NFLX HANDICAPPING TIP #2 – COACHING GOALS
Today’s NFLX Handicapping Tip is:
Play ON a coach that has a stated primary goal of winning an upcoming game.
As stated in our previous NFLX article, coaching is the strongest single predictive element during the Preseason. The main objective of a coach in an NFL exhibition game is not necessarily to win the game - the primary goal of a coach in the Preseason is to get ready to win during the regular season. When a coach strays from that formula and decides he wants results NOW, he can light a fire under his team.
We saw this exact situation unfold in Washington last year. As was the case with his first tenure in the nation’s capital, when Joe Gibbs speaks – the Redskins listen. In a 1 STAR SELECTION on Washington as a 2’-point home underdog, we wrote:
“Gibbs has rarely been as upset as he obviously was last Friday since returning to run and coach the Redskins 19 months ago. But on the podium in the interview room under FedEx Field after the Redskins suffered another preseason loss, 24-17, to the Cincinnati Bengals, Gibbs had that angry glare few have seen. ‘He was mad -- I mean steaming -- and he let the players and everyone else know how he felt,’ said a staff member. ‘We're our own worst enemy,’ said Gibbs, not giving out any of those high-pitched cackles. ‘I don't like the way we're playing. We turn the ball over and commit penalties. We're making too many mistakes and need to play smart to win football games we're supposed to win. That's why we're here. To win.’ With inspiration coming from off and on the field, we look for a spirited Redskins team to respond with a SU win over the Steelers as a small home underdog.â€
Win they did, as Washington downed a 2-0 Pittsburgh team, 17-10. Most veteran coaches do not care if they lose a preseason game, but when they look horrible doing it and aren’t even competitive, expect even seasoned coaches to have their teams respond like it’s the regular season.