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Originally Posted by YDFL Commish
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This makes me happy. This is exactly what Venturi has been ranting about for the last year....that our coloring book offense doesn't use stacks, bunches, motion to design TY and others into good, creative plays.......I had a chance to hear Big Joe interview Reich today (they are teammates from Buffalo and they had a really open chemistry....I'm going to like hearing more of Big Joe and Reich interviews) and there were a couple of things I took away:
1.He's smart....I hate to say this of anyone but I just don't think Pagano and his staff were very smart. We didn't have smart schemes and the mental agility required to make in game adjustments/calls were beyond Pagano's reach. I don't know if it's because he is a former QB and you have to do more thinking than other positions or if it's because he was a Backup QB where you have to be sharp enough to out-think your physical shortcomings but this man struck me as smart and I'm all in on that! Big Joe was relating that Reich was the first in the late 80s of the Buffalo teammates to own an Apple computer. He's not afraid to lean into new thinking.......the old concept of stop the run and run the ball (artifact from 60s football) will not be the only trick in his book. I also don't think not having called plays is an issue. As a QB he is used to having to pay attention to multiple things in game and be ready to call an audible. I think he has the mental agility to make that work at least until his OC gets settled in for a year or two.
2. He's humble.......I genuinely don't think he cares that he's a second choice or that he is inheriting 3 coaches. He openly acknowledged that given that alot of the coaching talent he's got on his list has been snapped up in new jobs having 3 slots already filled is helpful and he genuinely thinks they are talented guys he can work with. He talk alot about collaboration and given his humility I think that is a true part of his leadership style. I was pleased to hear that he already had a coaching list ready for whenever he might get a head coach nod so that's a level of preparation that he seems to bring to everything.
3. He's competitive......not in a dumb way (Griff Whalen ST play anyone?) but in an aggressive/smart way. Big Joe was asking him to clarify the roles that HE and Pedersen played on offense and he basically said that he designed the game plans and Pedersen called the game....it was his job to design really good plays and Pedersen's job to pull the right play out of the book for the specific situation. Also he kept emphasizing collaboration. Big Joe was saying something like he'd be remembered for architechting the Philly Special and he said no, I guarantee you we will have an Indy Special and it will be even better!!!!!!!! I about had an orgasm right there.
