Statistics are an important part of football handicap analysis. Other factors are also important, such as the differences between home and field and training. A less discussed factor is team chemistry, something that cannot be quantified. You hear players, coaches and general managers talk all the time about having good “chemistry” on the team. An example of good chemistry is on the field between two players who need each other to be productive. A quarterback needs good chemistry with his receivers, for example. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice had time and reliability at a minimum when they played together.
As for the chemistry in the clubhouse, the Oakland Raiders have been the team to watch the past two seasons. Team chemistry was clearly a factor in the NFL’s biggest offseason trade a year ago, with WR Randy Moss going to Oakland. Moss is an enormously talented and productive player on the field, but off the field he is constantly surrounded by controversy. It wasn’t a problem in his first year with the Raiders, but the team still had all sorts of chemical deficiencies. So they sent Kerry Collins and brought in Aaron Brooks and new coach Art Shell.
However, Shell had been working as the senior vice president of football operations and development for the NFL, and hasn’t been a head coach since the Raiders fired him after the 1994 season. That was a long time ago! Do you remember how much trouble Joe Gibbs had to return to the NFL 13 years later? Gibbs installed an offense in 2004 that relied on maximum quarterback protection, something that had been very effective during the 1980s. But the offense was flat in 2004 with no one open. Today’s quick cover 2 defensive schemes short-circuited his max protection plan, until it changed last season, opening things up more. So how will Shell, Moss and Brooks fit in in Oakland? If I had to guess now, I’d say don’t expect to see Black and Silver playing in the January postseason.
Other times the chemistry is something that happens in the clubhouse. This is also not something you can find in box scores. Players need to get along and managers need to ask players for loyalty and respect, but they also need to be smart enough to return the favor, as loyalty is not a one-way street.
I’ve wondered about the New Orleans Saints’ team chemistry in recent years. They were never a happy or productive team under Jim Haslett. But he’s gone and a new coach takes over in Sean Payton. Payton was with Dallas in 2005, where he coached the quarterbacks and also held the title of assistant head coach. He learned from one of the best in Bill Parcells, so it will be interesting to see if he has the talent that Parcells has to get the most out of players. The Saints certainly have a new look in the backfield, with QB Drew Brees, and RBs Deuce McAllister and rookie Reggie Bush.
And speaking of Parcells and the Cowboys, clubhouse chemistry will be a hot topic all season due to the addition of WR Terrell Owens. Like Moss, Owens has enormous talent on the field, but is a lightning rod for controversy with his superego and loudmouth, often a distraction off the field. The Eagles were so fed up with Owens that they let him go early last season, only to dump early was a big deal. And now he gets to play for Parcells, a respected leader who won’t hesitate to get tough on Owens.
Don’t underestimate team chemistry. The chemistry in the clubhouse was a big story during the 2001 NFL season when Patriots WR Terry Glenn was a nuisance and coach Bill Belichick laid down the law and released him. It was a surprising move at the time, as New England lacked speed at wide receiver, but they won the Super Bowl without Glenn. Many NFL general managers and coaches took notice, and chemistry has since become a factor to pay more attention to. Harmony in the clubhouse can be just as important as talent.