You're the Coach: How do you Win?

[KDawg]

Simple question... What do you do to become a winner?

[Champskins]

Like my dad and I have always talked about.... Instill a "Pay for Play" incentive.

-Only get paid for what you produce. For instance, a QB does not have guaranteed money and has a base contract of lets say $100,000 a season (after all, its a game... they didnt win a nobel prize). He can reach his maximum of around ($500,000) by hitting the bottom line of 25 TD's. Or a LB needs at least 5+ sacks. etc.

Edit: I guess this would be more of a "You're the Owner"... but regardless

[Oldfan]

Simple answer: Brainpower. Outsmart your opponents.

[KDawg]

Simple answer: Brainpower. Outsmart your opponents.

In what way?

(In case any of you are wondering, I have a direction I'm taking this thread... )

[DC9]

Simple answer: Brainpower. Outsmart your opponents.

"Forty men together can't lose." That's all that needs to be said. The moment this franchise decides that it wants to be a team, it will win. We've seen some promise, once we dump some more dead weight this year we will be better off, but it starts with everyone being on the same page....

[Gibbstastic]

get mean. get a kicker.

you win close games with heart and special times.

[KDawg]

"Forty men together can't lose." That's all that needs to be said. The moment this franchise decides that it wants to be a team, it will win. We've seen some promise, once we dump some more dead weight this year we will be better off, but it starts with everyone being on the same page....

This is a bit different than simply outsmarting your opponent, isn't it?

[Destructis]

Silly question because there is no all encompassing blue print to build a winner. Throughout history, they have been built multiple ways. If there were a "blue print" then everyone would be doing it.

[Crazy Levi]

I have the QB throw lots of touchdowns and have my running backs run really really fast and score lots of touchdowns.

I also get my special teams guys to run lots of kickoffs and punts back for touchdowns, and get my defense not to give up many points.

[DC9]

This is a bit different than simply outsmarting your opponent, isn't it?

I was trying to say that you need to start simpler than "outsmarting your opponent." You don't walk into a locker room and say, "Hey men, we're going to outsmart our opponent." You wear them out until they start working together, then you get into that. I didn't want us to skip a step! ; )

[styx491]

Make Tom Brady an offer for associate head coach for 30 million a year. See what happens.

[Oldfan]

In what way?

(In case any of you are wondering, I have a direction I'm taking this thread... )

I figured the question was going to get more complicated.

Now, I can't give you a simple answer. But, you have to begin with defining the problem. For example, if we are talking about winning in the NFL, it's a different problem than winning in college.

Then once you have the problem defined, you can lay out some very basic strategy concepts. I'm talking about stuff that comes even before Football 101 -- stuff at the LaoTzu level of Football.

[tshile]

Simple answer.

Work hard.

I subscribe to the 'you can only be as good as you practice' mentality.

[KDawg]

Silly question because there is no all encompassing blue print to build a winner. Throughout history, they have been built multiple ways. If there were a "blue print" then everyone would be doing it.

There is no set rule, you're correct. But to say its a "silly" question is short sighted.

[zoony]

I would hire a team of PHD statisticians to analyze everything from the ingredients of a successful draft choice to formations and plays,etc. This would be their only job.

Also, I would pour ex-lax in the opposing team's gatorade.

[KDawg]

I figured the question was going to get more complicated.

Now, I can't give you a simple answer. But, you have to begin with defining the problem. For example, if we are talking about winning in the NFL, it's a different problem than winning in college.

Then once you have the problem defined, you can lay out some very basic strategy concepts. I'm talking about stuff that comes even before Football 101 -- stuff at the LaoTzu level of Football.

Do any practices apply to any level, in your opinion?

Simple answer.

Work hard.

I subscribe to the 'you can only be as good as you practice' mentality.

Do the jimmies and joes matter? What about X's and O's? What character traits are necessary to work hard?

---------- Post added June-13th-2011 at 12:10 PM ----------

I would hire a team of PHD statisticians to analyze everything from the ingredients of a successful draft choice to formations and plays,etc. This would be their only job.

What about a film crew, would that be important?

Also, I would pour ex-lax in the opposing team's gatorade.

best answer yet

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Also, I would pour ex-lax in the opposing team's gatorade.

This I like.

We'll have the opposing locker rooms showers set to stone cold; a group of fans outside the opposing teams hotel all night whooping and a hollering ..... the possibilities for devious mind games are limitless.

Hail.

[tshile]

Do the jimmies and joes matter? What about X's and O's? What character traits are necessary to work hard?

of course. it was meant to be a simple answer. it includes everything - players working hard/together, coaches putting in the time with game planning, front office/scouting deparment working hard to make the right moves...

to be a successful organization, the entire organization has to work hard towards a single goal.

otherwise you're wasting everyone's time.

[KDawg]

of course. it was meant to be a simple answer. it includes everything - players working hard/together, coaches putting in the time with game planning, front office/scouting deparment working hard to make the right moves...

to be a successful organization, the entire organization has to work hard towards a single goal.

otherwise you're wasting everyone's time.

For the record, I don't want anyone to think I'm picking on them... Just trying to facilitate thoughts

I don't want to give away my intent here, but so far no one has completely hit on my point, but people have brushed up against it with some authority

[tshile]

you win to become a winner

[BridgesideSkins]

I would make it mandatory to give great speeches in the huddle. Paul Blake: "You're hurt. You're tired. You're bleeding. I'm gonna make you a promise. We get into that endzone, you're not gonna feel any pain."

[Oldfan]

KDawg: Do any practices apply to any level, in your opinion?

Sure, there are lots of them.

Everything can be thought of as a system or part of one. A team is a cooperative system, for example. As such, it is subject to rules common to all cooperative systems. If you understand these, you can build a better football team.

Football is a competition, as such there are elements common to all competition. One such element, for example, is that the competition's strategies will evolve. The coach who uses the tactics that won games in the past is like the general who tries to use the tactics that won the last war. This gives a competitive edge to the innovator.

[SilkyDiamonds]

Hire young, bright, ambitious assistants. Give them a philosphy, a framework a "way" of doing things, then allow them room to utilize their talents. Mix in some strategically placed vet assistants (OL coach, DL coach) to instill a hard knocks no nonsense attitude. Organize EVERYTHING to the nth degree focusing on OUR way of doing things. Encourage coaches to advance even if not here. Foster an environment of growth.

Devote significant resources to scouting, Pro, college etc.

Start with the most basic form of my complex (in the future) offensive and defensive systems. Drill them constantly. I don't much care if we can only run 10 plays, I want those 10 to be ran with the highest execution. As time advances, be it during the year or in coming seasons, continually add on and refine or systems to get to the complex versions we want to run.

Draft/trade for/sign players who fit what our system dictates, eschew the other teams superstars and develop our own. Have a development plan, know that by year X we should have peak production from player Y for Z amount of years. Plan for his replacement the moment he becomes apart of the team.

Almost NEVER sign a player to a 2nd long term contract. Only in VERY rare instances & positions should this occur. #1 QB, I want him in place for 10-12years. #2 LT I want him in place 10-12yrs. #3 DE I want him in place 10-12yrs. #4 CB I want 1 of them in place 7-9yrs, and ALWAYS want a tandem together for at least 4yrs together.

Interior lineman are to be thought of as 5yr players unless the exceptional one comes along. I never want the same interior line group together more than 4yrs and almost NEVER given a 2nd long term deal. That goes for offensive and defensive lines. I will single out the top of both those groups as a centerpiece to have others go around them. But even those guys should have an expectancy of 6-7 years and a replacement drafted after 3-4.

Running backs are to be thought of as 5yr, 1 contract players, unless an EXTREMELY blessed once every 10yrs guy appears. I want at all times a lead back and 2 capable backups. I want my backs to play early and often, they must be an asset to the passing game with both hands and blocking. If the guy is just a pure runner I don't want him. Again every 2years I'm drafting a possible replacement.

Linebackers mudt have 1 piece in place for 7-10yrs, his first 3-5 must be in a role where he is junior to an elder LB. I want my linebackers to cut their teeth, earn their stripes. Only the VERY rare specimen will be drafted high. I prefer development of my linebacker vs plug and play. Linebacking must be cerebral as well as violent. (Think Antonio Pierce) I want no group of linebackers to ever play more than 5yrs together, I want new blood at one of the spots once every 4-5yrs.

With safeties I want 1 guy for 7-10yrs and his partner for 4-6. Meaning I want my stud safety to have a new partner every 4-6yrs. NEVER sign his partner to a 2nd deal, NEVER pay 2 safeties more than their rookie deals. A safety's replacement should be drafted once every 5 years. If their is any gap a FA will suffice until the drafted guy is ready.

Tight Ends: No second contract again unless he is of the rarest. Draft his replacement every 3years. NONE should play more than9yrs with the system.

Specialists: do whatever it takes to secure a top Kicker/Punter, would never draft one, and always take one that has been in the league for at least 4 seasons. Never overpay bringing them TO the team, ALWAYS retain the good ones and ALWAYS replace the bad ones.

Wide Receivers: One 7-10yr guy, only 1 WR gets a 2nd contract at a time. I want his position mates always hungry and always aspiring to achieve his secure status. Diva or No Diva he will have latitude to be a bit more outlandish, but NOT allowed to make a mockery of the team, the community or the league. I want a new youngster brought in every 3yrs, even if not to replace #1, to replace SOMEBODY. The last thing I want is comfortable receivers, I want them hungrier than almost any position save for RB

(I know those are GM duties, but I feel a coach & GM must work within that framework)

I want the work ethic mantra reinforced, that means my grunt squads (Interior DL, OL, TE) VERY limited interviews. We all speak 1 message outside of the lockerroom, it must be drilled and drilled and should come out as completely boring cliches to the media. I will not allow the media to penetrate my team's inner circle.

A focus will be on intelligence and developing it. I want smart players, and when I get them I want to make them smarter. The team will be graduate school for football for players in yrs 1-3, and a doctorate program for players in yrs 4-7. If any player makes to yrs 8 and beyond I expect prfessorships, taking the degrees in football they have earned in our sytem and applying it to teaching their replacements.

Imma syop for now but there's more lol

[KDawg]

you win to become a winner

I completely disagree with this statement. I think winning is a by-product of other things, for the most part. That doesn't mean you're wrong. Just saying I disagree

[Destructis]

There is no set rule, you're correct. But to say its a "silly" question is short sighted.

No it's not. I could make up any crap that I want to and say that it will build a winner. You have already said there is someplace you are going with this thread. So you already have the answer you have in mind and are probably waiting for someone else to validate it or you are waiting to prove someone wrong. If you want to talk about how to build a winner, then do it without baiting people so you can feel superior. (That is *MY* take on what you are doing)

I am not being an ass, just calling it like I see it.