So can we finally put all this genius talk to rest? Bill Belichick is not a genius. Neither is any other coach that ever blew a whistle. What separates a coach is their organizational and leadership skills. That's it. Great leaders make quick decisions and stand behind them. After that, it's all about the talent you have.
Just because the media didn't know the players, Belichick got deemed a genius for upsetting the Rams in the Super Bowl. He had some secret formula that no else had access to. Bullcrap. He had great players. He had a great quarterback, a great offensive line and a great defensive line. The media never pays any attention to lineman but any coach will tell you that lineman are the key. If you have a strong offensive live, then you can have lesser talents at running back. You have more time on passing plays. With a strong defensive line you can run any defense. Any! 3-4, 4-3, the 46 - they all are based on lineman. So with that base, the Patriots added football players and you get what we saw. Three teams that won Super Bowls by 3 points each. Never dominating but always winning the game.
Fast forward to now. That dominate offensive line is no more. All those great defensive players are gone. So what you are left with is a great quarterback who can't function under pressure. You have a defense that no longer has a great players. So when they play more talented teams in the playoffs, they lose. This is not to discredit their past success. They just don't have talent. Look at the Jets. Sanchez, Tomlinson, Cromartie, Revis, Edwards & Holmes were all first round picks. They all made big plays Sunday. The Jets just have more talent. And talents win. I know many in the media want to champion those smaller, scrappy undrafted Patriots. They want to find some coach that can really win regardless of talent. Everyone is looking for that coach that can "take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n" Its not happening and never will. Those with talent win. Show me a coach that won big and I'll show you a team full of great players. The "genius" label needs to be retired.
I get what you're saying, but I still have to give The Hoody his props. He won with guys like Troy Brown and Reche Caldwell. Had he won only one SB, then maybe, but not too many HOF's have won three. In fact, outside of Belichick, Chuck Noll and Steve Walsh, I'm not sure anyone else has won more than two.
ReplyDeleteNow, those who think the Pats are a dominating dynasty, I'll disagree. Out of the five decades of Super Bowls, to me, the Pats rank dead last behind 80's 49ers, 70's Steelers, 90's Cowboys, and the 60's Packers. Winning on a kicker's foot is nothing like Montana driving for a game-winning TD, Swann making a spectacular 4th Qtr catch, or Dallas beating every postseason opponent by double-digits.
He won with a great quarterback and a great defense. Richard Seymour, Teddy Brushci and Rodney Harrison were all great players. Notice Bill didn't win in Cleveland before he had Tom Brady.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but in all fairness, what NFL coach hasn't had great players? It doesn't mean Jimmy Johnson, Don Shula, or Chuck Noll weren't good coaches because they had HOF'ers.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's my point. Don't call them geniuses when they just have great players.
ReplyDeleteSo, you don't think any coach is a genius?
ReplyDeleteNo. None of them.
ReplyDeleteLOL! You're a tough one!
ReplyDelete