Good players can't overcome bad coaching - Little Bill

But I agree that coaching -- and luck -- plays a huge, and largely unrecognized, role in players' success. We tend to think that what did happen mostly had to happen. But that's not the case at all.

Tom Brady is a great example. His success seems inevitable, but what if he'd been drafted by the Lions instead of the Patriots? Would he be in the conversation for GOAT quartback? Probably not.

Bill Walsh loved Phil Simms, wanted to draft him, but the Giants got him first. Later in the same draft, Walsh got Joe Montana. If Simms had played in Walsh's system, might he be considered an all-time great? If Montana had played somewhere else, would he be remembered more like, oh, Lynn Dickey? (First QB drafted that year: Jack Thompson, by the Bengals. Simms was second QB off the board.)

Plus a lot of coaches simply mis-cast guys. John Rauch wanted OJ Simpson catching passes; it took Lou Saban to turn him into a great RB. I think there's a lot more of that in the league than most fans realize. We can only guess at the careers that might have been if some players had been luckier at the start. Or, the careers that really are the result of luck and good coaching.

the "Throwin' Samoan."

Love his approach to social media (no instant-face - LOL).

How important was that first meeting he had as a new coach? I also like how he is going to win or lose with his most dependable people. Shouldn't we all be leery of those who have all the skills but don't have the commitment to be dependable?

Thanks for sharing.

the 'Instantface' comment was great.

Barry Switzer

Extraordinary leader. Great interview. Thanks for posting!

Thank you for posting this. He is the greatest.

Bill knows what he knows!

I just get a black screen and 00:00 on the video time.

In comment 13429570 Milton said:

Quote:

I just get a black screen and 00:00 on the video time.

I had to be patient with it - and wait for the buffer to finish loading -- it took a while

In comment 13429571 gidiefor said:

Quote:

In comment 13429570 Milton said: Quote: I just get a black screen and 00:00 on the video time. I had to be patient with it - and wait for the buffer to finish loading -- it took a while

Nope, tried waiting and still nothing. I hit the play button and it flashes 16:36 as the length of the video but then it immediately changes to 00:00.

As for Bill, he is the GM and Coach......so he basically answers to himself.....

Offensively he has Brady, and good OC's.....

Defensively, he is in charge.....

The one thing, you must give the Patriots credit for, is their ability to make adjustments......nothing was more evident, than in the SB....for 2 1/2 quarters, they were getting whipped....adjustments were made, and they owned the last 20+ minutes of the game.....

Have seen this so many times.....Bill sets up his defense to take away your best player, and force others to win games.....

Can probably count on one hand the number of games where Bill's team was blown out....it just doesn't happen, because his teams are prepared, and if Plan A doesn't work, Plan B is ready.....