Football - Coach Get Too Much Credit Or Blame?

By: Michael Russell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:43
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

They say that the game of football is won or lost on the field and in doing so you're relying on the players and not the coaches to execute the plays. The coaches can only tell them what needs to be done. It's up to the players to do it. Still, many coaches take the heat for what happens in a game and many of them, especially head coaches, end up losing their jobs. Is this fair? Is it even right? Well, we're not going to try to answer this question but we are going to present both sides of the argument, pro and con.

This argument can actually apply to just about any sport but for the purposes of this article, we'll confine it to football.

There's no question that a coach is responsible for not only calling the plays that the players will execute during the course of the game, but they are also responsible for seeing that the players stay in shape. This means regular workouts, practices, etc. If a coach sees that a player isn't putting in the effort, it's his job to call the player on this and bench him if necessary. But these are all basic things that even the worst coach in pro football should be able to do. If he doesn't, then he doesn't belong in the game.

The question probably should be, "Where does the coaches responsibility end?" There is an old saying that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it. The same can be said about a football player. You can give him all the instruction and training in the world, but if he goes out on that field and doesn't put in the effort, or is confused because he doesn't understand the play that was just called, is it the coaches fault?

This is where the argument itself comes in and quite honestly, it's probably one that nobody is going to win.

There are those who say that it is the coaches responsibility to make sure that his players are ready for the game, both physically and mentally. If he sees that a player is either not getting the plays down or is not putting the effort in, then he should bench that player until he shows that he can play up to what is expected of him.

There are those who say that the problem with this theory is that not every player is going to be a star and sometimes you can only get so much out of your players. These are the people who say that the coach does get too much credit when the team does well and too much blame when they don't. Ultimately, they claim that you can only do so much with your players and they must be the ones who execute, not the coaches.

Those who argue against the above theory will point to some of the greatest coaches of all time, pointing to their record. Well, maybe they just happened to have great players. Or maybe the coach really did make a difference.

It certainly is an interesting argument and one that will probably never be settled.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Football

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Football category

  • Deck the halls with Dallas Cowboys Christmas decors starting this year - By: Maunik Desai
    Dallas Cowboys fans can now enjoy a true blue Cowboys Christmas. The online NFL sports shop brings Cowboys fans everything they can wish for in a Christmas decor - blue and bold with the Cowboys logo. From the front door to the holiday tree, the online shop gives your visitors a Cowboys greeting.
  • Make The Man in Your Life Smile With NFL Apparel for That Special Day - By: Kimberly Green
    Any occasion can be a special one with NFL jerseys in his favorite team colors!
  • NFL Jerseys & NFL Sports Apparel - The Fashion for the Passion - By: Kimberly Green
    Tis the season, time to warm up your pig skin and hit the field for some football!!
  • Gear up for the Game with NFL Sports Apparel & NFL Jerseys - By: Kimberly Green
    With football fans rallying around the weekend highlights, sharing Fantasy Football news and getting ready for Monday night games, now is the ideal time to take inventory of your gear. Whether you're looking for cold weather apparel for looking your best at the games, tailgating threads to sport your team in style or you just want to say I'm a fan like no other, NFL apparel has never come in more varieties or styles. From replica jerseys, throwback jerseys or true authentic NFL Jerseys, to pullover sweatshirts, tank tops, flannel pajamas, hat and beanies you can support your team and celebrate all that football season entails with NFL Sports Apparel.
  • Sports Apparel Is Big Business - By: Scott Jarvis
    In days past shouting from the couch with a group of friends was considered supporting the home team. Fans could also make a trip to a stadium to catch a home game or throw parties in honor of a big game, which was also a way to support your favorite team. Make no mistake, sports apparel has been around for as long as professional sports have, however the selections and quality of such apparel used to be extremely limited and expensive.
  • Football betting - By: KW Singh
    Betting and gambling through sports has become a major concern for our society today. It has become an issue of serious concern for the lawmakers on how to monitor and curtail unauthorized betting through sports. Lawmakers have been thus penned down to make tough new measures to crack down on corruption in sports related betting. Bets are placed on individual player's performances, the winning team, scores in the game, etc.
  • The 7 Laws of Football Quarterbacking - By: Kanwar Narendra Singh Jodha
    In all of my research, over a period of several years, the finest information I have ever read on quarterback leadership came from my friend Frank Carideo. The purpose of this information was to outline the process by which a quarterback was trained at Notre Dame, under Coach Knute Rockne. This course of quarterbacking was as exacting in many respects as any collegiate course. Coach Rockne had seven cardinal principles of quarterbacking that were preached over and over again.
  • Winning at NFL Football - By: Joe Pav
    There is an old misconception among fans that a great defense is needed to win at NFL football. The problem with that philosophy is that your highly talented defensive teams would be worn out due to being on the field too long. Also, a few key injuries to a few skilled players can mean the difference between last and first.
  • Strategies For Higher Win In Football - By: Fantasy Saturday
    Football betting adds thrill to the game. Predicting outcomes and betting money on it excites football lovers. However, nothing beats the excitement of winning on bets. Using strategies in betting increases your chance of winning. What football strategies work?
  • Football Scouting Software - By: Todd Krueger
    Football is all about timing. Not just the timing that is required between the offensive line and the running back, or between the safeties and linebackers on a blitz play, but also the timing of the coach to choose the right plays at the right time. The difference between success and failure rides upon play selection more than any other factor.