Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
As a high school English teacher of twenty-nine years, if there's one thing I've learned and appreciated more than anything else about the great potential of what can happen in a classroom, it's the scenario where the teacher sets a positive tone and establishes the proper structure to enable the students to eventually assume the ownership of the classroom itself.
Such has happened with the Arizona Cardinals.
Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, from the very minute he arrived in Glendale, has set the positive tone and established the proper structure that has enabled the once-beleaguered and stigmatized Cardinal players to assume the ownership of the team's newly-discovered success.
Whisenhunt's pedagogy was clear from the beginning...the very first task was to build a first rate training facility, presided over by John Lott, the Cardinals' new Strength and Conditioning Coach. Lott's mentorship in this facility has been a real boon to the organization. Participation in the workouts has never been so high and so enthusiastic.
The evidence of Lott's success is readily evident on the field, as the Cardinals are now playing the most physical football they quite possibly ever have. These Cardinals are also manifesting excellent physical stamina. In addition, no longer are players dropping to injuries like flies. This year there are only a handful of players on the IR and none of the players currently on the IR are any of the team's starters. That says something in itself.
Part two of Whisenhunt's modus operandi was to set team and personal goals for all his players, especially for his BEST players. Look at what Whiz and his staff have done for Larry Fitzgerald, who was a Pro Bowl player when Whiz and company arrived. The coaches asked Fitz, "Yeah, you are real good, but how much better can you be?" They gave Fitz a truthful assessment of his strengths and weaknesses and set out to build on his strengths and shore up his weaknesses. That result in itself has been extraordinary, as we have watched Fitz set the NFL playoffs on fire...to the point where the Steeler coaches are calling Fitz, with the utmost sincerity, the "best WR in the world."
The next part of the structure that Whisenhunt put in place was the hiring of astute assistant coaches for which the Bidwills agreed to up the ante on in order to woo their services. Case in point: Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, who in the face of being courted by the Dolphins last year as one of their top head coaching candidates, was offered a raise by the Cardinals and was given the autonomy to call the plays, an assignment that Ken Whisenhunt relinquished after trying to be both the head coach and call many of the offensive plays in his inaugural year.
What Haley has done in his first year as the play caller, particularly from a teaching standpoint, has been nothing short of remarkable. In Haley's classroom, not only do he and his players pour through volumes of game tape, they share their thoughts and ideas in an effort to come up with the best possible game plans. The communication that Haley has generated has not only given his players significant degrees of ownership of the team's offense on and off the field, it has given the coach and the players a common ground in which to ensure the execution of the game plans and to ensure that the smartest possible adjustments are made within the games.
This past week because of Anquan Boldin's heated argument with Haley on the sidelines during the team's most impressive and critical drive...all kinds of attention has been drawn to Haley's coaching style, especially in light of how Haley and the Cardinals players have conceded that these arguments happen a lot and should not be over-reacted to.
The thing is: Haley has given his players their voices and has made himself accessible. He and Warner argue all the time about what play to call when and where...and they are constantly sharing their observations of how they could best attack the opposing defense. Warner's input is very valuable and Haley recognizes that. What Warner sees and hears on the field is often different from what Haley sees and hears from the sideline. Therefore, their communication is critical.
But...with Haley, his communication with ALL his players is deemed as valuable...look at what he did last week...he asked Edgerrin James to pick out a handful of plays that he thought would work best against the Eagles and gave Edge the chance to call them himself. Smart, or what? Haley, in a prep meeting earlier in the week, turned to Brian St. Pierre, and asked him to tell him during the game when he thought they should run the throwback flea flicker from Arrington to Warner to Fitzgerald. Haley even conceded afterward that he wasn't feeling sure about the timimg of the call when St. Pierre gave him the nod. But...Haley had already given his trust to St. Pierre.
Involving the 3rd string QB in game planning is one thing, but look at how Haley has integrated all his personnel and their strengths into his offense. Look at the contributions Haley and the offense received last week from Tim Hightower, J.J. Arrington, Terrelle Smith, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick. Haley even used Antrel Rolle as a decoy. He's used DRC as a vertical threat in previous games.
The playcalling has been unpredictable and highly creative...how about using Q as a WR screen decoy right for the slip screen left to Hightower? How about the execution on that play?
The Cardinals have scored 95 points (30, 33, 32) in 3 playoff games versus three of the top defenses in the NFC. How's that for production? How's that for consistency? How's that for getting everyone on the same page?
Having called the plays for many years as a high school coach, I can attest to the fact that while you want input from your players and other coaches, it can easily get out of hand as everyone wants to be in your ear at once. Heck, in one key game I coached, during the last possession, my principal came over to me and requested a play.
The thing that is amazing about Haley is the way he encourages the input but makes it clear that he makes the call...and it's quite clear that during games, he and Warner do most of the communicating. Thus, the majority of the communication Haley has with the other players is done during the week and at halftime, when it should be done.
On the defensive side of the ball, Clancy Pendergast has been insisting on another kind of classroom emphasis: the completion of assignments. First of all, the game-film study of the opponents has been far more intense and thorough. No longer are key players on the opposing offense being ignored as some were in previous years (remember TE Antonio Gates being wide open all day a few years ago?). When Pendergast and his players have recently assessed their opponents they have concurred on the smartest possible strategies and matchups.
How about the decision to shadow RB Michael Turner with LB Karlos Dansby all afternoon? Turner rushed for 42 yards.
How about the decision to shadow WR Steve Smith with rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Smith did not catch a ball until the end of the third quarter, and by then the Cardinals were more than three scores ahead.
How about the decision to send SS Adrian Wilson after QB Donovan McNabb in key situations? Wilson's two sacks were huge, especially seeing as the New York Giants, with their fierce pass rush, haven't been able to sack McNabb in something like their last 17 quarters.
The Cardinals' coaches have done what great teachers do...they point the students in the right direction and give them the opportunity to take ownership of the success.
This year, the Cardinals' final exam awaits them next Sunday versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa Bay.
On the face of the bluebooks: Super Bowl XLIII.
The cramming has started and the communication has been intense...the assignments drawn...and the plans designed...
Can the Cardinals...perceived as perhaps the biggest flunkie to ever take this final, ace this exam?
These Cardinals appear humble enough, motivated enough and well prepared enough...thanks to the mentors...and thanks to the players who have been eager to listen, participate and achieve.
Such has happened with the Arizona Cardinals.
Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, from the very minute he arrived in Glendale, has set the positive tone and established the proper structure that has enabled the once-beleaguered and stigmatized Cardinal players to assume the ownership of the team's newly-discovered success.
Whisenhunt's pedagogy was clear from the beginning...the very first task was to build a first rate training facility, presided over by John Lott, the Cardinals' new Strength and Conditioning Coach. Lott's mentorship in this facility has been a real boon to the organization. Participation in the workouts has never been so high and so enthusiastic.
The evidence of Lott's success is readily evident on the field, as the Cardinals are now playing the most physical football they quite possibly ever have. These Cardinals are also manifesting excellent physical stamina. In addition, no longer are players dropping to injuries like flies. This year there are only a handful of players on the IR and none of the players currently on the IR are any of the team's starters. That says something in itself.
Part two of Whisenhunt's modus operandi was to set team and personal goals for all his players, especially for his BEST players. Look at what Whiz and his staff have done for Larry Fitzgerald, who was a Pro Bowl player when Whiz and company arrived. The coaches asked Fitz, "Yeah, you are real good, but how much better can you be?" They gave Fitz a truthful assessment of his strengths and weaknesses and set out to build on his strengths and shore up his weaknesses. That result in itself has been extraordinary, as we have watched Fitz set the NFL playoffs on fire...to the point where the Steeler coaches are calling Fitz, with the utmost sincerity, the "best WR in the world."
The next part of the structure that Whisenhunt put in place was the hiring of astute assistant coaches for which the Bidwills agreed to up the ante on in order to woo their services. Case in point: Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley, who in the face of being courted by the Dolphins last year as one of their top head coaching candidates, was offered a raise by the Cardinals and was given the autonomy to call the plays, an assignment that Ken Whisenhunt relinquished after trying to be both the head coach and call many of the offensive plays in his inaugural year.
What Haley has done in his first year as the play caller, particularly from a teaching standpoint, has been nothing short of remarkable. In Haley's classroom, not only do he and his players pour through volumes of game tape, they share their thoughts and ideas in an effort to come up with the best possible game plans. The communication that Haley has generated has not only given his players significant degrees of ownership of the team's offense on and off the field, it has given the coach and the players a common ground in which to ensure the execution of the game plans and to ensure that the smartest possible adjustments are made within the games.
This past week because of Anquan Boldin's heated argument with Haley on the sidelines during the team's most impressive and critical drive...all kinds of attention has been drawn to Haley's coaching style, especially in light of how Haley and the Cardinals players have conceded that these arguments happen a lot and should not be over-reacted to.
The thing is: Haley has given his players their voices and has made himself accessible. He and Warner argue all the time about what play to call when and where...and they are constantly sharing their observations of how they could best attack the opposing defense. Warner's input is very valuable and Haley recognizes that. What Warner sees and hears on the field is often different from what Haley sees and hears from the sideline. Therefore, their communication is critical.
But...with Haley, his communication with ALL his players is deemed as valuable...look at what he did last week...he asked Edgerrin James to pick out a handful of plays that he thought would work best against the Eagles and gave Edge the chance to call them himself. Smart, or what? Haley, in a prep meeting earlier in the week, turned to Brian St. Pierre, and asked him to tell him during the game when he thought they should run the throwback flea flicker from Arrington to Warner to Fitzgerald. Haley even conceded afterward that he wasn't feeling sure about the timimg of the call when St. Pierre gave him the nod. But...Haley had already given his trust to St. Pierre.
Involving the 3rd string QB in game planning is one thing, but look at how Haley has integrated all his personnel and their strengths into his offense. Look at the contributions Haley and the offense received last week from Tim Hightower, J.J. Arrington, Terrelle Smith, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick. Haley even used Antrel Rolle as a decoy. He's used DRC as a vertical threat in previous games.
The playcalling has been unpredictable and highly creative...how about using Q as a WR screen decoy right for the slip screen left to Hightower? How about the execution on that play?
The Cardinals have scored 95 points (30, 33, 32) in 3 playoff games versus three of the top defenses in the NFC. How's that for production? How's that for consistency? How's that for getting everyone on the same page?
Having called the plays for many years as a high school coach, I can attest to the fact that while you want input from your players and other coaches, it can easily get out of hand as everyone wants to be in your ear at once. Heck, in one key game I coached, during the last possession, my principal came over to me and requested a play.
The thing that is amazing about Haley is the way he encourages the input but makes it clear that he makes the call...and it's quite clear that during games, he and Warner do most of the communicating. Thus, the majority of the communication Haley has with the other players is done during the week and at halftime, when it should be done.
On the defensive side of the ball, Clancy Pendergast has been insisting on another kind of classroom emphasis: the completion of assignments. First of all, the game-film study of the opponents has been far more intense and thorough. No longer are key players on the opposing offense being ignored as some were in previous years (remember TE Antonio Gates being wide open all day a few years ago?). When Pendergast and his players have recently assessed their opponents they have concurred on the smartest possible strategies and matchups.
How about the decision to shadow RB Michael Turner with LB Karlos Dansby all afternoon? Turner rushed for 42 yards.
How about the decision to shadow WR Steve Smith with rookie CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie? Smith did not catch a ball until the end of the third quarter, and by then the Cardinals were more than three scores ahead.
How about the decision to send SS Adrian Wilson after QB Donovan McNabb in key situations? Wilson's two sacks were huge, especially seeing as the New York Giants, with their fierce pass rush, haven't been able to sack McNabb in something like their last 17 quarters.
The Cardinals' coaches have done what great teachers do...they point the students in the right direction and give them the opportunity to take ownership of the success.
This year, the Cardinals' final exam awaits them next Sunday versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa Bay.
On the face of the bluebooks: Super Bowl XLIII.
The cramming has started and the communication has been intense...the assignments drawn...and the plans designed...
Can the Cardinals...perceived as perhaps the biggest flunkie to ever take this final, ace this exam?
These Cardinals appear humble enough, motivated enough and well prepared enough...thanks to the mentors...and thanks to the players who have been eager to listen, participate and achieve.
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...And it brings the respect of their peers. family, friends, and others connected to the game whether they be coaches or fans. This bodes well for the Future of this team. Ya' gotta' know that players around the league are watching and thinking, "Hey, I want to be part of that". 
