“Become the best version of themselves...”

[Doc]

LOL!  "Say the phrase at the podium or I'll cut/bench you!"  Say it.  SAY IT!"

 

You can't make this stuff up.

[Johnnycage46]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

LOL!  "Say the phrase at the podium or I'll cut/bench you!"  Say it.  SAY IT!"

 

You can't make this stuff up.

 

I think they just want to be unhappy.  It's a mission of sorts.  Or a psychotic obsession.  One or the other.

[Shaw66]

10 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I agree that the phrases are not necessary for the culture. On that core point you are right. They are a result of it. The fact that the players repeat them in interviews is a symptom of the culture McDermott has built.

Well, some phrases are necessary to the culture.  McDermott has a system, a process, and he needs everyone to learn the system and follow it.  His formula for success is to have everyone follow the process all the time.   He has to communicate the system to 100 people and get them to buy into it.   In the process, he, like any leader, finds words that work to convey the message, and other words that don't work so well.  He repeats the words that work.  They become sort of a mantra.  

 

Your point is, I think, that no particular words that are necessary.  I agree with that.  But the only way to teach what he wants to teach is to have some mantras of one sort or another that connect with the team.  Do your job, where would you rather be, etc.  They're all intended to create a particular frame of mind, to get everyone on the same page.  

 

Just win, baby, is a losing mantra in modern football.  It says "just go out there and play your game."  No professional sport team (except baseball, which doesn't depend on teamwork) succeeds with that approach in this era.  

[ColoradoBills]

15 minutes ago, Doc said:

LOL!  "Say the phrase at the podium or I'll cut/bench you!"  Say it.  SAY IT!"

 

You can't make this stuff up.

 

"SAY IT!"  LOL, this thread cracks me up!

 

 

[purple haze]

3 hours ago, Gugny said:

I really wish he would come up with something a little more original and concise.  "Just Do It," has a nice ring.  Maybe he'll consider that in a couple years.

“Find A Way” is this season’s motto.  It’s hanging on signs around the practice facility.

[Gugny]

5 minutes ago, purple haze said:

“Find A Way” is this season’s motto.  It’s hanging on signs around the practice facility.

 

I like that.

[Logic]

I just read Michael Lombardi’s article about the Jaguars, and it really made me appreciate the culture that coach McDermott has developed in Buffalo.

 

Basically, the Jaguars have hit on some draft picks at key positions (Ramsey at CB and Ngakuoe at DE), but because Jacksonville’s culture is so toxic, the players were not able to “become the best versions of themselves”, and both demanded trades. Now, instead of having franchise cornerstones at the two most important defensive positions, the Jaguars are back to square one defensively.

 

There are three key elements to team building: drafting good players, developing them, and re-signing them. The Jags have shown that even when they hit on the first element, they fail at elements two and three. It’s hard to have hope as a fan of a team like that, knowing that even if your team drafts well, they are failing to develop and re-sign players. 

 

The Bills, meanwhile, have shown so far that they can draft and they can develop (i.e. “helping a player become the best version of himself”), now they just need to show they can effectively re-sign players when it’s warranted. So far, so good with Dion Dawkins. Tre White will be the big test.

 

All of this is just about the on-field, skills development portion of the Bills culture. I could also talk all day about the way in which this culture encourages and allows players to become better teammates, better community members, and better men. 

 

Culture is real. Just look at the Jaguars and the Bills.

Edited August 22, 2020 by Logic

[folz]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

To these guys they are pretty meaningless I bet.  The older guys have heard it all and the young guys spot "corny" from miles away.

 

It's hard to imagine he has cornered the market on getting his NFL players to be good teammates and work hard.   How many coaches are not doing this exact thing?  He's a very good coach.  This other stuff is for the masses to digest.  It's myth building.

 

I don't know. I think like someone else said, catch phrases are just a lot of talk, until you back them up. McDermott doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. We have all been on teams or in jobs where a boss/coach/company uses cliches or slogans, but then they don't seem to live what they preach and you end up with a lot of disgruntled people. Listening to both the Quinton Jefferson and Mario Addison interviews, both who came from good/winning cultures in Seattle and Carolina respectively, both said the Bills culture is different. It is family, it is fun, coach lets you be yourself, etc. They were careful not to put their old teams down in any way, but you could genuinely see that they meant it. They like the culture in Buffalo better. 

 

And it never seems to me that McDermott is saying things for "the masses." It is always about the players and the organization. Sean doesn't pander to the press and public like a Rex Ryan. And yes, all coaches try to build a culture, come in with slogans, etc. But how many of them can back it up, make them stick? Get everyone to buy into them? How many coaches have we seen come through Buffalo and tell us they are going to change the culture and somehow the team never fully bought in? It has a lot to do with a coach's personality and people skills (some just don't have them). It is about his words meaning something and pertaining to everyone, even himself. He and his coaches, and the FO are not above the law. They practice it too. How many times have you heard Sean talk about the "growth mindset" also being for himself. To learn to be a better coach, a better man everyday. That is living accountability, not just preaching it.

 

Everything about McDermott is genuine. And I don't know this from anything that he says to the press, but by how the people he is leading talk, act, and perform.

 

[Gugny]

4 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

The culture of the Jaguars was pretty damn good just 3 years ago when they were minutes away from being AFC division champs.... I think the Jags are a prime example of how a lot can change and change quickly in the NFL.

 

 

 

The culture of the Jags was never good under Coughlin.  They got that far despite the culture.  That culture, as proven, was not sustainable.  It's antiquated and ineffective in the long-term.  These players are millenials.

[Logic]

16 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

The culture of the Jaguars was pretty damn good just 3 years ago when they were minutes away from being AFC division champs.... I think the Jags are a prime example of how a lot can change and change quickly in the NFL.

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

The culture of the Jags was never good under Coughlin.  They got that far despite the culture.  That culture, as proven, was not sustainable.  It's antiquated and ineffective in the long-term.  These players are millenials.

 

What Gugny said.

 

The Jags got that far (for ONE year) in spite of their toxic culture, not because of it. Their failure to repeat that success and their immediate descent into mediocrity and then laughingstock status are proof that culture matters.

 

That Jags team was an elite collection of players. It wasn’t necessarily a great TEAM, and they surely didn’t have a sustainable culture. The minute things went poorly (AFC championship collapse), they crumbled. No resiliency, no mettle, no perseverance. Just finger pointing and selfishness.

 

Culture is real and it matters. 

 

 

[Gugny]

14 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Which is what? What “was” the culture under Coughlin? The Giants weren’t millennials 8 years ago when they won the SB? 
 

I don’t buy it. I think Marrones schitck got tiresome and that isn’t uncommon in the NFL with HC’s. Bills have a good thing going right now, my point is it can change in a heartbeat.

 

The players on that SB winning team were barely millenials, but I'll give you that.  The Coughlin way is, "it's my way or I'll fine you and publicly humiliate you."  That's old school crap and it blew up in his face.  Just like it did with Parcells everywhere he went after leaving the Giants.

 

I am certainly not saying that Marrone is a great HC by any means.  But the Jags had a Coughlin problem far more than a Marrone problem.

[IDBillzFan]

3 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Lol.  But seriously, does any of this visit-from-the-regional-manager canned motivational cliche spouting make you "happy"?  Does pointing out that the coach is retreading old internet memes to peddle to his players as fresh deep soul lifting motivators...make one "not happy"?   How unhappy were you before you heard  McD' s latest sloganeering that it has warmed your heart?  (kidding a bit, there).

 

So in other words, no, you're never happy. Got it. 

[Mr. WEO]

24 minutes ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

So in other words, no, you're never happy. Got it. 

 

I'm quite happy.  Thanks!  But my happiness doesn't hinge on the utterances of a coach of a team.  There's BS in every bit of life.  No big deal to point that out now and then.

 

Soon all this sideshow stuff goes away though--and the team has to perform.  Play ball!

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

LOL!  "Say the phrase at the podium or I'll cut/bench you!"  Say it.  SAY IT!"

 

You can't make this stuff up.

 

Yeah they have guns trained on them by snipers and everything, doc.  You can make it up, doc--I just did.  I figured you knew that---but lately I'm not so sure.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, folz said:

 

I don't know. I think like someone else said, catch phrases are just a lot of talk, until you back them up. McDermott doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. We have all been on teams or in jobs where a boss/coach/company uses cliches or slogans, but then they don't seem to live what they preach and you end up with a lot of disgruntled people. Listening to both the Quinton Jefferson and Mario Addison interviews, both who came from good/winning cultures in Seattle and Carolina respectively, both said the Bills culture is different. It is family, it is fun, coach lets you be yourself, etc. They were careful not to put their old teams down in any way, but you could genuinely see that they meant it. They like the culture in Buffalo better. 

 

And it never seems to me that McDermott is saying things for "the masses." It is always about the players and the organization. Sean doesn't pander to the press and public like a Rex Ryan. And yes, all coaches try to build a culture, come in with slogans, etc. But how many of them can back it up, make them stick? Get everyone to buy into them? How many coaches have we seen come through Buffalo and tell us they are going to change the culture and somehow the team never fully bought in? It has a lot to do with a coach's personality and people skills (some just don't have them). It is about his words meaning something and pertaining to everyone, even himself. He and his coaches, and the FO are not above the law. They practice it too. How many times have you heard Sean talk about the "growth mindset" also being for himself. To learn to be a better coach, a better man everyday. That is living accountability, not just preaching it.

 

Everything about McDermott is genuine. And I don't know this from anything that he says to the press, but by how the people he is leading talk, act, and perform.

 

 

Successful coaches are doing this throughout the league and other sports.  It's all great.  Gives fans something to cling to until they can see the long awaited results.  I get that.

 

As far as "pandering to the press"  few modern coaches were as shameless and needy as Rex.  Yet we hear all of these stories about McD's motivational phrases because he tells us, or the Bills put it out there, or his players tell us.  It's meant for us to know, so we can buy in as well. The Bills aren't paying their PR people to just print programs.....

 

 

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

Which is what? What “was” the culture under Coughlin? The Giants weren’t millennials 8 years ago when they won the SB? 
 

I don’t buy it. I think Marrones schitck got tiresome and that isn’t uncommon in the NFL with HC’s. Bills have a good thing going right now, my point is it can change in a heartbeat.

 

Jacksonville's only good season was Marrone's first full season as coach.

The only reason they did well that year was they went a spending spree that sailors arriving in port would of been proud of.

 

Jacksonville's culture has been poor for many years.

[Sherlock Holmes]

6 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

I prefer this:

 

 

Lol.  But seriously, does any of this visit-from-the-regional-manager canned motivational cliche spouting make you "happy"?  Does pointing out that the coach is retreading old internet memes to peddle to his players as fresh deep soul lifting motivators...make one "not happy"?   How unhappy were you before you heard  McD' s latest sloganeering that it has warmed your heart?  (kidding a bit, there).

 

Slogans, as we know, don't win championships--even different ones every year.  It reminds me of the movie Being There, where Chance the Gardener (later "Chauncey Gardiner"), a simpleton, utters completely innocuous phrases (about all he knows of: gardening) while all those around him, not knowing who he really is, fawn over his "down home" wisdom. 

 

"Just win, McD", then you can posterize any phrase that pops into your head....and we will hail you as a genius!

 

 

 

nom nom...

Only if they offer me an assistant to the regional manager position...

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

At this point in the year, he controls their professional and financial future.  They would read from Mein Kampf at the podium if he told them too.

 

That he can wrap that power in an Etsy needlepoint slogan is 4D chess, I guess.

 

 

 

I think you underestimate how hard it is to create a shared understanding and commitment to doing what it takes. 

 

There isn't a guy in the NFL who doesn't want to win. Wanting to win isn't enough. Even just talent isn't enough. Having a framework for winning is absolutely 100% necessary. 

4 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Well, some phrases are necessary to the culture.  McDermott has a system, a process, and he needs everyone to learn the system and follow it.  His formula for success is to have everyone follow the process all the time.   He has to communicate the system to 100 people and get them to buy into it.   In the process, he, like any leader, finds words that work to convey the message, and other words that don't work so well.  He repeats the words that work.  They become sort of a mantra.  

 

Your point is, I think, that no particular words that are necessary.  I agree with that.  But the only way to teach what he wants to teach is to have some mantras of one sort or another that connect with the team.  Do your job, where would you rather be, etc.  They're all intended to create a particular frame of mind, to get everyone on the same page.  

 

Just win, baby, is a losing mantra in modern football.  It says "just go out there and play your game."  No professional sport team (except baseball, which doesn't depend on teamwork) succeeds with that approach in this era.  

 

But the phrases are a symptom. The only have any effect because you have created an environment that allows that buy in. If that were the limit of @Mr. WEO's point I'd agree with him. It doesn't seem to be, though. His point seems to be you either win or you don't and the rest is irrelevant. What I say is having the framework in place increases your odds of winning significantly. McDermott has improved the Bills odds since he arrived because he has created an environment that makes winning easier. 

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think you underestimate how hard it is to create a shared understanding and commitment to doing what it takes. 

 

There isn't a guy in the NFL who doesn't want to win. Wanting to win isn't enough. Even just talent isn't enough. Having a framework for winning is absolutely 100% necessary. 

 

But the phrases are a symptom. The only have any effect because you have created an environment that allows that buy in. If that were the limit of @Mr. WEO's point I'd agree with him. It doesn't seem to be, though. His point seems to be you either win or you don't and the rest is irrelevant. What I say is having the framework in place increases your odds of winning significantly. McDermott has improved the Bills odds since he arrived because he has created an environment that makes winning easier. 

 

I don't think I underestimate that.  It's obviously difficult.  But I also don't think McD is doing anything that many others of his colleagues are doing.  It's not unique.

 

I don't think it's as hard to get a very young team to buy in.  Without talent, all the love in the world won't produce a winner.  After gutting the team of it's talent, He and Beane have restocked.  The results of all this family bonding etc will be apparent this season. It's got to be....

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

I don't think I underestimate that.  It's obviously difficult.  But I also don't think McD is doing anything that many others of his colleagues are doing.  It's not unique.

 

I don't think it's as hard to get a very young team to buy in.  Without talent, all the love in the world won't produce a winner.  After gutting the team of it's talent, He and Beane have restocked.  The results of all this family bonding etc will be apparent this season. It's got to be....

 

No. He is just doing it better than most of his colleagues. 

[Doc]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

Yeah they have guns trained on them by snipers and everything, doc.  You can make it up, doc--I just did.  I figured you knew that---but lately I'm not so sure.

 

Figured I knew...what?  That you say silly stuff?  That I know.  What I don't know is whether you do it because you're a masochist or because you really believe it?