Jason Hatcher on what’s different about Washington: The head coach isn’t policing the team

[WoodysGirl]

Jason Hatcher apparently does. Ask him.

And Will Allen, the egg-shell walking safety who went back home to Pittsburgh after the Cowboys released him.

 

[Califan007]

Jason Hatcher apparently does. Ask him.

I did. He hasn't responded yet, though.

And, yes, I'm being serious.

 

[xwalker]

To me, it's micro-managing. I think that when Hatcher was talking about the head coach "policing", he was talking about it within the context of how some veteran players are/were being treated.

Just so you know, when Marty Schottenheimer was hired by the Skins, he tried micro-managing Darrell Green, to the point of actually showing Green the "proper" way to backpeddle lol:



Now, Schotty's micro-managing in this case was some on-the-field stuff. But imo, policing in a micro-managing style can overlap into other areas as well. I think that, when it comes to veterans, it makes sense to not only instill in them that this is their team and to take on leadership roles and be pro-active, but to also find ways to say "You've earned your stripes" and not treat them like a rookie who needs to be watched over 24-7.

You don't think Jimmy or Parcells micro-managed? Parcells would state in press conferences things like Spears has to play at 295 pound and not over 300 pounds.

New Head Coaches will ride veterans like Green really hard because that's how they establish their authority. Parcells did it with Larry Allen. Parcells required LA to change is weight room work out from focusing on Cleans or Clean-and-Jerks instead of more static work this the bench press. Did LA need to be told how to work in the weight room? No. It was about sending a message to the other players that Parcells was in charge. Jimmy was domed with the Dolphins because he couldn't over-ride the clout of Dan Marino. Jimmy could implement things his way with Marino and his God like reverence with everybody around that team.

 

[Hostile]

I did. He hasn't responded yet, though.

And, yes, I'm being serious.

I believe you. I just don't know why we have to justify what he thinks. I didn't hear any Cowboys fan saying that our Head Coach is policing his players. We are merely responding to what he said. if your Head Coach isn't, then I gotta admit I'm happy about it. I played for a Policeman instead of a Cupcake. I prefer what Hatcher is saying about my team to what he is saying about yours.

 

[Hostile]

And Will Allen, the egg-shell walking safety who went back home to Pittsburgh after the Cowboys released him.

Yeah he went back to the superior Steelers, who finished with the exact same record as us against weaker competition without the bevy of injuries. Good point.

 

[Denim Chicken]

And Will Allen, the egg-shell walking safety who went back home to Pittsburgh after the Cowboys released him.

Thanks, WG. It was killing me I couldn't remember who had similar comments.

 

[Denim Chicken]

And Will Allen, the egg-shell walking safety who went back home to Pittsburgh after the Cowboys released him.

And the quote:

“It was a very micro-managed atmosphere. Everything was heightened. Everything was very hyped. I didn’t feel the relationship and the bonding between players and coaches,” Allen said. “…I think that’s the rift that you get and everybody wonders why Dallas can’t win; why Dallas isn’t completing everything it needs to. The players are great. The players are tremendous. The coaches are some of the best in the business. You just need a cohesion there that allows players and coaches to really execute and do their jobs and it’s not something hanging over their heads.”

Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team

“That’s not fun for anybody,” Allen said. “…We understand that it’s a business but football is a business. Winning is our business. But if we’re not a team, if we’re not together in it all, then we have nothing.”

 

[Redball Express]

So the players run the team? If so, Gruden will fail. Wade let the players run the team, didn't turn out so well. I take this as a compliment to Garrett, that he is in charge.

Garrett has played with coaches that are involved.

That's going to mold how he coaches.

Worked well enough to get him to the Pro Bowl and to financially set him for life.

Washington is going to be a renaissance for him.

 

[Califan007]

You don't think Jimmy or Parcells micro-managed? Parcells would state in press conferences things like Spears has to play at 295 pound and not over 300 pounds.

New Head Coaches will ride veterans like Green really hard because that's how they establish their authority. Parcells did it with Larry Allen. Parcells required LA to change is weight room work out from focusing on Cleans or Clean-and-Jerks instead of more static work this the bench press. Did LA need to be told how to work in the weight room? No. It was about sending a message to the other players that Parcells was in charge. Jimmy was domed with the Dolphins because he couldn't over-ride the clout of Dan Marino. Jimmy could implement things his way with Marino and his God like reverence with everybody around that team.

You don't think McDaniels micro-managed? That worked out well, didn't it lol...

Like I said in my fify-rewrite of Hostile's post, micro-managing is ONLY effective if you know how to do it in an effective manner. Micro-managing in and of itself is not a good or bad coaching philosophy. It all depends on how it's utilized. For example, the absolute LAST thing Marty needed to do is use Green as a way to assert his aw-thor-it-tay...In reality, Marty had a near player revolt on his hands that offseason. Green was like an 18 year veteran at that point and absolutely beloved by players, coaches and fans alike. By trotting Green out on the field and showing him how to play a position he's played at a HOF level almost his entire career, Marty didn't do anything except make the players think "What a dick".

Trust me, for all the micro-managing Jimmah may have done with his squad, he didn't treat all players 100% equal lol...I'm positive he "policed" some players quite a bit and was more like a part-time mall security guard for other players.

 

[DallasEast]

Is Teri Hatcher in it?

Nope and that's a shame. She would definitely help the show's ratings in the male 34-54 demographics.

 

[Alexander]

There was someone else that we cut that said something similar, along the lines of "your job is on the line at all times". I cant remember who it was...

I believe that was Will Allen.

 

[Califan007]

And the quote:

“It was a very micro-managed atmosphere. Everything was heightened. Everything was very hyped. I didn’t feel the relationship and the bonding between players and coaches,” Allen said. “…I think that’s the rift that you get and everybody wonders why Dallas can’t win; why Dallas isn’t completing everything it needs to. The players are great. The players are tremendous. The coaches are some of the best in the business. You just need a cohesion there that allows players and coaches to really execute and do their jobs and it’s not something hanging over their heads.”

Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team

“That’s not fun for anybody,” Allen said. “…We understand that it’s a business but football is a business. Winning is our business. But if we’re not a team, if we’re not together in it all, then we have nothing.”

I'm guessing this reflects a bit on maybe what Hatcher is talking about re: "policing"?...

 

[Califan007]

Again, just some insight into micro-managing/"policing" and how veterans may look at it (this is another anecdote from Marty's time as the Commanders' head coach):

"Washington Commanders defensive lineman Bruce Smith knew this season would be different when, for the first time in his 17-year career, he got a roommate for road games.

Marty Schottenheimer has changed many things in his short time as Commanders head coach, but assigning roommates, of all things, truly irritated some veterans, including Smith.
A lot of teams don't make their veterans share hotel rooms, especially players like Smith who are built like small condos. But not having a roommate is also part of being a veteran. You get perks like that after being an N.F.L. citizen for a few years. Schottenheimer's new tactic was seen by some players as a childish way to try to implement his will over them.

One of Smith's roommates was a rookie who liked to listen to rap music as loud as possible. Another roommate snored like a snow blower, forcing Smith to pack up his pillows and sheets and sleep in the hallway of the hotel for the night.

Veteran Commanders players call these little stories Schottenisms, and it is not a term of endearment. Not since Al Groh alienated veteran Jets players last year has a head coach done so much to cause such anger in the locker room."

 

[BoysFan4ever]

I would think any coach worth anything probably doesn't care if the players like him or not.

Just win. That's the bottom line.

 

[Califan007]

I would think any coach worth anything probably doesn't care if the players like him or not.

Just win. That's the bottom line.

I think it's less about liking and more about respecting.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Again, just some insight into micro-managing/"policing" and how veterans may look at it (this is another anecdote from Marty's time as the Commanders' head coach):

"Washington Commanders defensive lineman Bruce Smith knew this season would be different when, for the first time in his 17-year career, he got a roommate for road games.

Marty Schottenheimer has changed many things in his short time as Commanders head coach, but assigning roommates, of all things, truly irritated some veterans, including Smith.
A lot of teams don't make their veterans share hotel rooms, especially players like Smith who are built like small condos. But not having a roommate is also part of being a veteran. You get perks like that after being an N.F.L. citizen for a few years. Schottenheimer's new tactic was seen by some players as a childish way to try to implement his will over them.

One of Smith's roommates was a rookie who liked to listen to rap music as loud as possible. Another roommate snored like a snow blower, forcing Smith to pack up his pillows and sheets and sleep in the hallway of the hotel for the night.

Veteran Commanders players call these little stories Schottenisms, and it is not a term of endearment. Not since Al Groh alienated veteran Jets players last year has a head coach done so much to cause such anger in the locker room."

Yea, its really hard to take somebody who has been spoiled and catered too and then take back something they feel entitled too. Little kids, and even big kids are like this as well.

 

[Hostile]

You don't think McDaniels micro-managed? That worked out well, didn't it lol...

Like I said in my fify-rewrite of Hostile's post, micro-managing is ONLY effective if you know how to do it in an effective manner. Micro-managing in and of itself is not a good or bad coaching philosophy. It all depends on how it's utilized. For example, the absolute LAST thing Marty needed to do is use Green as a way to assert his aw-thor-it-tay...In reality, Marty had a near player revolt on his hands that offseason. Green was like an 18 year veteran at that point and absolutely beloved by players, coaches and fans alike. By trotting Green out on the field and showing him how to play a position he's played at a HOF level almost his entire career, Marty didn't do anything except make the players think "What a dick".

Trust me, for all the micro-managing Jimmah may have done with his squad, he didn't treat all players 100% equal lol...I'm positive he "policed" some players quite a bit and was more like a part-time mall security guard for other players.

Jimmy Johnson said, "I will be very consistent. I will treat every player differently."

He cut a player for sleeping in a team meeting. He said if Aikman had fallen asleep in the same meeting he would have yelled at someone to get him a pillow.

 

[Sasquatch]

I don't see how what Hatcher said is a good or bad thing for either team...if it works. Gruden's way in DC is an unknown.

Yes, I too noticed that the cookie cutter tendency is strong here as is the desire to flog ex-players for their aspostasy. By my reckoning, we have "static stretching" and "coach is extremely vigilant and takes a top-down approach" among recent heretical statements.

 

[TheDude]

And the quote:

“It was a very micro-managed atmosphere. Everything was heightened. Everything was very hyped. I didn’t feel the relationship and the bonding between players and coaches,” Allen said. “…I think that’s the rift that you get and everybody wonders why Dallas can’t win; why Dallas isn’t completing everything it needs to. The players are great. The players are tremendous. The coaches are some of the best in the business. You just need a cohesion there that allows players and coaches to really execute and do their jobs and it’s not something hanging over their heads.”

Allen said he felt like there was a constant weight on all the players and coaches in Dallas that making a mistake would get you benched or cut. He feels that pressure can have a negative impact on the team

“That’s not fun for anybody,” Allen said. “…We understand that it’s a business but football is a business. Winning is our business. But if we’re not a team, if we’re not together in it all, then we have nothing.”

Why is what a current player on a new saying news? He is bound to get asked about Dallas and why they cant get over the hump, same player is also going to pimp his current team who PAID him.

I actually think 2 good things here. If players like Will Allen and Hatcher really hated having pressure on them - it was the right call to let them walk in the "greater good". I also like that these coaches being called micro-managers and not personable is a good thing.

I've never been a huge Garret guy, but I would warm to him if micro-managing and pressure is assigned to him versus a plastic, robot who thinks he is the smartest guy in the room.

 

[khiladi]

Riddle me this Batman. Over the course of History name the 25 most successful coaches of all time. Then whether you think they were Policemen or Cupcakes.

The fact that other coaches have failed while being Policemen is completely irrelevant to the topic. Otherwise you need to look at how many Cupcakes have succeeded. We're talking about what is happening in Dallas and the fact that this Head Coach, according to a former player.

Once you look at the evidence, don't make it about your like or dislike for the Head Coach. What do you prefer in a Head Coach based on those results by your own study and definitions? A Policeman or a Cupcake?

Follow me here... The fact that other coaches have failed being Policeman is completely relevant to the topic, especially when the person it is being used against is trying to argue that is the true indicator of success and makes one Tom Landry. Tom Landry had other qualities that Garrett couldn't hold a candle too, among them, he has a tradition of players remembering him with affection over a decade after he died, while Garrett has players calling him out for being interfering and a policeman, the moment they leave Valley Ranch.

BTW, I very much remember Mr. Jerry Jones telling us that despite the reigns going to Callahan last year, Garrett couldn't keep his hands away. So now Jerry has made Opie wander the sidelines of the defense. So not only do we have Crayton confirming Garrett not listening to advice from people experienced, we've got Mr. Hatcher. And also Jerry Jones himself.

I know it's hard. You've made him out to be Tom Landry, but that Titanic has already sunk.