Dell Challenge

Many of you are aware that last Sunday (the 16th) a group of our players went out to play with some other guys. Here's the basic story. One of the guys Mark works with was putting together a team for a rec league and even though they had never played a game together, he claimed that they could have their way with us in a game. He claimed this even when Mark confirmed that it would be a game with our basic rules. Obviously Mark and the rest of us thought there was no way that would occur so Mark, Robert, and Aaron challenged them to a game.

The game was 8 on 8 with two very important changes: 1) QBs could run and 2) We didn't play with the back flag (Little back story on the back flag - we added them to the belts because it helped cut the disparity between the faster and slower players. Because of the back flag, players don't give up on plays because they have a real shot and getting a flag if they can get a decent angle).

In any case, we played them last week and this is the transcription. Because they brought about 20 players, I didn't bother learning any of their names or tracking their stats. Also, because they did not huddle (instead running sandlot routes from the line) there wasn't enough time for me to get as much info as normal so some of detail in this transcription is light. At the end of the entry though, I have analysis of the game what I think are some important lessons learned for the future in case we do something like this again.

Players for us - Adam, Cain, Canadian, Chenault, Chris, Leo, Mark, Robert (big guy we played with from Dell), Street, Washington (Aaron, also from Dell, also someone we played with before).

Game is 8 on 8.

Blue Drive #1
1-12 from the 8: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 4 yards - stopped by Street.
2-8 from the 12: Run by Unknown for 10 yards - stopped by going out of bounds. QB keeper.
1-18 from the 22: Sack of Unknown by Chenault for -3 yards.
2-21 from the 19: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-21 from the 19: Sack of Unknown by Mark for -4 yards.
4-25 from the 15: Punt.

Yellow Drive #1
1-15 from the 25: Pass by Street to Leo - incomplete.
2-15 from the 25: Pass by Street to Cain - incomplete. Ball overthrown.
3-15 from the 25: Pass by Street to Leo - incomplete.
4-15 from the 25: Punt.

Blue Drive #2
1-7 from the 13: Pass by Unknown to Unknown defensed by Washington - incomplete.
2-7 from the 13: Run by Unknown for 2 yards - stopped by throwing past the line of scrimmage.
3-5 from the 15: Pass by Unknown to defensed by Canadian - incomplete.
4-5 from the 15: Pass by Unknown to - incomplete. Turnover on downs.

Yellow Drive #2
1-Goal from the 15: Run by Street for 7 yards - stopped by Unknown.
2-Goal from the 8: Pass by Street to Canadian for 3 yards - stopped by Unknown.
3-Goal from the 5: Pass by Street to Cain for 5 yards and the TD.

1 - 0, Yellow.

Blue Drive #3
1-12 from the 8: Pass by Unknown to Unknown defensed by Chris - incomplete.
2-12 from the 8: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 7 yards - stopped by Adam.
3-5 from the 15: Sack of Unknown by Robert for -5 yards.
4-10 from the 10: Punt.

Yellow Drive #3
1-10 from the 30: Pass by Street to Mark - dropped.
2-10 from the 30: Pass by Street to Canadian defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
3-10 from the 30: Punt.

Blue Drive #4
1-5 from the 15: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 6 yards - stopped by Washington.
1-19 from the 21: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 8 yards - stopped by Adam.
2-11 from the 29: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 9 yards - stopped by Washington.
3-2 from the 38: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
4-2 from the 38: Run by Unknown for 24 yards - stopped by Adam. QB keeper.
1-Goal from the 18: Sack of Unknown by intentional grounding - 12 yard loss.
2-Goal from the 30: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-10 from the 30: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 8 yards - stopped by Adam.
4-2 from the 22: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete. Ball caught out of the back of the endzone. Turnover on downs.

Yellow Drive #4
1-18 from the 22: Pass by Street to Cain defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
2-18 from the 22: Run by Washington for 2 yards - stopped by Unknown.
3-16 from the 24: Pass by Street to Cain for 14 yards - stopped by Unknown.
4-2 from the 38: Pass by Street to Canadian for 36 yards - stopped by going out of bounds.
1-Goal from the 6: Run by Robert for 6 yards and the TD. Fake pitch right, counter run to the left. Nearly the whole defense flows on the run.

2 - 0, Yellow.

Blue Drive #5
1-12 from the 8: Run by Unknown for 3 yards - stopped by Mark. QB keeper.
2-9 from the 11: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 14 yards - stopped by Adam.
1-15 from the 25: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
2-15 from the 25: Run by Unknown for 24 yards - stopped by Cain. QB keeper.
1-11 from the 31: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 9 yards - stopped by Adam.
2-2 from the 22: Sack of Unknown by Mark for -4 yards.
3-6 from the 26: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 4 yards - stopped by Unknown.
4-2 from the 22: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete. Turnover on downs.

Yellow Drive #5
1-18 from the 22: Pass by Street to Chenault for 3 yards - pitched back to Unknown who runs it another yard before being stopped.
2-14 from the 26: Pass by Street to Leo intercepted by Unknown - stopped by Leo.

Blue Drive #6
1-11 from the 29: Run by Unknown for 6 yards - stopped by Washington. QB keeper.
2-5 from the 35: Run by Unknown for 3 yards - stopped by Leo. QB keeper.
3-2 from the 38: Run by Unknown for 1 yards - stopped by Chenault. QB keeper - Leo forced the QB back in to Chenault.
4-1 from the 39: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 22 yards - stopped by Chris.
1-Goal from the 19: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete. Ball out of the back of the endzone.
2-Goal from the 19: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-Goal from the 19: Pass by Unknown to Unknown intercepted by Street - stopped by Unknown.

Yellow Drive #6
1-4 from the 36: Pass by Street to Chris for 9 yards - stopped by Unknown.
1-15 from the 35: Pass by Street to Canadian for 23 yards - stopped by Unknown.
1-Goal from the 12: Pass by Street to Leo intercepted by Unknown - stopped by Unknown.

Blue Drive #7
1-12 from the 8: Pass by Unknown to no one, it was thrown away - incomplete.
2-12 from the 8: Pass by Unknown to Unknown defensed by Street - incomplete.
3-12 from the 8: Run by Unknown for 15 yards - stopped by going out of bounds. QB keeper.
1-17 from the 23: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete. Ball high.
2-17 from the 23: Run by Unknown for 17 yards - stopped by Leo. QB keeper.
1-20 from the 40: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 5 yards - stopped by Street.
2-15 from the 35: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-15 from the 35: Run by Unknown for 15 yards - stopped by Unknown. QB keeper.
1-Goal from the 20: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete. Ball wide.
2-Goal from the 20: Pass by Unknown to Unknown defensed by Leo - incomplete.
3-Goal from the 20: Run by Unknown for 20 yards and the TD. QB keeper.

2 - 1, Yellow.

Yellow Drive #7
1-12 from the 8: Pass by Street to Adam - incomplete. Ball overthrown.
2-12 from the 8: Pass by Street to Canadian for 9 yards - stopped by Unknown.
3-3 from the 17: Pass by Street to Mark for 9 yards - stopped by Unknown.
1-14 from the 26: Pass by Street to Cain - incomplete.
2-14 from the 26: Run by Mark for 2 yards - stopped by going out of bounds. Handoff to Canadian, reverse to Mark.
3-12 from the 28: Pass by Street to Adam - incomplete. Ball overthrown.
4-12 from the 28: Punt.

Blue Drive #8
1-3 from the 17: Sack of Unknown by Leo for -4 yards.
2-7 from the 13: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 9 yards - stopped by Canadian.
1-18 from the 22: Sack of Unknown by Mark for 0 yards. Roughly 1/2 yard loss.
2-18 from the 22: Run by Unknown for 33 yards - stopped by Cain. QB keeper.
1-5 from the 25: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
2-5 from the 25: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-5 from the 25: Sack of Unknown by Chenault for -2 yards.
4-7 from the 27: Pass by Unknown to Unknown defensed by Adam - incomplete. Turnover on downs.

Yellow Drive #8
1-13 from the 27: Sack of Street by Unknown for -1 yards.
2-14 from the 26: Pass by Street to Canadian - dropped.
3-14 from the 26: Pass by Street to Leo defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
4-14 from the 26: Punt.

Blue Drive #9
1-15 from the 5: Pitch or handoff to the right. Defense bottles ballcarrier up so he runs back across the field in the endzone trying to find room to get out and Adam gets the Safety.

2.5 - 0, Yellow.

Yellow Drive #9
1-12 from the 8: Pass by Street to Cain for 3 yards - stopped by Unknown.
2-9 from the 11: Run by Street for 13 yards - stopped by . Y runs a QB keeper of its own.
1-16 from the 24: Pass by Street to Cain for 14 yards - stopped by Unknown.
2-2 from the 38: Run by Mark for 0 yards - stopped by Unknown. Naked run left.
3-2 from the 38: Pass by Street to Leo - incomplete. Ball low.
4-2 from the 38: Pass by Street to Cain for 4 yards - stopped by Unknown.
1-18 from the 38: Pass by Street to Washington defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
2-18 from the 38: Sack of Street by Unknown for -10 yards.
3-28 from the 32: Pass by Street to Washington for 5 yards - stopped by Unknown.
4-23 from the 37: Punt.

Blue Drive #10
1-10 from the 10: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 14 yards - stopped by Washington.
1-16 from the 24: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
2-16 from the 24: Run by Unknown for 26 yards - stopped by Street. QB keeper.
1-10 from the 30: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 14 yards - stopped by Washington.
1-Goal from the 16: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 6 yards - stopped by Mark.
2-Goal from the 10: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 10 yards and the TD. Probably a pass. No details in recording.

2.5 - 2, Yellow.

Yellow Drive #10
1-12 from the 8: Run by Leo for 2 yards - stopped by Unknown. Adam blew his blocking assignment.
2-10 from the 10: Pass by Street to Unknown defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
3-10 from the 10: Pass by Street to Canadian for 25 yards - stopped by .
1-5 from the 35: Pass by Street to Cain for 16 yards - stopped by Unknown.
1-9 from the 29: Run by Street for 26 yards - stopped by Unknown. Another Yellow QB keeper.
1-Goal from the 3: Pass by Street to Canadian - incomplete. Tight coverage.
2-Goal from the 3: Pass by Street to Cain defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
3-Goal from the 3: Pass by Street to Cain defensed by Unknown - incomplete.
4-Goal from the 3: Run by Street for -2 yards - stopped by Unknown. Turnover on downs.

Blue Drive #11
1-15 from the 5: Pass by Unknown to Unknown for 5 yards - stopped by Canadian. Diving catch.
2-10 from the 10: Run by Unknown for 27 yards - stopped by Cain. Flag guard saved this one.
1-3 from the 37: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - dropped.
2-3 from the 37: Pass by Unknown to Unknown - incomplete.
3-3 from the 37: Sack of Unknown by Adam for 0 yards.
4-3 from the 37: Sack of Unknown by Mark for -8 yards.

That's game. 2.5 - 2, Yellow.

Passing Stats:

Players	Comp	Drops	Attempts	%	Yards	TDs	INTs	Sacked	Yds Lost	Rating
Street	15	2	37	40.54%	178	1	2	2	-11	42.40
Unknown	18	1	54	33.33%	149	1	1	11	-44	40.82

Not a pretty day for passing. Street was at 40.54% completions for 178 yards with 2 picks. The other team's multiple QBs (3, I think) combined for149 yards with 33.33% completions.

Receiving/Rushing Stats:

Players	Recpts	Targets	Yards	Rec TDs	Rushes	Yards	Rush TDs	Combined	Blocks	1st Downs
Adam	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cain	6	11	56	1	0	0	0	56	0	2
Canadian	5	8	96	0	0	0	0	96	0	3
Chenault	1	1	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
Chris	1	1	9	0	0	0	0	9	0	1
Leo	0	6	0	0	1	2	0	2	0	0
Mark	1	2	9	0	2	2	0	11	0	1
Robert	0	1	0	0	1	6	1	6	0	0
Street	0	0	0	0	4	44	0	44	0	2
Washington	1	2	5	0	1	2	0	7	0	0
Unknown	17	40	154	1	16	227	1	381	0	15

Canadian was our leading receiver with 96 yards on 5 catches (3 of which went for first downs). Cain was second with 56 yards and a TD on 6 catches. The rest of us had either 1 or 0 receptions. Street did rush for 44 yards on 4 carries though.

Defensive Stats:

Players	Flags	Pass Def	INTs	Strips	Sacks	Sack Yards	Safeties	Def TDs
Adam	8	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
Cain	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Canadian	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chenault	3	0	0	0	2	-5	0	0
Chris	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leo	4	1	0	0	1	-4	0	0
Mark	6	0	0	0	4	-16	0	0
Robert	2	0	0	0	2	-7	0	0
Street	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Washington	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Unknown	24	7	2	0	2	-11	0	0

Here, our stats were pretty good but not as good as they should have been. Mark was our defensive leader with 4 sacks. Robert and Chenault each had 2 sacks. Street had pick and and a defensed pass. Adam had a defensed pass and a safety. LEo had a defensed pass and a sack. Canadian, Chris and Washington each had a defensed pass. The other team combined for 7 defensed passes, 2 picks and 2 sacks.

MVP: Street

Analysis and Lessons Learned: We made a number of important mistakes that hurt us. We should have beaten these guys by more points. I say that not out of disrespect, because I really respect the way they adjusted to the line game.

First, and most importantly, we didn't move to a true QB spy until long after they began killing us with QB Keepers. We kept rushing 3 and then their QB would get on the outside edge and pick up 20+ yards - They had 381 total yards but 227 of that was rushing and almost all of that was QB keepers. When we started the game, we were killing them with a 3 man rush because they didn't know how to block yet and because we weren't too tired. As the game went on, they began to get better at blocking and more importantly, they began to figure out how to get to the outside and get our rushers tied up. Don't get me wrong, our rushers kicked ass with 11 sacks but honestly, 227 yards of rushing? On us? Their QB's were VERY fast but if we'd played a guy in spy mode earlier, they wouldn't have put up the numbers they did rushing.

Second, we needed more players. We had 10 and were subbing 2 players on every change of possession and were still slowing down because of their no huddle and the fact that most of us had played the day before. If we'd had 12-14 players to keep rotating in and out, we could have all played every play like it was the last one and known there was someone to come in and spell us as soon as we needed it.

Three, we REALLY shouldn't have played 2 days in a row. I'm sure some of you will claim it was no big deal but I had nowhere near endurance and I'm sure that quite a few other players were feeling it bad.

Four, we should not have agreed to go to 2 flags - we had enough red flags to let them use our 3 flag belts. That back flag would have cut their rushing in half. Remember, the claim was they could beat us playing our game by our rules (other than the QB running). That back flag is an important part of it. Our key advantage going into this game was we all knew how to play it. We are used to the line and high number of flags pulled in our games are back flags because we aim for them, particularly when trying to chase someone down.

Fifth, they didn't fucking wear the right color shirts. They were told to wear anything but black. 2/3rds of them were in black.

So if we do this again, I would suggest:

1) We play during our normal Saturday Slot; and
2) We bring a larger group of our guys out (remember, as we go later into the season, we have more trouble getting 14 players each week for a normal game anyway).

If there is a next time, I'd love to play with 3 flags next time but that genie is out of the bottle so I doubt they'd want to pull it back in.

Finally, I really don't want to play with people under 18 again. Sorry, but had we hurt some kid and his parents come after us for damages, I would have been pissed because we were told they were all in the early 20s. I know we let Biscuits play with us when he was under 18 and Cain's little brother but in those instances, adults were aware they were playing with us. Hell, Biscuits' father came out to play with us so he would have had a hard time making a case since he personally knew the level of contact in our game.