Elite Coaching Drives NFL Success -- Offensive Innovation and Roster Strategy Crucial - Episode Hero Image

Elite Coaching Drives NFL Success -- Offensive Innovation and Roster Strategy Crucial

The Herd with Colin Cowherd · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

TL;DR

  • The Pittsburgh Steelers' sustained focus on defensive spending and stability has trapped them in a mediocrity loop, preventing them from taking the offensive risks necessary to compete for Super Bowls.
  • The NFL's evolution towards offensive-minded coaching and quarterback play means teams prioritizing defense over offense, like the Steelers, are becoming outdated and less competitive.
  • The Eagles' offensive struggles are a management issue, not a player one, indicating a failure in game planning and offensive design by coordinators and head coaches.
  • Successful NFL teams, including seven of the eight playoff teams discussed, prioritize elite coaching over quarterback talent, demonstrating that strategic leadership is the primary driver of success.
  • The Lakers' roster construction is fundamentally flawed by neglecting three-point shooting and perimeter defense, leading to consistent blowouts despite clutch-game success.
  • John Harbaugh's coaching prowess makes him the "belle of the ball" for NFL vacancies, but the Giants' opening is less ideal than Baltimore's due to quarterback uncertainty.
  • Ben Johnson's "us against Green Bay" mentality, fueled by animosity, effectively galvanizes the Bears by fostering a culture of toughness and resilience.

Deep Dive

The NFL playoff landscape is defined by elite coaching, not necessarily elite quarterbacks, highlighting a strategic shift in the league towards offensive innovation and aggressive roster construction. This emphasis on coaching acumen is evident in the limited number of truly exceptional coaches, who are now the primary drivers of success in an era where offensive schemes and quarterback development are paramount. Teams that prioritize hiring and retaining top-tier coaching talent, rather than solely focusing on star quarterbacks, are better positioned for sustained success, as demonstrated by the consistent performance of teams with innovative offensive minds at the helm.

The Pittsburgh Steelers exemplify a cautionary tale of prioritizing stability and defense over offensive evolution. Their consistent mediocrity, characterized by a failure to adapt to the modern NFL's offensive-centric approach, has trapped them in a cycle of average performance. This is exacerbated by a defense-heavy spending strategy and a reluctance to take calculated risks, such as acquiring a franchise quarterback. The downstream effect is a team that is never truly competitive for a Super Bowl, despite maintaining a respectable regular-season record. This static approach, while appealing for its perceived stability, ultimately hinders long-term success in a league that rewards adaptability and offensive prowess.

Similarly, the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive struggles illustrate the critical importance of offensive scheme and management. Despite having expensive offensive talent, the team's inability to establish a clear offensive identity and execute effectively points to a failure in coaching and game planning. Blaming players for systemic issues in offensive execution is a misdirection; true accountability lies with the offensive coordinator and head coach, whose roles are analogous to department heads responsible for strategy and talent utilization. This highlights the cascading effect: poor offensive management leads to player underperformance, regardless of individual talent, ultimately affecting the team's overall competitiveness.

In contrast, the Los Angeles Lakers' roster construction issues underscore the league-wide shift towards "three-and-D" players and the diminishing importance of traditional centers. Their deficiency in three-point shooting and perimeter defense, despite strong clutch-game performance, indicates a fundamental flaw in building a modern NBA team. The emphasis on positional defenders with length and consistent three-point threats is now critical for success, overshadowing the dominance once held by dominant big men. This necessitates a front office that understands and adapts to these evolving league dynamics, prioritizing skilled wing players and effective offensive schemes over traditional positional strengths.

Finally, the ongoing coaching carousel in the NFL, particularly the pursuit of John Harbaugh, underscores the immense value placed on proven head coaches who can instill culture and drive innovation. Harbaugh's desirability across multiple franchises highlights the scarcity of coaches who can positively impact team culture and strategic direction. The success of teams like the Ravens, who have prioritized offensive development and strategic flexibility under Harbaugh, contrasts with teams that remain stagnant in their approach. This demonstrates that investing in dynamic coaching is a direct pathway to sustained competitiveness, as these individuals are capable of elevating talent and adapting to the league's ever-changing strategic landscape.

Action Items

  • Audit Steelers' offensive strategy: Analyze 5 years of offensive data to identify root causes of consistent underperformance and recommend systemic changes.
  • Evaluate Eagles' offensive identity: Assess game plans and personnel usage over the last 9 months to define a clear offensive identity and prevent future strategic drift.
  • Design front office expansion: Propose a structure for the Lakers' basketball operations by benchmarking against 3 successful NFL front offices to address under-management.
  • Implement coaching evaluation framework: Develop criteria to assess head coach effectiveness beyond win-loss records, focusing on strategic adaptability and player development for 8 playoff teams.
  • Measure team strength disconnect: For 3-5 teams, calculate correlation between win-loss record and power ranking score to identify systemic over/under-valuation.

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Key Quotes

"The truth, once the playoffs arrive, always reveals itself. You can't trust the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are a Sears department store. 3.1 yards per play, lowest yards per play in the last nine years in the playoffs. They got turnovers. They get three times. Houston gave them opportunities. 13 total first downs. Awful on third down. Couldn't run the ball. Again, if the Steelers were just competent offensively, and I know the Texans are good, but you had a ball game."

The author argues that the Pittsburgh Steelers' playoff performance reveals a fundamental weakness, particularly their offensive inefficiency. Colin Cowherd highlights their low yards per play and struggles on third downs as evidence of this, suggesting they are a "Sears department store" in terms of their playoff competitiveness.

"So they're not going to fire Mike Tomlin. Aaron's, of course, going to always defend him. They have no young quarterback for the future. It's one of the oldest rosters in the league. The money's mostly spent on defense. Pittsburgh is stuck in a mediocrity loop. They're never terrible, but exceedingly average. They've become so consumed with stability, loyalty. 'Hey, at least we're not Cleveland.' Yeah, but neither are the Chiefs, the Rams, or the Niners, and they take swings."

Colin Cowherd explains that the Pittsburgh Steelers are trapped in a cycle of mediocrity due to their focus on stability and defense, rather than taking risks to acquire a franchise quarterback and invest in offense. He contrasts this approach with teams like the Chiefs and Rams, who actively pursue aggressive strategies.

"It's not just about not winning a playoff game for nine years. I went and looked at Mike Tomlin's last 13 playoff games. There are six blowout losses. In fact, in their last seven playoff games, they have not led for a single snap in the second half in any of them. The games aren't that competitive. You thought last night was competitive? Start of the fourth, you knew who the better team was."

The author points out a concerning trend in Mike Tomlin's playoff record, emphasizing the lack of competitiveness in recent games. Colin Cowherd highlights that the Steelers have not led in the second half of their last seven playoff games, indicating a pattern of falling short when it matters most.

"The last nine Super Bowl champs, nine for nine, have top 10 offenses. The Steelers, once again this year, 26th on offense. For a city that worships bridges, Pittsburgh needs to cross one. It's time to change the way you're doing business. Sears, J.C. Penney were cool. Now we all shop online. Like, you got to stop the money on the other side."

Colin Cowherd argues that the Steelers' offensive struggles, ranking 26th, are a critical issue when compared to the success of recent Super Bowl champions who consistently feature top-10 offenses. He uses the analogy of outdated businesses like Sears to illustrate that Pittsburgh needs to adapt its business model to modern NFL strategies.

"Jason Kelce is not only a proud former Philadelphia Eagle, he's probably the second or third best center that's ever played the game. He passionately blamed the Eagle players for their loss. He said, 'We just, we just didn't make our guys, highest paid, a lot of money on offense. We didn't make plays.' I disagree. When a department in your company is in a death spiral, it's on management. The Eagle's offense has been circling the drain for nine months. That's on, that's on the offensive coordinator or the head coach."

The author disagrees with Jason Kelce's assessment of the Eagles' loss, attributing the offensive struggles to management (coaching) rather than the players. Colin Cowherd argues that a sustained offensive decline for nine months points to systemic issues with the offensive coordinator or head coach, not the individual players.

"The NFL's now smarter, shrewder, and more offensive. The league isn't what it used to be, but the Steelers are. They spend all their money on defense. So, you know what the league is now. It's not what it was when Tomlin took over. The Steelers were just a good defense and a run game got you to a Super Bowl and won it. Now it's about offensive coaches. It's about quarterbacks and passing. It's about spending your money at left tackle, quarterback, two weapons, maybe even a center, not on a second pass rusher."

Colin Cowherd explains that the modern NFL prioritizes offense, requiring investment in quarterbacks, offensive line, and playmakers, a stark contrast to the past when defense and a run game were sufficient. He criticizes the Steelers' continued focus on defense as an outdated strategy that no longer aligns with the league's evolution.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Herd Hierarchy" - Mentioned as a recurring segment for ranking teams.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Athletic report on John Harbaugh" (The Athletic) - Reported that John Harbaugh had lunch and an informal meeting at Giants owner Chris Mara's home regarding the open head coaching position.

People

  • John Harbaugh - Mentioned as the number one target for the Giants' head coaching position and a leading candidate in the coaching pool.
  • Jim Harbaugh - Mentioned in comparison to his brother John and in relation to a past interaction with Pete Carroll.
  • Jim Schwartz - Mentioned in relation to an interaction with Jim Harbaugh.
  • Pete Carroll - Mentioned in relation to an interaction with Jim Harbaugh.
  • Bill Walsh - Mentioned in comparison to the winning percentage of current coaches.
  • Sean Payton - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs.
  • Mike McDonald - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs and as the defensive version of Sean McVay.
  • Mike Vrabel - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs and as an "alpha" coach.
  • Sean McVay - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs and as a comparison for Mike McDonald.
  • Ben Johnson - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs, for his intensity in the locker room, and for building a fence around the Bears.
  • Kyle Shanahan - Mentioned as a coach in the NFL playoffs.
  • Nick Sirianni - Mentioned as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and dependent on the skill of the OC.
  • Kellen Moore - Mentioned as the former offensive coordinator for the Eagles, whose offense was better than Philadelphia's current offense.
  • Vic Fangio - Mentioned as a coach whose department is "humming."
  • Kevin Stefanski - Mentioned as a potential number one candidate for coaching jobs and as an offensive coach.
  • Josh Allen - Mentioned as a player who can carry his team and as a potential MVP.
  • Lamar Jackson - Mentioned as a player who Baltimore has had and as a comparison for Michael Penix.
  • Joe Burrow - Mentioned as a player not in the playoffs.
  • Patrick Mahomes - Mentioned as a player not in the playoffs.
  • Brock Purdy - Mentioned as a quarterback whose greatness is questioned and for having bad picks.
  • Bo Nix - Mentioned as a quarterback whose status is uncertain.
  • Jared Vanderbilt - Mentioned as a positional defender for the Lakers.
  • JJ Redick - Mentioned as a potential coach for the Lakers and for his clutch game record.
  • Bill Russell - Mentioned in a hypothetical scenario of a player-coach.
  • Kobe Bryant - Mentioned as an example of a coach with competitive fire.
  • Michael Jordan - Mentioned as an example of a competitive athlete who did not treat teammates well.
  • Adam Peters - Mentioned as someone rubbing people the wrong way.
  • C.J. Stroud - Mentioned as a quarterback who has regressed and had a bad game.
  • Justin Herbert - Mentioned as a quarterback who had a rough game and is not being sold on.
  • Khalil Mack - Quoted as saying everyone is to blame, not just Justin Herbert.
  • Drake London - Mentioned as a player for the Falcons, considered better than the neighbors.
  • Bijan Robinson - Mentioned as a potential superstar running back for the Falcons.
  • Michael Penix - Mentioned as a prospect for the Falcons' quarterback position, with concerns about injury and age.
  • Jackson Dart - Mentioned as a potential starting quarterback for the Giants and as a prospect.
  • Tyson - Mentioned as a potential receiver for the Chargers.
  • CeeDee Lamb - Mentioned as a potential receiver for the Chargers.
  • Trey Harris - Mentioned as a player for the Chargers.
  • Quentin Johnson - Mentioned as a player for the Chargers.
  • Ladd McConkey - Mentioned as a player for the Chargers.
  • Amari Cooper - Mentioned as a player for the Chargers.
  • Jaylen Warren - Mentioned as a player for the Steelers.
  • D.K. Metcalf - Mentioned as a player the Steelers acquired and as someone who got into trouble.
  • George Pickens - Mentioned as a player for the Steelers, with a comparison to D.K. Metcalf.
  • T.J. Watt - Mentioned as a player for the Steelers, discussed in terms of his contract and playoff record.
  • Aaron Rodgers - Mentioned as a player for the Steelers, discussed in terms of his air yards per attempt and playoff performance.
  • Mike Tomlin - Mentioned as the coach of the Steelers, discussed in terms of his job security and playoff record.
  • Jason Kelce - Mentioned as a former Philadelphia Eagle and a center.
  • Saquon Barkley - Mentioned as a player for the Eagles, whose physicality should be part of the team's identity.
  • Davis Mills - Mentioned as a player who was solid mid-season for the Texans.
  • Nico Collins - Mentioned as a player for the Texans whose concussion looked brutal.
  • Christian Kirk - Mentioned as the leading receiver on Wild Card Weekend for the Texans.
  • Ludacris - Mentioned as a featured conversation in "Atlanta Is" podcast.
  • Will Packer - Mentioned as a featured conversation in "Atlanta Is" podcast.
  • Pastor Jamal Bryant - Mentioned as a featured conversation in "Atlanta Is" podcast.
  • DJ Drama - Mentioned as a featured conversation in "Atlanta Is" podcast.
  • Mari - Host of Latino USA.
  • No Horse - Host of Latino USA.
  • Donald Trump - Mentioned in relation to concerns about his tactics.
  • Jalen Hurts - Mentioned as a player for the Eagles.
  • Kellen Moore - Mentioned as the offensive coordinator for the Saints.
  • Matt Hasselbeck - Mentioned as having talked about the Eagles' identity.
  • Ben Maller - Mentioned as host of a show on Fox Sports Radio.
  • Doug Gottlieb - Mentioned as host of a show on Fox Sports Radio.
  • Rob Parker - Mentioned as host of "The Odd Couple" with Kelvin Washington.
  • Kelvin Washington - Mentioned as host of "The Odd Couple" with Rob Parker.
  • Jason Smith - Mentioned as host of "The Jason Smith Show" with Mike Harmon.
  • Mike Harmon - Mentioned as host of "The Jason Smith Show" with Jason Smith.
  • Dan Patrick - Mentioned as host of a show on Fox Sports Radio.
  • Colin Cowherd - Mentioned as host of a show on Fox Sports Radio.
  • Jalen Rose - Mentioned in relation to Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
  • Angel Reese - Mentioned in relation to Jalen Rose and Caitlin Clark.
  • Caitlin Clark - Mentioned in relation to Jalen Rose and Angel Reese.
  • L.A. Lakers - Mentioned as a team that got housed.
  • Sacramento Kings - Mentioned as a team that shot 65% from three.
  • Rob Pelinka - Mentioned as the Lakers' GM and president of basketball operations, and as a deal maker.
  • Kurt Rambis - Mentioned as handling basketball affairs for the Lakers.
  • Buss Family - Mentioned as former owners of the Lakers.
  • Arthur Blank - Mentioned as the owner of the Falcons.
  • J.J. Watt - Mentioned as a player for the Steelers.

Organizations & Institutions

  • Quest Health - Mentioned for purchasing lab tests online.
  • Wasabi - Mentioned as a provider of cloud storage for sports teams.
  • Volume Podcast Network - Mentioned as a partner of Wasabi.
  • How to Money Podcast - Mentioned as a podcast for financial advice.
  • iHeart Radio - Mentioned as a platform for podcasts.
  • Apple Podcasts - Mentioned as a platform for podcasts.
  • Fox Sports Radio - Mentioned as a platform for live shows and content.
  • Fox Sports Radio.com - Mentioned for finding local stations.
  • FSR - Abbreviation for Fox Sports Radio.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars - Mentioned as a team that cannot be trusted.
  • Pittsburgh Steelers - Mentioned as a team stuck in a mediocrity loop.
  • Sears Department Store - Mentioned in comparison to the Steelers' performance.
  • Houston Texans - Mentioned as a team that gave opportunities to the Steelers.
  • Cleveland Browns - Mentioned in comparison to the Steelers.
  • Kansas City Chiefs - Mentioned in comparison to the Steelers.
  • Los Angeles Rams - Mentioned as a team that takes swings.
  • San Francisco 49ers - Mentioned as a team that takes swings.
  • New England Patriots - Mentioned as an example team for performance analysis.
  • Baltimore Ravens - Mentioned as a flexible team that spends on offense.
  • New York Jets - Mentioned as a team that stinks.
  • Tennessee Titans - Mentioned as a team that stinks.
  • Washington Commanders - Mentioned as a team that stinks.
  • Philadelphia Eagles - Mentioned as a team with offensive issues.
  • New Orleans Saints - Mentioned as a team with an offense that was better than the Eagles'.
  • Green Bay Packers - Mentioned in relation to Ben Johnson's comments.
  • Indianapolis Hoosiers - Mentioned as a well-coached team.
  • Los Angeles Chargers - Mentioned as a team licking their wounds.
  • New York Giants - Mentioned as a team that stinks and needs a culture changer.
  • Atlanta Falcons - Mentioned as a potential fit for John Harbaugh, with stable ownership and nice pieces.
  • Miami Dolphins - Mentioned in relation to John Harbaugh.
  • Chicago Bears - Mentioned in relation to Ben Johnson's comments.
  • Dallas Cowboys - Mentioned as a team that stinks.
  • Villanova - Mentioned in a college hoops triple header.
  • Providence - Mentioned in a college hoops triple header.
  • Houston Cougars - Mentioned in a college hoops triple header.
  • Maryland Terrapins - Mentioned in a college hoops triple header.
  • USC Trojans - Mentioned in a college hoops triple header.
  • Denver Broncos - Mentioned as a potential destination for a coach.
  • Detroit Lions - Mentioned as a team in the NFL playoffs.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Mentioned as a team in the NFL playoffs.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers - Mentioned in relation to the NBA.
  • Milwaukee Bucks - Mentioned in relation to the NBA.

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