Submitted by: Dennis Jarvis

With the fame of being a high school quarterback comes some drawbacks. I guess that’s what you might call a sprinting linebacker who plants his face guard into your chest plate. The occasional QB sack is just a hazard of the job and it’s very hazardous to your health if not your nerves. It can be one of the biggest momentum changers in the game and depending on what side of the high school football field you’re sitting on, it’s either a crusher or one of reasons you’re cheering your head off. Let’s take a look at the prep football sack and how we account for it in our prep football fantasy league.

Let’s set the stage. The offense brakes out of the huddle and takes their positions on the field. The QB is looking across the defensive set looking for traps and opportunities. Both linebackers are squaring up across the slots opening naturally in the line which is fine since we’re passing but that strong safety…what’s he doing? He should be a good 5 yards back and he’s creeping up. Something suspicious going on over there. The tight end is releasing over the middle so a blitzing strong safety might work in our favor. Just then, the Linebackers are popping up to the line. Both are popping back and forth towards the line. QB’s attention pulls away from the strong safety as the linebackers threaten to blitz. The football snaps. The QB drops back to find his receivers. The linebackers are in pass protection mode so he’s safe there but as he scans left for his favorite receiver in the flats, BAM! That strong safety came around backside and drives his helmet right into the QB’s back, lifting him off the ground and then driving down to the ground with his full wait falling behind him. The air gets knocked out of his chest. He was able to hold onto the football but he’s now 7 yards back behind the line and it’s 2 and 17. More importantly, today’s lunch is threatening to come up as the strong safety bounds up and celebrates to the taunts of his db buddies. The sack is nasty…if you’re on the receiving end.

Essentially, the game of football resembles a game of poker. You see your cards and you can see the opponent’s face-up cards but who knows what’s in the hole. On any given plan, a defense can choose to gamble by sending a defensive player hurling towards the quarterback. This creates chaos, stress, and if you’re lucky…a monster sack for loss of yardage or better yet, a change of possession. Of course, there’s the psychological effects of getting your clock cleaned out by a sack. Nothing’s worst than a rushed quarterback in the passing game. Most QB’s can bounce back from the jarring QB sack but it’s still there in the back of their head each time they drop back to throw. Just a split second too soon and a passing play can be blown if not intercepted. The Sack is the a high school football defenses secret weapon and they have to use it well. Too much and the offense will throw right over it to open receivers. Not enough and the offense get’s complacent and comfortable sitting in the pocket. A sack makes sure they’ll never be comfortable again.

About the Author: Dennis Jarvis writes about the world of

Prep Sports

including

high school sports

such as high school football, basketball, and baseball.

Source:

isnare.com

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