I love football. I hate the media surrounding it.
Every year the media (often with a wink and nod) works hard to perpetuate ideas and remain relevant, like Fox News and the Republican party. They tell you what they think (expect?) you want to hear about teams and conflicts and drama and it really forces teams to do what the media says despite that often being the worst possible idea. The Browns have been victims of this ideology for years and the moment they bucked the system they suddenly became successful. Instead of taking the QB the media exclaimed they should and then following that up with the next media-logical pick, they went with their gut. They got Mayfield and a very good CB to shore up the back end of the defense. It worked. The Giants got Barkley and he’s been spectacular and they continue to be eviscerated in the media because they didn’t take the media’s defacto #1 QB in USC product Sam Darnold. Why? Because Darnold isn’t the best guy out there and the Giants knew it.
The media still thinks he is. The media is presently praising the Jets for bringing in a new coach to mentor Darnold. In other words, it is always about the QB. However, as Brady demonstrated, you don’t have to be a #1 pick QB in order to make an impact on the league. In fact, most first pick QB’s fail. That just isn’t the narrative the media wants to spin.
So, yeah, I’m more interested in the analytics than the analytics than pundit analysis. Show me the numbers and show me how the pieces fit together. The Giants did that, and though they still need a new qb sooner than later, they’ve established the pieces that can go around someone with basic mobility and confidence in order to create something that is very special in the NFL.
Some Thoughts:
- What I’ve learned above all else is that I love being a play caller and that the route to doing that effectively lies in teaching the players a handful of very effective plays that work in conjunction and can be quickly audibled from the line of scrimmage. The reason is that it allows you to do as every coach says to do: Take what the defense gives you. Football is much like chess, and once you approach it from that mindset it becomes a different type of playcalling. You are constantly building upon moves to realize a touchdown.
- This all being said, I don’t know that I will be able to find myself in a suitable coaching situation come fall. I hope that I can. I really want to do this at least one more time.
- What does suitable mean? Offensive autonomy.