Football Archives - Page 5 of 5 - The Outdoor Quarterback

Farm Ponds and Training Camp

First I want to thank all of you for your comments regarding my blog. They have been incredible and have been a motivating factor for me to continue putting information out there that seems to be interesting to most all of you. I wasn’t much of a English student in high school or college. Early on I eliminated English teacher from my list of potential career opportunities. Many of my teachers and professors would be shocked at your comments regarding my writing style. Thanks again for logging on.

Now for these early days of summer and my favorite kind of fishing, farm ponds. They come in many different sizes, from a one acre pond to a 50 acre pond (small lake). What I like most about fishing them is that I know the fish are there, it’s just how many laps around pond before you start catching them.

Recently I took a trip down to Oklahoma to see my dad and visit with my sister and brother in-law. My brother in-law is now retired and he has access to several great ponds and loves to fish. Our first morning we fished on a 18 acre pond and in 3 hours we caught and released 42 fish, yes we kept count, he is charting each summers catch. It really is a good idea, you can collect some pretty good data about the pond. Time of the year, water temperature, outside air temperature, wind direction and the type of lure and tackle used. I think it helps plan your next trip to that pond so you can maximize your opportunity. That evening we went to a 50 acre sand pit that had some pretty deep water, for a farm pond, 35 feet. The third fish I caught was a 7.2 pound black bass (large mouth). No question it was exciting. That fish pulled our little two man bass boat around in circles several times before we landed him.

Red Shad 7 inch plastic worm was the magic bait. I love to worm fish, it is what I have the most confidence in and I really believe that has a lot to do with being successful in fishing. I know a lot of very good and successful pro fishermen who throw nothing but crank baits and swear there is nothing better. As far as I am concerned it takes a little bit touch and feel to become a good worm fishermen, that includes you ladies as well. That little tap you feel on the rod and then seeing the line move across the water, it is awesome. There is just something about it that is challenging to me. I just have a hard time forcing myself to pound the water with a crank bait over and over and over! The other great aspect about fishing farm ponds, when the fish start hitting top water, you can pretty much count on them doing it all around the pond and there isn’t anything more exciting, even us serious plastic worm fishermen would admit to that.

The farm ponds are absolutely the best place to get the young kids excited about fishing, for the mere fact they will catch fish, blue gill, catfish, crappie or bass. A little success on the farm ponds will get most kids really excited about fishing and the outdoors, so take one if you can. I promise, you will get as much fun out of it as they will.

NFL training camps are just around the corner. Most of you are hearing about the mini camps or OTA’s going on around the league. Being a player in the NFL today is a full time job. I can remember my rookie year we had no off season training sessions (organized) and only one mini camp before going to training camp. When I was playing our training camps lasted almost two months before we played our first preseason game. In those days we played 6 preseason games, so add another 6 weeks to training camp and we were there over 3 months. Most guys came in out of shape and played their way into shape by the time the season started. Today there is so much competition at each position that you can’t afford to be in anything but incredible condition. They have what are called OTA’s (off season training activities), which are supervised workouts with the coaching staff. They also have unsupervised, all volunteer (ha) work outs that begin shortly after the Super Bowl. Today’s NFL player only has two weeks of training camp before they start playing preseason games so they have to be ready to play from day one. The off season programs the players are involved with today are essential for both the players and the organization. Because of the limited time in camp the team doesn’ have a great deal of time to evaluate the players who are marginal and competing for a job. Obviously it doesn’t give the players much time to impress the coaching staff either. The big difference between the players of today compared to the players during my years is that these guys are being evaluated year round.

You are going to start hearing a lot about contracts and the signing of all the draft choices and un-drafted free agents. It is a critical time for both management and the unsigned players.

My next blog I will talk about the consequences, from both sides, of not signing your top draft selections.

As always I look forward to hearing your comments.

The Outdoor Quarterback!

NFL Draft Wrap Up

The 2010 NFL draft is now history and we saw some interesting developments take place. Three of the first four players selected came from the University of Oklahoma. Five of the first six players selected came from the Big Twelve. It says a lot about the Big Twelve and the Oklahoma Sooners.

As a former Chief, I was most interested in the fifth selection Safety Eric Berry from the University of Tennessee. After some off season free agent signings of two veteran offensive linemen, Case Wiegmann and Ryan Lilja I felt confident that the Chiefs would be taking a serious look at Eric Berry. According to most NFL insiders, Eric was rated as the best player in the draft. There is no question that the Chiefs needed help in the secondary, specifically the safety position. We also added a couple other players to the secondary with defensive back and kick returner Javier Arenas from Alabama and Kendrick Lewis, safety from Ole Miss. I believe we added some depth to our offensive line by selecting Jon Asamoah, offensive tackle from Illinois as well as tight end Tony Moeaki from Iowa. One other addition to the Chiefs defensive line was Cameron Sheffield from Troy, a guy who can play the end position in the 3-4 denfense. The one player that has really peaked my interest was our second round pick, Dexter McCluster, running back slash receiver slash kick returner from the University of Mississippi. In other words a play maker. Something the Chiefs needed to add to their offense. Recently I had the opportunity to meet all the draftees and rookie free agents at a dinner during the rookie mini camp. I was extremely impressed with all of them on many fronts. They were excited about becoming part of the Chiefs family. They understood the opportunity in front of them and the effort and commitment is was going to take to make this team. What was impressive about the Chiefs draft choices, 6 out of the 7 drafted players, were captains of their college teams. That says a lot about their leadership skills and their character. These young men will be good for the locker room, believe it or not that is critical for team chemistry. Over all I feel like the Chiefs upgraded the team and they are better right now, before playing a down, than they were last season. The light is starting to look a little brighter at the end of the tunnel.

To me the surprise pick in the first round of the draft was Tim Tebow. Debatably, the best college football player ever, but as a former quarterback, I feel he has a lot to overcome to become a starter, at that position, in the NFL. What I know of the young man, he will leave no stone unturned to prove everyone wrong. Love the attitude!

Next blog I will talk the Spring time fishing.

The Outdoorquarterback.

Turkeys & Tics and the NFL Draft

The spring turkey season is now here, in some states, and the woods are sounding off with the gobble of the toms and the yelp of the hens. It really is one the best times of the year to be in the woods. There is nothing like the thundering sound of an adult gobbler early in the morning. It is also when the tics are attaching themselves to everything they come in contact with. My boyscout motto, be prepared, wear tight fitting clothing under your hunting clothes. Make sure the tight fitting clothes are snug around the ankles, wrist, waist and neck. Better to be a little warm then to be picking tics to all hours of the night. I have found out the hard way that once you are in bed, those little devils will move from you to your wife, that is really a bad thing!! There are some sprays out in the market than you can use to spray on your clothes to help ward off the tics as well. Even if you are not turkey hunt and are just out and about near or around the woods, watch out for those critters, limes disease is not laughing matter. At least check yourself every time you have been around a woody area.

The NFL Draft is just around the corner. This has become such a huge television event that Network Television and the NFL are going to do it during prime time television. I must admit it is entertaining to watch. I will be at Arrowhead Stadium with other former Chiefs Players and current Chiefs Players signing things and watching who the Chiefs will select. It is always a bit of a mystery. We have many needs, offensive linemen, inside linebackers, safety and a burner wide receiver. Then there is always the chance the Chiefs could trade their 5th pick for additional draft picks. This years draft may be the best ever for offensive linemen. There will be some quality linemen taken late in the first round and in the second. I would be interested to hear what you think your favorite teams need are.

Don’t forget to check for tics and the get ready for the NFL draft, Thursday night April 22nd.

The Outdoor Quarterback !

January, What to Do!

Depending on where you live, January is the month when most outdoor activities slow down with a few exceptions, ice fishing, snowmobiling, late season goose and duck hunting, and in a few states, the last few days of deer hunting. For all of you football enthusiast, the NFL Playoffs are in full swing! If your team is still in, congratulations and good for you. Our beloved Chiefs didn’t make it!! Things are looking up, the Chiefs just announce the hiring of Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, to former offensive and defensive coordinators for the New England Patriots. Hopefully they will help jump start both the offense and the defense. I personally believe it is a very good move, they both had tremendous successes with the Patriots and bring a wealth of playoff history. When reorganizing a team I feel it is critical to have both coaches and players in place who have had playoff experience. How can you coach about winning in the playoffs if you haven’t been there! Making the playoffs is the first step in winning the Super Bowl and that is every teams objective. Now we have coaches in place who have successfully accomplished both. For the teams still alive in the playoffs, Dallas and their defense look hard to beat. Being from the AFC, I still like the Charges, who I was originally drafted by, and the Colts. You can’t rule out the play of Patton Manning. Back to the outdoors! This is the time to get all of your fall hunting, camping and fishing gear cleaned up. Cleaning your firearms before putting them away is extremely important. The obvious, make sure they are unloaded before working on them and putting them up. This is a good time to take off all that old fishing line and tune up the reels. Make sure all of your camping gear is dry before putting them in storage, mold can develop quickly and cause a lot of damage to your equipment. For you Turkey hunters, this is a great time to work on your calls. Some seasons are just a few months away! Normally I can drive everyone out of the house with some yelps and cackles!

NFL Draft

Two of the most exciting days in a college football players life, the NFL Player Draft, has come and gone. Some players walk away from these two days financially set for life, if they manage their mony wisely. Some college players walk away scratching their heads wondering how in the world I could have gone undrafted. Most of those players were both high school and college stars. Several of them were All-Americans and have very seldom faced a more deflating moment in their athletic careers. Many of the of these undrafted players will get an opportunity as a free agent and there has been many free agents who have become All-Pro and NFL Hall of Famers. This is the time that the true character of these players comes out. Most of them will have a chip on their shoulders and the mind set to prove to the rest of the NFL, that they all made a mistake by not drafting them. Watch out for those players because they are motivated and dagerous.

Now there are those player who were drafted in the first round who have been blessed with natural size, speed and talent and a few, which happens every year, will be a bust or don’t live up to everyones expectations. In most instances it more of a character issue than it is their playing ability. They take their position for granted, they become lazy and now that they are financially fixed, become less motivated. Watch for those players as well, you will hear about them early on. Then there are those high draft picks who exceed everyone expectations and is because of their character and their desier to prove to the team that drafted them that they made the right choice. You will hear about them early on and often.

My old team the Kansas City Chiefs, I believe did a workmans type job. No big hoopla, just players who should fit the new scheem. They appear to be sound players who will compete well for their positions. The question always is, how quickly can they make the transition from college to the NFL. Only time will tell, but I feel good about what the Chiefs did.

The Outdoor Quarterback

Kansas City Chiefs add new Quarterback

The Chiefs made a bold move in making a trade for Matt Cassell from the New England Patriots. This move adds a proven starter to the stable of young quarterbacks. It is my opinion that there will be very strong competition at this position. Tyler Thigpen proved last year that he can play in the NFL. Brodie Croyle may have the best arm of all the quarterbacks but must remain healthy to prove he can be durable in the NFL