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Not every player is going to respond well to hard coaching. That's simply the reality of modern sports. Some athletes thrive when they're encouraged constantly. Others need to be challenged directly and pushed to uncomfortable distances by coaches unwilling to lower standards. Some might say that's the difference between Kobe Bryant and James Harden.
An old-school personality like former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan may have struggled to deliver his message in today’s game. Again, that's the reality. Fair or not, the belief is that some professional athletes simply can't be coached as harshly anymore.
The NFL has evolved over the years, and with that evolution has come a different dynamic between players and coaches. Philadelphia, however, has always been a little different. This city demands accountability. The fans demand toughness. The media can be relentless. There’s a reason people have said for years that not every athlete is built to survive Philadelphia.
Vic Fangio is about as old school as they come, but Philadelphia and its Eagles defenders have embraced him. Zack Baun recently offered the reason as to why.
It's well known that Fangio's demanding approach didn't work everywhere during his coaching career. During his time with the Miami Dolphins, there were whispers that some players didn't connect with his style at all. Certain personalities seemed to want out from under his leadership as quickly as possible.
Fast forward to Philadelphia, and the conversation sounds completely different. The Eagles' defense not only respects Fangio, but it also appears to embrace him fully. Speaking with the media after a recent OTA practice open to reporters, Zack Baun spoke glowingly about Fangio's coaching style and how beneficial it has been for the defense as a whole.
Honestly, that shouldn’t be surprising when you look closer at Philadelphia’s roster construction. This team, on both sides of the ball, is loaded with leaders who played at winning programs, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs, for instance. These are players shaped by demanding programs led by coaches like Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. Those environments aren’t built on comfort. They’re built on standards, discipline, and direct accountability.
That’s Fangio’s world, too. Maybe Miami simply wasn’t the right fit. Philadelphia certainly seems to believe another team’s frustration became its own treasure. Watching the Eagles’ defense evolve into one of football’s nastiest units last season only strengthened that belief further.
And somewhere along the way, you have to wonder if at least a few former Dolphins defenders watched Super Bowl LIX thinking about what might have happened had they embraced Fangio’s style a little differently. We may never know the answer to that, but what we do know is that pressure does two things. It helps forge diamonds, and it bursts pipes. Simply put, if you want to play for Vic Fangio, you can't be 'a pipe.' Place a period at the end of that sentence.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Zack Baun explains why Vic Fangio’s tough coaching style works
Continue reading...
An old-school personality like former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan may have struggled to deliver his message in today’s game. Again, that's the reality. Fair or not, the belief is that some professional athletes simply can't be coached as harshly anymore.
The NFL has evolved over the years, and with that evolution has come a different dynamic between players and coaches. Philadelphia, however, has always been a little different. This city demands accountability. The fans demand toughness. The media can be relentless. There’s a reason people have said for years that not every athlete is built to survive Philadelphia.
Vic Fangio is about as old school as they come, but Philadelphia and its Eagles defenders have embraced him. Zack Baun recently offered the reason as to why.
Zack Baun says Vic Fangio’s style benefits the Eagles
It's well known that Fangio's demanding approach didn't work everywhere during his coaching career. During his time with the Miami Dolphins, there were whispers that some players didn't connect with his style at all. Certain personalities seemed to want out from under his leadership as quickly as possible.
Fast forward to Philadelphia, and the conversation sounds completely different. The Eagles' defense not only respects Fangio, but it also appears to embrace him fully. Speaking with the media after a recent OTA practice open to reporters, Zack Baun spoke glowingly about Fangio's coaching style and how beneficial it has been for the defense as a whole.
Honestly, that shouldn’t be surprising when you look closer at Philadelphia’s roster construction. This team, on both sides of the ball, is loaded with leaders who played at winning programs, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs, for instance. These are players shaped by demanding programs led by coaches like Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. Those environments aren’t built on comfort. They’re built on standards, discipline, and direct accountability.
That’s Fangio’s world, too. Maybe Miami simply wasn’t the right fit. Philadelphia certainly seems to believe another team’s frustration became its own treasure. Watching the Eagles’ defense evolve into one of football’s nastiest units last season only strengthened that belief further.
And somewhere along the way, you have to wonder if at least a few former Dolphins defenders watched Super Bowl LIX thinking about what might have happened had they embraced Fangio’s style a little differently. We may never know the answer to that, but what we do know is that pressure does two things. It helps forge diamonds, and it bursts pipes. Simply put, if you want to play for Vic Fangio, you can't be 'a pipe.' Place a period at the end of that sentence.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Zack Baun explains why Vic Fangio’s tough coaching style works
Continue reading...
