Bankers love that good jock talk.

“Blocking and tackling,” gerund, the fundamentals or basics.  Usage note:  Several erudite sociologists have noted that the rarefied world of investment banking is made up of two main types- those who wish they were traders and those who wish they were athletes.  Today’s expression is a favorite for those who fall in the latter camp.  A vice president, when giving instructions to a sleep-deprived, drooling associate about a worthless presentation that the client will never look at but will keep the ill-used associate in the office until about 3 a.m., might say:  “We really need to watch our blocking and tackling on this pitch.”