Ahem…Today’s Theme: When is a player’s coach a problem?

I have often wondered about the term Player’s Coach. What does it mean? Aren’t all coaches supposed to have the best interests of the players front & centre? Wouldn’t a manager’s coach or an owner’s coach be somewhat more risky in the high stakes of winning?

This CFL season I think I was able to better understand the term and the consequences that can unfold from such a position. Two premier coaches known in the league as player’s coaches ended the season in rather dubious ways: one has been fired, the other lost the Grey Cup.

First on my list is Rick Campbell, formerly of the B.C. Lions. When his number one quarterback (Vernon Adams Jr) was injured it was quickly obvious the back-up was insufficient. So the team went and brought back Nathan Rourke, a former wonderkid but also one who had spent a year and a half chasing an NFL dream but only playing in an exhibition game over a year ago and was certainly not battlefield tested. Nevertheless after a shaky start he did start to perform reasonably well in the back-up role. However, when the number one was completely over his injury, even though the custom/protocol is that as one never loses his position to injury, the coach stuck with the back-up. Granted he did win a couple of games; but did so in a fashion that suggested the numero uno would have just as efficiency done the same. Then the season became more critical, especially if the Lions were to host a playoff game on route to an appearance in the Grey Cup. Alas, the coach stuck with his favourite (from two years previous) and key games were lost. Finally on the last game of the season he re-inserted the number one into the line-up and he promptly thumped the team who was first overall in the league. By now the hope of a home playoff game was over and in the hostile environs of Saskatchewan he was not able to repeat the magic.

Two [2] things I thought as the season ended. The coach should be fired (as he had lost the locker room); and, I’d likely seen the last of our number one as due to the salary cap era, he would need to be traded. Unfortunately the player’s coach turned out to be less than adequate to actually help the players.

The other coach is Michael O’Shea of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His quarterback was seriously injured in the latter part of the Grey Cup game when the score was still close. While the back-up came in for one series, before he could really get into a rhythm the number one quarterback was put back into the game even though he had suffered a very serious cut on his throwing hand. From the get-go it was obvious he couldn’t throw in a sure and focussed way – for one thing, he now had to wear a glove on his throwing hand, which he never does. But the player’s coach stuck with him even though he began throwing interceptions. The close score evaporated and the other team won decisively. From where I sat, the coach needed to make a tough decision but instead he was a player’s coach not a players’ coach.

It is good to be a strong advocate for your players and your team. But before one becomes a player’s coach it is essential to be a vibrant players’ coach. Otherwise losses can come your way which upsets the entire process, the entire operation, the real opportunity to win…

In reflection,
g.w.