Meeting the Team

"Hey Coach," Coach Matthew turns around and looks up at me, "I am Aristide, remember, the kid that signed up?"

"Yeah, I know you, I looked you up a little, 128 sacks, sure it ain't bloated? Defensive tackle is yours if it is true, you got your stuff?"

"Yeah, Coach White gave me my stuff."

"Come to my office after practice, but right now, get on the field, I want to see what you are made of," He turns to the field, "David! Let's run with one safety, new guy on defensive tackle," I jog to the line and turn to the middle linebacker, he flexes his arm and I nod, attaching my helmet. Cassandra is sitting on the bleachers and Michael is lined up as running back. The QB says hut and I slam into the left guard, sending him to the floor. I see the hand off happen as Michael is going to run it, they haven't seen me yet, so I have the advantage. I lower my head and slam into both of them. Crashing to the ground. I get up and roar. I was back to my old self, the line busting tackle. Cassandra is cheering on the bleachers and my teammates all are around me pumping me up even more. Michael gets up and starts complaining to his linemen. I laugh and the Coach comes onto the field and slaps me on the back.

"You didn't tell me you were John Randle, David was hoping you would be good so he could just back special teamer, if you want, this can be your spot, what do you think?"

"I'm up for that."

"Perfect, Run it again, let's go, Bill, watch it with Aristide, he is talented," Bill smiles at me as we line up again. This time the QB was in the shotgun, he made a fake hut expecting me to jump it, but as soon as the ball moves, I leap from my position. Bill lowers his body to try and trip me up. I smile as I hop over his low position and then meet Michael blocking. I lower my head and push him back, the QB, being left handed doesn't see me roaring up towards him and I slam into his back as I spot the ball fall from his hands. I take it out of the air and push off of Nelson, the QB, and I am heading to the end zone. I turn to see Michael chasing me down. 'No one else,' I see him catching up. I turn, lowering my shoulder and he folds over me and falls behind me. I continue to run and set two feet in the end zone. The team stares blankly at me, I see the coaches talking, but I can't hear what they are saying. I squat down next to Michael who is still slowly getting up, "Good job, buddy," I offer my hand to help him up but he swats it away and glares at me, "Fine, whatever you want then," He spits in front of me, "Okay, sure thing then," I shrug it off and I notice Cassandra waving at me. I wave back and she signals with vague hand motions that we should talk afterwards. I nod and go over to the coaches, who are still talking.

"We might actually have something here, not like before."

"Yeah, I agree, he is talented, if our linemen can block him, they can block anyone," Coach Matthew turns to me, "You are amazing, why didn't you tell me that when you signed up?"

"I didn't know what level the team was," I smile awkwardly and then ask him something, "You mind if I try to teach the Oline guys a few tricks?"

"Not at all."

After the team broke up into several groups, I stand next to Coach Matthews as he talks to the linemen, both Defensive and Offensive, "Bill, guard, Perry, center, Aristide, Defense," We line up facing each other, I am bigger than most of them, "I want you too to combo Aristide, hold him for 4 seconds minimum, more if you can, on my call," He says hut and I burst forwards as Perry pushes me to the side and Bill throws himself at my legs. I fall down, landing behind them. The coach begins to shout, "What the hell was that?! You know the rules, you can't double with a high and low, that is a foul, 15 yards for personal foul or targeting, for Christ sake," He slams his clipboard on the floor, "You alright?" He asks as one of the Defensive ends helps me up, "Sorry about that, let's do that again, but without a high and low or a foul, okay?" We all nod, "Perry, stay on center, William, guard this time," He looks down at his clipboard, "You know what, I was 5 on offense, 3 on defense, our normal rush pattern," I line up in front of the center, "I want a collapsed pocket, no weak sauce," He stands behind the defense, "When the center moves the ball, you go," He, of course, made a fake hut but, to my surprise, no one jumps, Perry throws the ball back and we rush, I, being in the middle, have the luck of get a three on one. The three of them, together, outweigh me by over 300 pounds. Even if I try to move them back, I could only move so much. I smile as I realized that both of our ends had a one on one with the tackles. I continue to push forwards, knocking one of the guards down, and suddenly, they are off balanced and I roll right over them, slamming my shoulder into the dummy bag that represented the QB. I get up and get high-5's from the other guys. I walk up to the coach, "Put me in as Guard, I want to show them how you play both ways."

"Go ahead, One on one?" I nod, "Adrian, DT against Aristide, he wants to show off," Everyone laughs, even I do as Adrian lines up in front of me, he looks heavier than me, something like 330 pounds, and slightly shorter than me, "Just rush him, on my call," I place myself in a stable stance as he places himself leaning forwards, "Seee-hut!" He keeps his body low as he tries to get his helmet under mine to bullrush me. I stay low as well and our helmets collide, I grab the part of his pads over his chest and lift him up, preventing a bullrush. He tries to use his weight against me and I hold on by staying lower than him. After a few seconds, he is able to move me backwards and makes me fall down as he does as well. The coach blows the whistle and we both get up, "Good job you two, Perry, Bill, William, Garry and James, you guys were looking, right?" They nod, "That is what you need to do, stay low and not allow them to throw you off balance or beat you in speed, go with coach Pat, you guys, with me, let's work on the set up, Linebackers, get dummies, four more," They nod and jog off, "We are going to practice plays and coverage."