The following is from ESPN’s NFL Today Podcast (5/28). Former Wolverine Dhani Jones breaks down what is going through his mind hypothetically after making a tackle on first down heading into second down: “Second down after the whistle blows, between getting up from making the tackle and coming back to the huddle. I’m just thinking about exactly what did I do on this last play, I take about 5 seconds to deliberate did I make a good play, did I not make a good play, what could I have done better, then as soon as that happens, I get rid of that information and then my eyes go right to the sideline. And at the same time my eyes are going to the sideline making my way back to the huddle, I’m speaking to my SAM and WILL linebacker making sure they get the down and distance and make sure they get everyone back in the huddle. If everyone is not in the huddle then also have to relay my own voice to make sure everyone gets in the huddle. At the same time Zim is speaking in my headset telling me what I did wrong or what I need to do better for the next play. While at the same time he’s giving me the information of what the next call is going to be. While At the same time sometimes he can adjust and change depending upon what the personnel and formation is. So once I get the information, then I relay it to the guys, I break the huddle, and sometimes I have to relay it a few more times. Then the offense I’m looking and spotting how many tight ends, how many running backs, how many receivers they have in the huddle what the what the quarterback is doing, what direction he is going, what the primary tight end is doing with each personnel, it could be 2 tight ends, or it could be clubs, 3 tight ends or it could be regular formation one tight end, so I have to spot him, I have to make the call, depending upon either right or left. We’re setting the defense depending upon what we’re doing on different blitzes or if we’re doing regular coverage, then I have to pass the information back and forth between the SAM and the WILL and also talk to the corners and defensive linemen to make interior adjustments to make sure they might be on their specific path or blitz, or free-for-all if you will, then I have to sort of pay attention to the cadence, pass that information to the WILL and the SAM, then they relay it, listen to my safeties tell me what they might think might be the next play will be or what’s going to happen in the next couple of seconds. Then mind the snap count, look at the play clock, see where the quarterback is going to snap the ball, then go on my way and make the next play.”
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