Lying in bed with the phone constantly refreshing the event website.. no change... it was still on.
The recent cold weather had seen a good foot of snow dumped over the week and there was no more putting off my first snow cross experience.
The first challenge was digging out the car... the next negotiating the various driving styles I encountered on the hour drive to the race venue.. afterthis nothing would be a problem.
The car showed todays was racing would be in a very manly -5 degrees ... the event car park park was already filling up as I arrived... you can never underestimate peoples desire to get out and ride :)
Near 60 riders and a few fields wiith 8" of snow covering the race was going to be amazing... made better still as although last week was my first sign on for Velo Club Moulin this was my first week wearing the colours...
.. and almost as good as that my new wheels had been finished so I would get to race on new tufo tubs :)
The course had some really tough sections but on the flipside also had some compacted sections were you could get good speed up but overtaking would mean coming off the good line and fishtailing through deeper snow... doesn't get any more fun than this.
My start was less than ideal... 50 metres of clambering to get both feet in the pedals then riding squarely into a plastic marker post saw me distinctly mid field with lots of work to do.. seems like this is becoming the norm for me every week so it didn't worry me.
The racing went... sit in on the deeper snow sections into everyone elses groove... pop out on the wider compacted sections and steal a few places.... repeat.. any foot down on the floor would lead to you not being able to clip back in so running any sections was avoided.
I cut my way up through the field and could see a group of 4 riders ahead.. then I heard the commentator announce they were fighting for 4th place so the chase was on to get across to them... when I did we had a great battle.. everytime I got up and past I would panic a corner and dab loosing the ground and places I had made... I ended up sat in 5th place on the bell lap.. just behind 4th place.. as we got to a steep climb 4th place went to the side to look for the better line and I gambled and smacked it straight up the middle through the crap or mud and snow... both of us coming to the top close but I had a half wheel and nipped through... a quick blast out the saddle and a few turns later saw my best result so far with 4th place.
The power of Velo colours is great :)
Next week Northen CX champs.. weather and roads allowing i'm hoping to break the top quarter of the field.
A week after Gateshead and an £80 parts repair bill later I was back at another cross race.
The Stainton venue was windy and cold... watching the Junior race from the comfort of a warm van the motivation to get changed and get riding was low.
With no National Trophy race on the field was stacked with some top quality rider... Oldham, Ward, Murray, Moss, Nixon.. the list was extensive so today wasn't gonna be easy.
First sign on for my new team for 2011... VELO CLUB MOULIN ... after other new Velo rider Dave Crawley's 1st place on his first outing for them the pressure was great :)
After a quick change myself and Neal, who'd come for his first cross race experience, pedalled out onto the course... to not long after turn around and head back to the van.. I had changed rear wheels and forgot to fit a spacer to inside of freehub so cassette was rattling.. luckily I had other wheel with spacer with me and was able to borrow tools and sort it.
The course looked pretty awful but once on it it rode really well... plenty of turns, a nice climb, transitions from dirt to tarmac which were only surpassed in their bike sliding ability by a set of off camber bends which were really tricky.
Just before start Neal decided that he had a rear flat so made for the van only to make it back in time to get going... I was mid field on the start line and spent the first lap executing some high risk dubious cornering overtakes to cut my way up towards the top 10.
On a set of low boards that could be bunny hopped I saw new team mate Dave Crawley standing with his bike, later found out a snapped rear mech... I feel your pain Dave!!!
The race was excellent... I had a great battle for most of the race with the same Malton Wheeler rider as we exchanged places two or three times a lap... He would be a little quicker through the turns but I would get on the gas on the climbs and take position back.
About 45 minutes in I was overtaken by the leader ... Paul Oldham... no great shame as the form he has at the moment I was surprised it didn't come earlier... another 40 seconds later then Steven Ward came through... a North East rider having a great battle with Oldham and squeezing out the other Hope factory boys for the second place spot.
A lap to go I was just behind my Malton Wheelers rival on the start finish climb so I rode hard past and then buried myself for the rest of the lap.. in doing so I caught and lapped Neal who looked to be enjoying himself too much... one final out the saddle effort and the race was done... 13th place in a good field of riders... I know I have a more to give so looking forward to North of England CX champs in a few weeks.
Picture courtesy of Lee Adeola (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leeandamanda/)
Premier League preview: Arsenal versus Tottenham H Emirates 12.45pm 20/11/2010
This is a London derby not to miss, as ex-gooner captain William Gallas travels to the Emirates stadium with his new club Tottenham Hotspur.
The clash will remind football fans of Sol Campbell making his first trip back to White Hart Lane as an Arsenal player, where the abuse and missiles were relentless as the Spurs fans demonstrated the fierce rivalry between these two North London clubs.
To spice up the atmosphere with Gallas even further, French forward Samir Nasri has stated that he will blank Gallas pre-match and not shake his hand. There are rumours that suggest that Nasri has abone to pick with Gallas since the release of his autobiography had references to Euro 2008 and Nasri's supposed negative influence.
The big question for the travelling team will be whether missed forward Jermaine Defoe starts, who is back after an ankle injury. Harry Redknapp has dearly missed Defoe, who yesterday reinforced this fact that missing the England striker for 6-7 games will always mean that you run the risk of dropping points - which has been the case for the lily whites. It is more than likely that Crouch will start and Redknapp will use Defoe as an impact player. Dutch hit Van der Vaart will play a supporting striker role, giving the Spurs team a real added dimension.
Tottenham's staccato league form however is mainly down to their UEFA Champions League debut. Through injury and midweek fatigue, Redknapp has been frustrated by mediocre peformances and forced into regular squad rotation leading to missed opportunities in the form of points.
After recent losses at home against West Brom and Newcastle, Wenger will be keen to show Chelsea and Manchester United that they are a serious Premier League contender in this 2010/2011 campaign - their record in these North London derbies is good when playing at home - most tip the Gunners for a win. Popping into second regularly has given the Arsenal faithful hope - but 3 points today would put them momentarily into 1st - giving their players added belief that this could well be the season to get some silverware.
Jack Wilshere is expected to start, recovering from a back problem which kept him out of the midweek friendly against France.
"That would take in the ability to move a team down the field," he said. "That would take in running ability." His argument, it turned out, foreshadowed a more intuitive formula devised by David Berri, a sports economist at the University of Southern Utah and the co-author of the book "The Wages of Wins."
Dr. Berri's system, which he called QB Score, analyzed data to determine which aspects of a game contributed most to a team's scoring or surrendering points. It places greater value on all the yards a quarterback gains (regardless of how he gains them) and on turnovers (including fumbles). A quarterback's rushing totals aren't a huge factor, Dr. Berri said, but they're taken into greater account.
Back to where my cross season this year started... 4 races back and under the BCF banner I opened my cyclocross season.
The course here is an excellent mix.... short sharp climbs, wooded singletrack and wide grassy drags for losing or gaining places.
As a change for this race the course was altered slightly and ran in reverse... this coupled with a heavy downpour the day before leaving the grassy sections wheel suckingly wet it made for a challenging course.
So to keep with the theme of change I had opted to strip my bike of its front mech as I had rarely used it in any of the races.. with this change I upped the front ring to a 38t leaving the 12/25 out the back.
I've identified that i'm not the best starter in the world.. in fact i've had awful starts every race so far and with such a short race every little helps... this time round I wasn't taking any chances so pre start I stalked Alan Nixon (Blackhawk Bikes)to the start line and pulled right up next to him... front line and a clear field ahead no excuses.
As the race started I was immediately in a better position although still not the best start it was infinitely better than previous efforts and I was about 10th going into the singletrack muddy descent.. this descent fired the riders into a sharp left hander and then it was into some slippy singletrack.
By the time we had reached the section where the course double backs on itself I could see that the lead group had a little gap already.
It was immediately clear on the first lap that the new gearing was maybe a little steep and I really had to mash the pedals hard to make the slippy climbs.. that being said I wasn't losing any places and was gaining on the riders in front.
The wooded singletrack was nice and twisty and passing was best left till you were out of it but as we caught the back of the field quickly there was no option but to try and weave through best you could..
The racing was very close and I was pushed from the start... about 40 minutes in I was caught and dropped a few places... although the riders never pulled out a very big gap and I would get those places back not long after and hold them to the end.
The mud had started to gather around the wheels and I was glad of the extra clearance the disc brake set up allows me although it felt like I had gathered a fairchuck of the course on my bike and was now carrying round with me for extra training effect.
On almost the last lap I saw Alan Nixon running off the course... broken mech.. I was happy that my bike was still working well but as the race entered its final lap I was pushed hard by a rider from Malton Wheelers who stuck a pass on me as I had to dismount and run a climb when my rear wheel broke traction and I span to a stop... as we started the final drag up before the start finish field I passed him again and this time when we enetered the field instead of diving for the sides and seeking an easy line I just gave it all straight down the middle.
Another great race and a satisfying 6th place.
The race was won by Dave Crawley (Velo Club Moulin) who looks to be taking his place at the front of the field for the forthcoming events.
New wheels and a 11-28 cassette this week in preperation for sundays CXNE race :)
The "Hand Sweep" is nothing more than the old Wing-T “bucksweep”.
For the Hand Sweep, motion is optional, but used to hold the backside defender with fake reverse action.
The H-back blocks the same as power option, and looks to log the DE. With Hand Sweep, the H-back is more man-conscious, looking to kickout the DE if he takes an outside-upfield path. The H-back can be replaced by a tight end with no change (reach block) in assignment.
Split End – who is the bigger, physical wide receiver (Y) cracks first backer in the box. Playside Tackle maintains his power B-gap track Backside Tackle will hinge, like he does in power and counter. Center blocks back, like he does in power and counter. Playside Guard – will pull to block the support defender. If the defense is in man coverage (the Y receiver’s defender chases him inside), the guard will look to log the first backer to clear. If the defense is in zone (the support player just sitting in the flat), the guard will kick the defender outside. Backside Guard - the backside guard will skip pull to pick up the backside linebacker scraping over the top. If this backer tries to run-through the open playside A-gap, the guard will pick him up. If the backside backer shoots the backside B gap, the guard will not pull and just pickup the linebacker.
One of the better methods of defending Wing-T is by matching numbers with a reduction (Under) front, making it difficult to get enough blockers at point of attack. To accommodate for this front, as the playside tackle would have a terrible angle to account for an A-gap defender, the playside guard will make an “IN” call. This communicates that he is staying “in” (not pulling) and adhering to his A-gap track. This now reverts back to how power is blocked, with the exception that the backside guard will now be pulling for playside defensive support player.
Once you’ve taught the power, you’ve also taught the counter (to the playside). All the rules remain the same; PST works a B-gap track, PSG works an A-gap track, Center works backside, and BST hinges.
The only thing that changes with counter is the backside guard and H-back. The guard will change his pulling footwork to accommodate the trap technique on the end. He will exit on a 45 degree angle, rather than the 90 degree open-hip technique used on power option. Since the guard is kicking out the end, the H-back will exchange roles (with power) and seal the first backer inside the box.
The same principles used with power apply with counter. If the DE wrong-arms the kickout, the guard can log, leaving the H-back to loop outside and bounce the run.
After a heavy diet of power (overload of numbers at the point of attack), the homerun threat of counter action can stretch defenses to a breaking point. To help with this horizontal stretch, the slot (#2) running orbit motion will adhere to a simple set of rules. If the ball carrier is aligned in split backs (away from where the orbit motion is coming from), the slot (in motion) will continue on an (power) reverse track to the counter action. If the ball carrier is stacked (pistol), the motion man will reverse out and run an option course with the quarterback. This simple rule helps stress defenses who will game plan against counter/power, by spinning a safety down with the motion. By introducing the reverse path, the playside safety is widened, creating a larger seam for the ball carrier to run through.
One interesting thing to note regarding Malzahn’s approach to offense, is that with this system, they don’t tell the backs where to line up.The backs will align based on the play called (not the formation).A basic formation, such as “Twins Right” will be called (“Twins Right, 91 Counter”), but the H-back and Fullback will align based on the play (i.e. counter = split-backs).
Another wrinkle can be added to run the exact same play out of 1-back; QB Counter.Nothing changes for guys upfront.Since QB counter is usually run out of 1-back, the play-fake speed sweep helps open the run.
Malzahn’s offense is premised on a 2-back run and play-action team that will keep constant pressure on a defense and defensive coaches by;
Running the offense at a 2 minute pace the entire game (physically and mentally wear them down)
Balanced attack
Heavy misdirection in the run and passing game
Stretch the field vertically and horizontally
Throw the book at defenses with specials, fire alarms, and various personnel packages. Plan to go into each game with 7-8 trick plays
Present the option in 3 different ways (zone read, speed option, power g option)
While the 2010 Auburn offense appears to be achieving success through this aggressive ethos, it is the run game utilizing Newton, Dyer, McCalebb, and Fannin that remains at the forefront.
After covering the zone-read with bubble last year and with the Cam Newton destroying defensive fronts this season, it may be time to cover Auburn's gap run schemes (Power,Counter, Hand Sweep). What is interesting about this "spread" is how much nothing has really changed over the years. This series is nothing more than Wing-T from the gun, and you'll find more and more spread teams complimenting their zone runs with these concepts (La Tech, for one).
Gus Malzahn gained notoriety as a high school coach in Arkansas throwing the ball and attacking through tempo and extreme spread sets (see ninja). While joining forces with Rich Rodriguez protege, Herb Hand, the appreciation of the 2-back power run game was realized and perfected. In this post, we'll take a look at how Auburn's inside/outside zone is complimented by gap blocking via "Power", in its many forms.
POWER G
The tenets of Auburn’s run game are simple; they want to appear multiple by changing formations, ball carriers, and backfield action, while keeping scheme and technique simple for the offensive line. By reducing the workload and specifity for the offensive line, it allows them to operate efficiently at a high-tempo.
One of the first plays Malzahn installs is Power. The play is rather simple and for the offensive line, the footwork and technique can remain consistent with their zone skill sets. The vital elements of this off-tackle play revolve around the playside tackle, the H-back, and the backside guard.
The H-back looks to make his first step to the midline of the defensive end (or EMOL), who he will kick/dig out of the C gap. He obviously wants to leverage this player quickly by striking the chest and pin the inside shoulder of the defender. This player doesn’t always align in the backfield. Malzahn will often bring a slot receiver or tight end into the formation late with motion.
The playside tackle will step down hard inside and follow a B-gap track. He is looking to work his track to the 2nd inside linebacker in the box. If it is an (base) odd front, the tackle will work toward the backside inside linebacker. If it is a stacked front, he will work to the MLB. If confronted with a 3 technique playside (defensive linemen in B gap), the tackle will look to make this DT an A gap player, washing him into the playside guard’s track (thereby creating a double-team). This method allows the tackle to have a better angle attacking the backside linebacker.
The backside guard on power will skip (or shuffle) pull by first taking a quick retreat step with his backside foot, then horizontally extend his playside foot (some would even teach the skip pull by placing the backside foot behind the playside foot for a quicker release), allowing him to keep his shoulders square to the LOS and prevent him from opening his hips away. The guard is looking to pull through B-gap (right off the hip of the playside guard), so this will be a short path, and work to the first linebacker inside the box.
As mentioned, the playside guard will step down and work an A-gap track and wash any shade head-up to shade of the center. The center will always block back on a nose / backside shade / backside 3 tech, aiming high to ensure the defender does not cross his face.
The backside tackle will hinge, by stepping hard inside to prevent backside B-gap penetration, retreat, and look to just get a hand on the shoulder of the backside end.
The running back will align 7 yards deep (just like he would in zone), with his inside foot on the outside foot of the playside guard. After meshing with the quarterback, he will hug the double team, right off the hip of the playside guard, attacking B-gap.
The slot receiver (or #2) will orbit (“Utah”) motion and get even with tailback. On the snap, he will reverse field and establish a pitch relationship with QB. Often times, this orbit motion will be extended across the formation to control the backside safety.
An effective way for defenses to combat power-heavy offenses (as I write about here in 2005) is to overload their overload, bringing strong side pressure into C gap ala a "MARS" stunt or "NCAA (fire zone) blitz". This usually has an end long-sticking into B-gap and a linebacker blitzing into C-gap (or visa versa). When anticipating outside pressure or a end crashing inside, the PST has the ability to make a "MOMO" call, which essentially means, "(I have a) Man On and a Man Outside". This alerts the entire offensive line to slow down on their releases and allow the line to stunt, so they can pickup the exchanges. With a "MOMO" call, it will alert everyone to be man-concious on their blocks; the PST will delay his track release, waiting on the end to crash into B-gap (where he will wash him inside). That alert helps the H-back recognize that the end will not be on the edge once the ball is snapped, and won't be the defender needing to be kicked out. The center will delay his backside block on the shade, anticipating the playside defensive tackle to cross his face, and likewise, wash him on his gap-track.
QB POWER
When you have an exceptional runner at quarterback (like Cam Newton) Power can be run with him as the ball carrier and/or a running back can be substituted as the ‘quarterback’ (ala Wildcat). The QB power is usually complimented with perimeter stressors like speed sweep / reverse.
POWER OPTION
While great anywhere on the field, the Power Option is Auburn’s go-to play in the red zone. It is becomes the fail safe answer to fundamentally sound defenses that look to spill the load block (H-back) with the wrong-arm. Since it becomes near impossible to kick out a C-gap defender who is cutting inside a blocker, with Power Option this defender will be logged (pinned inside) and the area of attack will be moved to the perimeter. The H-back will log the end and the backside guard will work around the log and pick up the scraping MLB (first backer in the box).
The only nuance of Power Option for the line (everything remains exactly the same), is the technique used by the backside guard. Because the H-back will not be kicking out the end, the guard will have a longer path to work to the backers. To account for this, Malzahn will have the guard use the ‘old-school’ shoulder throw with playside foot pivot as the first step. Opening the hips of the guard for this extended pull track (outside C gap) helps neutralize any penetration and gets the linemen to the destination faster.
The split end will attack the slot receiver’s (who is becoming the pitch man) cover defender and the pitch key will be the flat defender. This is a fantastic play inside the 10 yard line, as most defenses will be in some sort of man coverage.
Passing along a great link provided by Trevor McIntyre, detailing elements of Saban's program manual and how it influences players at Alabama. Blueprint of a Champion Article
Though Saban isn't the only coach to use such intense indoctrination methods to build a positive-peer culture, this is an insightful look at how to lay a detailed foundation of expectations, behaviors, motivation, and mental processing to build a consistent product. Some of the insights regarding player expectations outlined in the article can be heard here and also through the 2010 ESPN "All-Access" special.
Some choice excerpts from the article;
“It's almost like you're being brainwashed into, 'This is how you play the game, how it has to be,'” [Colin] Peek said. “Those stories, those messages, and how that relates to us are reiterated by the coaches. It's a motivational tool to bring it home to us.”
“In short, perceived self-efficacy is concerned not with the number of skills that you have but with what you believe you can do with what you have under a variety of circumstances,” Bandura wrote in his 1997 book, “Self-Efficacy, the Exercise of Control.”
“Discipline, commitment and effort and toughness - that's the four fingers,” (Scott) Cochran said. “The thumb is pride. “So when you put the four fingers up, that's what it's all about. It means fourth quarter, but there's a lot more.”
The manual is obviously not just the sole creation of Saban, but a collaboration from his entire staff, selling a united message. Even at the high school level, there are many valuable tenets to essential program building to be garnered from this lesson ( framing competition, staging strength & conditioning, positive mental imagery, leading with purpose, etc).
Happy to still have something to blog about 100 posts in :)
In my effort to improve my cross racing I am taking in not only the CXNE BCF run series but also the NECCL TLI run events:)
Last Sunday saw RD3 of the NECCL series and although I have missed 2 rounds already the overall series is based on best 5 out of 8 events so an overall decent position is still to play for.
Hetton Lyons Park is a popular cross destination featuring some good sharp little climbs and off camber muddy descents... the weather decided that after previous weeks of easy going that it was time to get into the 'Real' cross season and let rip with a good level of rain for the duration of the event but when you are breathing hard and tasting blood the weather doesnt even register.
After a pre ride of the course tyre pressures were lowered... not since Arrowhead snow race have I dared run such low tyre pressure... numerous times I felt the rim hit a root or rock.
The start was on tarmac for a good 100m before firing into an S bend... again I struggled to get a decent grid position on the start and I had to spend the first half of the race picking my way through the field of over 80 riders before settling into the natural order of the race
The leaders were out of sight and I was left chasing the same 2 riders for probably the last 20 minutes of the race... we were very evenly paced so the gap never seemed to decrease... as the final bell lap came I sprinted the start finish straight to try and finally bridge the gap.. in a narrow singletrack section which climbed steeply I caught onto the back of them then on the next straight section made a move on the outside and past. The next corner was hard left straight onto a muddy short climb.. I washed my front wheel out having to dab a foot and allowing the rider I had just overtaken to pull alongside.. I put in another effort and squeezed just in front as we hit the singletrack straight immediately apologising for the abrupt overtaking manouevre.
I pulled away leaving with a comfortable gap at the finish.
9th place... I am gradually creeping my way further up the finishing list.. I started the year aiming for top 15 finishes but now want to push myself harder and get into the top 5.. as conditions worsen I think my chances of getting there will grow.
After dismantling an explosive Missouri offense this weekend, Bo and Carl Pelini are resurrecting the Nebraska defense of old.
As discussed previously, the dime pressure "Spinner" package was used to perfection to disguise and attack the rhythm of the Pinkel offense.
A good article with a few choice interviews, "emptying the notebook" alludes to the effect of this scheme.
The Huskers used their normal personnel up front but worked out of a three-man front, taking defensive end Cameron Meredith out of a three-point stance and using him as a stand-up outside linebacker. Along the line, the Huskers spread out their linemen, putting bigger bodies along the edges.
“They lined up their D-tackles on our tackles,” Missouri center Tim Barnes said. “Having those guys out there, I know it’s different for our tackles, having that much extra weight. I know they’re used to faster, quicker guys.”
“We worked that three-man front all spring and all fall, just for this game,” defensive coordinator Carl Pelini told reporters after the game. “Our guys were ready to execute it.”
“They played a couple different coverages, but for the most part if was all man-on-man,” receiver T.J. Moe said. “Once you hit 5 yards down the field, no matter what the coverage was, it was you against him. We didn’t do a good enough job getting open today.”
On a few occasions, they dropped a safety down to play Cover 3, but primarily were in Cover 5 (2 deep man-match under) allowing the underneath defenders to aggressively attack the receivers with help behind them.
