Following Monday night’s Seattle Seahawks win over the Washington Redskins, ESPN’s broadcasting brain-trust of Trent Dilfer, Ray Lewis and Steve Young came on the screen to analyze the game.  After watching Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson throw for over 200 yards and run for over 100, Dilfer incredulously asked Lewis what the only defense you cannot run against a mobile quarterback was and together all three simultaneously cried, “Man to man!”

Seeing Dilfer’s frustration and his questioning of game plans of NFL level coaches was great viewing. It also gave me a chance to take a deep breath and exhale as I continue to be regularly and equally frustrated on Friday nights, analyzing high school games across the Tampa Bay area and also on Sundays as I critically assess the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following each game (both are for Bright House Sports Network).

Football coaches at all levels spend far too much time supposedly developing game plans based on watching countless hours of videotape to find the smallest advantage on the field and far too often are far too close to the action to see the forest through the trees or the most obvious concepts that can either doom their team or raise it to victory depending on what side of the field they’re on.

The fact is that game plans rarely change more than five percent week to week.  Teams are going to run the same plays week in and week out regardless of the opponent and may add a special play or two each game.

As they say, everyone has an opinion and I’m sure these coaches that hear it from every angle when things aren’t going too well don’t appreciate in the least all the “know-it-all’s” that have spent a good bit less time thinking about how best to attack the opposing team.

Jon Gruden is best known for the ungodly long hours he kept and Tony Dungy was pretty well known for trying to live a slightly more “normal” life when it came to the time spent at the football facility.  Both are now former coaches, both have Super Bowl rings to show for their respective efforts and both have TV gigs analyzing the guys that are currently burning the candle at both ends, desperately trying to find that winning edge.  So, if both routes lead to exactly the same destination, why not take the road less traveled and enjoy life just a little bit more, which may just inspire better game plans and more creativity for game days!