Can someone help me understand why the satellite radio (XM) in my car stops for a second when I go under a certain underpass at 50 MPH and yet continues to work for 20-30 seconds when I drive into the underground parking lot at work?

Also, can someone explain the difference between a tackle and a guard, a defensive end and defensive lineman, a free safety and a strong safety, an H-back, full back, running back, slot back, and a nickle back. I have the QB, punter, place kicker, WR, TE and cornerbacks pretty clear, but the rest is a mystery.

Anyone know a good football for dummies book?

oskiwanabe;736515 said:

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Can someone help me understand why the satellite radio (XM) in my car stops for a second when I go under a certain underpass at 50 MPH and yet continues to work for 20-30 seconds when I drive into the underground parking lot at work?

Also, can someone explain the difference between a tackle and a guard, a defensive end and defensive lineman, a free safety and a strong safety, an H-back, full back, running back, slot back, and a nickle back. I have the QB, punter, place kicker, WR, TE and cornerbacks pretty clear, but the rest is a mystery.

Anyone know a good football for dummies book?

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Part 1: nope. I've noticed the same thing, but can offer no help

Part 2: I'm barely above Dummy level myself, so most of what follows may be wrong. But:

The offensive line consists of 5 players, in 3 positions. From the outside in, they are Tackle (right and left), Guard (right and left) and Center.

Defensive line consists of 2 positions: Defensive End and Defensive Tackle. You have 2 ends (of course...that's basic geometry), but can have 1 or 2 Tackles depending on whether the defense is playing a 3-man or 4-man line. (I believe, fuzzily, that if it's a 3-man line the DT is also called a Nose Guard)

I'll skip the 2 kinds of Safety.

Fullback: if you have 2 running backs lined up in the I-formation (in a direct line behind the QB), the one closer to the QB is the fullback, who does more blocking than ball carrying; the one behind is the tailback.

Slotback: a receiver in the "slot" (the gap between a tackle and wide receiver). He's a step behind the line of scrimmage, so he's technically a "back", but he's playing like a wide receiver. AKA "flanker".

Nickelback: in obvious passing downs many defenses will employ a 5th defensive back, in "nickel coverage".

oskiwanabe;736515 said:

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Can someone help me understand why the satellite radio (XM) in my car stops for a second when I go under a certain underpass at 50 MPH and yet continues to work for 20-30 seconds when I drive into the underground parking lot at work?

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It's possible the signal you get in the parking lot is coming from a ground repeater in the area.

Quote:

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In American and Canadian metropolitan areas, XM and its Canadian licensee known as Canadian Satellite Radio (CSR), own and operate a network of approximately 900 terrestrial repeater stations, meant to compensate for satellite signal blockage by buildings, tunnels, and bridges.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM_Satellite_Radio#Technology

When I lived in Texas, I never lost reception with my XM. Now that I've moved back to Manteca, I also lose it for a second while driving under overpasses. Also lose it while passing on the north side of taller buildings (satellite is to the south). I understand the satellites are all to the south and over the center of the country, so Texas may get the best reception.

The FS / SS distinction depends heavily on the defensive scheme being played at the time. Typically, however, FS generally refers to the deeper-playing safety who is primarily or exclusively responsible for helping the CBs in pass coverage (usually on deeper routes), while the SS plays closer to the LOS and helps with both underneath passing routes and run support. Ronnie Lott is an example of a prototypical FS. SS can be more like another LB in certain packages. Troy Polamalu is an example of an excellent SS.

But then there's a defense like the "Tampa 2" which divides the field into zones. In that scheme there are 2 "deep" safeties, one for each side of the field, and both have primary responsibility to assist the CB(s) on their side in pass coverage. I'm not sure if one safety in a "Tampa 2" is still called a SS, but in that scheme the distinction between the 2 safties is virtually meaningless except what side of the field they're responsible for.

In the NFL a lot of the DB positions are highly specialized, with different players playing FS, SS, nickle back, etc. depending on the package being used at the time. One of the things Pendergast's brought with him to Cal is an increased emphasis on this view of defensive player allocation, hence the talk this spring of Josh Smith "moving" from nickle back to SS and Kameron Jackson "becoming" the new nickle back.

Thanks for the satellite radio and football information.