Meathead football/coach

[BomberOrange]

Can someone please tell me the definition of “Meathead” coach or football? So many “experts” here throw this word out over the years but I still cannot pin down what it really means. Please enlighten me.

 

[orangemass]

Nardouche is an example

 

[Nick44]

Can someone please tell me the definition of “Meathead” coach or football? So many “experts” here throw this word out over the years but I still cannot pin down what it really means. Please enlighten me.

Sure.

A meathead football coach is a coach who refuses to look forward. They coach the game like it’s still 1968. They’ll punt the ball on 4th and 1 from the 50 or kick a FG down 4 from the 30 yard line. They believe that things like discipline, toughness and execution are secret ingredients that no one else has that will separate their team from everyone else. Sure, those are nice attributes to have but it’s BS. Coaches like Shafer, Marrone, Narduzzi and many others have lived by this schtick for years. It’s great to win 6-7 games a year but meathead football will never win a program a championship in the 21st century.

Programs today need talent (obviously) and a coach who understands the game today and has the ability to find, adapt and utilize that talent within a system that works in 2025, not 1968. I’m glad we have Fran.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

A meathead coach is defined by the unlikely beliefs they hold, or have confidence in, that influence their decision-making.

For example, a meat head coach will look at 4th and 3 from the opponent's 40 yard line and salivate at the prospect of pinning them deep, not even thinking about how much more conducive to winning making a play to get a first down, keep the ball, and keep potential for points alive because they hold certain things to be true, including: winning the field position battle wins football games (it doesn't, points do), their punter will be able to "pin 'em deep" (he probably won't because the ball is shaped weird for kicking and guys can't reliably coffin corner at this level), and that their defense will force a three and out, at which point the opponent will punt, but because they're pinned deep they'll take over the ball at their own 45, a mere 15 yards from where this whole scenario begins.

So imagine the aggravation the meathead coach experiences when the punt lands in slovenly fashion in the end zone for a touch back, meaning the meathead coach traded the chance to keep the ball by making 3 measly yards for only 20 yards of precious, precious field position.

And then imagine the near state of hysteria said meathead coach finds himself in when, not only does his defense not force a 3 and out, but gives up a 6 minute, 80 yard touchdown drive.

And then tell me that reading this wasn't at least a little bit painful, because you've seen this play out, and it's a little too close sometimes.

 

[kingtidge]

Meathead master class just finished in the 2024 Rate Bowl...

Guess which coach is meathead?

 

[zjscuse]

Nardouche is an example

He gave an absolute masterclass in meat head coaching today. Iv never seen such an open missed throw from any human then that trick play.

 

[HtownOrange]

Can someone please tell me the definition of “Meathead” coach or football? So many “experts” here throw this word out over the years but I still cannot pin down what it really means. Please enlighten me.

I just looked in the dictionary and they showed a picture of Shady Schiano. Listed were a few of the "finer" elements of being a meathead.

- on third and 9 or more, running a QB draw with a pocket passer who can barely walk, let alone run
- diving at the knees of an opponent in the victory formation
- being down 14 points to start the fourth quarter and running the ball 90% of the remaining plays.
- the thought that being angry is the equivalent of tough
- remaining in a rebuild in year six of the HC's tenure.
- belief that the forward pass is a fad and will not last long
Edit:
- blowing a 2+ score lead late in the third or fourth quarter, trusting your defense to hold as your offense goes on a string of three-and-outs
- having any lead in the game and shutting off your offense because you can “will” your defense to win the game
- Recruiting D2 players for P4 football, pretending that one attribute covers all of requirements for success at the P4 level.

Anyway, one fundamental trait of all meathead coaches is that they refuse to admit their process could be wrong. Rather, they double down on the above and expect better results, despite the facts and evidence to the contrary.

 

[BlazeOrange]

He gave an absolute masterclass in meat head coaching today. Iv never seen such an open missed throw from any human then that trick play.

Not to mention kicking the FG from the 1 yard line in the 2nd OT when all future plays would be do or die from about 2 yards further away. Prolonging the game so the defense could win it really worked great, huh?

Side Note: They need to do something to limit the number of timeouts available in the overtimes. The delays were ridiculous.

 

[zjscuse]

Not to mention kicking the FG from the 1 yard line in the 2nd OT when all future plays would be do or die from about 2 yards further away. Prolonging the game so the defense could win it really worked great, huh?

Side Note: They need to do something to limit the number of timeouts available in the overtimes. The delays were ridiculous.

agreed but I do love the new overtime format. It’s very exciting….. and extremely stressful as a fan hahaha

 

[money3189]

Just watch a rutgers football game.

 

[orangemass]

The dazzler chimes in

 

[ECE '76]

I always thought meathead football was a style that has no serious passing threat or offensive sophistication and is very predictable. The Dazzler as a HC was always the prime example, but you know, Penn State was meathead football from JoePa through today except maybe for the Bill O'Brien era. Scott Shafer was meathead football. I don't think Doug Marrone was meathead, although he was risk averse on 4th downs just like in the NFL.

For some reason the SU game at BC in 2000 when Troy Nunes threw 4 INTs and was still left in the game by P&D always sticks out. With about 5 minutes left in the game, SU down 20-13, on 4th down around the BC 27, P decides to kick a FG rather than going for it. You need a TD to win or tie, if you make the FG you still need to drive all the way back into this position and score a TD to not lose the game. And then of course SU proceeded to miss the FG anyway. It was just like that terrible decision by Miami/Cristobal this year to kick a FG when they were down 7 in the waning minutes. They never got the ball back.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I always thought meathead football was a style that has no serious passing threat or offensive sophistication and is very predictable. The Dazzler as a HC was always the prime example, but you know, Penn State was meathead football from JoePa through today except maybe for the Bill O'Brien era. Scott Shafer was meathead football. I don't think Doug Marrone was meathead, although he was risk averse on 4th downs just like in the NFL.

For some reason the SU game at BC in 2000 when Troy Nunes threw 4 INTs and was still left in the game by P&D always sticks out. With about 5 minutes left in the game, SU down 20-13, on 4th down around the BC 27, P decides to kick a FG rather than going for it. You need a TD to win or tie, if you make the FG you still need to drive all the way back into this position and score a TD to not lose the game. And then of course SU proceeded to miss the FG anyway. It was just like that terrible decision by Miami/Cristobal this year to kick a FG when they were down 7 in the waning minutes. They never got the ball back.

Marrone had strong meathead tendencies, but was able to overcome them in pockets.

 

[sabach]

A meathead coach asks what would Dan Campbell do here and then does the direct opposite.

 

[Ringostar57]

If you got the horses then let them run. No need to grind. Let the opposing defense try to reign them in instead of you .

 

[Millhouse]

they preach toughness but love to use the weakest smallest guys on the team to kick it away because they're scared of the other team hitting them

they are at high risk for cte and diabetes

they did not excel at math in school

 

[phreddie]

A good example is what ASU just did. Had a 1rst & goal and ran it 4 straight plays, and didn't score.

 

[HtownOrange]

A good example is what ASU just did. Had a 1rst & goal and ran it 4 straight plays, and didn't score.

That with

- being down two scores
- heading into the fourth quarter
- having scored no TDs


Edit (addition):

- and then lets the opponent score a TD