Coach Sal
12-23-2006, 12:18 AM
Head coaches and Coordinators always get the headlines - for better or worse.
But those guys are really only responsible for the overall implementation of schemes and strategies and big decisions on game day.
The guys who really get each individual player ready for Sunday, day-in and day-out, are the position coaches. They teach technique, roles for fitting into that week's game plan, and have a much-more hands-on interaction with the players of their unit.
The reason I post this is because this Bills positional-coaching staff has done a tremendous job this season -- especially since the bye-week. Think about the rookies they've had to get ready and the backups they've had to prepare each week due to injuries.
Every week someone else has had to step in and know their job. Guys like Coy Wire, Duke Preston, Keith Ellison, Brad Cieslak, and Jim Leonhard have all had to take on rolls many thought they couldn't handle; Rookies like John DiGiorgio, Keith Ellison, Terrence Pennington, Ashton Youboty, and Kyle Williams have all had to make significant contributions.
And then there's the rookie safeties in Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson who've been called upon all season and, for the most part, met the challenge.
Now, go back and look at all those names. Then, think about the fact that this team is 7-7 and still fighting for a playoff spot.
Wow.
It's a direct result of great work by the position coaches.
But those guys are really only responsible for the overall implementation of schemes and strategies and big decisions on game day.
The guys who really get each individual player ready for Sunday, day-in and day-out, are the position coaches. They teach technique, roles for fitting into that week's game plan, and have a much-more hands-on interaction with the players of their unit.
The reason I post this is because this Bills positional-coaching staff has done a tremendous job this season -- especially since the bye-week. Think about the rookies they've had to get ready and the backups they've had to prepare each week due to injuries.
Every week someone else has had to step in and know their job. Guys like Coy Wire, Duke Preston, Keith Ellison, Brad Cieslak, and Jim Leonhard have all had to take on rolls many thought they couldn't handle; Rookies like John DiGiorgio, Keith Ellison, Terrence Pennington, Ashton Youboty, and Kyle Williams have all had to make significant contributions.
And then there's the rookie safeties in Donte Whitner and Ko Simpson who've been called upon all season and, for the most part, met the challenge.
Now, go back and look at all those names. Then, think about the fact that this team is 7-7 and still fighting for a playoff spot.
Wow.
It's a direct result of great work by the position coaches.