Exonerated player Brian Banks signs with Atlanta Falcons

Brian Banks signs with the Atlanta Falcons

Yesterday, April 3, 2013 Brian Banks signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons.  Most of us are familiar with Banks. He is the ex-USC linebacker recruit whose football dreams were dashed by a five-year prison stint, being accused of rape in 2002 and then winning his fight for his exoneration of rape.  Banks is where he once envisioned, passing a physical Wednesday morning and signing a contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

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History of this Tragic Event:                                         

Banks, 27, was accused of rape in 2002 while a football standout at Long Beach Poly High. Facing a prison sentence of up to 41 years if convicted, he pleaded guilty at the advice of his then-attorney. He spent five years, two months in prison followed by five years on parole as a registered sex offender.

Banks' accuser, a former classmate, contacted him after his release via Facebook. They met, and she recanted her story.  A private investigator later recorded her confession, key evidence in the clearance of his name.  Banks said Wednesday he's been through "hell and back."

"It’s almost impossible to explain the feeling of not having freedom," Banks said in a conference call. "To be stripped of your freedom, of your dignity, of the respect that you once had. To lose it all and watch the world pass you by as you sit inside of a prison cell, knowing that you shouldn’t be there, knowing that you are there for another person’s lies. To lose it all and to wake up one day and get it all back, it’s a very humbling, spiritual feeling that you don’t want to take for granted."

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Banks, who is 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, is a linebacker.

A year ago, he was out of prison on parole, wearing an ankle monitor as a registered sex offender. The contrast with this week's events is "surreal," Banks said.

"Talk about coming from the bottom," he told reporters. "I know all too well what that is and what it looks like and what it feels like."

While serving time in prison, Banks said he was forced to abandon his hopes of playing in the NFL someday.

"I had to watch my class go on and receive scholarships and play collegiate football on a high level," he said. "For me I had to let those dreams go for me to focus on what was ahead of me, and that was five years in prison. That was a completely different life of violence and being away from your family. ... Football was the last thing on my mind, and it wasn't until a few months before I was actually being released from prison that I thought about possibly trying to play football again."

We are Pulling for Banks!

Banks will attempt to do something that is very difficult to do, make an NFL roster.  A very small group of players ever have the opportunity to don a NFL uniform.  Brian Banks will attempt to do so after a decade of being away from the game.  His perseverance is a model for us all and I am pulling for him.  He has been away from the contact of the game, the speed of the game will be much greater than he ever imagined.  The physicality of the game will challenge his inner strength.  The football IQ required by an NFL player is demanding.  Banks has been through an incredible event and I could never imagine what he has gone through and therefore I will not question him.  I will just cheer for him and hope to see him in a Falcons uniform this coming August!

Good Luck to you Brian Banks!  Your Deserve something good to happen!    

 

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Defensive Line Teaching Progression

Shaler Area HS Defensive Line

Teaching Progression

Pre Snap Checklist

A.    Stance (of OL)

B.     Eyes (of OL)

C.     Splits (of OL)

D.    Formation strength – (Run Strength)

I.                    Knowledge

A.                        Stance – “Rip-Charge” 

1.                Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech out, then hand to the ball!

2.                toe to instep/heel stagger

3.                Feet slightly shoulder-width apart

4.                Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly out – “Eagle-Claw”

5.                Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact with ground

6.                Crowd ball – NOT OFF SIDES!!!

7.                Shoulders square – Tail slightly above shoulders

8.                Head slightly up – looking through brow

9.                Weight slightly forward (60% on hand – 40% on feet) – off hand in ready position as a weapon – thumb up!

B.                        Alignment

1.                Inside foot splits the crotch of offensive lineman

2.                Covered shoulder pad tip to OL shoulder pad tip unless hand to the ball in 5-tech out!

        

C.                        Assignment - KNOW YOUR DEFENSE!!!

1.                Know your defensive fronts

2.                Know ahead what your movement will be to defeat blocks

3.                Know your gap assignment – Know when these change due to blitzes

GOAL: Establish new line of scrimmage through the OL gap side; STRIKE V of neck with strike hand & shoulder pad tip with offhand!                                          We want one yard deep in the backfield to be OURS!!

II.                 Fundamentals

A.                        Get-off

1.                Key the ball – Strike when ball moves; (All drills will begin with ball movement when possible)

2.                Attack with inside foot; short 6 inch power step, looking to get 3 steps before the down hand and assume a great strike position!!

3.                Pad level down, eyes at the numbers of OL & STAY LOW!!!

                                 GOAL: Beat the OL out of their stance. By the time the ball reaches the    

                     Center’s tail, we should be striking / attacking OL & gap @ v of neck

                  

B.                        Hand/Hat Placement

1.                Hands explode from ground up -  Elbows in, thumbs up

2.                Aiming for V of the neck / breastplate of OL – Be quick, inside hand replacement wins

3.                Helmet attacks and stays to gap side V of neck -  critical on reach blocks

4.                Feet must NEVER stop moving / win the battle of the hands!

5.                Pad level down & STAY LOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

C.                        Separation

1.                Strike- Zone @ full extension of arm, Lock elbows so arms are straight!!

2.                Use power hand/trail hand technique to turn shoulders of OL.

a.            Power hand lock out and stop pressure of OL using “Push-Pull” technique to turn OL shoulders & “Drive-Away” from block!!

b.            Trail hand pull

3.                Separation will occur up field

D.                        Escape

1.                Violent pull – disrupt blocker from his responsibility

2.                Rip under -  power hand press, trail hand under

3.                Arm over – Power hand grab, trail hand over

4.                Play to backside (away), squeeze 1 gap

E.                         Pass Rush – Stance - “Cobra-Charge” 

1.                Covered hand down – covered foot back; unless 5-tech out, then hand to the ball!

2.                Toe to heel stagger

3.                Feet slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart

4.                Weight on the inside balls of feet- Heels slightly out – Back toe is a toe tap ready position!!

5.                Inside hand on front of eyes – All fingers in contact with ground

6.                Crowd ball – NOT OFFSIDES!!!

7.                Shoulders square – Tail slightly above shoulders

a.            Head slightly up – looking through brow Weight slightly forward (70% on hand – 30% on feet) – off hand in ready position as a weapon – thumb up!

8.                Know your rush lane

9.                Concentrate on defeating the blocker – never stop feet!!

10.            Break blocker down with mechanism – never stop feet!!

11.            Execute rush with technique – dispose of blocker;

A.    Speed

B.     Speed – Power

C.     Speed - Counter

12.            QB fronts to you – Hands tall & up in passing lane!

13.            QB fronts away – close hard & drive to finish rush!!

III.              Effort

A.                        Pursuit

1.                ALWAYS 110% effort to the ball on every play

2.                use correct pursuit angles

3.                Expect to make every play

4.                Swarm and PUNISH all ball carriers

5.                Pass contain

6.                Pursuit Laterally

7.                Trail play to backside

8.                Strip ball – cause turnovers

B.                        Tackling

1.                Explode through ball carrier from ground up

2.                Bull neck, club arms, grab cloth

3.                Never Stop FEET!!

4.                Drive ball carrier back

5.                Force turnover, creating Takeaways!

                

  BE ALERT FOR:

A.            Long snap counts – KEY BALL

B.            Quick counts -  KEY BALL

C.            No huddle

D.            OL Subs

E.             Fumble (recover/ score)

                 

                 ON THE PRACTICE FIELD AND DURING A GAME ALWAYS REMEMBER

A.            Encourage each other

B.            Communicate with each other

C.            Teach with each other

D.            Teach each other

E.             Learn from each other.

 "Feet Never Stop Moving! Win the Battle of the Hands!"

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Jesse Della Valle - Penn State DB & Shaler Area Alum

 

Della Valle turning heads at Penn State

Penn State's Jesse Della Valle, Glenn Carson and Brad Bars run a drill during spring football practice in Holuba Hall. it was the fifth of 15 spring practices the team will have leading to the annual Blue-White game on April 20. 

Della Valle has made the most of his opportunity at Penn State and will look to continue to contribute throughout the spring.  His preparation is fantastic as well as his commitment to Penn State Football.

Della Vale in another Western Pennsylvania prep standout who will look to play a significant role for the Nittany Lion defense this season. He is a former all-state honoree at Shaler Area High School.

He is a talented and instinctive student-athlete with a bright future.  Della Valle earned Dean's List recognition during the spring semester of 2012, bringing a 3.36 cumulative grade-point average into last fall and is a potential Academic All-Big Ten candidate. He is among  a host of Nittany Lion returnees from Western Pennsylvania. 

Traditional NFL QB vs. New Era QB

NFL Owners Lock up the Prototype NFL QB!

Tony Romo & the Cowboys Linked together for another 6 yrs!

Jerry Jones has reached into that pocket full of cash and secured his QB in Dallas. 

It is interesting to see this unfolding.  In the last month or so we have witnesses the long term signing or re-signing of Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco and now Tony Romo.  Last spring Drew Brees signed a long term deal in New Orleans.  There is an expectation of resigning Aaron Rogers of the Packers as well as Matt Ryan of the Falcons this spring.  With the Manning brothers & secure in Denver & New York, it appears that there are a certain number of teams that prefer the traditional QB over this new brand of read option QB.  The proof is in the money and in the deal!
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Joe Flacco’s six-year, $120.6 million contract made him the NFL’s highest paid player. His $20.1 million average yearly salary narrowly tops the $20 million average per year Drew Brees received in the five-year, $100 million contract he signed with the New Orleans Saints last July.

The Dallas Cowboys are now making quarterback Tony Romo the highest-paid player in Cowboys history  with $55 million in guarantees and a $25 million signing bonus that tops Flacco & Brees.

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Tom Brady's contract will keep him in New England until he is 40.
Though other quarterbacks recently have signed deals nearly twice as lucrative, Brady has made it clear he wants to play until he's 40 and finish his career with the Patriots, whom he led to Super Bowl wins for the 2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons, and losses in the big game after the 2007 and 2011 seasons.


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The Patriots gained $8 million in salary-cap space this year and $7 million in cap room next season. Brady's cap numbers, which were scheduled to be $21.8 million in each of the next two offseasons, now will be $14.8 million this season and $13.8 million next season.

Peyton Manning's contract with the Broncos is for five years and $96 million, with the first year payout of $18 million fully guaranteed, but another $40 million will be guaranteed if he passes a physical showing his neck is sound after the first year.

The New York Giants have secured Eli Manning with a $106.9 million deal signed in 2009 with an average of $15.27 million between now and 2015 when the deal expires. 

Ben Roethlisberger was scheduled to carry a $19.595 million cap hit in 2013, but his new deal signed February 28, 2013 will free up $6 million in cap space.  Roethlisberger has three years left on his contract and it is expected he could sign an extension with the Steelers next off season to further rework his numbers.  

Here is my point!  The contracts of Brady, the Manning brothers, Brees, Flacco, Roethlisberger and Romo total over 1/2 billion dollars in total value.  The guaranteed money approaches 1/4 billion dollars!  Incredible money but the win total of these 7 teams last year 70+ games including playoffs average is 10+ wins.  If we throw in Aaron Rogers and Matt Ryan the average wins would rise as each team won 12+ games.  The Traditional NFL QB has its value and the proof is in the win total as well as the contract value Teams are willing to invest in their QB's.  With all the hype this past season being put in the new era QB, the numbers presented here are hard to overcome!  

Read Option QB's and their contracts:

• Cam Newton - 4-year deal is worth more than $22 million and is fully guaranteed.
• RG3 - fully guaranteed 4-year contract worth $21.12 million.
• Russell Wilson - 4-year contract, $2.99 million.
• Colin Kaepernick - 4-year, $5.22 million contract. The deal contains $3.8 million guaranteed. 

The last 21 Super Bowl winners dating all the way back to Troy Aikman and the Cowboys

through this past seasons Ravens victory with Joe Flacco have all been led by what can be considered a traditional NFL QB.  Yes, they differ in style, mechanics, athletic ability, but name a Super Bowl winner the last 21 years and you will come to find that the winning team was led be what can be gauged as a traditional NFL QB holding up the Lombardi Trophy.  When Teams begin to invest into this new era QB, the read option QB, and the Lombardi Trophy in hoisted up by one them, then and only then will I become a believer.  For now, I put my money on NFL defenses making this breed of QB just a fad that will disappear just like the "wildcat!"

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Shaler Area Alum Enters 1st Spring with Panthers

J.P. Holtz U of Pittsburgh TE & Shaler Area Alum

J.P. Holtz was an impact freshman at tight end last year. Emerging as a starter in the opening month of the season, Holtz totaled 13 receptions for 173 yards (13.3 avg.) and three touchdowns. Entering his sophomore year, he returns as a key building block for the offense.

One of the WPIAL's most versatile and highly recruited players...contributed at no fewer than five different positions during his Shaler Area varsity career, including running back, receiver, tight end, linebacker and punter...played quarterback as a freshman...considered one of the country's top tight end prospects...rated the nation's No. 10 tight end by Scout...as a senior, rushed for 337 yards on 72 carries, caught 19 passes for 332 yards and scored 15 touchdowns...Pennsylvania Football News All-Class AAAA...Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22"...Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25"...All-Northern Seven...selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic...rated Pennsylvania's No. 10 overall prospect by Scout and No. 24 by Rivals...led Shaler to the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs as a senior...played under Coach Neil Gordon...a four-year varsity letterman in both football and basketball...played center on the basketball team and helped Shaler to a 20-2 regular-season mark, the WPIAL Section 3 title and PIAA Class AAAA playoffs as a senior.

Personal: John Paul Holtz, born 8/28/93, is the son of Gina Stanek and Bob Holtz...has one brother, Rob, who played football at the College of Wooster...father played football at California University of Pennsylvania...mother played volleyball and softball at Robert Morris University.

Titans Assistant Coaches Son Meets Lynn Swann

Ian Meets Steelers Legend / Our Boy Ian and his impact on people!

The Strength of Child 

A Day to Remember:

2 Saturday's ago started out like any other Saturday.  We had a plan to go and watch the Pittsburgh Power in their 1st scrimmage of the year.  Boy would it turn out to be different. 

The First sign the day would be different:

As the players completed their warm ups and fans entered the field in the fan area, we were approached by a man in Pittsburgh Power attire.  He looked as if he were a coach and he carried himself as a coach.  He walked over to Ian and introduced himself and then looked at Natalie, my Father and I and introduced himself to us.  He thanked us for being there and said the Power needed good fans like us.  He was drawn to Ian and even expressed concern as to how close we were to the wall and that footballs and players would come flying into the wall and that we should be careful.  We were impressed by his genuine concern, personality and overall approach.  It was clear to see he came up to us because he wanted to meet Ian!  When he left us we watched where he went.  He is the Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Power; Derek Stingley. We were impressed!

The Scrimmage:

The scrimmage was held at Southpointe Field-house in Cannonsburgh, PA.  A very nice indoor facility with field turf.  The Arena game is fast with huge collisions.  We witnessed many players getting hit into the inflatable walls.  It looked fun and I believe the players felt the same.  The layout of the day was a typical scrimmage with the 2 teams practicing together for the first hour and a half:

  *Pass rush 1 on 1 drills

  *1 on 1 WR vs. DB drills

  *Blitz pick up & perimeter pass drills.

The Surprise:

As the scrimmage was going on and we were engaged in the speed and pace of things as they were happening we noticed a gentleman entering the field-house to our left.  He would have been very easy to miss, but we did not!  In walked Lynn Swann, the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame WR and we would later find out the owner of the Pittsburgh Power.  He entered with one of his sons.  He walked over to the teams and instantly was a celebrity.  We for the moment just thought he was out to see the day's event.  He blended in and we just went back to watching the scrimmage.  

The Scrimmage continued:

The competition was entertaining and the players were competing against each each other which created a great atmosphere.  There were a lot of people in attendance so the players were excited to see the fans and their play on the field showed great effort.  As a coach I respected and enjoyed their efforts as I know the coaches from both teams had to be pleased.  

The 2nd portion of the scrimmage was a live scrimmage with officials, chains and game like situations.  This lasted for almost an hour and a half.  Both teams had big moments with long passes, short quick screens a few timely runs and of course the defenses were aggressive with big hits and QB sacks.  

The Surprise continued:

The scrimmage ended and the players and coaches greeting each other with hand shakes in the middle of the field.  The Power staff then took down the inflatable walls and immediately the fans, players and coaches mingled. At the moment we were talking with some folks, Lynn Swann began to walk near by us.  He was drawn to Ian as was the head coach earlier.  He came over to me, I introduced him to Ian & Natalie.  We spoke for a moment.  He was polite and gracious to us. When he left us we looked at each other and said, "That was Lynn Swann!"  He is one of the all time greats!  We watched him as he walked to the door and fans began to approach him for autographs, pictures and hand shakes.  Everybody wanted a moment with the Hall of Fame Steelers legend.  He was gracious to all but you could see he had experience with crowds and was able to exit out the door.  

We continued to talk with some of the folks as there was a buzz in the air.  Football was here!  Out of nowhere Lynn Swann returned to us with a member of the Power staff and a camera.  He walked over to us and asked us if he could get a picture with Ian.  He then went to gather a number of Power players and directed them to come over and introduce themselves to us.  He was teaching his players to interact with fans and Ian was who he wanted his players to meet.  It was a great moment and just another incredible opportunity to see the impact that Ian has on people, even a 4-time Super Bowl winner and Hall of Fame WR Lynn Swann.  

The Day ended:

Overall the day was very entertaining and we enjoyed the moment to be  watching professional Arena football.  

We look forward to the season and would recommend that Pittsburgh fans support the Power by going to the games.  It is great entertainment, the players and coaches are professionals and the atmosphere is energizing.  

Follow Shaler Football's Blog & my Blog, FP2, to see how Ian impacts everybody that comes in contact with him.  We are blessed! "Take Control"!

ProGrass International Scout Bowl

Coach Siegle at the ProGrass International Scout Bowl

Coach Siegle joined a star studded coaching staff that included 

former U. of Pittsburgh Head Coaches Johnny Majors & Mike Gottfried 

in the 1st Annual ProGrass International Scout Bowl.

 

The 2013 ProGrass International Scout Bowl Coaching Staffs Announced

We are pleased to announce the head coaches of the ProGrass International Scout Bowl. The head coach of the South Team will be Coach Johnny Majors, Coach Majors has coached at the University of Pittsburgh and University of Tennessee. He has won one National Championship and three SEC titles. Coach Peter Vaas will coach the Nort Team. Coach Vaas was a head coach in NFL Europe where he won two World Bowl Championships. He is currently coaching at the University of South Florida.

Click Here to see the entire coaching staff!

Coach Siegle rubbed elbows with many of the all-time greats for a week in Alabama preparing for the ProGrass International Scout bowl.  Players from the United States, Europe, India, China, Mexico and more filled the North & South rosters.  The game was an opportunity for these players to showcase their talents in front of great coaches as well as an opportunity to get themselves recognized as the April Draft approaches. 

Click Here to see the results of the game!