A Football Post -- On the Importance of Execution

It’s Fall.  Football season.  My Steelers are beginning the defense of their Super Bowl crown.  Since it’s Fall, my recreational reading has shifted to football too.  I’ve been reading David Halberstam’s book about Bill Belichick.  For those of you who aren’t football fans, Bill Belichick is the coach of the New England Patriots.  Under Belichick, the Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002, 2004 and 2005...

Last night, I read a piece about their first Super Bowl victory over the St Louis Rams.  This story goes directly to one of the points I make in my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations – the importance of execution.

In that Super Bowl, the Rams were a passing team.  They had some of the fastest receivers in the league.  In Super Bowl XXXVI, Bill Belichick and his coaching staff decided to try to stop the Ram’s pass oriented offense by playing five, six and even seven defensive backs.  Typically, a pro football team plays four defensive backs on first and second down and five on third down (a typical passing down).  This tactic worked very well.  It was difficult for the Rams to pass successfully with so many defensive backs in the game for New England.

In the book, Mr. Halberstam quotes Ron Jaworski, an ESPN football analyst on what happened in that game:

• “With all those defensive backs out there, Jaworski pointed out, the Rams would have had better success running the ball, but they failed to do that…‘I talked with Ricky Proehl, (one of the Rams receivers) after the game’, Jaworski said ‘and he told me that the Rams players were all on the sideline during the second half, screaming at the coaches that the Patriots were playing five and six defensive backs, that they had to run the ball, that the run was there every time (meaning that they – the Rams --  could move the ball by running instead of passing).  But Mike Martz (the Rams coach) was telling them ‘F it, I’m going to win it my way.’”

If this story is true (and I believe it is, as Mr. Halberstam is know for his accurate reporting), it points out an important point about execution.  You have to be able to realize when you’re plan is not working.  When you do, you have to create a new plan and then execute that plan well.  Doing this in the middle of a football game is not easy.  However, the Rams should have gone to Plan B, and run the ball.  If they were successful in running the ball, New England would have had to replace the extra defensive backs with linebackers and defensive lineman.  Which, in turn, would have made it easier for them to pass.

The common sense point here – you create plans that you think will work.  When they don’t you have to create new plans, and execute them well if you’re going to succeed.

That’s enough about football for a while, and that’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blogs: www.CareerSuperStar.com for common sense advice on becoming the life and career star you are meant to be; and www.CommonSenseDay.com to learn more about Use Your Common Sense Day -- November 4, and to read stories of common sense in action.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.

Comments

[steve]

how do you know when they are not working? when do you stop executing the same plan to try something else, what if one more time it would have worked? another thing about executing is you need to stop planning and do it. and another, have a back up plan ready so you can change quickly, like in the middle of the game. sounds easy but it's hard, that's why we honor the good guys with awards.

[Per Wendelboe]

I think it will pretty much always be evident when a plan is not working. A plan covering execution will (well, or should) always have measureable targets and a timeframe for getting there - however, I agree that it can be tough to make the call whether or not to completely pull the plug on e.g. a plan that does not reach the goals set forth but I think such decisions are highly situational in any case.

[Bud Bilanich]

I agree with Per. Missing targets for one month should not be a reason to panic and go to plan b. Missing targets for three months in a row (one quarter) should start ot raise red flags. Missing targets for six months in a row (two quarters) is a good bet that things are not working and you should at least consider making some changes.
Bud

[CFD Trading]

We have Australian Rules football but it's also clear the sides that can execute well under pressure always win. Even if they have less natural talent. Great site by the way. Common sense is not widely appreciated, it should be.

[Bud Bilanich]

I'm a retired rugby footballer. Aussie rules football and rugby football are strategic games. American football is very tactical. Yet, as you so correctly point out, great sides (or teams) as we call them in the US, execute well under pressure. The same is true in business.

Also, thank you for your kind words about this site. I agree that common sense is not as appreciated as it should be. I'm trying to change this situation through this site and another blog www.CommonSenseDay.com.

Thanks for reading and for your comment.

BB

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