What rules would football coaches change?

By MICHAEL CARVELL

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What kinds of changes would some of metro Atlanta’s top high school football coaches make if they were in charge of the Georgia High School Association for one day?

They had some interesting answers:

● Alan Chadwick, Marist: “Change blocking below the waist. When they disallowed running backs to block below the waist, it basically hurt the little guy in high school football. He’s got to go match up with a big 235-pound defensive end. He has got to hit him head on, as opposed to blocking him. How many injuries did you see in college with option teams, such as Georgia Tech and Air Force? All these option teams go out there and cut on the perimeter ... safeties, corners and everybody. How many injuries do you actually see from that? None.

“That was a rule made to protect people in high school. But in college, you don’t see any more injuries at the level because of a cut block. Knee injuries happen because of a freak accident, not because of a particular kind of block. We get more wide receivers blocking downfield that get rolled into from behind by a running back or defensive back and get their knee tore up than we do with people blocking below the waist.”

● Ron Gartrell, Stephenson: “I don’t particularly like the overtime rule they have now with putting the ball on the 25-yard line. The strategy is too easy. It’s a flip of the coin and a missed tackle, and the game is over. I think the old rule, with two halves, was better. No matter what the score was after the first five minutes, then you knew you would get another five minutes of overtime. I just like the game that way better.

● Jasper Jewell, Miller Grove: “I liked it better when we were able to do two preseason jamborees in August instead of one. I could get a look at a team that runs an option offense or spread offense, or run a 3-4 defense or 4-3. But now with only one full scrimmage, you have pick your luck and see what you get.

“Our kids get tired of hitting against each other. You can simulate as much as you want. For example, next week we’re going off to camp. We’ll have a 25-play controlled scrimmage at night, but we’re still going against our self. After so long, you want to see what you have as coaches and as players against other competition.”

● Roderick Moore, McNair: “I’d love to see the tackle-eligible play return. Let the big boys have a chance to catch the ball. You make the tackle [become] a receiver on an offensive play. All you’ve got to do is tell the referee before the play. In the state of Georgia, we’ve got some big and talented offensive linemen. Some of them play basketball. Just because they are 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds doesn’t mean they can’t catch a pass around the goal line or in short yardage. It would make the game a little bit more fun.”

● Mike Rozier, Henry County: “I’d like to see you have the chance to return it when they kick it off into the end zone. Right now, it’s an automatic touchback, even if it’s only an inch over the line. Union Grove had a kicker last year who was impressive. He was a weapon. They knew their defense was going to start at the 20. He kicked it out of the end zone every time. We have a great returner in Markeith Ambles, and I would’ve liked to see him have some chances to return it rather than us have to go 80 yards every possession.”

● Scott Walker, Milton: “I wish we could have a scrimmage at the end of spring practice, like they do in Florida, and go play somebody else. For example, we lost 37 seniors from last year. Playing against each other, you have so many new kids, you don’t really know how good you are. You don’t get a real good feel like you would if you could scrimmage say, Lassiter. We could get a better feel on where we’re at.

“Our kids love preseason camp, but hate spring practice; there’s really nothing to look forward to at the end of it. Our spring game is an intrasquad scrimmage, and it is what it is. We won’t really get an idea where we stand until our scrimmage in August against Northview.”