The Look Test

Absent any other information, which guys in this picture would you pick on your basketball team? I'll bet you most people won't pick the guy with the red flower shorts. Why? Because he does not pass the look test. (photo courtesy the LostOgle blog)

I used to play a lot of pickup basketball. Teams are usually decided on who you see at the gym and you ask him if you want to play on your team. So guess what, if there were a lot of guys in the gym. Guess who I am going to ask to be on my team first? Absent, any other information, I'll take the guy who "looks" like a player. In the case of basketball height is a major factor, muscles and basketball built are a factor, and does the guy dress like a basketball player should dress (shoes, shorts, etc) is another factor.

Why am mentioning this? Because I have this theory that if your team "looks" like they can play, there's a good chance that you can actually play. I feel that there is a strong correlation to wheter your team has as much of the look test items below and your the teams on-field result.

I feel "look" is really another word for doing all the little things to improve your football program. And if a team does the little things to make your team good, your team will be good.


What do dance squads and marching bands have to do with having a good football program? I feel everything. The best football programs work on all the little things to make big things happen.
 
Here is a short list of your football program/team passing the look test
roster of over 70 players
numerous linemen weighing over 250lbs
QB that is over 6 feet tall
cheerleaders
marching band
dance squad
student cheering section
lots of parent volunteers
coordinated dress coaching staff
organized stretching and pre-game rituals
showing up to games early
organized off season workouts
football booster club
lots of fans

Comments

[timothy]

Cary Grove won state with a 5'6 QB

[Dalton]

Cary Grove was missing a QB over 6 feet tall, but had 14 out the 15 other items.

Most CPS schools only have 8 of 15 or worse.

[north side johnny]

How does Lane Tech stack up to your list. When will we see a turn around? The most important factor; Play your most athletic, largest, fastest, strongest people at the two most important positions; QB and RB. Also have those two play on defense if you have no one else.

[timothy]

The QB should NEVER play defense

[LT sophs]

Here's the problem with Lane Tech. The starting QB is 5'5- 145lbs. He's a wrestler trying to play QB. He can't throw. Next year, look for junior Jake M to take over role over this year's QB.

The running backs avg 5'7, 170lbs. No toughness in them, Hit em once and their down; a linebacker can arm tackle em and they hit the ground like a brick. Speed wise the RB's are avg.

Even worse for Lane was size of line. Front 4 averaged 5'9 205lbs.

In football you need speed, size, and skill. Lane was deficient in all three this year. If it were not for Lincoln Park, they would have been sent down to Chicago conference with Taft.

But there is some hope ahead. Sophomore team was decent- not stellar but will provide badly needed upgrades in many positions.

[timothy]

There sophmores look really good.

[This Guy]

You know CPS is really getting alot of sports criticsm, especially during football season. Does this site even post basketball season events? CPS is the king of Bball in Illinois, and is gonna bring an impact for years!

[qb]

"The QB should NEVER play defense"

yeah i know, maine south only won state the last 2 years and their qb played defense as well

[Linemen]

Lane's offensive line wasnt as small as people made them out to be. They averaged around 220 and only 2 of them were under 6 feet tall, and those two both weighed around 240.

[north side johnny]

"The QB should NEVER play defense"
That's BS:
I recall when Downers Grove North came to Lane tech stadium in 2004 to play in the second round. Downers Grove eventually won state in 8A. The QB Garret Edwards was the QB. He also did half of the running and he played safety. He wasn't that big maybe 5'11" and 190lbs but fast and strong. Also do you remember when Stevenson played Lane in 2003 in the first playoff game? Their QB 6'3" and 210 also played safety.
I repeat; best athletes play most important positions if there is no one else that can help win the game.

[jon klein]

i play on the lane offensive line. i was number 57. im 5'9 230 junior. not to big but not to small, i held my own against good defenses this year. our quarterback is small but he is good and he can throw. and we had an amazing running back this year in fred williams. he was only taken down by a group of tacklers, rarely only one. we will be a force to play against next year

[Tim]

Obviously there are exceptions but most QB's and RB's should never play defense unless you have really big, athletic QB's and RB's . But for he most part, RB's and QB's are too valuable to risk being injured on D. A team with good depth should not have to use there most valuable offensive players. In addition to that, Running back and quarter back are very tiring positions and with them playing boh sides of the ball it will take away from their offensive production, so most running backs and quarter backs should never play D.