has harped on since they came together in 1993.
Bledsoe admits he holds on to the ball longer than most in an effort to make the big play.
With receivers such as Terry Glenn, Eric Moulds, Shawn Jefferson, Peerless Price, Keyshawn Johnson and now Terrell Owens to throw to, that makes sense, but the offensive line must give him more than 2.5 seconds to throw this year.
Bledsoe was sacked nine times in the first four games before left tackle Flozell Adams was lost for the year with a knee injury, which put him on pace to be sacked 36 times.
In the final five games last season, Bledsoe was sacked 25 times and sometimes had little chance to get throws off.
Parcells said he used something similar when he was with the New York Giants, but he has not seen the quarterbacks holding on to the ball too long since training camp started.
"Don't make this too complicated, OK?" Parcells said.
It's more of an emphasis tool, according to quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer. Part of it is to get the ball off quickly. Part of it is to have the quarterbacks speed up their five- and seven-step drops.
In Wednesday's morning practice, Bledsoe, Tony Romo and Drew Henson had just one throw apiece that came after the buzzer in the team and seven-on-seven drills. All three had at least one throw that came as the buzzer went off. Most of the throws went well before the buzzer sounded.
Romo almost sounded unaware of the device.
"Oh yeah, that thing that goes off? Yeah, that's real fun," Romo said. "You don't think about it when you're out there. Really, for me, it's like the crowd. You don't even think about it. I think it just gives Bill something to yell at you about."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:02 PM
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