Those poor t-shirts and shorts. Never in the history of man has a cotton-constructed combination been scrutinized with such reckless slander. Okay, so maybe that’s a little much to create the illusion of an ongoing conflict between human beings and articles of clothing, but since the sarcasm font is busted on the ole’ typewriting thingamabobber we’ve got to pull out all the wrinkles in the playbook to get the point across.
Is it already time for some much needed sympathy for a contest that’s basically been reduced (to the lay person) as a backyard game of touch on fleek? Well, perhaps. Often times when things go south, you can look north to find the silver-lining if you have faith in that sort of approach.
We tend to think that with all of the cloudiness that’s casted over the current climate in the summer circuit, it’s time to remind everyone why this format should be kept in its proper perspective. We are not going to try and fool you into thinking that we are of the mindset that 7-on-7’s determine success in the fall. In fact, let’s be upfront before this list even gets started. We believe 7-on’s are just ONE piece to the puzzle, but we also believe the size of the puzzle piece and the ability to fit it into the bigger picture is gaining rapidly in its priority whether we like or not.
Here now are 23 reasons off the top of our heads why we believe this summer madness should be more like summer gladness if it’s properly placed in a perspective that will empower the entire squad for the fall.
1. 7-on’s are NOT a predictor of who’s going to win rings…
This will ALWAYS come first. Teams that do the most talking about championships in the summer often are the same ones that cannot make it past ten games in a season, let alone past the first round of the playoffs. We already tried to establish the premise that this isn’t about championing a cause that should be the sole determination for success. We aren’t suggesting this is the determining factor for rankings, both team or individual. These games are essentially helping the minds of players, coaches (AND MEDIA!) stay as fresh as the body. At the end of the day, this is ALL about the time period of August thru December. Always and forever will be. The period of May thru July is simply the verification that this is a year-round job for all intents and purposes. It’s simply padded season vs. non-padded season at this point. There’s nothing OFF about the offseason anymore.
2. Whether the pads are on or not, you still have to process and problem-solve…
It doesn’t matter if you are the size of a dump truck or a Formula-One race car, in this game you still have to be able to process information quickly and problem-solve accordingly whether you’ve got seven guys in a formation or eleven. These formats give coaches and players an opportunity to work on this insanely important variable during a period in which the wins and losses aren’t in front of hundreds, if not thousands of people on Friday Nights along with the idea that a coach may not have an occupation the next morning if the records and progressions aren’t working. These tournaments are “supposed” to show what needs to be done in the film room and classroom as much as they are in the weight room and beyond.
3. Knowing the situation…
This is an expansion on process/problem-solving. Once the coaches determine what they’ve got to lineup, they can use the 7-on’s to train their players how to understand the situation and build that mental muscle-memory as strong as the muscles on the outside. Good teams in the fall generally have guys that excel in this aspect. It’s one of the things that crossover as a causation with correlation that proper understanding of situations from the players and coaches usually make for properly-oiled machines come the fall. Of course, experience plays a factor in this equation, but keep asking yourself why is this format so important again? For the very reason 7-on’s help experienced teams keep their skills sharp, the same skills go eventually from foreign to subconscious with the youthful squads because of the work they get during the summers.
4. Decisions, decisions, decisions…
Simply put. This format is much easier to digest when making mistakes in the summer than in the fall when the stakes are exponentially higher. The 7-on’s can give coaches a MUCH quicker indication of where their players’ mind and bodies are at and give them some time to adjust accordingly. These formats are designed to help players such as QB’s understand situational awareness in terms of taking what defenses gives them along with clock management. The things that get you beat in the fall can easily help you win if worked on properly during this time period.
5. Competition…
During the summer, this is directed at the weekly passing leagues versus the tournaments because during the fall? It all counts. It’s easy to get fired up for a Tuesday or Wednesday night round-robin run around in the heat. It’s a different thing to lineup and do it when there’s trophies and whatever else might be on the line. You can really get a gauge for teams that are bringing that “dawg” to the park everyday versus the ones that are most comfortable when there are no winners and losers and everyone gets a trophy. You don’t need pads to see this concept in action and cultivated.
6. Athleticism…
It’s almost self-explanatory what this format does for speed and agility. Granted, these two things are changed up slightly when the pads come on. That’s actually science. Now, as far as the philosophical side of things goes working on speed and agility in 7-on’s means working on quick bursts, moving in small spaces and change of direction.
7. Mechanics and techniques…
7-on’s give coaches many opportunities to work on these things whether it’s offensive or defensive. Granted, there’s much more traffic on the field; the speed is twice as fast and the consequences are numerous on Friday’s. We’ve said it a thousand times already, this format is about the mental as much as it is about the physical. The physical side gets worked-on significantly in terms of timing and release for QB’s in this format however and when it comes to this kind of chemistry between the QB’s/WR’s that can often times point back to when the summer was in full-swing that the experiment in the lab was a success. This is where DB’s/WR’s/LB’s learn to sharpen or even begin to mold their skills with getting off the LOS or being able to fight through jams, or perhaps apply those jams and redirections. This is also where you learn to make your body work smarter, not harder in many ways as well.
8. Timing and cohesiveness…
Briefly mentioned, the chemistry between QB/WR is one of the reasons 7-on’s can be extremely effective and why we care about them. There’s chemistry to be developed on both sides of the ball between all the units, but when it comes to a QB knowing where his receiver is going to be without having to look for him is quite the luxury. It’s much easier said than the done obviously, but 7-on’s are an integral part of developing this chemistry. There’s no doubt about that. You cannot simulate the right conditions in your backyard even though you can play this game in your backyard. Understand?
9. Reads and responsibilities…
7-on’s work tirelessly through repetition on this concept. Where are you supposed to be in the formation? Is it man or zone coverage? How many more questions do you think you can answer with time running down on the play clock and everyone in the entire world is screaming at you? The answers may never come if a players has never been in situations like this. Over and over the snaps provide opportunities for players to sharpen themselves mentally just as much physically.
10. How do you handle the grind?
Speaking of the mental part. There’s a conditioning aspect to this format that allows the physical and mental sides to mesh as one. How well do you handle playing eight games in the span of a day in 100-degree heat? How well do you handle playing those games when you’re not getting the ball or getting frustrated by an opposing team? Basically, can you block out the nonsense that creeps in during adversity and continue to grind when Mother NAture, the refs and even your teammates are playing against you it seems? Coaches (and players) would rather figure out what they’re working with during the summer than experience total anarchy during the fall when things get real.
11. Route-running and spacing…
7-on’s work this vital concept for the receivers, running backs and for defensive players covering them constantly during the summers and as we’ve mentioned all along this is about teaching how to get it done while being afforded to make the adjustments instantly versus not being afforded that instantaneous luxury in the fall. Different defensive sets dictate the routes and whether or not they will need to be changed. Running endless reps during the summer helps them recognize and work on this concept.
12. Alignment and assignment…
Just as the WR’s must adjust their routes with what the defense is giving them, the defense must recognize that the opposing teams’ offensive coaching staff has done their homework and can beat whatever coverage they’re in. Defensive coaching staffs work with their LB’s/DB’s in 7-on’s to recognize the same things in reverse and make the same pre-snap adjustments. This concept MUST be worked on whether the pads are on or not. Why not do it in a 7-on format?
13. Formation recognition…
What can you expect to get from a formation you’re playing against? This may sound like it’s repeating #’s 12-13, but once you get those concepts going, you can throw this one into the mix and really start to open up the minds (and hopefully light up the scoreboards). The 7-on’s give coaches on teams whether good or bad the chance to show their players what advantages and disadvantages lie in the cards when a play is run out of certain formations. This format works to help players that learn by “doing” rather than just “watching” on film.
14. Communication…
Duh. The 7-on’s help teams improve the communication before, during and after the play to teammates about what is happening on the field. We don’t think this needs to be explained any further. In case you wondering, communication doesn’t change in its degree of difficulty during the summer versus the fall. You simply have to figure out a way to relay information efficiently. The summer is where you work on that.
15. Cover skills…
Simply put…it doesn’t take pads to be able to guard a man.
16. Explosiveness…
We love the 7-on’s because the one thing we can get a decent estimate for is the amount of explosiveness in a player. Especially when it comes to seeing how high a receiver can get off the ground vertically or how fast and aggressive can he get down the field off the line of scrimmage.
17. QB arm strength and touch…
You don’t need the pads to work on this concept and the 7-on’s help the quarterbacks achieve this. Granted, a 7-on tournament can’t physically lift weights for a player…since it’s…you know, not a human being, but the “touch” part of this equation is perhaps one of THE MOST important aspects to be perfected for the signal-callers.
18. Pass drops…
Working on catching passes if your a defender might be just as important as if you’re a member of the receiving corps. In fact, 7-on’s are paramount for LB’s and DE’s trying to get that good work with their hands since they don’t exactly face a team that throws EVERY SINGLE DOWN. Don’t need pads to work on being a better pass catcher whether on the defense or on the offense.
19. Ball skills…
An extension of dropping and catching passes, but also simply put in the category of, “you don’t need pads” to work on those concepts.
20. Passing concepts…
Needless to say passing concepts between QB’s/WR’s versus various defenses is something that 7-on’s are extremely vital for in this day and age. Once again, it may be physical in nature, but it’s just as much mental.
21. Adjustments…
Not to your jock strap, or your chin strap, or the nine-thousand articles of clothing your wearing in heat that could cook eggs and bacon. But to ALL the pre-, present and post-snap activities along with the most important one of them all. If it all goes wrong, how will you handle it? Adjusting and answering that question gets worked on whether its summer or fall.
22. Substitution and personnel groupings…
7-on’s work players on the defensive side of the ball in their base, nickel and dime packages. These all have distinct substitution patterns and can lead to communication nightmares if several things aren’t happening. Fortunately, most of that stuff can get handled and worked on tirelessly during the summer months at these events. The same thing goes for the offensive side of the ball.
23. FINALLY?
We love these events because they break up the boredom and monotony off the quote-unquote offseason. Teams practice for four months, just to play (in most cases) 10 games, which is a total of forty quarters, then have to condition for seven months, 3-4 days a week the rest of the year. What else do you want them to do?