After going undefeated through the first seven games we seemed to be cruising at a speed that would guide us straight into the playoffs. We hit our first speed bump two weeks ago in Calgary, a game that looked like it could go either way until the final seconds. The same can’t be said for last week’s debacle in Toronto, where we not only hit a speed bump, but a Montreal-sized pot hole.
From week to week our main goal offensively is to make improvements in our game. For the offensive line this could include giving the quarterback extra time to execute the plays and creating larger holes for the running backs. Receivers may focus on running more exact routes or catching the ball. The general idea is that if each player makes small improvements that will add up to one large improvement for the entire offense. We had been fairly successful in achieving this, even during our loss in Calgary, but in Toronto rather than each player making small improvements we all seemed to take steps back.
In football, I like to look at it as you are either getting better or getting worse, there is no such thing as a status quo. If you aren’t improving, your opponent will, and a team that you were able to beat one week will come back and beat you. We just passed the halfway point in the season and though our last 2 games haven’t been what we have come to expect from ourselves it is not time to hit the panic button just yet. In order for our offense to get back up to cruising speed it is time for a tune up, where each of us refocuses and gets back to the basics of playing football. If we can manage to do that and begin to make those weekly improvements we should be ready to shift into overdrive for the second half of the season.
On a personal note, I’d like to thank Noah Sidel, the former Als’ Assistant Media Relations Director, who worked with me from the start of the Fritz File. Without his energy and support there never would have been a Fritz File. Good luck to him in his future endeavors.
Luke Fritz
Offensive Tackle
#61
