SCREAMER

THE FORGOTTEN VOICE OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Football Broadcasting Fundamentals

I understood from the outset of my career that the radio audience did not see the game.  I had to be their eyes. Listeners drop in and out. They want to know what’s going on soon after they pay attention to the presentation. I had ten commandments for providing visualization.

1.   Spot the Ball: What yard? What down? How long to a first down?

2.   Set the Offense: What Formation

3.   Set the defense. What formation (3-4, nickel, prevent) Is the defense shifting? How is it shifting?

4.   Describe the play. Who carried the ball? Who blocked?

5.   Describe how the defense worked. Were there missed tackles?

6.   Set the new line of scrimmage, the down and needed yardage.

7.   Frequently tell the time left and, if a factor, the time outs left.

8.   Give score after every sequence of downs or possession change.

9.   Picture the play using the radio dial.

10. Have the rosters accessible. I used a board with offense on one side, defense on other. When a player came into the game, my spotter would move the tack from the player who left. In this way I always knew who was on the filed and could quickly get a name in case I did not remember.

The Offense Formations

Most listeners did not concern themselves with formations, but for those who did, here are some I would describe. 

1.   Detroit single wing: the backfield occupied exact positions in relation to the offensive line 3 to 5 yards behind the Guard or Tackle.

2.   “Notre Dame Box” was used by Green Bay.  The Right halfback shifted to a wingback position outside the right end.

3.   Sutherland’s single wing used the left halfback deeper than Detroit would position the right half. The “tailback” was a triple threat who could run, pass or receive.  This offense was unstoppable when a team had the talent at the tailback position and a damaging group of blockers up front.

4.   In 1938 the Giants introduced the “A.” The line would be unbalanced with the backs on the weak side.  In this scenario, the center could snap the ball to any of three backs who had the option to go to the strong or weak side putting tremendous pressure on the defense.

5.   The Bears introduced the “T” in 1940 behind Sid Luckman.  A rule change permitted free substitution allowing the bench to send in players with special talents.  For the first time, passing was permitted from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage.  In prior years, the passer had to be at least five yards back. The line was always balanced with the quarterback directly behind the center.  The “T” brought greater speed in execution, better fakes and interesting maneuvers by the backs. The balanced line provided a pocket for the quarterback or development of holes for a running back.

6.   In the single wing, the runner had to go to a specific area.  There had to be punishing blocks in front of him and when the defense got him it was at least two or three who would pounce.

7.   In 1960 the Eagles introduced the “Slot T” in which the end was wide and a flankerback was in the slot between the tackle and the end.  This offense spread the defense setting up the end and flanker for passes.  This offense won the NFL title for coach Buck Shaw over Green Bay.

8.   In 1961 the 49’ers introduced the shotgun.  Rarely did this formation lead to a run. Generally this is a 3rd and long play permitting the maximum number of receivers to get downfield.  Receiving the snap five to seven yards deep, the quarterback had better vision of the field and his receivers. If the defense could cover the potential receivers, the quarterback was unprotected.  The center had to have his head down when he snapped the ball.  A quick linebacker could knock him over and blitz the quarterback.  Quick release was mandated in this formation.

9.   I was an observer in 1968 when Hank Stram introduced the “I” at Kansas City. In this formation the ends are split wide opening the defense.  Backs line up behind each other.  This set allowed the ball to be well hidden. If the defense was fooled, the back having the ball could do almost anything.