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The Headcoach has to know what he's doing and be involved with all aspects of the team. However all the talent in the world doesn't guarantee success. Todays player has to respect and buy into what the Headcoach is preaching and teaching. There has to be a chemistry/comraderie established to create that winning atmosphere. -- Laram0
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Excellent topic and nicely done, LARAM0. I happen to fully agree with your main tenor here: success stems in direct proportion to the
respect, obedience, and discipline that the NFL HC will earn from his players, i.e., when they
believe and trust him.
The names you mentioned are truly exemplary. Some were hardnose disciplinarians but the results they attained rather justified the means. So be it.
But today, so much has changed in the NFL when it comes to coaching ... perhaps because there is, in effect, the 'need and obligation' to change. From political correctness to, dare I say, "
human rights"? As you said, today neither the collegiate nor pro sports HC cannot, mostly
because he is not allowed to, treat players by following methods that would make my friend Drill Sergeant Lee Ermey proud.
Too bad. Too many policies and procedures from the personnel department.
Don't get me wrong, those P&P, they have their place, it is understandable. Besides, so much in the way of trouble and conflict is averted when administrative properness and fairness is followed in the company, whatever its nature may be.
And so are the consequences if
not followed -- one word:
lawsuits. Or at best, two words:
legal action. Those 'now-be-careful-how-you-treat-me' guidelines and restrictions are supposed to be implemented for the sake of social progress; they are meant for the advancement, for success in the workforce by virtue of equal opportunity statutes and the wonderful freedoms therein displayed. It is afterall, the year 2008.
For everyone, including athletes. Accordingly, NFL players have their own NFL Player's Association just in case (pun intended). Arbitration, litigation, regulation, sensation and testification. It has become a higher need and priority in this business, hasn't it...
On the other hand, it is a shame to see the increse in numbers of young athletes that go wrong too soon. Young athletes? I stand corrected. A few veterans too. We know their stories, alas, all too well.
The good news.
Indeed, fortunately, as all major professional sports organizations are doing, the NFL is working on correcting and/or adjusting behavioral situations. From the moment its rookies are given their welcome speech (IMO a precautionary
must for each newbie) to the time when punishment calls are in order, the NFL is trying to instill that get-in-shape-or-else mentality. ...And I'm certainly all for it.
Yes, I miss those Coach Allen years, especially of course, with the Rams (1966-70). He was not as harsh nor an ogre on people as, say a Lombardi or a Halas were. No, George Allen was just so gregarious and upbeat, an oddball and almost geekish as NFL coaches go. Self motivated, self disciplined and always preaching and encouraging discipline to the max but usually more in the football sense than in the personal, moral aspect of his players.
Nonetheless, Allen's own personal style rubbed off on the majority of his faithful followers who were even willing to revolted against the owner and put their jobs on the line right after their coach was wrongly fired at the end of the 1968 season, all because they wanted and demanded to keep the same leader. Sure enough, Coach Allen was reinstated with the Rams. I remember that incident well, I felt proud of the Rams HC. Not all the Rams preferred milk and ice cream bars instead of alcohol as George Allen did but they loved him like kids (as you may have seen in some NFL Films clips the entire team sometimes jumped up and down, hands clapping like joyful children after a big win -- along with their coach whom used to start these celebratory frenzies).
HEADCOACHING: What works?...
Well, I hope Coach Linehan does continue his efforts to earn said respect. We won't get anywhere without it. Maybe having Al Saunders to closely work with will be the right incentive at the right time.
GO RAMS!
PS: please keep investigating the 'discipline' of Bill Belichick and the NEPs band.
Re: HEADCOACHING: What works?
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