Harline writing for Deep Shades of Blue

Johnny Harline will be writing for Deep Shades of Blue this year. This is his first post:



http://deepshadesofblue.com/jonny-harline-execution-trumps-desire/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



This is a short quote:

You’re pulling your hair out in frustration. Why aren’t they playing better? They’re so close! Why don’t they try harder? Why don’t they quit making these petty mistakes? Why?!? You yell, to no one in particular. Or maybe to heaven, actually. It IS the Lord’s school after all, isn’t it? You want to know what the “something” is, holding them back, and how to fix it.



Most people eventually conclude at some level that the “something” is desire. You’re watching and thinking to yourself, they just don’t “want it” enough, if only they “wanted it” more, all these little somethings would stop happening to hold them back. Why don’t they “want it” as much as ME?! If they felt as strongly as I do about this, they’d play better! If I could just transfer how I feel to them, they would surely win!



I’ve felt it too. But there’s a problem. It’s just not true.



Oh, you have to “want it,” to a degree. But it’s not the goal, it’s just a small part of reaching the ultimate goal. Which is… wait for it… I can’t just say it now without some suspense… okay here it comes… Execution!



Execution is the ultimate goal in football.

Mr. Harline, I concur.

BroncoBot wrote:
Mr. Harline, I concur.

I concur, too. Fans that like to blame everything on play calling will probably take exception.



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Ok, Bronco. Exu......blah blah blah. And how does execution consistently get executed? Many times is desire and effort doing things that are actually sometimes pretty tough. If a player lacks a little edge of effort/desire, execution won't be as crisp.

So, chicken or the egg? Cbnt do without either. Very few true dichotomies in life.

People who think execution is the key are like people who think desire is the key.



They reason BYU or BSU or Oregon or Texas Tech have been good has to do with innovation. Everybody executes like everybody has desire. Maybe you have a slight edge, but the only way a team like BYU can beat a team like Alabama is if BYU comes up with a better idea.

jvquarterback wrote:
People who think execution is the key are like people who think desire is the key.



They reason BYU or BSU or Oregon or Texas Tech have been good has to do with innovation. Everybody executes like everybody has desire. Maybe you have a slight edge, but the only way a team like BYU can beat a team like Alabama is if BYU comes up with a better idea.

Innovation and the element of surprise are great when we'll executed. BTW - the article was very long, but Harlin fid explain that both sides are trying to execute and the better athlete wins each match up if both execute. Surprise and innovation are needed to offset talent deficiency unless you execute better.



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jvquarterback wrote:
People who think execution is the key are like people who think desire is the key.



They reason BYU or BSU or Oregon or Texas Tech have been good has to do with innovation. Everybody executes like everybody has desire. Maybe you have a slight edge, but the only way a team like BYU can beat a team like Alabama is if BYU comes up with a better idea.

Or has better talent. The reason BYU loses to top teams is because top teams have better players. It's really that simple. Harline made this point elsewhere in the article.



Re: what was highlighted in the OP, he was a great college player so from his perspective execution was all that was necessary. But for the lesser players even execution will never be enough. We were helpless against Wisconsin last season because most of their players were better than ours, especially in the trenches. No amount of execution of an assignment will counteract quicker, stronger, and more intuitive players over the course of a game.