Sporting News, The: Play-calling is all about preparation

There may be no more convenient punching bag than the play-caller of a struggling offense. We call for his head, make him the butt of our jokes and scrutinize everything from his cockeyed headset to his pattern of speech. But the truth is the play-call has a lot less to do with the success of a play than the preparation.

Play-calling is ridiculously overrated.

"In pressure situations, play-calling can be critical--third downs, fourth and 1s, red zone," says Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil. "But the specific play that is called may not be as critical as the American fan thinks it is. When I used to call them all myself, I can't tell you how many times the guy signaled in the wrong play and the play they ran was better than the one I was going to call."

Months of planning, thinking and training goes into every call transmitted from a coach's microphone to a quarterback's ear piece. Even now, in the quietest days on the NFL calendar, future play-calls are being shaped in darkened meeting rooms and on sunny practice fields.

Panthers coach John Fox talks about using this time to teach players to "customize" the Panthers' play-calls. "When you make the (defensive) call, all you know is the down and distance, the (opponent's) tendency and the personnel group," Fox says. "From there, you have to teach your player how to customize the call based on formation, receiver location, stances, a lot of things. They have to be schooled to recognize those things. Laying the foundation is critical."

Even more critical is assessing the opponent during the week and putting together a game plan that can take advantage of five to seven plays ready to be called, in order, before the start of the game for every conceivable down and distance and from every location on the field.

After the first 20 plays or so, Weis might start to deviate from the script based on how an opponent is playing the Patriots. Then again, he might stick with the precall sheet if it's going well.

Either way, what he does on the sideline won't influence the outcome as much as what he has done in the days and months preceding the game.

SPEED READS

* The Jets have been shopping LaMont Jordan all spring, but trading him might be a big mistake. Curtis Martin is showing signs of decline. Martin, 31, scored only two touchdowns last season--down from seven, 10 and nine the previous three seasons. His carries of 20 yards or more have dropped, and he hasn't caught a TD pass since the 2000 season.

* Don't expect teams to sign their rookies by July 4 this year. With most camps not starting until late July, teams won't sign many of their draft picks until well into the month. Look for July 25 to be the new unofficial rookie signing date.

* The Bucs have spent the offseason grabbing talent from everywhere, and now they appear ready to make a smart move and grab Lal Heneghan, who until last month served as vice president of football operations and general counsel for the Browns. In that capacity, he handled most of the Browns' contract negotiations and was a voice of reason. The team made a mistake when it fired him.

--The War Room

M@IL BONDING

THE WAR ROOM ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

Did Dan Marino burn his bridges in Miami when he resigned from his senior vice President's job three weeks after accepting it? Do you think he might change his mind and return to the organization?

Will Trujillo, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Will: Marino handled the situation very honestly with owner Wayne Huizenga and still has a strong relationship with him and the club. In fact, Marino has a standing offer to return to the job if he chooses. He felt he was unprepared at the time to do the job right. He has decided to take it a step at a time, do his prep work and continue to learn about front-office operations. He has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Miami front office.

INSIDE DISH

By TSN correspondents

Terry Donahue is in his fourth year as general manager of the 49ers, and it's uncertain whether he'll be around next year to continue his reconstruction project. His contract expires after next April's draft, and he doesn't anticipate talking with team owner John York about his future until after the season. None of the 27 draft picks in Donahue's tenure as G.M. has made the Pro Bowl, though eight are projected to be starters in 2004. Donahue also played a key role in Bill Walsh's last draft as G.M., in 2000, when eight of 11 draft choices developed into starting players, including LBs Julian Peterson and Jeff Ulbrich, CBs Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster and DE John Engelberger.... Seldom-used QB Travis Brown has drawn high praise from the Bills' coaching staff; and his strong offseason convinced the team not to pursue a more proven backup for starter Drew Bleds0e. Quarterback depth was a concern after the release of Alex Van Pelt, who riffled his physical following wrist surgery, in early spring. The Bills considered Kordell Stewart, who signed with the Ravens, but their confidence in Brown has grown steadily. They like his command in the huddle and the way he is throwing. Though Brown has played in four NFL games in four years, the team hopes he can be a solid No. 2 quarterback until first-round draft pick J.P. Losman is ready to assume that role.... Continual offseason distractions have Vikings officials worried. Despite an extra commitment by coach Mike Tice to counsel players on outside distractions, problems keep creeping up. Starting MLB E.J. Henderson has been arrested for drunken driving and been involved in a violent fight in the past two months alone. SLB Mike Nattiel and reserve TE Steve Farmer joined Henderson in a recent melee outside a Minneapolis nightclub. The incidents show an alarming lack of maturity. Tice has promised that players may lose their starting jobs if problems persist, though it's hard to envision Henderson losing his because of his great potential. Nattiel will be pushed early in camp by second round pick Dontarrious Thomas. The rookie was going to push Nattiel anyway, but the arrest will expedite the process. Farmer, an undrafted 2003 rookie who spent last season on injured reserve, likely won't make the team.... The Colts are gambling that a slew of young players can elevate their game and the defense after a so-so 2003 season. The Colts lost three starters after their loss to the Patriots in the AFC championship game, but they were one of only five teams that did not make significant investments in the free-agent market. Players on the spot include LB Cato June, CBs Donald Strickland and Joseph Jefferson and rookie S Bob Sanders. All could be in the starting lineup for the opener at New England. None has started a regular-season game at his projected position, though Strickland started 11 games--including three in the playoffs--at safety as a rookie last season. The trouble with the gamble is the Colts won't know if it has paid off until October or November.