Do NFL Coaches make the game "too hard"???

I recently saw an interview on ESPN where, coach Gruden was talking with Cam Newton.

Gruden talked to Cam about the type of lanuage that he would need to learn in order to run an NFL Offense... He said bassically that Cam was going to France and needed to learn French... Gruden then went on and said one of the plays... Some ridiculously long play... He then asked Cam how his offense worked at Auburn...
Cam said: "Well, our coaches tried to keep everything, simple and fast... For example, we look to the sidelines, see a sign that says "36" and we know thats a play"

My question to you guys, is, do you think the NFL Head Coaches of Coordinators make this game too difficult?

I say yes...

I've never understood the thought process behind making everything so complex. My thoughts are, if you make it simple, you allow the players natural abilities to shine through, rather then have them constantly "thinking". I think a player will perform much better is he does less thinking and just plays the game.

Thoughts???

I don't know CeeGee. Whats so hard about flip right, double-X, Jet, 36 counter, naked waggle, X-7, X-quarter? LOL! I think the verbiage is a little much, but Gruden's point is that the QB needs to know what everyone is suppose to do on every play. In Cam Newton's case, he has all the talent in the world, but I don't think he has the work ethic to be a great NFL QB. Word on the street is that the Panthers gave him a PB to learn prior to coming into meeting with the team for an individual work out and that it appeared that he barely looked at it because he didn't know a lot of the plays.

To be a GREAT qb you have to be willing to put the time in both on and off the field, which is something that Cam doesn't look like he is willing to do...Ofcourse the plays seem to be "too" complex, but isn't that better than having the opposing defense know exactly what is coming?? The college game and pro game are two different animals..which is something that I don't think Cam understands yet but he will find out soon enough...

Zikry wrote:To be a GREAT qb you have to be willing to put the time in both on and off the field, which is something that Cam doesn't look like he is willing to do...Ofcourse the plays seem to be "too" complex, but isn't that better than having the opposing defense know exactly what is coming?? The college game and pro game are two different animals..which is something that I don't think Cam understands yet but he will find out soon enough...

Agreed, you have to work harder than anyone else to be an NFL QB... I also agree the College Game and the NFL Game are very different...

My question is WHY? Why do coaches make it so difficult? Why do they put EVERYTHING on the QB??? Why can't NFL Coaches have hand signals and funny signs, ala Oregon and Auburn that tells the offense the play???

Wouldn't you agree that simpler would be better for most players???

I've heard people say that (insert coach name here) system takes 3 years to learn... Are you kidding me??? What could he possibly have in "his system" that would take a QB 3 Years to fully learn??? Doesn't that seem like a bit of overkill???

Just trying to spark some debate as I've always wondered this.

You need the complexity because certain adjustments are built in to the language if I am assuming correctly, otherwise you call a play and it would be difficult to hot route a receiver if you see certain coverages... Making it complex allows the qb to be totally in charge of the offense and audibles in key situation rather than looking for hand signals on the sidelines which waste valuable time...Having a qb being able to have a play and make adjustments on the fly is very crucial and simplifying the way you call plays would hold back how a qb can run an offense...

There are enough hall of fame qbs and pro bowl qbs to say you do not need to make it simpler...If you do not want to put in the work, go to the Arena Football League...

Personally, I don't think they try to make it too hard. I admire those coaches for being so inventive with all their signal and languages. Like Frank said, the QB has to know what everyone on the play is supposed to do and make any adjustment necessary depending on what he sees from the defense. There is so much different plays and different look a defense can come in, the QB has to have a lot of different signs to counter this.

Just saw this post CG, and I totally agree with you. Sometimes I think simpler is better. I wouldn't fault Newton for being in a "simplistic" offense at all. I mean hell, they won the National Title. So maybe some coaches could look at that for some sort of motivation to keep things simple.

Lots of analysts say Newton will have trouble to adapt because of the complexity and because of the speed of the game. At Auburn, he has one read and then goes off running. I doubt he'll be able to do this in the NFL.

jp_0988 wrote:Personally, I don't think they try to make it too hard. I admire those coaches for being so inventive with all their signal and languages. Like Frank said, the QB has to know what everyone on the play is supposed to do and make any adjustment necessary depending on what he sees from the defense. There is so much different plays and different look a defense can come in, the QB has to have a lot of different signs to counter this.

I think college coaches are WAY MORE "inventive" than NFL Coaches... Most NFL Coaches call the game so close to the vest that they can barely breathe... Whats the last "inventive" thing that an NFL coach has come up with? Wild Cat in Miami? and that was from a college coach that Miami hired if I remember correctly.

I will always stick to my statement that NFL Coaches try to make the game too complex. Just let your guys play football. Let their athletic abilities be the determining factor on whether or not you win a game rather than their ability to remember 8 diffent scenerios on an option route....

Cam Newton is 6'5, 250lbs, why can't he run the "look at your 1st option, if he's not open RUN" offense? Is their a Linebacker in the league that is as fast and as big as he is??? I'm not saying he will run LB's over, but, I don't think the league has EVER seen a guy that has the size, and can run like this guy at the QB position. Mike Vick is fast but doesn't have the size, Vince Young isn't as fast and not as big. This guy is one of a kind and I think he is gonna take this league by storm. I look for him to rush for 1,000 in his 1st or 2nd year. Maily because he's gonna be running for his life behind one of the worst OLines in the NFL haha...

The speed of the game is what will make him have trouble. Defensive Coordinator will throw all sorts of stuff at him, he just won't be able to react quickly enough...at least not in his rookie season. DC are too smart and defensive players are too big, strong and fast to get beat at the "one read run" offense. Forget it, it won't happen. You can't just have you athletic ability make all the work, you have to be smart to play in the NFL, especially at the QB position. I looke at Brandon Jacbos who is 6'4, about 265 and ran a 4.56 at the Combine compared to 6'5 250 and 4.58 for Newton...Even though they don't play the same position, yeah Jacbos can run over people but he is not unstoppable. There are plenty of LB that will take him down. You think the P.Willis, J.Harrison, C.Matthews, R.Lewis, J.Mayo, B.Urlacher, J.Beason, D.Harris, J.Vilma can't take him down? Guys will just tackle him down low as they do with Jacobs.