Tag: Sideline Reporters

Sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl gracefully stepped in when CBS lost its announcing booth

Wow.

One thing we’re probably not nearly aware enough about, as fans, is how complicated it is to broadcast any sport — but especially one as intricate as football.

You’d probably be flabbergasted by the cost of the equipment and the sheer number of people involved in bringing you a game. Or the amount of time spent preparing to make those few hours on Saturday happen on your screen. Because on your end, the experience is usually just two people in a booth and one on a sideline. It seems simple.

Yet a snafu in Saturday’s Alabama-LSU game show just how delicate the whole operation is — and forced sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl to react quickly after the men calling the game, Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson, were dropped from the broadcast.

Erdahl took over the call for about two minutes of game time, which is an enormously difficult task. Unlike Nessler and Danielson, she’s seeing the game from the sideline, which is the absolute worst vantage point for describing what’s going on in football. The reason she’s down there, after all, is to capture the emotion of the players and describe the goings on on each sideline. She supposed to be in the weeds a bit, not seeing the game clearly.

Besides that, Erdahl presumably did not have rosters and notes in front of her, and had not prepared during the week for the role she found herself in. She had help from the production truck, sure, but if you’ve ever had a voice literally in your ear while trying to think and react you know how hard that can be.

Erdahl was quick to credit what she’s learned from Nessler, Danielson  and other mentors — and to use this as a teachable moment for sideline reporters.

The internet loved Erdahl’s work under pressure:

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NFL bans cheerleaders, mascots and sideline reporters from field in 2020

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL has banned cheerleaders, mascots and sideline reporters from the field in 2020.

Things are going to look a lot different for the National Football League on gamedays in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

A number of teams have already announced no fans will be in the stadiums for the first few matchups of the season and now it seems even more changes are being made ahead of the first game of the year, which is slated for Sept. 10.

The NFL has now banned cheerleaders and mascots from taking the field in 2020 according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who tweeted the news on Wednesday. In addition, sideline and pregame reporters will also not be allowed on the field on gamedays.

It might be quite some time before Seahawks fans get to witness a full game-day experience as the team has announced no 12s will be in the stands of CenturyLink Field for at least the first three home games of the season.

Seattle’s opener in Atlanta will also be without fans in attendance.

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News: Cowboys defense practicing takeaways, eyeing soft QB schedule

Also, a possible playoff bubble, replacing Gerald McCoy, the recent linebacker shuffle, and how the Dallas sidelines will look different.

While still getting over the awful double-shot of Gerald McCoy news from Monday and Tuesday, there was plenty for Cowboys fans to feel good about on Wednesday, including a key reinforcement being officially added to the defensive line that McCoy just vacated.

Elsewhere, a franchise legend is still basking in his limelight moment, and the Dallas defense could be primed for quite a moment of its own. The team received word that the sidelines will be a little less colorful this season, and there’s talk of playoff teams moving to a bubble after the season. All that plus news about play calling, quarterback mentoring, linebacker shifting, turnover practicing, and opposing-passer ranking. Here’s the midweek News and Notes.

The strength of schedule for each NFL team based on opposing quarterbacks tiers :: The Athletic

Here’s a list where fans want to see their team near the bottom. The Cowboys are slated to face just one “Tier 1” quarterback, Russell Wilson, in 2020. Lamar Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, and Carson Wentz are considered “Tier 2” opponents. The majority of the Dallas schedule- 10 games- will be played against quarterbacks in the weakest two tiers.

Mailbag: Still top-five potential on defense? :: The Mothership

In the latest edition of Mailbag, Cowboys writers David Helman and Rob Phillips do their best to answer fan questions. In this edition, they take their turns predicting who will replace Gerald McCoy at 3-tech and look at whether the Cowboys have a chance to be a top-five defense without him.

Cowboys activate Dontari Poe same day they say goodbye to McCoy :: Cowboys Wire

As the Cowboys received terrible news about Gerald McCoy, fellow defensive tackle Dontari Poe officially made his return from injury. The two play different positions along the defensive line, but Poe’s presence will nevertheless ease some of the burden left by McCoy’s absence.

No Cowboys cheerleaders in 2020 (bad), sideline reporters (ok), or Rowdy (awesome) :: Cowboys Wire

The sidelines at AT&T Stadium will look very different this season, with several longtime staples suddenly MIA due to the COVID-19 crisis.  But there is a silver lining, as the eviction of one of the parties may portend a return to the Super Bowl if history repeats.

Dalton embracing mentor role in Cowboys QB room :: The Mothership

Snagging QB Andy Dalton was an excellent offseason move by Dallas. Easily now one of the best backups in the league, the veteran has experience and knowledge that he’s sharing with the Cowboys’ young quarterbacks.

Ezekiel Elliott on Cowboys in 2020: ‘We’re going to run the ball’ :: ESPN

There is a misconception surrounding Mike McCarthy that the former Green Bay head coach doesn’t like to run the ball. But McCarthy understands the back he has in Ezekiel Elliott, and the former two-time rushing champ expects the Cowboys to continue pounding the rock.

Why Drew Pearson belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame :: NFL.com

Drew Pearson isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet, and that’s a problem. The 1970s’ All-Decade wideout is overqualified for the achievement, with three first-team All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl win. Gil Brandt helps explain why Pearson should finally get the call in 2021.

McCarthy: Kellen Moore calling plays is ‘best decision’ for 2020 Cowboys :: Cowboys Wire

Mike McCarthy has turned over the big laminated menu to Kellen Moore. But he’s given up play-calling duties before… and then taken them back when things didn’t go so well.

Leighton Vander Esch believes the Cowboys defense practices getting turnovers more now :: Blogging the Boys

A longstanding deficiency of the Cowboys seems to be getting extra attention under Mike McCarthy and Mike Nolan. The third-year linebacker reports that there is now a portion of each practice session dedicated to “punching, raking, hammers, all the stuff. Tackling and punching at the same time.”

Bucky Brooks: What the LB position switch means :: The Mothership

The analyst breaks down the recent shuffling of Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith, and explains why each player’s individual game should improve… and predicts the new roles could allow the Cowboys defense as a whole to become a blitzing nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

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