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June 4, 2008

Baby steps in the video age

And the Academy Award for best video clip of an NFL special teams drill goes to .... well, probably not me. I'm so technologically stunted that I left the protective film over the lens of my new Nokia n95 video phone, hence the Martha Stewart-like soft glow in this 30-second clip. It's taken me nearly a full day to figure out how to post the video to my blog.

06032008011-002 from http://sparrow280.vox.com/

But I'm trying. And The Bee is trying too ... trying to move away from the tree-bark technology that has been used, oh, for the last 400 years or so, and into the Internet age. The paper is pumping money and resources into videos like this one, and now my bosses want me to join the movement.

I'm all for it. But you'll have to bear with me. I like the idea of becoming a cinematic artiste, but the technological hoops I have to jump through have me pulling my hair out. (Hey, no bald jokes!). The NFL also is an obstacle. The league limits blogs like this one to 45-second clips of things like practice, player interviews and press conferences. Go 46 seconds and they send Chuck Bednarik to your house. Kidding ... I hope. Away from the team facility, there is no time limit and I'm allowed to wax on about the 49ers for as long as I want.

Anyway, with those limitations in mind, I'm wondering what you readers ...er...viewers would like to see. Suggestions, critiques, examples are welcome ...

... As for this video, it shows assistant special teams coach Dave Fipp teaching his pupils how to down punts at the goal line. Not bad, but I'd like to see the players try it with something oblong like ... I don't know ... a football.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 7:05 PM | Comments |