More from the O-Zone, this one is about the 7 on 7s. Sounds exciting as hell. By the way, I've always wondered what the linemen do during 7 on 7s.
//www.the-ozone.net/football/2006/summerconditioning/sevenonseven.htm (sorry about the link--maybe someone knows how to fix it)
Seven-on-Seven Brings Intense Football Aspect to Summer Conditioning
By John Porentas
The Buckeyes have been toiling, sweating, and grinding it out through the summer under new strength and conditioning coach Eric Lichter. That's now over, and when they report in August, the football will begin.
Wrong.
The Buckeyes have indeed been toiling and sweating, but while they were doing that, at least some of them were getting in their dose of football too, because summer conditioning also includes seven-on-seven practices, and that is time spent focused squarely on football, and to be specific, Buckeye football.
Seven-on-seven takes place about twice a week, and involves every position except the offensive and defensive lines. Players compete in a form a touch football that does not resemble in any way the kind of touch football that weekend warriors play in parks and back yards.
Seven-on-seven sessions involve the passing game and pass defense and allow players to hone individual skills in those aspects of the game. It also allows players to become more familiar with the OSU offensive and defensive systems, because despite the fact that no coaches are involved, it is the OSU pass offense and OSU pass defense that are run by the players in a very organized and systematic manner.
"We (the defense) run coverages and the offense runs their schemes," said OSU linebacker Marcus Freeman.
"They also have a script of plays every session that they want get through for the whole practice and we have script of defenses that we need to run to get ready for the season. It's an organized practice really. Usually the quarterback and a senior for the defense do the scripting. Troy (Smith) usually comes with a script of plays that he wants to run that he's been looking over on film and one of our senior defensive linemen or Brandon Mitchell will come with a set of defensive we want to run," said Freeman.
"It's a chance to get better as a team and gel," Freeman added. "Even though our coaches can't be out there it's something that we initiate as a team to better-prepare ourselves for the season."
The system allows upper classmen to hone their skills, but perhaps more importantly, it allows younger players to play within the OSU system and become more familiar with the things they will be called upon to do in the August when the pads come out.
"It's mental reps," said tight end Rory Nicol.
"Hearing plays and working. It's one thing to throw the ball with Troy or with Justin or whoever, but to be out there with seven guys running concepts and hearing terminology is a good thing. It brings us all together and we have a lot of fun. It's structured, but it's a lot of fun more than it is a lot of hard work. It's competitive. There is a little bit of hitting going on, but nothing serious. It's a lot of fun," Nicol said.
The players do seem to enjoy seven-on-seven, but also take it very seriously as a learning tool.
"We take it very seriously," said cornerback Malcolm Jenkins.
"I make sure personally that everybody takes it seriously, especially the ones (first teamers). We try to lead by example and take it seriously. When we're not on the field we're on the sidelines coaching, giving tips and stuff like that. When we're on the field we try to keep it intense. The offense has done a great job doing the same thing and giving us looks.
"It's very important. It's just as important as getting practices during the season. It's a chance to get extra reps and to try to understand the defense while you're not during season. Once you get into camp and you're getting coached too, you have more understanding and you can learn quicker," Jenkins said.
Understanding of the scheme is not the only thing that is improved in seven-on-seven. So are individual skills.
"Definitely," said Jenkins.
"When we go one-on-ones, Ted Ginn is the only person I go against. Ted and I go back and forth, and he's gotten a lot better as far as learning how to play receiver and learning the routes and the tricks of the game. He's done nothing but get me better too because now he's gotten better and we're both getting quality reps. It definitely helps."
Cornerback Andre Amos agreed.
"We run plays that we're going to run in a game. I really think that this seven-on-seven thing is getting the skill players a lot better because the corners are great and the receivers are great as well. Anytime that we can get together and compete against each other it's going to better both sides of the ball."
So who is getting the best of the competition in seven-on-seven drills this summer?
"I think it goes back and forth," said Jenkins. "One day the defense dominates and the next day the offense does good, sometimes it will be a tie. We're all getting better and taking strides with each other."
