NFL Clubhouse and On-Field Chemistry

Sports

Statistics are an important part of soccer handicap analysis. Other factors are also important, such as the differences between home and field and training. A less discussed factor is team chemistry, something that cannot be quantified. You hear players, coaches and general managers talk all the time about having good “chemistry” on the team. An example of good chemistry is on the field between two players who need each other to be productive. A quarterback needs good chemistry with his receivers, for example. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice had time and reliability at a minimum when they played together.

When it comes to clubhouse chemistry, the Oakland Raiders have been the team to watch the past two seasons. Team chemistry was clearly a factor in the NFL’s biggest offseason trade a year ago, with WR Randy Moss going to Oakland. Moss is enormously talented and a productive player on the field, but off the field he is constantly surrounded by controversy. It wasn’t a problem in his first year with the Raiders, but the team still had all kinds of chemical deficiencies. So they sent Kerry Collins and brought in Aaron Brooks and new coach Art Shell.

However, Shell had been working as the senior vice president of football development and operations for the NFL, and hasn’t been a head coach since the Raiders fired him after the 1994 season. That was a long time ago! Remember how much trouble Joe Gibbs had to return to the NFL 13 years later? Gibbs installed an offense in 2004 that relied on maximum quarterback protection, something that had been very effective during the 1980s. But the offense was flat in 2004 with nobody open. Today’s fast Cover 2 defensive schemes short-circuited his max protection plan, until it changed last season, opening things up more. So how will Shell, Moss and Brooks fit together in Oakland? If I had to guess right now, I’d say don’t expect to see Black and Silver play in the postseason in January.

Other times the chemistry is something that happens in the clubhouse. This is also not something you can find in box scores. Players need to get along and coaches need to ask players for loyalty and respect, but they also need to be smart enough to return the favor, as loyalty is not a one-way street.

I’ve wondered about the New Orleans Saints’ team chemistry over the years. They were never a happy or productive team under Jim Haslett. But he’s gone and a new coach takes over in Sean Payton. Payton was with Dallas in 2005, where he coached the quarterbacks and also held the title of assistant head coach. He learned from one of the best in Bill Parcells, so it will be interesting to see if he has the talent that Parcells has in getting the most out of players. The Saints certainly have a new look in the backfield, with QB Drew Brees, and RBs Deuce McAllister and rookie Reggie Bush.

And speaking of Parcells and the Cowboys, locker room chemistry will be a hot topic all season long with the addition of WR Terrell Owens. Like Moss, Owens is enormously talented on the pitch, but he’s a controversial lightning rod with his superego and loudmouth often a distraction off the pitch. The Eagles were so fed up with Owens that they let him go early last season, just to throw out the trash early, it was a big deal. And now it’s up to him to play for Parcells, a respected leader who won’t hesitate to get tough on Owens.

Don’t underestimate team chemistry. Chemistry in the clubhouse was a major storyline during the 2001 NFL season when Patriots WR Terry Glenn was a nuisance and coach Bill Belichick enforced the law and released him. At the time it was a surprising move, as New England lacked speed at the wide receiver position, but they did win the Super Bowl without Glenn. Many NFL general managers and coaches took note, and chemistry has since become a factor to pay more attention to. Harmony in the clubhouse can be just as important as talent.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *