On Bill Walsh

The more I think about Michael Lombardi being passed over for 49ers GM, the happier I get ... but really, mostly because it means he can still write for NFL.com and post things like the following -- at the bottom of his latest article about Vince Young, he has a section called, "Preparing for big games the Walsh way" -- that's the Bill Walsh way, in case you weren't sure. If every head coach doesn't read this and nod their heads, then either Lombardi is way off-base or I'm missing something. Makes a LOT of sense to me:

Some excerpts:

Talk to the team about not playing out of control. No personal foul penalties, no late hits. We are a well-coached team, no matter how big the game and where we play. We play OUR style.

How you handle all the SY (short yardage) and GL (goal line) plays is critical. What is the plan for the first fourth-and-short in their territory? Coach it all week.

Who adjusts the best will win the game. Therefore, it is more important for the coaches to work harder than the players. We have to be well prepared.

Getting a first down in the first quarter does not win the game. Do not react like its life and death in the first period. Prepare the team for the 15-round boxing match.

Can you imagine what Mike Singletary's list would look like? (Neither can he, he's got to look at the film first.)

The entire list is here. Some of it seems a bit contradictory (e.g., "Go back as far as you can to see what trick plays have fooled them" seems a bit in conflict with the "do not distract players with a secret weapon") but I get the distinctions.

What I'm more impressed by is that Walsh had a list of TWENTY FIVE different things for coaches to focus on specifically in playoff games. And that they were so effective that he not only won three Super Bowls but that guys like Lombardi kept these close to his vest for twenty-plus years.

Just saying, the guy was a pretty damn good coach.