OPTIMISM MEETS OPPORTUNITY

This season projects to be an intersection of optimism with opportunity. I entered the MOF as a very raw interim coach of the Jaguars in Madden 22. The lows of several one-win seasons were disappointing. The highs have been few but enough to fuel growth. I have experienced the frustration of playing in divisions full of Hall of Famers. I have also wasted opportunities with very good teams. 25 Seasons, 95-319-2, no playoff appearances, no better than a 7-10 season.

The optimism is based on growth of learning what MOF success looks like.

The three key components I've observed of winning coaches are: 

Team Roster Development, Scheme Integrity, and Consistency of Execution.

Each of these requires understanding and practice. Failure to develop and maintain a competitive roster limits opportunities for success. Developing a scheme to win requires understanding the game as well as knowing your strengths and weaknesses. You have to find the balance of belief in your scheme with “failing fast”, in other words “you gotta know when to hold em and when to fold em”! Then there's consistency of execution. Life, family, work, and health don't always align with scheduling, motivation, and focus. Those who execute with consistency, win constantly!

The opportunity is now! The team I love. A roster with potential for sustained success. The understanding and knowledge of what it takes week in, week out over multiple seasons. My approach and mindset will be to keep my head down, keep my mouth shut, no excuses, no explanations, work hard, and don't give up. “Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity, …… Would you capture it or just let it slip? …. The moment, you own it, you better never let it go…”