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So many people think this is the answer to a team’s offensive problems. It’s so overrated. Let’s take a closer look . . .
I heard this about Rex Ryan repeatedly during his time with the Jets.
And when Mike Pettine said this today about his Cleveland Browns offense, it made me focus on this issue again.
Pettine said he needs to get more involved in their offense.
“I felt last year was a situation where I had to get bunkered in with the defense to make sure we were up and running,” Pettine said. “And I feel very secure with the way that group ended the season, where they’re at as a staff, how they interact. I see this now as an opportunity for me to become much more immersed in the other side of the ball, where I feel I can lend my defensive expertise.
“When you’re the head coach, you’re the head coach of the whole team.”
Yes, when you are the head coach, you are the head coach of the whole team.
And perhaps Rex Ryan didn’t focus enough on the offense and special teams with the Jets.
But this is angle gets so overblown.
How much time does Bill Belichick focus on the offense?
There are times during games, he’s coaching-up defensive players on the bench, while his offense is on the field.
This idea that a head coach getting more involved with the offense is going to make that side of the ball better, is so overrated.
To paraphrase Marv Levy, “the answer is simple, but not easy.”
To be successful in the NFL, you don’t need for head coach to be more involved with the offense, you need to find a franchise quarterback.
If Johnny Manziel is the Browns’ QB next, and he continues to struggle with pocket presence, field vision, work ethic and off-the-field issues, what difference is Pettine’s involvement with the offense going to make?
This is such a cookbook answer that some in the media, and some fans, turn to when a team has a defensive-minded coach, and the offense is struggling – “The coach needs to get more involved in the offense.”
It’s like the theory that Geno Smith or Mark Sanchez would play better if they had better weapons. Of course you need decent weapons in the passing game, but weapons have NOTHING to do with pocket presence, field vision, manipulating safeties with your eyes and so forth. Nothing.
Yes, the head coach should be involved in all facets of the team, but the head coach getting involved in the offense, won’t mask the lack of a franchise quarterback.
I tweeted something about this topic before, and a Jets fan David Starkis responded, “If Rex had a good QB he’s would still have a job in New York.”
Probably.
So if Pettine gets more involved in offense, it will have very little impact on the results, unless he finds a long-term answer at QB.
I know John Fox was just fired in Denver, but he had a nice run there, and wasn’t very involved in the offense.
He had Peyton Manning.
February 6, 2015
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