Scheme Discussion...Societal Problem?

I recently purchased a book about the nfl for .99 called game plan. I don't recommend it. But it states that kids who play madden all the time are better game strategist than nfl coaches.

I only read the comments for laughs

1) know what you're getting when you read that {censored}
2) be mature enough to avoid it
2) be disciplined enough to ignore it


I blame "Coach Rudy, Big 10 Alumni"

A portion of THIS type of stuff is a product of unnatural framing.

Its one thing thing (natural) to say, "aw man....that fumble by the running back really lost the game"

its another thing to say, "clearly giving the football to the running back was a DUMB decision by the coach. Anyone can see how stupid that was. Besides this is the worst running back in the game. period!"

We've seen more of the latter in since ESPN and this has been dictating how we all see sports. They aren't doing it because it they are 'reporting' anything. They have done it because it gets them ratings and ad revenue. This is true of most everything on TV.


it is what it is, man

I am really looking forward to sports fan bloggers to take advantage of the NFL O/D/K film and provide some haphazard breakdowns. I haven't seen any yet (or any attempts) - lemme know if you can find any.

I was done with ESPN's NFL coverage three or four years ago when Tom Jackson tried to claim that he picked the Steelers to lose only to give them motivation to prove him wrong. He honestly tried to claim some credit for their victory after the fact. I still watch ESPN; I just don't watch any of their Sunday morning or evening NFL coverage.

I think the "problem" lies in the society we live in where we have access to nearly as much "information" as we want. People spout their opinions like they are facts and the general public takes it at face value.

As coaches, we understand everything that goes into a single decision. Fans only know what worked and what didn't. They base their opinion on success. But, fans aren't the only ones who do this type of thing. Gene Chizik won a nat't title two years ago, now he's looking for a job and his predecessor is his former OC? Doesn't make sense to me, but we are now a country that wants instant gratification everywhere we turn.

I won't listen to much pre-game stuff because most of it is nonsense, just like a half-time "interview". The only real pre-game show I will watch is College GameDay because I like the experience of it and I think it's entertaining, even if I don't always agree.

In the end, the large percentage of people that make football the most popular game in this country are just fans. They wouldn't know how to run a practice or program and they have a very limited viewpoint that is defined by success. I go into every fan or announcer situation knowing that people like to complain and point out faults. th

One of the worst is the show Audibles. Trent Dilfer, Keyshawn Johnson, Steve Young, and Herm Edwards (the only coach of the bunch) sit around like arm chair QBs (ironically two of them were QBs) and talk. Naturally, there is so much they talk about that revolves around decisions made by the coaching staffs in the league and they're just not qualified. They played, they didn't coach in that league. The insight out of Herm is a breath of fresh air most of the time because he gives the perspective of a coach and it's usually so contrary to what the rest of them say.

Honestly this kind of stuff bothers me.

Anyone who has coached...shouldnt enjoy or make a career out of questioning other coaches...thats just not ok in my eyes.

But then again..i just have a hard time critising coaches because i know what its like to be on the field and in the booth...

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It also comes down to entertainment. The bottom line is that ESPN, TSN here in Canada, NFL Network all of these things are entertainment broadcasters. 95% of the population that watches football games on TV are not watching it the same way some of us are. So when the talking heads on TV say something like:
-that was a terrible call
-that coach just lost them the game

It is about entertaining the masses. You stick some guy up their Micheal Irvin for example who has street cred with the viewer and he can say just about anything and it is gospel. Yet you could stick a HS coach with 30+ years of coaching experience up there and he says something right he will get ripped to shreds, because what does he know.

Sometimes one of the nicest ways to enjoy a game is to hit the mute button and just kick back and relax.

That isn't really what the book said. In fact the book did not say anything different that what can be read all over this board, on Smartfootball and in a few other places about how many coaches mis-manage the end of the game (spiking the ball ect...). It also went into punts being used too often and coaches going for FGs to frequently.

You can disagree with that all you want, but it is an issue debated among football coaches as well and have serious academic backing.

The Madden portion simply referred to the advantage that video game players have in recreating specific scenarios absurd amount of times. More specifically, running the 2 minute drill and handling goal line situations.

It was not a great book; it's quasi-academic without sourcing enough and it has some circular logic. It had some interesting chapters and made some interesting arguments, even though there were some flaws. I thought it was well worth the dollar.

You can indeed recreate scenarios to your heart's content, but the simulation is not an accurate one vis-a-vis "real" football, so there's that to consider.

Follow me @coachinggripes on Twitter. This kind of stuff is fodder for me.

Joe Buck is the worst imo. I'd rather just watch the game with the radio announcers. They can paint the picture better for me.

I just had a discussion the other day with a 25 yr old on a message board. It was about the U of WI pass defense.

The 25 yr old kid was ragging on Wisconsins pass defense. how the dbs play off the receiver or back out off the rec at the last minute and are willing to let the other complete the pass then tackle the receiver.

I explained how WI plays a lot of quarters coverage. I put up some information I got from the WI staff on quarters. etc. I also explained how when WI goes to an under front they bring the safety down to create an 8 man front look and how they play cover 3 zone behind it.

Kid says, you are a know it all and i still do not like how the badgers play defense. I ask what he would do. He says play straight man like on madden.

I said " there is no rest button in the world outside your mothers basement "

He did not like that comment too much.

Here's my question and maybe it's a new topic but can you un-Madden an assistant coach? I've spent 2 yrs on a guy and have made a small dent but he's still an NCAA/Madden guru. Can't convince him what clinics could do for him