Run With The Fishes

So this is Nathan’s first year in pads.

8-9 year olds.

Day One.

He’s head/shoulders smaller than everyone on his team. While he has comparable speed, they have longer legs, so for the most part outrun him. He’s probably lower/middle of the pack in speed.

Meaning he’s not big or fast enough to be rb/qb/wr. At least not one of the ones they chose to run all the plays/routes the first day. Not that it matters, every kid wants to be a skill position, but there are only so many skill positions available. He can earn his dues and hope for next year. But he might get disheartened blocking kids so much bigger all year long.

Apparently, though, they are going to give the other kids a shot at wr practice tomorrow, so maybe they are just giving everyone a good look.

Day Two.
So no passing practice today. Instead, they seem to have already decided the qb/rb/fb (fb is one of the coaches kids, but it seems like a good spot for him. big/tough/not the fastest. Nate played left tackle. They ran all the plays to the right. (away from him).

Basically I think they are just trying to ‘hide’ him on the field.

So then they go to do some tackling practice. Sort of the Oklahoma drill without a lead blocker. Lined the kids up about 6 feet apart, facing each other, and give one the ball.

Nate’s first carry, the biggest, fattest, slowest kid is defending him. Grabs Nathan around the neck. Nate tries to keep running, but it’s all belly first since the kid has his shoulders. Nate just runs around in circles with the kid anchoring him down.

Nate’s first defense, the ballcarrier is their running back. Nate drives into the kid and pushes him back about five yards before tackling him. I was Shocked. I told him yesterday to give it his all. If hes’ not bigger/stronger, he can outhussle people. Maybe he took it to heart.

So then they line the kids about 10 yards apart and do the same thing, with a coach simulating the handoffs. Offensively Nate didn’t get away from anyone, and didn’t break a tackle. Defensively, he just couldn’t get a hand on them, they outran him. _maybe_ we can work on angles to where he at least has a shot. Depends on where they put him defensively.