A few years a go we were fortunate enough to have Jeff
Saturday, the colts offensive center, come speak to the
men and boys at our church. In a question and answer period at
the end of his talk I asked the question that everybody wants
to ask somebody on the offensive side of the line with the
Colts..."Jeff, how much of all the pointing and
re-directing is real adjustments and how much of it is just
for show and to confuse the defense?" Jeff's classic
answer as he smiled a big smile & shrugged his shoulders
was "I can't tell you that!"
Well, in the 15th chapter of Tony Dungy's book,
"Quiet Strength" Tony surprisingly addresses
the subject in great detail...
"Our offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, gives Peyton a
'concept,' telling him whether we should run or pass. He also
sends in four or five possible plays for Peyton to choose
from. Sometimes, to help Peyton sort out what is going on, Tom
will specify in what order to think through those four or five
plays. But beyond that, the pressure is on the quarterback
after he gets to the line of scrimmage. "Our offense
lines up quickly to give the quarterback enough time to look
at the defensive coverage, identify any weak spots, and select
the right play. We don't go in motion, we don't change
personnel groupings, we don't shift - we just line up.
The defense will try to disguise what they are doing as long
as possible, but eventually they have to get into a position
to actually play. Once they do, Peyton dials up whichever play
he feels gives us the greatest chance of success."
Interesting stuff huh? Here's what I get from that... Peyton
has a general idea of what he and the team wants to do, but he
is also ready to adjust if the defense is throwing something
at him that would shut down the first of those four or five
plays. He's got a general game plan, an even bigger one than
the one he walks to the line of scrimmage with, but he's also
PREPARED with more than one option to accomplish that
pre-determined game plan when he sees how the defense is
reacting.
Did you hear the part where Tony Says..."The defense will
try to disguise what they are doing as long as possible ..."
? Guys... we think that Satan must be dressed in all red
with a goatee , have horns coming out of his head, and be
holding a pitch fork, but the reality is, he is disguising
himself as things that we don't realize are threatening our
relationship with God and being all he wants us to be until
it's too late.... How many times are we gonna fall for
that, and not recognize Satan's tactics when we see them?
Your game plan for living a successful Godly life has to be
determined and layed out in your mind and heart
before you get out of bed, or walk out the house each day, and
like Peyton, have those 4 or 5 options, depending on the
circumstances you are in each day that you can choose from to
accomplish the overall game plan. Do you think Peyton
might be pretty familiar with those 4 - 5 options before Tom
Moore gives them to him? What spiritual Options are you
familiar enough with that you can go to with confidence to not
be shut down by your enemy in the world each day? You don't
have to answer these questions out loud , but I hope you'll
think about how prepared you are or aren't to do battle when
you step to the line of scrimmage in the world each day! Cause
I've got news for you. That line of scrimmage is not going
away. You've got to deal with it! You can't retire from
it like a football player.
- Do you know Jesus Christ personally or do you know about
him being in somebody else's playbook?
- Do you attend church, and are you active there? that's
where you can get a clear picture of the Game Plan others
are already on the same page about.
- What about your prayer life...can you call on it when you
need it?
- Do you read God's word? I'll bet Peyton knows his playbook forwards
& backwards.
- Do you have team-mates you can count on to get you
thru? Who are you running with?
1 Peter 3:15... "But in
your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
give an answer (In word or deed) to everyone who asks you
to give a reason for the hope that you have."
Info in Parenthesis added by Ray Marsh
