Landry / Parcels

I recently watched NFL films specials about both Tom Landry and Bill Parcels.  Both are icons in their sport and could not possibly be more different.  It made me think about the culture of coaching and what people expect from coaches.  On one hand many people gravitate toward and expect fiery coaches with dominant personalities who tower over their teams through force of personality.  Parcels, Saban, Lombardi, those types.  I find that I typically like those kinds myself because I want to see someone in total charge who is not afraid to make the hard decisions and will keep the players in line no matter what level.

On the other hand is the quieter and more introspective type generally thought to be the more intelligent ones like Landry, Gibbs, Walsh, etc.  Their success is built more upon innovations and schemes and less on driving or motivating players through sheer personality.  Ultimately there is room for both types and both types win championships.

I really enjoyed both shows.  It was amazing to me that Landry had the success he had while being so cold and difficult for players to relate to.  He was wishy-washy on decisions (witness Staubach/Morton) and refused to get involved with players' lives.  Yet he invented the 4-3 defense, the flex defense, the shotgun and multiple shifts on offense, and could be considered the most innovative coach in league history.

Parcels was just born to coach and got success by sticking to basics and creating an atmosphere where players would follow him to hell.  No one was safe and they knew it.  It was a really interesting contrast to watch both shows close together and see how 2 totally different coaches could forge success in completely different ways.

S