http://www.theprovince.com/sports/hocke ... story.html
From the article by Lowell Ullrich ...
Tedford has him doing much more, though: things like extending his arm and throwing sidearm on the run from a vulnerable position, and diving on to a mat while throwing in order to re-learn how to fall.
Yes. Toppy and I see some of this the same way. Your QB has to stay healthy. It was discussed somewhat endlessly with the courageous Buck Pierce. To stay healthy your QB has to make that a priority. Some QBs have done that instinctively. Doug Flutie. Fran Tarkenton. DL players said it seemed Tarkenton had eyes in the back of his head. LOL. Well, he could sure sense their presence, and he had ample moves to make them miss. Roger Staubach. It seems to me he pretty much invented the slide. Extremely elusive. Protected his body.
Since a QB is a Field General, he must stay healthy.
It was my opinion, as a fan, that Buck did not share that value. He was more old school, give it up for the team. Take the hit.
Learn to fall? Absolutely. Learn to avoid contact? Absolutely. And that is for the good of the team.
“It’s about relearning how to fall and learning it’s OK to do that; giving my brain the heads-up to do that so I can do it in a live situation.” -- Travis Lulay
You slide, or you sit on the bench.
And near the top of that to-do list is the demand by general manager Wally Buono after last season for Lulay to become more of a bystander during certain game situations.
It means learning to fail, and fall, all over again, in order to avoid being tagged as a quarterback with a 2011 Grey Cup ring and most outstanding player award on his resumé, but not much more.
“I’m going to play hard but I’m going to play smart. Quarterbacks learn that through time,” Lulay said. “I’m not going to play scared in the least, but I am going to play smart.”
Good. We should have insisted on this with Buck Pierce. And it may be too late to salvage Lulay's career. I hope not. MOP. Grey Cup MVP. Tremendous leader and competitor. Supremely agile and elusive.
Just IMO, as a fan.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.
Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.
Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.