Chapter 22

The following day, we returned to practice, once again watching film and having our individual meetings. The days were becoming regimented, much like they were in college. We had one day a week off, we practiced every day, then three hours in the weight room. The trainers had changed some of my routines, some changes I liked, some I did not. During that week of practice, after our day was over, I would see Josh head up the stairs while everyone else left the facility. Finally after the second day, I had to ask.

“Where you headed to Josh?” I asked.

“Study hall, wanna come?” he smiled.

His answer got the better of me, I was intrigued by the mystery.

“Sure, I’m in.” I replied.

I followed Josh up the stairs to the second floor, down another long hallway to a door marked private. He unlocked the door with his key, opened the door, flipping on the light switch. I walked into a large room, there were three large sofa’s in a U shaped formation, with a small table in the center. There were at least five remote controls on the small table. Against one of the walls there was a huge narrow table that had six high back leather office chairs tucked up under it. There was a set of cabinets on the other wall, which housed a large microwave, and a huge refrigerator. There was a small bathroom in the back of the room.

“This is my office.” laughed Josh.

Josh began to explain to me, what it takes to play quarterback in this league. After practice was over every day, he spent an additional three to five hours breaking down footage of the opponents defense both on live film and overhead photos taken during the entire game. By doing this, he could try to understand what coverages they would try and play based on our formations. He could also see exactly how they lined up against a certain formation, then by snapping pictures every two seconds, see the movements they made prior to the snap of the ball. By this time, I guess he could tell by the look on my face, I was a bit puzzled.

“Look, let me show you something, it will explain itself. Sit right there.” he said, pointing to the sofa.

He inserted a disc into the machine on the wall, above it were four huge flat screen TV’s arranged in a square shape. He walked over to the table, chose a remote then pressed play. I immediately recognized the footage as our past game against Miami. As he fast forward the film, I noticed each play was filmed from two angles. One high behind the offensive line, the other high above both the offense and defense. You could go back and forth and see different angles on each play we ran. The discs were edited so that only our offensive series were on these discs. He quickly found the play he had been looking for.

“Ok, now I want you to watch this. The play was Quad, Dual Trips, Jet Left, 18 Post Right, Vertical 88, 20 Seam Short.” he started.

“Ok, here you are right here, now come show me where your route takes you.” he commanded.

I walked over and pointed to where I was aligned in the Jet Left formation, my number 89 visible as I was in my stance. I drew an imaginary line up the field ten yards, then broke across the middle of the field between the two safeties. I then turned and looked at Josh, knowing that I had given the right answer.

“The answer is right, but the result was wrong. You’re beginning to think like Billy, you have one assignment period. If it happens fine, if not, oh well.” he scolded.

“I don’t get it Josh.” I answered, “That’s where I belong.”

“Wrong rookie, this is where “we” belong.” he said pointing to the end zone, thirty yards away,” Now watch the play carefully as I move it forward.”

He began flicking the remote control, one frame at a time, his eyes riveted on the screen. Just as I approached the spot on the field where I would make my break inside, he froze the picture.

“What do you see now?” he asked.

“I’m about to make my break to the middle, drag underneath the 88 slot.” I answered.

He pointed to the coverage by the defensive backs, especially the strong safety and linebacker, who were both no more than five yards from me. He explained that they were in a three level base coverage. That the linebacker was under my route, the strong safety over me. While if I made a clean break, I might be open for a moment, I missed the big picture. He explained that whenever I had no outside route called on a drag, I had to watch what the strong safety was doing with his feet. He started the tape again, clicking a few frames at a time. As soon as he started it, I saw the free safety moving forward slowly, his feet shoulder width, heels up. As soon as I made my break, he closed on the middle of the field rapidly.

“Here’s what you missed. See our back here, five yards up the field below you. Both the linebacker and the safety who you think are covering you, both blow their assignments. You are already over the top on the backer, you have him beat. Now here when you break, the safety is already committing himself our running back. Instead of cutting in front of him, getting him off the hook, right here, you take him deep. It’s six points baby.” he finished.

He kept running the play over and over, back and forth. He was right. The safety who was supposed to have me over the top, left me for a moment when he saw our running back swing out of the backfield. Had I not cut in front of him, he would have moved further up the field. I should have cut my route off and went vertical, it would have been either a long gain or maybe a touchdown.

“I see it Josh, but what if I cut my route off, and you throw the ball to where I am supposed to be going?” I asked seriously.

“Then we both fuck up, maybe it gets picked.” he answered, “But there are six to ten times a game when the defense completely blows their coverage. If you can exploit it two to five times, you will win almost every time.”

“I guess I understand.” I replied.

“No Brian, you never guess. You want to be one of those guys down there, the ones who just go through the motions, fine. You do exactly what you’re told, every time. You wanna be great? Then you put in the extra work, you do the time in here, in the weight room, out there.” he said, pointing to the field.

“You want to be just another Billy Huber ten years from now, scared to death some snot nosed rookie is going to take your place? If you do, get the fuck out of here, don’t waste my time.” he said, loudly.

He set the remote down gently on the table, walked over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders. His face relaxed, a warm smile crossing it.

“Brian, I can’t promise you anything. But I know this, athletically, you’re the most gifted tight end, I have ever played with. You have great hands, you have no ego, you’re willing to learn. Learn the right way, work your ass off, I promise you, it will pay off.” he said, softly.

Over the next three hours, we watched film of our next opponent, he took notes, every now and then pointing out what the defense was doing. The more I watched, the more you noticed little subtle differences, which individually didn’t mean much, but put together made a huge difference. Finally at almost six that afternoon, he shut off the DVD, tossed the remote to the table.

“Let’s go home. Here is your copy of their defense, here’s mine. Go home and study.’, he told me.

I did as I was told for the rest of the week, I studied film after practice with Josh, I studied film of other tight ends, what they did. I looked at thousands of pictures of formations, over and over.

We had our third preseason game scheduled in Detroit, it was customary for the starters to play close to three quarters, this was their tune up game. Next week in our final game, they would take only a few snaps, no one wanted to get hurt the week before the regular season started. We held true to form, Billy played most of the game, I had maybe five snaps, I didn’t catch a pass.

The following Monday, we cut down from eighty players to sixty five. It was sad to see guys cleaning out their lockers, their hopes and dreams, at least temporarily placed on hold. What it also meant was that the players left would be getting more reps, the days would be longer.

By now, practice had become the offense against the defense, everyone was getting a little anxious, we were tired of hitting on each other. Several times already this week, players had to be separated. I was beginning to understand some of what Josh was teaching, I could sometimes see what the defense would do before they did it. But I was no where near, where I needed to be. We were winding down practice on Monday, we had maybe ten plays left to run. We were simulating fourth down’s with medium yardage to go, basically game on the line type drills. Josh had called a trips right formation, which meant we lined up three receivers to the right side of the field. One ran a go route, which took him long down the side line, the second ran a hook fifteen yards up the field, the last ran a quick ten yard out. The fourth receiver lined up on the left, I was in the slot. He ran a deep post, I was supposed to run a fifteen yard out pattern. I was the check down receiver, which meant I was the last option, or if they blitzed, I became the hot read and ran a skinny post across the middle.

As we came up to the line of scrimmage, my eyes were down field, scanning the defense. They appeared to be in Cover Two or a Zone package. It appeared the strong safety and linebacker would be responsible for my coverage. With that understood, I knew my route would be the original out pattern, unless the linebacker crept up to the line showing blitz. As Josh began his cadence, the defense suddenly shifted, the safety slid over to the trips side, the linebacker on my side dropped eight yards into coverage. I thought I recognized what appeared to be man coverage on my side of the field, zone on the other. What that meant was that the linebacker would have me man to man. I snapped my head around to the center of the field to see what Josh was doing. He was already locked on me, his eyes in my direction as he continued to call cadence.

I looked down the line at the ball, last thing I wanted was to jump off sides being too eager. The ball was snapped, I came off the line clean, Just a few short steps up field, confirmed the linebacker did indeed have me one on one. I drove hard up the field, at the ten yard mark, slowed and began a lazy turn to the outside. The linebacker bit, taking a full step and a half up the field. I planted my left foot hard, then accelerated up the field, leaving him two steps behind. At twenty yards, I glanced back to the line of scrimmage, the ball was already out of Josh’s hand. He led me perfectly, I never broke stride, the play resulting in a forty yard touchdown, no one came close.

“Jesus H. Christ, what in the living fuck was that?” Walt Carmichael, our defensive coordinator yelled, “Who the fuck was supposed to be covering the kid?”

As I trotted back to the huddle, you could see the excitement in Josh’s eyes. For the first time, he saw the fruits of his labor pay off, I actually read the same thing, at the same time he did.

“That was a big league read baby.” he said, patting me on the ass.

Walt was still out of control, ranting and raving at his defense, our Head Coach Joe Stanton, finally called off what was left of the remaining few plays. As we started off the field, I could see Coach Stanton was reading Coach Reed the riot act about something. As we headed to the locker room, Coach Reed called out for both Josh and I, to join him.

“Who in God’s name, called that adjustment just now. Please tell me it was an audible, that I didn’t hear Josh.” he barked.

Being the rookie, I knew I place, I kept my mouth shut. Josh looked at me with a smile, then turned back to Coach Reed.

“It was an adjustment we both saw at the same time Coach, the rookie made a big time read.” he said.

I knew from the little time I had been at this level, receivers broke off their routes all the time. I’m not sure what Coach Reed was after, the fact that we made the adjustment, or the fact we pulled it off so well. Either way he turned to me, ready to give me hell.

“So what you’re saying is, baby face here, barely a month in his pro career, makes an on the fly adjustment, on fourth down, with the game on the line?” he asked.

“Yep Coach, that’s pretty much it.” Josh replied.

Coach Reed turned to Josh pissed because he answered so quickly. He turned back to me pointing his finger in my face.

“You get the fuck out of here. I need to talk to him for a minute.” he shouted.

“Yes sir.” I said, trotting off the field, glad to be clear of the shit storm.

By the time I hit the locker room, everyone was already undressing, hitting the showers. The mood was definitely somber, the locker room was unusually quiet, By the time I was about ready to hit the shower, Josh walked back in the locker room. He passed me on the way to his locker, he winked at me as he walked by.

I showered dressed and left the facility, stopping off at Ms. Jessica’s to drop off the rental agreement papers, and a check for the first six months rent. She informed the condo board had already accepted me as a tenant, although it would be on a probationary basis. If everything went well for the first three months, I would be confirmed. Jessica, told me she was removing her personal items the rest of the week, I could move in Saturday morning, or anytime there after. She handed me the keys, wishing me good luck.

The following day after practice, Coach Reed asked to see me in his office. He offered me a seat as I walked in, closing the door behind me. He sat on the edge of his desk, he appeared to be a bit nervous.

“Brian, all in all, I am extremely pleased at the progress you have made. I had no idea, you have been spending time with Josh in the film room, taking film home at night with you. Right now, honestly, it’s a toss up between you and Huber, as to who I would start. I going to play you quite a bit Saturday night, here in our last game, before our season opener.” he stated.

“Thanks Coach, I appreciate it.” I answered.

“Don’t thank me, you will be playing with all backups mostly. But I need you to work on your run blocking, it’s the weakest part of your game. That is the only reason Huber will start ahead of you, he does a little bit better job. You’re a good kid Stevens, sometimes I think a little too nice.” he said, “If I could put Huber’s ego in your body, I would have an all pro.”

He dismissed me and I exited the complex, trying to sort out just what he meant by his last remark. Billy Huber, while a long time pro, was by all accounts, an arrogant asshole. Did he really want me to become like him? That night at the hotel, I studied film on the New York team that we would play Saturday night.

True to promise, the starter’s played about three offensive series on Saturday night, then hit the benches. Different combinations of backup’s played the majority of the game, all desperately trying to make their final bid to secure a roster spot. I had a decent game with five catches for sixty seven yards, although I had been overthrown once in the end zone, it would have been a touchdown if Josh had been in the game.

I showered, then dressed making my way out of the stadium to my car. Several hundred fans were still waiting around to see the players as they left the complex. I signed autograph’s for a few minutes, making my way along the steel barricades. I finally made my way to the end of the barricades, then out to the parking lot. That night in my hotel room, I gathered up what was left of my personal belongings in a pile.

The following morning, I loaded my car with my things, checked out of the hotel, then drove across town to the condo. It took only three trips up the stairs to bring what little I had into the unit. True to her word, Ms. Jessica had cleared the unit of all personal items, linens, bedding and such. I suddenly realized, I had to go shopping right way. I checked the refrigerator, it was empty other than three bottles of water. I decided to go grocery shopping as well.

For the first time in my life, I went to the grocery store alone, responsible for all of the purchases. It took me over two hours to get out, my basket was overflowing to capacity. I got home and starting hauling the bags up the flight of stairs. On my last trip up, I saw Alexis coming out of her unit as I passed by.

“Hey, you moved in?” she asked.

“Yep, trying to hurry up and get the things I need. Next I have to go get towels, sheets, pillows and stuff like that. I don’t have a clue as to what I need.” I laughed.

“Well look, I am headed over to have lunch with my friend Paige, how about after lunch I help you out?” she offered.

“Alexis, I can’t keep asking you to do everything for me.” I replied.

“You didn’t ask, I offered. See you in a few hours.” she laughed, heading in the other direction.

I went inside, organized all the groceries in the different cabinets, then made a quick bite to eat. One thing I immediately knew, I needed a TV bad, I was bored to tears. I called back home and spoke to Ashley for a few minutes, she as well was on her way out to see some friends. Just a minute or so after I had hung up with her, there was a knock on my door. I got up, opened the door to see Alexis and a very attractive blonde hair girl standing there.

“Hey Brian, this is my friend Paige. Paige, this is Brian Stevens.” she said, making the introductions, “We are both going to help you spend your money.”

“Sure, why not. Come in please.” I offered.

Both women entered the condo, Alexis leading the way. She had a small tablet in her hand, with an ink pen in the other. She walked through the unit making notes on the colors and décor of each room and what was needed. After about ten minutes, she told me she was ready to go. I locked up and headed down the stairs following the two women. I unlocked the car as we approached it, Paige made her first comment of the day.

“Holy crap, that a nice ride.” she laughed.

“Thank you.” I replied, getting in.

Alexis led me a few miles away to a store that specialized in linen and bedding. We got out, I grabbed a shopping cart at the entrance and followed the women into the store. We made our way over to section where the bath towels and wash rags were. I there learned that you had to have both guest towels and regular towels. The guest towels were out for display only, the regular towels you would use daily. They both went back and forth over the color of the display towels for both bathrooms. They finally settled on both sets, then turned to me.

“How often do you want to wash clothes every week?” Alexis asked.

“With my schedule now, maybe once, twice at the most.” I replied.

“Well then we better get you at least a dozen bath towels and wash cloths.” she said.

We did the same routine with the kitchen towels, sheets, curtains, pillows and comforter sets. I noticed several people giving me smiles, I guess I was sort of comical pushing this loaded basket around behind the two attractive women. Another thing I noticed about Alexis, she never bought cheap, it was almost always the best they had. By the time we checked out, I had spent close to fifteen hundred dollars. I stuffed the trunk of my car with the bags, putting the remaining ones on part of the back seat, making sure Paige still had enough room. We drove directly back to the condo, they both helped bring all of the purchases inside. As I was pulling everything out of the bags, I guess I looked pretty confused.

“Alexis, I think Brian may need some help decorating, shall we?” Paige giggled.

“I think so Paige. I bet he doesn’t know a Duvet from a defensive back.” she laughed.

I pretended to once again look through the large bundle of items on the sofa, then back at the women.

“Well I know there is no defensive back here, at least.” I replied.

The two women waved me off and quickly went about their work around the condo. Within a few hours, I have to admit, the place looked really nice. Everything they had purchased went so well with the colors of the room, I was really impressed. They helped me stack the extra towels and things in the linen closet, the place was really coming together. I felt that I owed the both of them for all of their help today.

“Can I take you two ladies out to dinner, it’s on me. I owe you both big time.” I asked.

The two women looked at each other in an unusal way, then Alexis turned to me.

“Maybe next time, Paige has to get home.” she answered.

Once again, I thanked the ladies for all of their help and promised to take them to dinner the first chance we could all make it. I looked at the clock, it was still only five in the evening, I had time to go buy a TV. There was a huge electronics store only minutes away, I drove there in less than five minutes. I settled on a large flat screen with a matching stand, the salesman told me it was the best in the store. I arranged for them to deliver it Monday afternoon as late as possible. That way I was sure to be back from practice.

Monday morning’s started off with a team meeting, then we broke down into offensive and defensive groups. Coach Reed went over Sunday’s game plan, what we would try and exploit, their strength’s and their weaknesses. We were opening on the road against Oakland, a division opponent, kickoff was noon on Sunday. Because the game was against a division opponent, it made it all the more critical. We practiced hard all week, the team had definitely become sharper, things were beginning to mesh. Now that Billy was named the starter, he seemed to back off of me somewhat, although we barely spoke. I did get some work in with the first unit, although it was mostly in goal line situations, where my height was effective against the shorter secondary. I called Mr. Timmons on Saturday, to see if the game would be televised there locally, he said it would not. We talked for a while, I could tell he was still grieving from the loss of his child, as I was. Every time we would start talking about the past, suddenly before mentioning her name, one of us would abruptly stop. He wished me well and we hung up.

I arrived at the stadium roughly about nine o’clock Sunday morning, it was amazing at the crowd already on site. One entire parking lot was tailgating, while vendors were setting up there wares near the various entrances to the stadium. I showed my identification to security and was allowed to enter the complex. When I got into our locker room, maybe a dozen or so players were already there, the trainers were working on them. Since I had made the transition to offense, I didn’t require near the preparation that I had in prior years.