Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Monday, September 5, 2005 * Labor Day *

COACHING FROM THE SCAFFOLDING * If I had one

I actually use a "Coach Chill" approach from time to time.  It is one I enjoy, and it goes something like me trying to facilitate the creation of moments of excellence on the field, and then with a whistle or whatever to somehow freeze them in time in a way that can allow the maximum number of players to benefit from exposure to that golden moment.  Then, as my theory goes, a team can start to put these momentary well-meshed pieces of good play together, stick or stack them one atop of the other as it were by how the practices and or drills are structured, and then, VOILA', you are ultimately able to do the same in games. 

TALENT NAGANA MAKE UP FOR A LACK OF PREPARATION

One of my staple thought patterns as well as verbal reiterations to them is that indeed you play in games much the same way you practice.  How one uses, attacks, or "brings it to" practice will ultimately be reflected in their game play.  Not only do I believe that, I absolutely count on it. 

GOOD STUFF + GOOD STUFF = MOMENTUM

Another point of constant emphasis for me is the systematic pursuit of that magical, elusive, yet monstrous power called "momentum".  It doesn't just occur.  Big Mo' does not manifest itself through statistics and you can't usually predict duration of its stay.  Sometimes it is hard to see even when it's up real close.  Momentum must often be created and sometimes built from scratch, depending on which way the wind happens to be blowing on any given day. You can't touch it, but I always try to put my finger on it. It's always there somewhere and then all of a sudden it's nowhere to be found.

I forever seek the Fountain of Momentum on my travels with the Rams.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, I TRY TO FIX IT ANYWAYS

I guess I relish looking at the team as something that, because it can never be perfect, is always something with some part of it that needs to be fixed.  That view of progress brings out the best in my logical train of thought. At least I think it does.  I have to always determine what area of team most needs attention or what individual needs more attention and stuff like that.  These ongoing judgments-to-be-made get me going and into the pro-active state of mind to be sure.

MORE IS ACTUALLY MORE

I never want to stay the same or just keep on doing what we do.  I always want us to expand.  For example, we have evolved greatly in the way we play defense in the last few years.  If we hadn't, we would be in big trouble now because almost everyone can play pretty good team defense these days.  That wasn't true not very long ago.

If we fundamentally grow in what we know then we never need to be afraid of what we might have or know that others have or know as well.   If we are looking forward then we are not looking back or over our shoulder trying to find something extra to worry about.  I know it sounds stupidly basic, but to do well in the future you must prepare for it right here in the present.

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