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Sean McDermott: "Culture Trumps Strategy" ?​​​​​​​


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Could care less what he says. All I care about is what he does. So far its been some good and some bad but it's only year 2. I dont know why some people need to hang onto soundbites and press conferences in order to get up in arms. Whatever. 

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I don't believe he is saying strategy isn't important, just that a good culture - a WINNING culture - can overcome strategy flaws or personnel differences within a game. Take a look at the Pats*...plug in player X, Y, Z who may not be the most talented and they still roll along because they have had a sustained system and winning culture. That's where McDermott wants the Bills to be, IMO. 

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it's a combo of both.  i know some people that really don't buy into the culture idea, but i do.  i'm not talking the bean/mcdermott culture specifically, but just in general rather.  if you have a winning culture, i think a lot of the other points begin to fall in line.  i wouldn't say it's more important that strategy, but it's the holy trinity of culture, talent, and strategy.  

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It's pretty evident we can't win with the lack of talent on this roster.   I'm going t wait and see what he and Beane do this offseason.  If they get linemen and wrs, improve the defense and get rid of Peterman in favor of an actual QB at backup them I'm still trusting the process.     

 

But the process better start protecting the QB better and catching the ball. 

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I read this as... players should be accountable for their play on the field no matter their 'talent' level is deemed.

 

So in 2018 if its 3rd and 1yard on a meaningful play.  Linemen suit up, no excuses, do not care that the run game has been struggling... Go block and do your job to get the yard!

 

...even if this has a high likelyhood of failure, I feel like doing this in 2018 is what will build a winning culture.

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7 minutes ago, Philo Beddoe said:

I don't believe he is saying strategy isn't important, just that a good culture - a WINNING culture - can overcome strategy flaws or personnel differences within a game. Take a look at the Pats*...plug in player X, Y, Z who may not be the most talented and they still roll along because they have had a sustained system and winning culture. That's where McDermott wants the Bills to be, IMO. 

 

So when we get blown out in 30% of games we play in with McDermott, this BS doesn't hold true. 

 

The Patriots have Tom !@#$ing Brady, that's the correct answer to your question. Belichick was a .500 coach (just like Rex) before Brady. They had a gang banging murderer on that team. Take that culture point and shove it where the sun don't shine. Hardwork and talent wins every single time, even if your an !@#$.

 

This dumbass philosophy is how you end up with Kevin Benjamin and not AB or OBJ. 

Edited by Elite Poster
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I think what he was saying is a "football culture" breeds players who can execute a strategy.  Without a "football culture" which means work hard, study, earn the right to play, etc. every strategy will fail.  That was my take from watching the presser. 

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This quote is troublesome. Unit coaches should be teaching, communicating, and making sure things get accomplished.

 

They have to be more than culture change agents. Juan Castillo may be a great "culture" guy but he's a terrible coach managing an underperforming unit and it concerns me that accountability isn't a priority.

 

 

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Given the whole quote - it makes sense.

 

If you have players who don't participate wholeheartedly - strategy and talent don't matter.  :)

 

Teamwork makes the dream work - and that requires you to buy in and participate fully.  People who want to live on an island and only show up when they want to just does not work.

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Just now, MTBill said:

Given the whole quote - it makes sense.

 

If you have players who don't participate wholeheartedly - strategy and talent don't matter.  :)

 

Teamwork makes the dream work - and that requires you to buy in and participate fully.  People who want to live on an island and only show up when they want to just does not work.

 

Even in the greater context of the full quote, I find this troubling: 

"The culture, to me, trumps strategy. That's what I believe in wholeheartedly."

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1 minute ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

Even in the greater context of the full quote, I find this troubling: 

"The culture, to me, trumps strategy. That's what I believe in wholeheartedly."

 

I believe the thing is - if you have a player who is not buying in to the culture - not giving his 100%, it does not matter what strategy you have - it won't work with this player.

 

I agree with that statement.  If the comment is that you cannot have strategy - then I completely disagree with his statement.  :)

 

I just believe given the full context - his meaning is that you have to have players who buy in to the philosophy and are actively participating in the strategy.

 

Does that make sense?

 

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Does there have to be a relationship between culture and strategy?  Can't you have both culture and strong/sophisticated strategy?  I think the use of the word "trump" in this context is unfortunate and probably not what he meant.

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Just now, MTBill said:

 

I believe the thing is - if you have a player who is not buying in to the culture - not giving his 100%, it does not matter what strategy you have - it won't work with this player.

 

I agree with that statement.  If the comment is that you cannot have strategy - then I completely disagree with his statement.  :)

 

I just believe given the full context - his meaning is that you have to have players who buy in to the philosophy and are actively participating in the strategy.

 

Does that make sense?

 

 

Not buying it. Talented players win games in combination with the right strategy in a good culture.

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People are focusing on the wrong part of the quote.  This is the nugget:

 

Quote

it means we have guys who love football and do things the right way for the most part"

 

 

 

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We have a saying at work. It applies to the long run...i.e. over many years, not week to week. 
That is that Culture eats Strategy for breakfast. In the long run this is true. Strategies change week to week and year to year. A strong (or deficient) culture will be a more defining trait of success or failure in the long run. 

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First, people and especially the WGR crowd mistake bringing in "choir boys" and getting players with good "football culture",  I hear callers calling in and saying Brett Favre had bad character or if a guy has an dwi arrest he wouldn't be brought in because of the culture thing, both are completely false.

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Culture sure as hell does matter a lot. 

 

Last year was a big culture shift and it just so happened to be the year we broke the longest playoff drought in sports.

 

Do you think the Patriots don't have a certain culture all the long timers have bought into?

 

Just because culture might trump strategy, that doesn't mean strategy doesn't matter a lot, too.

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