Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Michael Bidwill, Steve Keim and Bruce Arians have just done an extraordinary thing: by hiring Dr. Jen Welter, PhD, as a six week intern, they have burst open the door for women to coach in the NFL. Arians had indicated back in March that if a woman could "help a player get better," she would earn herself an NFL coaching job.
That’s the thing with Arians—it’s all about teaching the players to get better.
When Jen Welter attended one of the Cardinals’ OTAs the past spring, Arians engaged her in coach talk and Welter left quite a strong impression.
Armed with experience as a professional football player, an extensive athletic background in football and rugby, a masters degree in sports psychology and a PhD in psychology, Welter is highly qualified to coach. While she played running back with the Texas Revolution, her preferred position has always been at linebacker.
What’s so exciting about Welter’s addition to the staff has more to do with what she is going to do to help the Cardinals tackle better than the fact that she is the first woman to drape an NFL coach’s whistle over her neck. Welter is a champion for tackling fundamentals. She says that—to her—there is no better feeling than making a clean, fundamental tackle.
Welter’s background in rugby is a key element in her understanding of tackling fundamentals. In rugby, because one does not wear a helmet, it is critical to keep the head clear of tackles. Such a fundamental has not been stressed emphatically enough by football coaches at all levels. The first thing any new or veteran player needs to know about “form” tackling is that you tackle with your head up—and that the worst thing to do—is to tackle with your head down.
If and when more NFL players consistently tackle with their heads up, there will be a significant drop in concussions, neck fractures and spinal injuries....as well as a significant drop on missed tackles.
Thus, if anyone thinks the Cardinals’ hiring of Jen Welter is a publicity stunt or some token gesture to promote the sexes, she or he is mistaken.
Last year when Arians lamented a lack of overall speed on the team, he hired a speed coach in Roger Kingdom.
This year, Arians and newly appointed defensive Coordinator, James Bettcher, are going to place immediate and sustained daily emphasis on form tackling. It has been one of the Cardinals’ most glaring weaknesses.
Yes, but will the players really want to be coaches in tackling fundamentals by a woman?
From my experience as a teacher and coach, I know that the teaching of fundamentals wins everyone’s respect. When anyone manifests a pure and complete understanding of fundamentals—she or he garners instant respect.
For example, one time many years ago while attending a Nike basketball coaches clinic, I had the privilege of watching Hubie Brown go through the fundamentals of post moves. If you have ever seen the scrawny 6’2″ Hubie Brown, you would realize that at no time was he ever a post player. In fact, he laughed about it himself as he was teaching us.
The fact is, Brown is a master of teaching post moves---he has mastered a knowledge of every fundamental of the footwork, the target hand, the catch, the pivots, the rocker-steps, the up and under moves, the head fakes, the squaring up to the basket, etc.
But, Brown said something that day that I will never forget. He said: “The great ones always listen.” That’s right—the great ones always listen.
He told us that when he was hired as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks, he was assigned to coaching the big men, which included All-Star center Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Brown said that he wouldn’t have been surprised if Jabbar simply ignored him. Here Brown was a scrawny 6'2" no-name rookie coach.
However, when Brown started focusing on the fundamentals of Jabbar’s footwork during post drills, Brown said Jabbar was “all ears.” Brown said that they developed an instant respect and rapport. Why? A love for the fundamentals—and an understanding of why a command of the fundamentals is often the difference between a make and a miss and between a win and a loss.
As a fellow Boston College grad who has admired Jen Welter’s accomplishments and having heard Jen Welter speak so passionately and fundamentally about her craft—I feel as if I can assure you of three things: (1) she will help to foster a deeper respect amongst the coaches and players; (2) the Cardinals’ tackling fundamentals will be noticeably improved; (3) after her six weeks the players and coaches will be begging for her to stay.
Leave it to Michael Bidwill, Steve Keim and Bruce Arians—they found a gem in Jen Welter.
That’s the thing with Arians—it’s all about teaching the players to get better.
When Jen Welter attended one of the Cardinals’ OTAs the past spring, Arians engaged her in coach talk and Welter left quite a strong impression.
Armed with experience as a professional football player, an extensive athletic background in football and rugby, a masters degree in sports psychology and a PhD in psychology, Welter is highly qualified to coach. While she played running back with the Texas Revolution, her preferred position has always been at linebacker.
What’s so exciting about Welter’s addition to the staff has more to do with what she is going to do to help the Cardinals tackle better than the fact that she is the first woman to drape an NFL coach’s whistle over her neck. Welter is a champion for tackling fundamentals. She says that—to her—there is no better feeling than making a clean, fundamental tackle.
Welter’s background in rugby is a key element in her understanding of tackling fundamentals. In rugby, because one does not wear a helmet, it is critical to keep the head clear of tackles. Such a fundamental has not been stressed emphatically enough by football coaches at all levels. The first thing any new or veteran player needs to know about “form” tackling is that you tackle with your head up—and that the worst thing to do—is to tackle with your head down.
If and when more NFL players consistently tackle with their heads up, there will be a significant drop in concussions, neck fractures and spinal injuries....as well as a significant drop on missed tackles.
Thus, if anyone thinks the Cardinals’ hiring of Jen Welter is a publicity stunt or some token gesture to promote the sexes, she or he is mistaken.
Last year when Arians lamented a lack of overall speed on the team, he hired a speed coach in Roger Kingdom.
This year, Arians and newly appointed defensive Coordinator, James Bettcher, are going to place immediate and sustained daily emphasis on form tackling. It has been one of the Cardinals’ most glaring weaknesses.
Yes, but will the players really want to be coaches in tackling fundamentals by a woman?
From my experience as a teacher and coach, I know that the teaching of fundamentals wins everyone’s respect. When anyone manifests a pure and complete understanding of fundamentals—she or he garners instant respect.
For example, one time many years ago while attending a Nike basketball coaches clinic, I had the privilege of watching Hubie Brown go through the fundamentals of post moves. If you have ever seen the scrawny 6’2″ Hubie Brown, you would realize that at no time was he ever a post player. In fact, he laughed about it himself as he was teaching us.
The fact is, Brown is a master of teaching post moves---he has mastered a knowledge of every fundamental of the footwork, the target hand, the catch, the pivots, the rocker-steps, the up and under moves, the head fakes, the squaring up to the basket, etc.
But, Brown said something that day that I will never forget. He said: “The great ones always listen.” That’s right—the great ones always listen.
He told us that when he was hired as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks, he was assigned to coaching the big men, which included All-Star center Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Brown said that he wouldn’t have been surprised if Jabbar simply ignored him. Here Brown was a scrawny 6'2" no-name rookie coach.
However, when Brown started focusing on the fundamentals of Jabbar’s footwork during post drills, Brown said Jabbar was “all ears.” Brown said that they developed an instant respect and rapport. Why? A love for the fundamentals—and an understanding of why a command of the fundamentals is often the difference between a make and a miss and between a win and a loss.
As a fellow Boston College grad who has admired Jen Welter’s accomplishments and having heard Jen Welter speak so passionately and fundamentally about her craft—I feel as if I can assure you of three things: (1) she will help to foster a deeper respect amongst the coaches and players; (2) the Cardinals’ tackling fundamentals will be noticeably improved; (3) after her six weeks the players and coaches will be begging for her to stay.
Leave it to Michael Bidwill, Steve Keim and Bruce Arians—they found a gem in Jen Welter.
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