Zorn was 'absolutely shocked' that XFL broadcasted his play calls live
The XFL has set itself apart from the NFL by providing far more access to coaches and players during television broadcasts, including allowing fans to listen to play calls in real time.
But Seattle Dragons head coach Jim Zorn said he was "absolutely shocked" to find out his play-calling was broadcast live.
"I think it gave a fan a chance to hear and see something they've never heard before, but I felt very exposed," Zorn told Scott Hanson of the Seattle Times. "Information on a football team has to be guarded a little bit, so we just got it right out there. I know it had to be fun for everybody, but not super fun for me to reveal all that stuff. But I was glad I didn't stutter or fumble the play calls."
Jim Zorn, Seattle Dragons Head Coach:
— Craig Schilling (@tcraigschilling) February 8, 2020
I’m gonna cover my mouth so no one can read my lips while I call the play in.
ESPN:
I’m gonna blast your play call all over the world. #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/xlBPTmflKR
DC Defenders head coach Pep Hamilton was also surprised by how much of his play-calling made it onto the television broadcast.
"I've been up overnight trying to change up some of the calls, because I think everybody in D.C. knows by now that 'even' is (running) to the right and 'odd' is to the left. So 3.3 million people that know when we're running right or running left," Hamilton said earlier this week on 106.7 The Fan's "The Sports Junkies" show.
"We knew that that would be a factor, but not until I watched the broadcast of the game late last night that I said, 'Oh, man. We got to do something different.'"
"Actually, we've shown that. Let's not do it."
— XFL on Sporting News (@sn_xfl) February 8, 2020
Hearing the process behind Pep Hamilton's playcalling with live audio is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/V0pbU0mh40
Week 2 of the XFL will kick off Saturday afternoon with the Defenders hosting the New York Guardians.
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