Blog : Motivation

Blount was in Tampa when the team drafted Doug Martin. He was caught up with being done wrong when Doug came in. As a matter of fact he was bothered with the thought of any back being drafted. Doug had to earn the spot. It wasn’t just given to him by the team. Some of 27s play assisted in 22 becoming the starter. Check out my thoughts on this process.

New players earning respect has been done away with in regards to the old way of doing things. Fighting for your life was a way I use to look at my job or my starting position.

I remember having to actually fight for the respect of the players on the team. I remember, Eddie Johnson, challenging me because he was the tough head hunter on defense at the time. The “Georgia Assassin” was his nickname. “You not coming up in here young man.” I went right back up in there. That was where a bond, that would never be broken, got established. #fortheloveofthegame

I can remember the transition began to happen when I became the player development director/coach/scout..etc. It was 2003/04. The Ravens had drafted a brand new, polished up QB in the first round. (Kyle Boller) We had played a season, but he hadn’t made the cut to win the job.

We had a personnel meeting during the off-season, to discuss the team. One of the topics was the QB position and who would be named the starter. The thought from management and some of the other scouts was, we drafted this guy to be our QB so let’s make him the guy. I spoke up, crazily, that a competition should be had, thus making the young fellow win the job and earn the respect of the players. My thought regarding the subject hinged on the thought that competition makes everybody better. If the youngster was worth his salt, then he would win the job as opposed to it being silver spooned to him.

Coming up in a era where you had to win your starting job, no matter where you were drafted, served to build a different type of character for me.

The leadership of the team made you earn your way. Veteran players or guys that had the position, had a fighting chance. They could work the off-season to battle for the job. Competition within the team, made everybody better. The players on the team appreciated the jobs they had even more so because they did and had to win it.

Nowadays, when a guy is drafted in the first three rounds, he is almost automatically placed in a starting position. What does that have the potential to do with the other players mind? How are they to look at themselves and their new teammates?

To me that stands as a potential way of building animosity between players, not a healthy respect and appreciation. Character is definitely checked during these times. Even when the players are giving a chance at battling for the position, the inner man is challenged.

The salary cap has definitely made the process of building a team more delicate. Yes, it was delicate anyway. The intricacies of any “team” sport are layered with all types of challenges. The NFL has a few more.

I feel the old school ways still have a relevance in some aspects of the game. Building character, respect and understanding within the team is a continual process. Earning your job should continue to be part of that.

A form of motivation and inspiration is playing a former team. Another is playing against a team that has someone good that plays the same position. Sunday night we saw Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacy show out. They are former teammates that both shined for The Crimson Tide.

I’m sure they had a couple conversations during the week and a bet or two about production. What ever was said between them, rest assured they were motivated to play their absolute best.

To me Mark was especially zoned in. His 2-4 yard runs were some of the best of the night. His ability to create some space verses unblocked defenders then finish a run powerfully, was amazing to me.

Let me show you a couple.

The design of this run calls for one defender to be left for the runner. It’s a form of power without a puller. Check the dbl teams inside then the single blocks by the two tight ends and the receiver. Mark (22) does a good job of rolling then cutting to the outside to defeat the defender circled in white. Result 10 yd gain.

The next play is a 4yd gain. What makes this good is Mark presses the first block enough to get the defense going. He knows based on the number count that the backside is free. He cuts back defeats the defensive end at the LOS, then powers his way to a four yard gain. Nice work!

The last one that I have for Mark is a run that happen early in the game. To me it’s a tone setter for what’s to come latter. #21 attacked #22 at the line of scrimmage and delivered all he had but…bounced off and layer on the turf. It was no jumping up trying to get back in the play. He layer there as the action finished and finally got up and walked off slowly. It was a 2-3 yd gain but will be more later because of the affect on the defense. Esp #21

The below clip shows #21 coming in to face Mark Ingram in the hole. This one on one encounter has been decided on the play just above. The defender comes in and ducks his head as you see. Mark cuts up and gains 9yds. The way he felt after hitting Mark and bouncing off, let him know he didn’t want it the next time. The mentality was set!

We can’t forget Eddie Lacy although I felt Mark was special on SNF.

On the counter play that is pictured, the timing got off some. Eddie had the patience to stay on the back hip of his puller. This made the defender peak inside, which allowed Eddie to run for 8-10 yards outside of the peaking defender.

Both guys were special but it seemed #22 had a little more in his running Sunday night. Just as it seemed Drew Brees had a little more than AR.

The interesting aspect of this is whether or not both guys can continue to play at this level. Can they continue to tap into the source that provided the inspiration to play as they did Sunday?

I hope you all enjoy the game within the game.

Coach EB