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Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Gailey must learn to delegate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Head coaches in football should deal with the big picture. They should leave the little pictures to the supposedly competent folks around them called assistants.
That’s my preference. No gray area. Just make this a black and white separation. There is so much to worry about in the macro at the top of an NFL or college program that too much emphasis on the micro can make you goofy along the way to losses and the unemployment line.
Even so, you have this blurriness involving Chan Gailey, in the second year of his transformation at Georgia Tech from accomplished play-caller in the pro and college game to whatever he is now.
Technically, Gailey isn’t calling plays anymore, and, technically, he isn’t a meddler.
Technically.
According to John Bond, in his first season as offensive coordinator and successor to Patrick Nix as a post-Gailey play-caller for the Yellow Jackets, “Oh, Coach [Gailey] is involved now, as far as the game plan is concerned, and he’s in there quite a bit, and he certainly has opinions and all those types of things. But as far as calling the plays in the games, that’s my job. That’s me.”
Well, yes, but Gailey isn’t exactly Mark Richt. Just like Gailey, Richt earned accolades as a play-caller, but only at Florida State before arriving at Georgia seven years ago as play-caller, offensive coordinator and head coach. Just like Gailey, Richt decided to become only a big-picture guy when he anointed Mike Bobo as The Man of the Bulldogs’ offense near the end of last season.
Unlike Gailey, Richt isn’t heavily involved in Georgia’s game plan during the week, and unlike Gailey, Richt says little (if anything) to his designated play-caller during games.
Richt does have veto power on plays, but he never uses it.
What about Gailey? “You know what? I can’t think of a time this year that he has vetoed a call,” said Bond, easing into a smile. “He’s really great on game days. He’ll tell you, ‘Last time on second-and-such-and-such, they did this.’ But as far as vetoing a call during the game, if you’re the head coach, you bet that he absolutely has that power.”
Gailey has power, period. He is the boss. If you combine that with his acknowledgment this week that he still has a deep-rooted love affair with play-calling, you have why he ordered Bond to stay conservative during Tech’s 13-3 upset of Clemson on Saturday. The Jackets’ defense was suffocating, which is why Gailey told Bond such a thing. It’s just that Bond should be allowed to reach those conclusions on his own.
There also was the Notre Dame game, when Tech ripped the pitiful Fighting Irish in the season opener on the road. Gailey told Bond in the second half to stick with the running game. Again, Gailey is the boss, but Bond is a competent employee, with an offensive resume that spans from Lou Holtz at Arkansas to high-scoring Illinois State teams to Northern Illinois’ rise on the potent feet of Garrett Wolfe.
Although Gailey strongly praises Bond’s work, the boss is quietly becoming more micro than macro again with a Tech offense that flourishes on the ground but ranks last in the ACC in passing yards per game and passing efficiency.
“You lose the feel of the game from the [press box, where Bond sits], because I’ve been there,” said Gailey, who has spent 16 years coaching in the pros and 17 in college. “From the sidelines, you’ve got a feel of the game, and who’s controlling the line of scrimmage, and sometimes, you lose that perspective from the box. So I’ll say to John, ‘Hey, let’s pound them for a while.’ Or, ‘Let’s think about the next series.’ “
Then Gailey added, “Every now and then, he’ll say, ‘What do you think?’ So I give him my opinion.”
If Bond keeps asking the straight-shooting Gailey his opinion during games, he’ll keep giving it. That’s fine. This isn’t: In the complex world of today’s big-time football programs, the worst thing is to have a head coach calling plays.
The second-worst thing is to have a head coach sort of calling plays.
Permalink | Comments (44) | Categories: Tech / ACC, Terence Moore
Flawed division favors Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
In case you haven’t noticed, the NFC South is so dysfunctional right now that even the significantly flawed Falcons could …
Dare we say it?
Should we even think it?
Let’s start at the top with a 3-1 Tampa Bay bunch that just lost star runner Cadillac Williams and key offensive tackle Luke Petitgout for the year. The Buccaneers also are depending on 137-year-old Jeff Garcia at quarterback and a totally revamped defense.
Then there are the 2-2 Carolina Panthers with an aching Jake Dehlomme (again) and their Jekyll & Hyde personality.
Finally, not only did the 0-3 New Orleans Saints lose Deuce McAllister for the season, but they are suggesting that their NFC championship run last year was a fluke.
So here are the 1-3 Falcons, with both games left to play against Tampa Bay and New Orleans and another one against Carolina. That means the Falcons have a decent chance of sliding back into the division picture, but only if their offensive line continues to show it finally has a clue. And if the new Joey Harrington doesn’t become the old Joey Harrington.
And if the running game doesn’t remain stagnant.
And if the receivers continue to show they really aren’t shaky.
And if the defense finally stops the run with consistency, and if the defense finally stops the pass with consistency.
And if the otherwise potent John Abraham as a pass rusher doesn’t get hurt again.
And if the Falcons win more times than they lose regarding those division games.
And if they completely get over that No. 7 hangover.
And if the cow jumps over the moon.
Permalink | Comments (85) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
