Friday, August 25, 2006

Contra Costa Times: Center's job in shotgun not a snap

Mack entrusted with responsibility of getting ball to his quarterback

By Jay Heater

BERKELEY - Cal offensive line coach Jim Michalczik embarked upon a journey last summer to seek out gurus who could explain the secret of the shotgun snap. He visited West Virginia offensive line coach Rick Trickett, Florida assistant John Hevesy and Chicago Bears line coach Howard Mudd (a Cal assistant in 1972-73). All told a familiar tale. The snap, they said, must be a natural reaction. "You can't think about snapping when you are snapping," Michalczik said.

Michalczik delivered that message to sophomore center Alex Mack, who was given the chore of making the shotgun snap a natural reaction in six months. Whether he has mastered the art will be discovered on Sept. 2 when the Bears open their season at Tennessee.

Here is the link.

No comments: