[Bob M.]

REPLY: Matt's post about "If you see the hole open..." is right on the money. Here's a story about what can happen if you don't see the hole open--or if you see it too late. I'm regularly a wing or BJ. I was working the U spot as a replacement in a varsity game. Play flow goes to the offense's left--my right. I take a short step to my left and turn right to watch the action at the point of attack. Out of the corner of my eye, I see an offensive lineman coming back toward the right (my) side of the field . I turn just in time to see him trapping the defensive end. Uh-oh! And guess who's standing smack dab in the middle of the real point of attack with no place to go??!! Well, the runner grabs me by the front of my shirt (at the zipper) to keep from knocking me over. He's running full tilt, and I'm backpedalling like hell as about five defenders hit us. I end up on the bottom of the pile. Wind knocked out of me, two cracked ribs, a broken pair of glasses, and a bloody nose. I finished the game, but couldn't sit up for the next two weeks because of the ribs. Lesson learned...look out for counter plays!