poppa9601 wrote:

gadfly23 wrote:

I will be offering examples throughout the day under this heading. Just trying to understand losing football.
 

So, I’m watching that 3^rd and two before halftime. The eagles have 10 in the box. Yes, Watson runs straight ahead and will be open turning either left or right for a sizable gain. The QB can see this potential as easily as Tebow saw the Steelers leaving Thomas one on one for that slant in last year’s playoff game. Not that the pass to Marecic was a terrible call. It’s an easy throw and catch for an easy fall forward first down. Doesn’t happen. Seven Eagle points ensue in a game lost by 1 point.

Whose fault is that? Weeden? Marecic? Coaches for not giving Weeden ability to check off?

 

Related theme to that series..... The play after the play where TR blows up the safety, leaving third and one. Again, the Eagles have 10 in the box – psychologically – the one thing they want to do is stuff TR and make up for the big hit on Coleman (we give them that opportunity). Why is everything in my being yelling for a play-fake and some sort of a longer throw? We’ve got two 6’2” WR, a former all pro bowl TE, and a 4.3 WR……if one of them cannot shake and bake enough to get clearance with 1 defender back – all is lost IMO. The mindset that said no, just run it up in there, is not a dynamic, dagger throwing mindset.

That gonna work against Ravens or Steelers we saw last two days?

It's coaching dude. Always has been, always will be.

In 1959 Vince Lombari goes to Siberi, a.k.a. Green Bay, and takes a perennial dog who finish the 1958 season 1-10-1, and NEVER had a losing season. In two years has them playing for a championship, and wins it after his 3rd year. And he does it mostly with the guys that were there who couldn't win jack in 58'.

In 1970 don Shula goes to Miami to coach a Dolphins team that was a complete joke, having finished the 69' season 3-10-1. In two years has them in the SB, and then goes undefeated in 72.

That 72' team won by running the ball with Czonka and Kick even though they had a future HOFer at QB in Bob Griese. Griese threw 12 passes in that 72' SB win. Not 12 completions, 12 passes. Then Shula in 1983 turns the team over to a young rookie QB named Dan Marino and becomes a passing team. Point being that Shula coached his talent, not his scheme.

I could go on about Bill Walsh and the crappy 49re team he took over, but you get my point. They won the SB in his 3rd year.

That 3rd year seems to be the magic year for great coaches.

Yes, it's all about coaching. Always has been.

Now I'll tell you who the next great coach will be. His name is Gruden, but not the one you're thinking of. It's Jay, not Jon.

The one thing all great coaches have is a burning desire to prove themselves. To come out of the shadow of someone else who has overshadowed them in the past.

Lombari - Jim Lee Howell
Shula - Weeb Ewbank
Walsh - Paul Brown
Belicheck - Parcells

And next it'll be Jay Gruden - out of he brother's shadow.

Jay became the OC for the Bengals when no one else would give him a chance, afterall he was just Jon's little brother. Even though he won a championship as HC in the AFL.
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He goes to a cellar deweller in Cincy, a team whos Pro Bowl QB refused to play for them ever again. Takes a rookie QB and rookie WR and gets them to the playoffs in the toughest division in football his first year.

The guy has got a chip on his shoulder the size of Mount Rushmore. And it just so happens he runs the same WCO we do. Talk about a perfect fit.

Jay Gruden, mark my words, the next great headcoach.

great take.
gruden's bengals went 10-6 in '09. Some of that was motivated by the death of Mike Zimmer's wife..the team went 6-0 in the division. Very amazing.