NightLink: Ultimate Guide To Winning in the NFL

by Dane Noble on Jul 9, 2009 5:00 PM CDT

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I came across this article yesterday, and I have to say, it is solid. Granted, it is on a NY Giants blog, but there isn't too much blue-colored glasses to fault it.

The author has put together his Rules For Winning in the NFL. Some of these can be argued, but for the most part the guy is dead on accurate. I'll give you a snapshot of some of his rules, but be sure to head over there and read the full set. Bonus points for the article: one of our Bears players has a rule named after him.

14) Special teams are always underrated.

15) The only thing the prevent defense prevents you from doing is winning.

16) The only thing the prevent offense prevents you from doing is winning.

16a) The Kenny Holmes Rule- the only thing worse than the prevent offense is the prevent offense when your defense is exhausted/impaired by injury.

17) Players are told to play for 60 minutes. Yet who benches the head coach when he only coaches for 50?

18) The Fassel Rule of Prevent: It is always the coach's fault when a large lead is blown/the game is lost.

19) The Fassel Rule of December: Practice in December w/o pads- your players will appreciate it and win many more games for you with their fresh legs.

Can you think of any "Ultimate Rules to Winning" that could be added to the list?

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My favorites from the list, because they obviously counter Lovie's philosophy.

11) “Read and react” is for losers. Set the tone, dictate terms of engagement, let others copy your SB blueprint. By the time you copy someone else’s, the league has figured out how to adjust, so you are wasting your time.

15) The only thing the prevent defense prevents you from doing is winning.

16a) The Kenny Holmes Rule- the only thing worse than the prevent offense is the prevent offense when your defense is exhausted/impaired by injury.

22) The Carl Banks Rule- You cannot simply turn it on and turn it off in the NFL. Play every game and maintain/improve on your high level of play.

25) The Phil Simms Rule- You must stretch the field on offense. If you do not/cannot pass the ball >20 yards down field, LBers and Safeties will choke off your offense.

by BigGeorgeTX on Jul 9, 2009 5:13 PM CDT reply actions

I was just making constant check marks

Yep, that’s us.

Those and
8) Do the unpredictable. Once you are predictable you are dead.

Bulls and Hawks winning in the playoffs, Cubs' season off to a fresh start, and Cutler hysteria still simmering?

Just another day in Chicago sports.

by rea5661 on Jul 9, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I like the first bit on rule #12

Not giving the ball to the rookie of the year QB to be for 11 seconds after kicking a FG..thereby allowing them to win.

by Pretender85 on Jul 9, 2009 5:49 PM CDT reply actions

Not a problem on this one. We NEVER practice in pads.

19) The Fassel Rule of December: Practice in December w/o pads- your players will appreciate it and win many more games for you with their fresh legs.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Jul 9, 2009 7:35 PM CDT reply actions

1) Do not draft a “versatile” player in Round 1 of the draft. “Dominant” should be there, not versatile.

8) Do the unpredictable. Once you are predictable you are dead.

15) The only thing the prevent defense prevents you from doing is winning.

16) The only thing the prevent offense prevents you from doing is winning.

16a) The Kenny Holmes Rule- the only thing worse than the prevent offense is the prevent offense when your defense is exhausted/impaired by injury.

17) Players are told to play for 60 minutes. Yet who benches the head coach when he only coaches for 50?

18) The Fassel Rule of Prevent: It is always the coach’s fault when a large lead is blown/the game is lost.

24) # of headcases <= strong head coaches. (If you have a strong head coach you can have up to 1 head case in the locker room. If you have a weak head coach you cannot have any. A strong head coach with 2 head cases means a locker room infestation and problems.)

25) The Phil Simms Rule- You must stretch the field on offense. If you do not/cannot pass the ball >20 yards down field, LBers and Safeties will choke off your offense.

/shaking head

Not good signs for my Vikings. Thank you Brad Childress. Hell of a guy.

On the other hand…

26) Defense wins championships.

In AP I trust
Just say no to Favre.
F-A-R-V-A =/= F-A-V-R-E

by FarvaForTheVikings on Jul 9, 2009 11:20 PM CDT reply actions

Also, I’m going to post this over at DN if you don’t mind. I’ll credit you and the Giants site.

In AP I trust
Just say no to Favre.
F-A-R-V-A =/= F-A-V-R-E

by FarvaForTheVikings on Jul 9, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Nothing is really said for a running game

I might add, be able to dictate the line of scrimmage in December.

Also, good pass rush > good pass coverage

by EvilKaramazov on Jul 10, 2009 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

Great list indeed. I’m not surprised that it came from the Giants because they had Bill Parcells. Now, I will say that I believe that there are some players that you have to break the bank on and it doesn’t mean that the team will suffer in the long run. The qb has to be paid alot, regardless and if teams want to retain them that’s the only way. Their salaries are rising and it has to be paid. The seem to have left out one of my golden rules: pair an elite qb with elite receivers. Just like no 2 qbs are the same, no 2 receivers are the same. I think that’s why certain teams will go out of their way to find and retain them because what they do after the catch is what separates them from the pack. There’s a small amount of them in the nfl and they have forced receiver salaries to escalate-they earned it with their tremendous play. I’d grab up a Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Reggie Wayne, and Larry Fitzgerald in a heartbeat and pay whatever they wanted because of their production ability.

Needagoodtime!

by Loveforjoy! on Jul 13, 2009 4:47 PM CDT reply actions