1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

How do you Watch Games?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Galant, May 30, 2015.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

    19,127
    11,058
    113
    Apr 22, 2014
    Here's an odd question but I'm curious....

    When you're watching a game where do you look/focus both on offence and defence?

    Coming from Britain I've tried to introduce football to a few friends and I've found that it's easy for them to be overwhelmed if they just watch the QB. After the snap so much is going on that if you only watch the QB you'll often miss a lot. Instead, on offence, I've found it best to watch the OL. Depending upon what they do it'll often give you a clue whether it'll be a run play or pass play, but it'll also allow to get a better general view of what's going on as the play develops.

    On defence I'll sometimes watch the opposing offence since the defence will have to respond to that.

    Obviously, when a game is live you can't stop and re-watch each play looking for different things, so I'm curious - how do you watch a game of football?
     
    Bpk likes this.
  2. 'Phinomenal`Phanatic'

    'Phinomenal`Phanatic' Member

    47
    44
    18
    Apr 3, 2015
    If you played the game, I'd imagine everyone tends to key in on positions they're familiar with. I was a lineman...always watch the trenches mostly. But after initial contacts are made, I tend to broaden my focus instantly to try and absorb as much as possible.

    Never really gave it much thought...until your post. :hi5:
     
    Galant likes this.
  3. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    5,227
    6,527
    113
    Dec 7, 2014
    You can watch the game from an overall perspective or you can focus on individual players. There's no coach in the world that is going to be able to watch 1 play in real time and be accurate in assessing all 11 guys on offense or defense.

    However, there are plenty of coaches (and fans) who've learned to do it very effectively. They can get more critical information from a single play--what might take the average viewer 2, 3 or 4 replays to see. What helps is understanding which guys are doing the difficult and/or critical things and how reliable those guys are within what's happening. That info generally comes from understanding the basis of each formation as well as the circumstances surrounding that play (down, field position, quarter, etc.). As with anything that's complex, you have to have some idea of what is going to happen so that you can put most of your focus on that in order to be efficient. Even Bill Lazor commented the other day that he's improving in that area.

    You can't focus your attention on one spot without taking your eye off another, but if you're watching the right things, you'll get what you need without having to watch a single play 11 times. If you want to really critically examine how each guy is doing and how much you like that player's potential you have to take the time to go back and watch tape which will take hours.
     
  4. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    This.
     
  5. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    When watching live or for entertainment I generally focus on whats happening around the ball then I'll go back and study individual players/units once the all 22 tape becomes available. I cant understand how PFF or anyone else grades QBs, WRs, Safeties, CBs on Monday when the all 22 angles aren't released until Tuesday or Wednesday.
     
  6. Conuficus

    Conuficus Premium Member Luxury Box

    18,044
    19,676
    113
    Dec 8, 2007
    Well away from here
    On a TV.

    You?
     
    PhinFan1968 and resnor like this.
  7. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,930
    63,007
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    On offense, I primarily watch the QB or ball carrier, but I'm generally aware of how the OL is doing or if a reciever is open. The big HDTVs have made that so much easier.

    On defense, I sort of combo watch the opposing ball carrier and our DL until the ball moves past the LOS. They just the ball carrier and our guys trying to tackle him.
     
  8. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    I watch it from left to right.
     
    resnor likes this.
  9. PhinsMondayNitro

    PhinsMondayNitro Active Member

    608
    127
    43
    Sep 18, 2014
    NFL Game Rewind iOS
     
  10. jdallen1222

    jdallen1222 Well-Known Member

    2,752
    1,373
    113
    May 31, 2013
    Plantation, Fl
    I usually try to follow the ball when watching live and Miami has it, and focus on movement in the backfield. However, when Miami is on defense I'll watch the dline for penetration or watch the linebackers if the runner gets through. When it's thrown, the camera tracks the ball.
     
  11. bigbry

    bigbry Huge Member

    5,278
    3,071
    0
    Dec 18, 2008
    Colorado
    Recently, with extreme anger, then I call a time out.
     
    CashInFist, resnor and DolphinGreg like this.
  12. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

    25,809
    39,060
    113
    Dec 21, 2007
    Berlin,Germany
    if on defense i always watch wake, if on offense i tend to also watch the QB and the oline
     
  13. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

    19,127
    11,058
    113
    Apr 22, 2014
    I find that if you focus on the QB I don't end to see what's incoming until it's too late. I've found that watching the OL enables me to take the most in until the play develops because I tend to catch what the QB is doing in peripheral vision and, as mentioned before, the camera will track any throws.

    I'd love to get a more bird's eye view of the width of the field but that's not an option.
     
    DolphinGreg likes this.
  14. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    5,227
    6,527
    113
    Dec 7, 2014
    I agree with this. In a general sense there are the average folks who all watch the QB and then there are the folks who have trained themselves to keep their eyes center-screen so they can take in a balance of information.

    If there's a general rule that's it--stop watching the QB.
     
  15. Paul 13

    Paul 13 Chaotic Neutral & Unstable Genius Staff Member

    85,620
    51,681
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Generally in the seated position... unless there's a bad call by a referee, then I could be standing, standing and throwing a small object (such as my remote), or jumping and maintaining zero gravity appearance (some would call it floating) whilst screaming expletives.
     
  16. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    Fin4Ever, brandon27 and DolphinGreg like this.
  17. bran

    bran Senior Member

    4,525
    1,505
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    New Hampshire
    i usually use a very wide range of emotions and feelings from optimistic and happy to pissed off and very pessimistic and these swing wildly from quarter to quarter hell even in the same quarter. i am also the guy that uses a lot of stances, superstitions, and wild hand gestures throughout the game, and lots of swearing.
     
    PhinFan1968 likes this.
  18. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,650
    67,543
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    I like to see it all with eyes wide open, watch more than one thing at a time, as big of frame as I can, then at times pick certain units or players............and some asses to.
     
    P h i N s A N i T y likes this.
  19. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

    51,930
    63,007
    113
    Apr 24, 2012
    Troy, Virginia
    I get that for coaches this can be useful and important, but as a fan, living in the moment and watching the game for fun and passion, I couldn't enjoy not watching the ball live.
     
    PhinFan1968 likes this.
  20. 54Fins

    54Fins "In Gase we trust"

    4,464
    1,515
    113
    Nov 29, 2007
    over there
    On Offense it's usually the formation I'm looking at in relation to down/distance.
    On D, it's usually the D-line and how (if) they collapse the pocket and how much time the opposing QB has to throw.
     
  21. k-bayfinfan

    k-bayfinfan Bikini Inspector

    1,222
    257
    83
    Jun 24, 2008
    Oahu
    Presnap, I try to see how the defense is lined up, how many defenders in the box or how many LBs, CBs and/or safeties are in and how the LBs are gapping or shading and how the CBs are shading and cushioning the receivers relative to where the ball placed between the hashes. This kinda gives you an indication of what the defense is anticipating and/or trying to take away from the offense.
    When the offense gets lined up, I key in on the TE or OT closest to my point of view to read run or pass. During this time you may see safeties creeping into the box of LBs step into gap.
    Post snap if I read run, I watch the entire box or trench area as you will see holes opening up or Dline and Backers clogging the running lanes. You will also see a ton of holds and lot of other unsportsmanlike stuff going on.
    If I read pass I glance at the nearest Wr or Slot and cb and try to quickly read if the Boundary DBs are playing tight or loose man or zone coverage. Then I go back to the QB and watch the play run its course.
    This is absolutely not a "football fans doctrine to watching football" that I stick by. As the game situations evolve throughout the game, the things that i watch change due to score, time on the clock, injuries or any other situation that may arise. I'm more or less using the pre, and post snap reads I had when I played SS/OLB in high school. As 'Phinomenal `Phinatic put it "you watch by the position you are familiar playing." I played all positions in 8 years of playing American tackle football except for QB, HB, C, P, K and DT/NG.
    My suggestion to your buddies back in the UK is to learn the basics like:
    1) 1st downs and how you get them why they're important to get.
    2) 4th down options and risk/ reward for not punting if your not close enough to the goal post and
    3) The scoring/point system.
    After they grasp that part then teach them the responsibility of each position. Once they can comprehend basics they will learn why you need to have boring "3 yards and a cloud of dust" running plays and can't pass it on every play.
     
    Galant likes this.
  22. CashInFist

    CashInFist Well-Known Member

    10,069
    2,624
    113
    Nov 30, 2007
    West Virginia
    Drunk
     
  23. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    I've read that book too, and its information overload for me...so much stuff happening every SINGLE play. If I wanted to be an analyst, I'd memorize that thing, but since I just like to kick back and watch, I take as wide a view of the screen as I can without laser focusing on one thing, lots of great things happen slightly away from the ball. But like others have said, once the ball is in the air, the camera is locked on, so that's basically what I'm looking at from there to the end of the play...with Wallace that wasn't very long (had to...sorry).

    I'm going to try to focus on the O line this year and learn from you guys. All I usually do is be like, "that fkng Dallas Thomas again," when somebody smokes him...but I don't know if he totally blew it, or a guy next to him was supposed to help out, or what, so I'll be looking at that and asking the resident experts. I have mad respect for the guys on this forum that understand all that and go through the tape for hours on end...I just don't have a drive for it I guess (that and I play MMOs for hours on end, so there's that).
     
  24. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    ????
     

Share This Page