Category Archives: Mark Zarb

“QB Sneak” Chart

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I want to share this neat “qb-sneak” chart created by Mark Zarb. This chart incorporates fumbles, first down measurements, penalties and lost yardage versus all three defensive alignments. For example, it’s third and one and offense is in A index against G defensive alignment and the play result off the QB’s card is 11. Refer to the chart and you will see (1-4)* indicating a measurement is required. Roll single die and if within 1-4 range it’s a 1-yard gain and a first down. If it was outside the range (5 or 6) there is no gain.

Mark and I incorporated this chart into our audible system. The QB comes to the line and “A” gap is not covered by a defender, the QB has the option to audible to a QB sneak or you can use this chart purely as a “standalone” feature. Either way it offers another alternative to playing this great game without slowing down play.

Timing Adjustment Chart

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When using the Master Game Addition, each quarter consists of 30 full plays.  Certain plays are recorded as half-plays (i.e., incompletions, touchdowns, field goals, safeties, plays that go out of bounds, whenever the ball changes team possession and penalties).  Each half play accounts for a 15- second interval, a quarter consists of 60 half plays.  Let’s use the following example, The NY Jets kick off to the NE Patriots and the ball is returned to the NE 20-yard line to begin the game (half play or 14:45). Tom Brady’s first down pass is incomplete (half play or 14:30).  L. Blount is stuffed for no gain on second down but remained in bounds (full play or 14:00). Darrelle Revis intercepts Tom Brady’s third-down pass 25-yards downfield and returns it 45-yards for a touchdown (half play or 13:45).  I would record this play on the reverse side of my scoresheet as: NYJ – Revis 45 interception return (Folk kick), 13:45.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have an alternative timing methodology to enhance the realism of the game? Wait no more; Mark Zarb has created a simple but effective solution that only requires three dice (traditional red and white die and another colored die) and the Timing Adjustment Chart. After a scoring play, roll all three dice and read the red/white in first column and the other colored die across the top.  If the other colored die roll is a 6, a re-roll is required.

Timing Adjustment Example

Using the above example, I would add 8 from the original time of 13:45 resulting in the new time of 13:53. I would now record the scoring play as: NYJ – Revis 45 interception return (Folk kick), 13:53.

Note:  If you time a game were the final play of the game is annotated as the 15:00 mark, you would subtract.  If you time a game were the final play of the game is annotated as 0:00 you would add.

Greatest Replay Ever Done

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What happens when you combine a first class card set with a replayer who leaves no stone unturned? Magic! Mark Zarb’s recreation of the 1972 campaign was the closest thing to perfection that I’ve ever seen.

To have a successful replay, one must dedicate countless hours in the preparation phase. Normally this consists of creating team workbooks to capture and compare data, develop cumulative conference and league workbooks, trade/waiver wire sheets, team sheets, innovations, etc. The coined phrase “attention to detail” is greatly overused in today’s society; however, it doesn’t come remotely close when describing Mark’s preparation. Did I mention the fact that Mark created the set? Most folks associated with APBA Football know of his tremendous card making ability but I’m not sure they understand the lengths he goes to achieve realism. For example, sacks were not an official stat until 1982 but he was determined to know each player’s sack totals. To do that, he purchased each team’s media guide and read them cover to cover. When a media guide wasn’t available, he would read archive newspaper clippings of every game to parse together sack information or watch youtube game clips. Who cares about touchback totals or who the holder was on extra point attempts? He does, he would search until these trivial details were answered. I remember a while back he had me watch the 1972 Monday Night game clip between the Jets and Raiders not to see Namath toss a TD pass but to see if I could read the number of the long snapper for the Raiders. It took him only three months to card and print this set with innovations (yards per catch, fumble frequency numbers, sack & interception ratings, penalty ratings, special team ratings, etc.) while working a full time job!

Shifting gears from card maker to replayer. In addition to the above mentioned preparation tasks, Mark created automated locator boards for all 26 teams. Once loaded, these boards allowed him to determine the following with one keyboard stroke: Lookup offensive index against Offensive Index Finder System, determine defense’s “Fletch” rating on neutral downs, defensive alignment on situational downs, keying/double coverage, blitz, designate rusher and type of running play, designate receiver/grade/YPC ratings/type of pass/index, trick plays, defender who registered the sack or interception and return specialist on kick/punt returns. Whenever I conduct a replay, I always refer to my special teams’ template when determining who was injured or recovered the fumble during a punt, punt return, kick off, kick return or field goal or extra point attempt. Evidently I’m a slacker because he makes special teams rosters for each unit for all the teams.

If you listen to any successful professional athlete, they always say playing the game is the easy part because of their preparation. It’s no different for Mark because all the heavy lifting was done in the preparation phase. Now he can enjoy the interactive journey of playing a game. His method of play is a simple five step process:

  • Refresh offensive team’s locator boards to determine index, play type, runner/receiver, audible, etc.
  • Refresh defensive team’s locator boards to determine defensive alignment for neutral or situational downs, keying/double coverage, blitzing, etc.
  • Roll three dice (traditional dice determine play result and blue dice indicates which column to use (1-4 or 2-3).
  • Look up play result on Master game boards.
  • Move football, down markers and first down marker accordingly.

Mark did an excellent job in the reporting phase of a replay. Each and every game report can be read in “APBA Between the Lines” forum sponsored by Delphi forum. He researched each game on the Paper of Record or other avenues and provided a brief synopsis of the actual game. Mark than provided a detailed account with full statistics of the replayed game. His game summaries and box scores are concise with a nice clean appearance. For those familiar with the Pro-Football Reference website, it provides a detailed account of each season played. Mark’s replay is no different; he goes the extra mile and provides weekly standings, individual team schedules and results, final standings and team/individual statistics and team/conference/league workbooks.

His game summaries/box scores can be viewed at the below link. I highly recommend you peruse the bevy of statistics from his 1972 replay in the “Mark Zarb Vault” on the side bar of this site. I’m very proud of my friend for all of his hard work and his pursuit in achieving “The Perfect Replay”. Well done!

http://forums.delphiforums.com/apbabtl/messages/?msg=46061.1

 

 

 

“Mark Zarb” Replays

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When the name Mark Zarb comes up, the first thing most folks think of is APBA card maker and rightfully so. As good as he is carding sets, he is equally skilled in conducting full season Football replays. His attention to detail is remarkable and his game write-ups are second to none. I’m honored to add a “Mark Zarb Vault” widget to my site (directly beneath “Top Posts & Pages” widget) that will allow fellow hobbyist to enjoy his efforts.