Right, talent is present in everyone to some degree. Coaches develop it. I agree that there’s more to develop the less seasoned the player is. So it probably is somewhat less at the pro level. At that level, you get more player/player coaching as well. All good teams have some of this.
I think this is something that is fairly new to many of us, after watching the Lions emergence. Its kind of why I didn’t follow the draft candidates as closely this year. I used to think man, we have to select the most talented player, who wil be the most talented player at say, pick 18. But after watching MCDC and company for a few years, its not all about talent, just as you were saying.
At lower levels it is about teaching technique mostly and some scheme. As my wife comments I can’t teach exotic bunt coverages to a team of players that can not catch and throw well. So as the individual talent increases the amount of time spent on basic techniques diminishes and the importance of team play and scheme become more important to create that winning separation over other teams.
For sure technique refinement is happening all the time in the NFL. But the teaching of scheme and play calling is crucial. And I think we can all agree that once a coach has taught the team the schemes the final frontier (as you commented) are the players teaching and morphing the scheme real time. Think a Peyton Manning offense at the line of scrimmage, the Ravens Defense with Lewis and Reed, a TB12 led offense…you know it when you see it and it is a thing of beauty.
Elite Players + Elite Coaching should equal to next level play and execution.
This is the thing that I think the Lions are still a bit lacking or maybe it is happening and I do not realize it. It is very possible that Goff goes to the line every play with the ability to change the play and does it more than I know or realize.
The defense showed more signs last year of growing into the games. But they need to take another step forward this season. The ability to adapt in game and start to strangle the other team is what I love seeing…hehehhehehhehe
I think sitting during the run last year broke through his ego/stubbornness. Gleyber found the right way to get that message about bring too extreme with his approach through, plus he got fully healthy with close to 9 months down.
He is a gifted gifted fielder, but he was kicking balls during that kast 1.5 years. IDK if SS got to be too much, as he loved it before. El Mago can play anywhere and do Mago things.
He cant keep hitting .395 BABIP, but he can still be a much more useful piece going forward, and be a vet voice in the clubhouse.
Gleyber is even making plays at 2b after being mostly crap there for years. These guys got the Ponce de Leon juice going…
Saw the highlights of last nights game and the wife and were laughing as we knew when all we needed was a hit to win that the game was over.
The Tigers are smoking hot right now.
And dare I say that the Manager might have something to do with that??? I suspect he knew and just turned a blind eye in Houston. He is a crafty bastard that one. And I love that he is here fixing this franchise. I just hope that the owner and GM do not screw this up and piss off Hinch.
Look, it’s a bird … it’s a plane … nope, it’s just “El Mago” doing his thing.
. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
First of all, he single-handedly saved a seriously stressful moment for Flaherty. At worst, the Blue Jays would have had runners on second and third with one out. And it saved pitches on Flaherty’s arm.
“I want to talk about Javy,” Flaherty said, after earning an encouraging outing. “He comes here and struggles for two years. But it just it goes to show that you can’t write guys off or give up on guys, especially a guy like that, who is as talented as anybody who has probably ever played this game.
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Yes, Flaherty was thankful for Báez. But it resonated far deeper than that. Flaherty completely appreciates how Báez has gone through the fire and come out the other side, finding the magic again.
“It’s in there, it doesn’t just go away,” Flaherty said.
Flaherty appreciates everything about Báez : the work he’s done behind the scenes and the adjustments he’s made and how he has embraced playing center. “I’m so happy for him, and it’s awesome to see,” Flaherty said. “It’s also a testament to who he is and how much work he’s put behind everything — no matter who wants to try to write you off, or what they have to say.”
The other thing on Baez, with regards to the last two seasons, you always heard his teammates speak positively about him. During the struggles they all continued to talk about how great a teammate he was, he encouraged them and pushed them in spite of his own struggles.
I will admit, I was figuring he would be gone come end of ST if not sooner. Magic continues!
