Archived Thread

What exactly does the head coach do during the game?

PaulBlakeTSU : 12/5/2011 2:24 pm

If the coordinators are calling the plays, what exactly is the head coach doing during the games? I know he manages timeouts and decides when to challenge plays, but I'm curious as to how much he affects play-calling and what are his primary responsibilities during the game.

As a fan who only has one year of organized football in middle school, I don't have much in the way of personal experience to refer.

Note: This is not meant to downplay head coaching in any manner, nor comment on the work head coaches do during the week to come up with plans of attack with the coordinators and motivate his players to be ready for the matchups. This is also not in any fashion meant to be a comment on Coughlin (though using him as an example would be great since I hava better frame of reference with the Giants team than with other teams). It is just a general football analysis question.

Thanks in advance.

yell and look

chris r : 12/5/2011 2:25 pm : link

concerned

baaaaaaaa

whobetta : 12/5/2011 2:29 pm : link

gahahahahahahahahah

He throws

JoeCabbie : 12/5/2011 2:30 pm : link

the challenge flag.

Be a douche?

okiegiant : 12/5/2011 2:32 pm : link

A head coach does the following:

teso56 : 12/5/2011 2:43 pm : link

Discuss and assess with his coordinators and various coaches what is working and what isnt - and what is still planned. As the team shifts from offense to defense the coach will be analyzing what they are doing well and not doing well and make adjustments and advise the coordinators what to do - whether stick with the game plan, try this specific play, exploit this matchup, etc.. This includes input on the play calling.

Other items: who's injured or hobbling? who on the O line is getting their ass kicked and needs help? talk directly to players about specific plays and get feedback;

although coordinators call the plays coaches can be very involved in that process

some HC's call the O or D

jwowcm : 12/5/2011 2:43 pm : link

others are there to get a feel what is going on and have input to adjust O or D

Also make key decisions at specific points in the game

If D and O game plan is working... they may have little to no input... if game plan blow up... they may scramble to stay in the game

Figure out

OC : 12/5/2011 2:46 pm : link

What he's gonna say when some astute reporter asks him in post game, wtf is his DC is calling 3man rushes against Rodgers.

....

kelsto811 : 12/5/2011 2:47 pm : link

on the 5 yard line

this is a good question - I dont see Coughlin acting

Elite mob32 : 12/5/2011 2:52 pm : link

as a coach, motivating the team besides clapping his hands on the sidelines. In the meantime Jacobs is taken out, he knows nothing of the defense or offensive play calling aside from during the weekly meetings, during the game it seems like its all scripted numbers, and out of his control.

Parcells did same. He would get on payers, refs, coaches

Some Fan : 12/5/2011 2:58 pm : link

Decide when to punt, FG, challenge, etc. Also, he said on a rare occasion, he would change the offensive play called, maybe a couple of times per game and not even the precise play, just the type, like whether it be a run or pass.

They burn their timeouts and challenges,

PSIMMS 22-25-268 : 12/5/2011 3:06 pm : link

ice their own kicker, scream at refs and players, ask what # the penalty is on.

It's a decent point you're trying to make here

moespree : 12/5/2011 3:08 pm : link

An emphasis on high quality, intelligent coordinators is very important in the NFL,no doubt about it.

Interesting

PaulBlakeTSU : 12/5/2011 3:18 pm : link

And I'm sure it varies with every team/headcoach/staff, but on a play-to-play basis, when an OC or DC calls the plays, are they coming up with the decision autonomously?

Or, is the head coach calling the the type of play, and the Coordinator chooses a play that fits the mold?

Examples

Offense (referencing the #1 option on the play):
"take a shot deep"
"medium-gain pass"
"Screen pass"
"play action"
"Shotgun formation"
"4 WR set"
"Running play"

Defense:
"play zone/man"
"blitz"
"rush 3"

And from these instructions, the coordinator then selects the play that will best suit the objective

from my perspective it looks like

mikeygiants : 12/5/2011 3:20 pm : link

our head coach uses a lot of swear words during the game.

I think the real work is done

The Natural : 12/5/2011 4:10 pm : link

in the days before the game. Setting up game plans, watching film, looking for tendencies, putting the game plan in. Practicing prior to the game. If all is done well, during the game the HC is more of a game manager than anything else. Subtle changes, input on important plays etc.

HC is like an admiral or a general. His work is in preparation and

slefrak : 12/5/2011 4:16 pm : link

planning. once the shit hits the fan, generally only the really major decisions come to him. and in general, HC's, and general officers are not cheering on the front line troops.

turn

TEPLimey : 12/5/2011 4:20 pm : link

a deep shade of purple

I think he

St. Jimmy : 12/5/2011 4:24 pm : link

scans the crowd for hot chicks.

I've heard their job

Wuphat : 12/5/2011 4:26 pm : link

is to throw tantrums and embarrass the organization.

They read BBI to see what fucking cockmonkeys

Randy in CT : 12/5/2011 4:27 pm : link

are being stupid. Paul, did TC contact you yesterday?

Randy

PaulBlakeTSU : 12/5/2011 4:47 pm : link

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your last post, but please justify this baseless claim that I was being a "cockmonkey." I've got to hear this.