The funny thing about EF and a players greatness...

[MplsTom]

What is greatness...I'm going to remove the emotion around the topic and just talk about "on the field." In sports, there can be some jerks who are indeed great players. Those players wouldn't make a "hall of fame" in my book, but they are great players.

The more I thought about it, the more it comes down to "wins versus quality opponents and on big stages."

Tim Gallwey, in his book "The Inner Game of Winning" tells the reader that he can provide the secret to winning forever. "Never play anyone near as good as you." That alone tells us that there is something inside most of us that cares more for the challenge and competition than the win.

As for what do the great coaches do...it varies, just as it does in the NFL. Sometimes you have teams with great offenses. Some have complex playbooks. Some have stifling defenses. Some grind it out. Some have simple schemes that they execute to perfection.

The same really holds true in our hobby. The best passer may not win every game because he runs into a guy who can kill plays and leave him with too few plays to score. The best defense may run into an offense that matches up with him well, etc.

Overall, in a game, though, I would say that a great player tends to see all 11 players in concert. They notice the opponents 11 players and not just the guy who made the tackle and catch. They process and they adjust continually. Or, if you aren't stopping their one-trick, they stay with it until you do.

The other common trait is usually, "Know Thy Men." They don't need the strongest team, fastest guys, or to be the best passer. If they know what their player is going to do 90% of the time, it allows for plays to develop and chances to be taken.

Good question, and I too enjoy the debate.