Captain's Corner Special Delivery #2

This week, I asked Pat to do a piece on field vision. Many of you know that Pat is "our guy" on the offense, and for good reason. His ability to always get open on that first cut (unless i'm guarding him, then it's more like half the time) gets our offensive machine rolling. I have rarely seen Pat make a bad decision. I believe it's because his field vision is bigger than Tom Brady's on Madden 08. So, without further ado:

Field Vision (Travel Vision, Disengage)

The most important aspect of making good decisions with the disc is honing your ability to scan the field quickly. After you catch the disc via the in-cut or a handler dump, you should scan for where our handlers and their defenders are. You want to make sure that when you look to throw upfield, that they don’t poach off in those upfield lanes. Most often when handler defenders are faceguarding or playing our handlers tight, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. However, we all should be able to recognize when those defenders are playing off and sitting in those lanes. Our decision to swing the disc for yards should be easy. The danger exists when those handler defenders pop out into those upfield lanes at various times in the count. Handler defenders may disguise their poaching intentions by playing slightly off our handlers, all the while really focusing on the man with the disc. When you pivot out, they pop out and look for that d or at least to make you swing it.

What we need to do: Learn to read handler defenders better. For longs, when you catch that-in cut, as you’re turning to look back upfield again, take a peek at the force side handler that is running up the field to catch up with the play. If his defender is face-guarding, you generally don’t have much to worry about. If he looks like he’s paying more attention to you, be wary. Handlers can do the same thing when they catch the dump. Peek at the other handler defenders and try to read how they will play it.

When you are looking to make in-cut throws, again scan the field for where defenders are. I like to look to make sure that I see 3 sets of 2-man groups when I look upfield. If I see groups, that means defenders are playing tighter and paying attention to their man. And they aren’t as likely to look to step into those upfield lanes. If I see individuals out there instead of groups, most likely a defender is helping on another cutter or poaching off you because he doesn’t think you’re a threat. When you see individuals upfield instead of groups, quickly identify which one of your guys is uncovered and who should be guarding him.

Another concept that applies to all throws and reading both handler and long defenders is the ability to envision what will be happening in the next 3-5 seconds. For every throw we make, we should not be thinking about how many steps our guy has at this moment, but rather where him and his defender will be when the disc arrives. Why won’t the gap be the same at this point to? There are at least a couple reasons. First, longs cut at different angles each time. Some are more vertical than others. If a long cuts more horizontally, he may not take the most efficient path to that in-cut throw. You might have to allow for more steps in order to make this throw. On the other hand, if the guys is running straight in, you can allow for less steps, because unless his defender is way faster, it should be a completion. Secondly, you have to know your receiver. One step might be sufficient for some but not others. Getting experience with your teammates should help you make these decisions come game time. Thirdly, longs don’t always time their cuts perfectly. They may be open on a cut, but a handler exchange may be going on. Once the handler gets it, the long could be looking to break hard whereas the thrower is looking to make that completion. Miscommunication can be a big issue. When the long is close to you and slowing up, this is a sign that he’s ready to clear and you need to explore different options. Additionally, you must know what throws you are capable of in these situations. Throwing to the outside shoulder is important for throwing to more horizontal cuts. Throwing with touch is crucial too.

The concept of being able to envision what will happen in the next 3-5 seconds also applies to how you see the space on the field. You should train yourself to read the cuts you see up field in order to determine where the spaces you could possibly throw it to will be. For instance if there is a failed deep cut, your only options for the next 3-5 seconds include force side and break side cuts until that long can drag his defender back in to open up the deep game again. If a long made a huge breakside cut during your ten seconds with the disc, chances are you will not have another look to the breakside. You should concentrate on force side in and deep action until that breakside is opened up, which again is not too likely in the ten seconds you have the disc.

To go along with reading cuts as a thrower, longs need to read the other long cuts in order to determine the best space available to them. We want to throw to those areas with the most space on the field, so we don’t get jammed in a specific portion. The more space you have to get open, the more likely you are to get the disc. And the more space you have to work with, the more separation you will have from your defender for possible subsequent break opportunities. This is just another reason why starting cuts from the force side is bad for our flow. You may be able to get the disc, but you won’t have any opportunities to break after that, because chances are your defender is tighter on you than if you would have started your cut from the middle or breakside. Not to mention it screws up the timing of the other longs who are trying to flow with you.

You should throw hucks in almost every case when your man has at least two steps on his man, preferably three. Before you make that throw, you should scan the field horizontally to make sure your receiver is behind all other defenders, not just his man. Pay particular attention to the breakside, where defenders are looking for the opportunity to poach. Again, looking for groups of two is key in order to make sure there are no poachers for these throws.

There are lot of things to think about here. If you take nothing else from this, just try to train yourself to envision what will be happening not when you release, but rather when it reaches your desired destination.