“It was third-and-23"

[Nelson Bradford]

That’s from today’s Trib/Sports section here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,0,71113.story

~~~~~
It was third-and-23 from their 32-yard line. Conventional wisdom tells Lovie Smith's defense typically plays its signature Cover-2 defense on the money down. But off the edge came nickel back D.J. Moore on a blitz along with middle linebacker Nick Roach. The weak-side end, Shea McClellin, dropped into the flat and weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs had the middle with the secondary in a three-deep look.
~~~~

But, frankly, I do not understand ANY of that. I recognize all the names, have met, shook hands with Coach Lovie Smith and linebacker Lance Briggs...(I worked the Bears Camp for three years)

What does "Cover-2 defense" mean?

and

"money down" - we put money down when we bought a fridge at Sears kinda thing?

"off the edge" - did me mean off the LEDGE, suppose?

"nickle back" - we did not get our nickle back when we put that money down.

"Weak-side end" - so the end has a weak side? Right or left?

"weak-side linebacker" - If he’s weak why is he an NFL linebacker?

"three-deep look" - I think I’ve got the three-deep look numerous times in our 58+ year marriage and it’s never good news.

I LOVE SPORTS!

Sometimes.

8-)

-neb

[Peggy Gray]

What it was, was football

[Jim Franklin]

I, too, have wondered why sportscasters use terminology that some of the coaches would not even understand let alone the casual fan. So you have both a quarterback and a nickle back that makes $.30 or who is trying to fool whom. Nelson, I had posted earlier if you had had a chance to meet our local boy Shea McLellin. Quite a kid.

[Jim Poteet]

That’s from today’s Trib/Sports section here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,0,71113.story

~~~~~
It was third-and-23 from their 32-yard line. Conventional wisdom tells Lovie Smith's defense typically plays its signature Cover-2 defense on the money down. But off the edge came nickel back D.J. Moore on a blitz along with middle linebacker Nick Roach. The weak-side end, Shea McClellin, dropped into the flat and weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs had the middle with the secondary in a three-deep look.
~~~~

But, frankly, I do not understand ANY of that. I recognize all the names, have met, shook hands with Coach Lovie Smith and linebacker Lance Briggs...(I worked the Bears Camp for three years)

What does "Cover-2 defense" mean?

and

"money down" - we put money down when we bought a fridge at Sears kinda thing?

"off the edge" - did me mean off the LEDGE, suppose?

"nickle back" - we did not get our nickle back when we put that money down.

"Weak-side end" - so the end has a weak side? Right or left?

"weak-side linebacker" - If he’s weak why is he an NFL linebacker?

"three-deep look" - I think I’ve got the three-deep look numerous times in our 58+ year marriage and it’s never good news.

I LOVE SPORTS!

Sometimes.

8-)

-neb

It is just the language of the profession. However, I am surprised that a sportswriter used it in a story to fans. It is like reading a foreign language.

[Nelson Bradford]

Nelson, I had posted earlier if you had had a chance to meet our local boy Shea McLellin. Quite a kid.

Nope....Bears Camp is in the hottest time of the year - Aug - I gave up working there . . . too many hours, too hot for not enough cash. 8-)
Sorry