Ex-NFL WR Andrew Hawkins Confirms Mike McDaniel’s Football Genius…& Hygiene Habits | Rich Eisen Show

The Rich Eisen Show
21 Sept 202208:20
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe transcript features a passionate discussion about Mike McDaniel, a former receiver coach who has made a significant impact on the speaker's understanding of football. Described as a football savant with a quirky personality and a Yale graduate, McDaniel is known for his innovative approach to the game, often drawing inspiration from other sports like basketball to enhance his players' performance. His unorthodox methods, such as detailed work on releases and encouraging players to break traditional rules, have led to impressive results on the field. The speaker, a former player under McDaniel, shares firsthand experiences of how McDaniel's teachings revolutionized their game and expresses strong confidence in McDaniel's ability to excel as a head coach. The conversation also touches on the potential challenges a team might face without McDaniel's unique coaching style and the impact of his departure from San Francisco.

Takeaways
  • 🏈 The speaker has a high opinion of Mike McDaniel, who was his receiver coach in 2014 and had a significant impact on his understanding of football.
  • 🎓 Mike McDaniel is a Yale graduate with a unique approach to football, often using unconventional methods to teach and innovate.
  • 🤔 McDaniel's coaching style involves breaking down football plays in a way that challenges traditional norms and cliches.
  • 📚 He focuses on detailed analysis, such as teaching releases by studying basketball players' movements rather than just football footage.
  • 🏋️‍♂️ McDaniel emphasizes the importance of practice and preparation, using off-season to refine techniques like releases.
  • 📈 His methods have been successful, as evidenced by the speaker's improved performance and the ongoing success of players like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle.
  • 🧠 McDaniel's mindset is to innovate and do the opposite of what is expected, which can create advantages on the field.
  • 📉 The speaker acknowledges that McDaniel's departure from San Francisco could leave a void in the offensive room, even if Shanahan is a great coach.
  • 🌳 The comparison is made to the Belichick coaching tree, where successful coaches adapt and add their own spin to the teachings they've received.
  • 🚿 A humorous anecdote about McDaniel's dedication to his work is shared, mentioning his practice of not showering until Wednesday during his early coaching years.
  • 🔥 The speaker predicts that if McDaniel's team can beat the Bills, it will lead to a surge in recognition and admiration for his coaching abilities.
Q & A

  • Who is Mike McDaniel and what impact did he have on the speaker?

    -Mike McDaniel was the speaker's receiver coach in 2014. He revolutionized the speaker's understanding of offensive football and receiver play, urging him to trust unconventional methods. McDaniel's coaching significantly improved the speaker's performance and changed his perspective on football.

  • What unconventional methods did Mike McDaniel employ in coaching?

    -Mike McDaniel employed unconventional methods such as breaking down football releases into three specific types, utilizing basketball tape to teach release techniques, and advocating for strategies opposite to conventional wisdom, like drifting upfield after beating coverage.

  • How did Mike McDaniel's coaching impact the speaker's team performance?

    -Under Mike McDaniel's coaching, the speaker's team experienced significant success, going eight straight games without a single player getting jammed or encountering bump-and-run coverage. McDaniel's innovative approach to coaching fundamentally changed the team's offensive dynamics.

  • What is Mike McDaniel's coaching philosophy and approach to the game?

    -Mike McDaniel's coaching philosophy involves challenging conventional football wisdom and finding innovative ways to approach offensive strategies. He breaks down each position meticulously and teaches players to think outside the box, aiming for constant innovation.

  • How does Mike McDaniel differ from other coaches in his approach to football?

    -Mike McDaniel differs from other coaches by his unconventional methods and his relentless pursuit of innovation. He challenges traditional coaching norms, incorporates unconventional techniques like utilizing basketball tape for football coaching, and encourages players to break away from established patterns.

  • What impact did Mike McDaniel's departure have on the San Francisco 49ers?

    -Mike McDaniel's departure from the San Francisco 49ers left a significant void in the team's coaching staff. While head coach Kyle Shanahan is highly skilled, McDaniel's absence represents a loss in unique coaching expertise and innovative thinking.

  • How does the speaker view Mike McDaniel's departure from the San Francisco 49ers?

    -The speaker acknowledges Kyle Shanahan's coaching prowess but believes there is a tangible loss with Mike McDaniel's departure. While Shanahan may adapt, McDaniel's absence will be felt due to his distinct coaching style and innovative approach.

  • What analogy does the speaker draw regarding coaching trees?

    -The speaker draws an analogy between coaching trees and the difficulties of emulating a master coach. He compares Mike McDaniel's departure to the challenges faced by coaches under the Belichick tree, suggesting that copying a master's style directly often leads to limited success.

  • How does Mike McDaniel's coaching style reflect his personality?

    -Mike McDaniel's coaching style reflects his quirky personality and deep passion for football. He approaches coaching as a 'football savant,' challenging norms and finding joy in discovering new approaches to the game.

  • What change did Mike McDaniel implement in the speaker's team's offensive strategy?

    -Mike McDaniel implemented a change in offensive strategy by teaching players to drift upfield after beating coverage, contrary to conventional wisdom. This approach aimed to maximize yards after catch and innovate against defensive expectations.

Outlines
00:00
🏈 Mike McDaniel's Innovative Offensive Coaching

The first paragraph discusses the speaker's experience with Mike McDaniel, who was his receiver coach in 2014. The speaker praises McDaniel's innovative approach to offensive football, highlighting his ability to rethink and redefine receiver play. McDaniel, a Yale graduate with a quirky personality, is described as a 'football savant' who doesn't follow cliches and enjoys finding new methods to improve the game. His coaching style involves breaking down each position meticulously, using unique techniques like studying basketball players' movements to improve football releases. The speaker shares how McDaniel's strategies led to a successful season and changed his perspective on football.

05:02
🎓 McDaniel's Impact and Future Prospects

The second paragraph continues to elaborate on McDaniel's coaching methods, emphasizing his unique personality and his profound influence on players like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle. The speaker talks about how McDaniel's teachings have led to career-defining games for players and how his in-game adjustments have been beneficial. The paragraph also touches on the potential loss felt by the absence of McDaniel from the San Francisco 49ers, acknowledging the contributions of Shanahan while recognizing the distinctive input McDaniel brought to the team. The speaker predicts that if McDaniel's team succeeds in a significant game, it could lead to a surge in recognition for his coaching style. Additionally, there's a humorous reference to McDaniel's dedication, symbolized by his practice of not showering until Wednesday, highlighting his intense commitment to the game.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Mike McDaniel
Mike McDaniel is a football coach who has made a significant impact on the speaker's understanding and approach to the game. He is described as a 'football savant' with a quirky personality and a Yale graduate, indicating a high level of intelligence and a deep, analytical approach to football. His coaching style is innovative, as he challenges traditional methods and encourages his players to think differently about the game. This is evident in the speaker's account of how McDaniel's coaching led to a transformation in their own playing style and understanding of football.
💡Offensive Football
Offensive football refers to the strategies and tactics used by a team when they have possession of the ball, with the aim of scoring points. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses how Mike McDaniel flipped their understanding of offensive football on its head, suggesting a radical shift in the way they approached the game. McDaniel's approach to offensive football is characterized by a deep analysis and a willingness to break from conventional wisdom, which is exemplified by the speaker's experience of learning new techniques and strategies under his guidance.
💡Receiver Coach
A receiver coach in football is responsible for coaching the wide receivers, who are the players that catch passes from the quarterback. Mike McDaniel was the speaker's receiver coach in 2014, which was a pivotal year for the speaker's career. The role of a receiver coach is crucial in developing the skills and techniques of the receivers, and in this case, McDaniel's innovative coaching methods had a profound influence on the speaker's game.
💡Slot Receiver
A slot receiver is a specific position in football, typically played by a wide receiver who lines up in the 'slot' position between the offensive tackles. The speaker mentions being a slot receiver and having to adapt to playing as a 'five-six X receiver' due to team circumstances. This change in role was facilitated by McDaniel's coaching, demonstrating the flexibility and adaptability that the speaker learned under his guidance.
💡X Receiver
The X receiver is a position in football, referring to one of the outside wide receivers, who typically line up on the hash marks. The speaker was asked to transition from a slot receiver to an X receiver, which required a different set of skills and strategies. This transition was part of the transformative experience the speaker had under McDaniel's coaching, highlighting the adaptability required in football and the role of coaching in facilitating such changes.
💡Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson is a former professional basketball player known for his exceptional crossover dribbling skills. In the context of the video, the speaker mentions that McDaniel used footage of Iverson's basketball moves to teach football players how to improve their releases. This unconventional approach to coaching demonstrates McDaniel's creativity and his ability to draw inspiration from other sports to enhance his players' performance.
💡
💡Stefan Diggs
Stefan Diggs is a professional football player known for his skill as a wide receiver. The speaker references a clip of Diggs performing a release move that resembles a basketball crossover, crediting this technique to McDaniel's coaching. This example illustrates how McDaniel's innovative coaching methods can translate into tangible skills and advantages for his players on the field.
💡Yards After Catch (YAC)
Yards after catch refers to the distance a receiver runs with the ball after catching a pass. The speaker discusses how McDaniel emphasizes the importance of YAC, teaching his receivers to drift upfield on certain routes to maximize their ability to gain additional yards after catching the ball. This strategy is a departure from traditional coaching, which typically advises against such movements to avoid giving away the play to the defense.
💡In-Game Adjustments
In-game adjustments are changes made by a team during a game in response to the opposing team's strategies or to capitalize on opportunities as they arise. The speaker praises McDaniel's ability to make effective in-game adjustments, suggesting that this is a key aspect of his coaching success. This ability to adapt and respond to the flow of the game is crucial for a coach and can significantly impact the outcome of a match.
💡Head Coaching Job
A head coaching job refers to the position of the head coach in a football team, who is responsible for overall team strategy, player development, and game management. The speaker talks about McDaniel being considered for a head coaching position, indicating the high regard in which his coaching abilities are held. The speaker's confidence in McDaniel's knowledge of offensive football suggests that he would be a strong candidate for such a role.
💡Kyle Shanahan
Kyle Shanahan is a well-known football coach, currently the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. The speaker mentions Shanahan as a 'goat' (greatest of all time) and discusses the influence Shanahan had on McDaniel's coaching style. This reference highlights the importance of mentorship and learning from successful coaches in the development of one's own coaching philosophy.
Highlights

Mike McDaniel was the receiver coach in 2014 for the speaker, which was a pivotal year in their career.

McDaniel's coaching approach completely transformed the speaker's understanding of offensive football and receiver play.

McDaniel asked the speaker to transition from a slot receiver to an X receiver, despite being signed for third downs.

The speaker describes McDaniel as a 'football savant' with a very quirky personality.

McDaniel is a Yale graduate, and his approach to football is likened to that of a scientist.

He enjoys challenging conventional wisdom and finding innovative ways to play the game.

McDaniel focused on perfecting three types of releases during the off-season to counter cornerback strategies.

His unique teaching methods included using Allen Iverson's basketball crossover as an analogy for football releases.

Under McDaniel's guidance, the team went eight games without a player getting jammed at the line.

McDaniel's coaching has had a profound impact on players like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle.

He is known for breaking down each position with a meticulous and innovative approach.

McDaniel teaches players to break conventional rules in route running to gain an advantage over defenses.

His methods have led to players experiencing career games and a deeper understanding of the game.

Andrew Hawkins, a former player, has publicly praised McDaniel's offensive football knowledge.

Hawkins stated he would bet money that no other candidate understands offensive football like McDaniel does.

McDaniel's absence from San Francisco is considered a significant loss, even with Shanahan's strong coaching presence.

The speaker confirms a story about McDaniel's dedication, which included not showering until Wednesday during his early coaching years.

Transcripts

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Mike McDanielFootball CoachingInnovative StrategiesYale GraduateOffensive FootballReceiver PlayGame AnalysisCleveland BrownsSan Francisco 49ersNFLSports PsychologyCoaching Philosophy