Every shift, you're a quarterback, reading the defensive scheme, seeing where the play is headed, not where it is. You know the nuances of your receivers, you know their speed, you know where they need the ball placed, and you put the ball where only your guy can get it.
Every shift, you're a receiver. Finding the soft spot in the zone, creating space between you and the defender. You know there's a safety waiting to line you up, so you receive the pass in stride and immediately protecting the ball with your body, you get your eyes up field.
Every shift, you're a safety. Reading the eyes of the quarterback, determining where he wants to go without letting on that you know what he's thinking. You wait for just the right second, baiting the quarterback into the pass, and you light up the receiver to separate him from the ball.
Every shift, you're a running back, advancing the ball, dancing around the defense where they can't even touch you, protecting the ball, using your balance, your speed, your awareness of every player around you. You pull the defense off balance, wait for them to make the first move, and you react.
Every shift, you're a defensive lineman, knowing what gap you're responsible for, staying aggresively responsible in your coverage and pursuit of the ball. If you can't take the ball, then you'll separate the man from the ball.
Every shift, each of the responsibilities above, is what a hockey player does. This is why I love hockey. Every shift of it.
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