Stram’s Keys To Winning … Weekend Cup O’Chiefs
In this season of such historical significance for the Kansas City Chiefs, every once in awhile we will look back at the team’s past and some of the influential names, games and situations that molded Lamar Hunt’s creation.
One of the biggest influences was Hank Stram. As the franchise’s first coach, he laid the foundation for the Texans and then the Chiefs. He coached for 15 seasons, longer than any other coach in club history. Stram is also the only coach to win a league championship, three of those in the American Football League and one Super Bowl.
Stram was quite a character. At any collection of his players from those 15 seasons, the conversation will always include memories of “The Mentor.” Out of the sheer size of his personality, Stram never failed to entertain. Fans did not really get to know Stram until NFL Films put a microphone on him for Super Bowl IV against Minnesota.
Players had heard Stram for a decade, but the Super Bowl highlight tape gave everybody a chance to hear the patter, the wise cracks, the belly aching at officials and the never ending commentary that Hank eventually took into the broadcasting booth after his coaching career.
But make no mistake Stram was more than a character. He was a darn good football coach, and one of the most innovative leaders in the game. Hank was old school, but he was always ready to try something different, if it was sound fundamentally.
Currently, the Chiefs are collecting items for the new Hall of Honor that is part of the renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. From Hank’s son Stu, they were loaned the head coach’s personal playbook for the 1971 season. Inside this big white binder is the Chiefs offense, along with other information that Stram felt was important for his players to read and understand.
Part of that came under the title of “HELPFUL TIPS FOR ALL CHIEFS TO BECOME CHAMPIONS.”
Here’s what Hank Stram was telling his players almost 40 years ago:
“The difference between winning and losing often lies in the failure to do the little extra things. Everyone cannot be an “All-Pro”, but EVERYONE can hustle and be a Team Man.
“We are looking for players who will become “coaches’ ballplayers”. This is the highest compliment a player can receive.
“Read these tips over and over again during the season and see if you comply.”
What follows are 53 tips, bromides, rules, suggestions and demands that Stram made of his players. Why 53? There’s no known reason. Unfortunately Hank is no longer around to ask.
But in Stram’s mind they were important steps towards victory and a championship. They still are.
Here’s the list:
- The desire to be a champion must come from within. Do not expect your coaches, or anyone else, to do everything for you.
- Hustle on every play on offense. Pursue on every play on defense. You have been instructed on the proper way.
- Be punctual, even early, for all practices, games and departures.
- Always strive to improve yourself by working on your weaknesses. You have been given an improvement sheet.
- Use the time after practice to improve yourself. Don’t be a clock watcher and rush to the showers.
- Be sure you know all the audibles, both on offense and defense. Also know when to use audibles and expect them.
- Do not take careless chances on offense or defense when your team is two touchdowns behind or two touchdowns ahead.
- Always call loudly to your teammate when fielding a kick to tell him that you are going to catch it – he must answer your.
- All players must develop endurance. Be stronger in the fourth quarter than your opponent. If you are not getting enough running stay after practice and run on your own.
- Everyone must know how to make a tackle and throw a block. This is especially important on special teams.
- Linebackers and defensive backs must talk loudly on every play.
- Anticipate what your opponent is going to do, but do not guess. Your pre-game preparation will help you here.
- Always keep the score and time of the game upper most in your mind when on offense or defense.
- Every defensive back and linebacker should leave his coverage and fly to the football once it is in the air. You never know when your presence could mean an interception, a recovered fumble or a game saving tackle.
- Do not field punts from inside the 10-yard line. Fair catch high short punts in a crowd.
- Always play the defense called. Don’t be a guesser.
- Offensive linemen must learn to cover on every pass. You never know when you effort may result in the big play.
- The quarterback must learn to push himself in practice before he can be an effective leader in the game.
- Don’t depend on a teammate or coach to tell you what to do. You have been prepared for every situation on offense and defense.
- Each receiver must know and line up with the correct spacing one every play. This was faulty last year.
- The linebackers should play down and distance on long yardage plays by increasing their depth.
- On long passes, the defender nearest his teammate should call “ball, ball, ball” at the last moment. This has to be done in practice.
- Defensive backs should not allow the receiver to make unnecessary yardage by making a futile attempt to break up a pass that will not give the opposition a first down.
- Defensive backs and linebackers should hustle on every batted ball. Occasionally you can stretch or dive and intercept one.
- Don’t stand around and watch others if the play goes away from you. We can’t win with inspectors.
- Receivers don’t take your eyes off the football when attempting to catch the ball, in order to look at the defender.
- Quarterbacks and generals should not call plays or defenses that are big names when a sound play or defense will pick up the necessary yardage, or prevent the long gain.
- Know when to gamble and when not to gamble. If in doubt, see the head coach.
- Don’t take a chance and throw a block and be called for clipping.
- Never commit a foul, or be offside, when they are giving you the football.
- Never substitute yourself on special teams without asking your special team coach.
- Never let up on an offside play that appears obvious to everyone. Play the play out, always.
- Prepare yourself for a written examination every week on Saturday night. You should be able to score 100% on every test.
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Punt returners always check the wind before the game and again at halftime. Do not allow the wind to blow a ball over your head and bounce dead.
- 35. Defensive backs should make a determined effort to intercept low passes. Too many of these go incomplete because the defender thinks he cannot reach the ball.
- 36. Know the type of crowd and the acoustics in every stadium you play. There are specific parks where audibles are most difficult to hear. For example: Chicago and Baltimore.
- 37. Be sure to fall on a fumble and recover it in a crowd. Don’t try to pick up a bouncing ball on the run unless you are out in the open.
- 38. Return every intercepted pass the designated way we have planned for that opponent. This increases our chances of gaining extra yardage.
39. Always expect a fake field goal attempt and always be alert for the punter to run.
40. Hustle from one practice area to another when whistled up. Don’t be the last one.
41. Every pass thrown by our quarterback must be thrown at a target. This will improve your accuracy, even when warming up aim at a target. For example: numerals, right shoulder, left shoulder, left ear, right ear, etc.
42. The safety man on the kick-off team, the kicker on the punting team and the holder on field goals must always check to see if we have eleven men on all these special teams. Many games have been lost because someone failed to count and only ten players were on the field.
43. Take care of your equipment and don’t throw it around. Don’t dress sloppily for practice, just because it’s practice. Have pride in your appearance every time you go on the field with your team. Always have your jersey tucked in your pants.
44. Always check your cleats before every game and make sure that you are wearing the proper type for the condition of the field. If in doubt, see the head coach.
45. Make sure you know the direction of every punt return and kickoff return. Don’t guess. Many games are won or lost in this department.
46. Never miss a weigh in and never be fined for being overweight. This is a lack of self respect.
47. Be careful of your conduct and your associates off the field. Keep in mind that you represent yourself, the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs.
48. Be careful of your language on and off the field. Just imagine that your mother or sister is within hearing range. The vulgar talkers are not always so tough.
49. Think and talk positive football off the field.
50. Regarding the clubhouse – let what you hear there, see there and say there, stay there.
51. All players must learn the official playing rules. You have a copy, read it. You will be tested.
52. Your body is your best friend. Don’t abuse it and shorten your playing career.
53. Set a good example for all the rookies and develop pride in being a Chief.
“The only way we can lose is for us to beat OURSELVES”
SIGNINGS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
BROWNS – signed sixth-round draft choice RB James Davis.
PATRIOTS – signed second-round draft choice CB Darius Butler.
RAMS – signed third round draft choice CB Bradley Fletcher.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
July 11
Born on July 11, 1939 in Minneapolis was QB Jacky Lee
(right). He played 10 seasons in the AFL, including three seasons with the Chiefs (1967-69), appearing in 14 games with two starts. With the Chiefs he threw for 597 yards with five TDs and four INTs.
Born on July 11, 1957 in Jasper, Texas was FB James Hadnot. He was selected in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech. Hadnot played four seasons (1980-83), appearing in 43 games, with 22 starts. He ran the ball 266 times for 1,029 yards and five touchdowns. Hadnot caught 54 passes for 426 yards.
Born on July 11, 1972 in Fullerton, California was LB Jerrott Willard. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 NFL Draft out of Cal-Berkley. He played in one game with the team in 1998.
Born on July 11, 1974 in Thorp, Wisconsin was LB Mike Maslowski
(left). He played five seasons with the Chiefs (1999-2003), appearing in 65 games, with 31 starts at middle linebacker. Maslowski set a team record for total tackles in a season with 162 over the 2002 schedule.
Born on July 11, 1974 in Trenton, New Jersey was LB Gary Stills. He was selected in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft out of West Virginia. Stills spent seven years with the team (1999-2005), appearing in 87 games with one start. He led the team in special teams tackles for four consecutive seasons starting in 2001. His 34 kicking game tackles in 2002 are a team record.
Born on July 11, 1981 in Royal Palm Beach, Florida was CB Julian Battle. He was selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Tennessee. Battle appeared in 26 games with one start over three seasons (2003-05).
Born on July 11, 1985 in Woodbury, New Jersey was FB Mike Cox. He joined the team in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech. Cox appeared in all 16 games during the ‘08 season with five starts. He caught eight passes for 19 yards and contributed a two-point conversion catch.
July 12
Born on July 12, 1979 in Columbus, Ohio was DT Ron Edwards. He joined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent in 2006. Edwards has played in 48 games with 31 starts. He has 6.5 sacks and has been credited with 58 tackles.
Born on July 12, 1961 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi was FB Paul Carruth. He appeared in 2 games with one start during the 1989 season. Carruth caught one pass for two yards.
Good read, Gretz! Love how you dig up the “little stuff” like this article! “The 53 tips list” should be posted on every players locker, seems most players just do enough to get by, even something as simple as making a tackle seems hard for these players these days, again, good read Bob!
that was a very long list mr. Gretz. Good luck finding an NFL player willing to read that.
Hailey is a Better coach than Hank & Herm.
In the last few blogs I have been looking at why the chiefs haven’t been back to the SB . Hank was a great coach >that was part of SB equation . Lamar started the league/team & was very active in signing/drafting/evaluation . Those players were the nucleus that won the SB . If anyone doubts Lamar input he traded a QB to the raiders without asking Stram. So what happened since that great team in the 60s ? Lamar to me turn the team over to Coaches/GM & the results haven’t been the same. There is a reason Lamar is in the HF smart very SMART . So if we look at the past to me the owner plays a lot more importance in a winning team.To those that say I ramble>yes you have merit the difference being I know my limitation DO YOU.
That was a good article Bob. Thanks. Best Chiefs coverage is right here!
And remember: Don’t feed the idiot Troll.
43. “Always shave your jersey tucked in your pants.”
I hope this is more of a guide line than a rule. Thanks Bob for a great article.
Top notch stuff, this is why all of us come here.
For the most part this site has a lot of fans with well thought out posts.
Too bad idiotic/childish posts ruin some of the comments for everyone.
This is a Real Rin daddy-o post - messers both ’search’ & ‘check’ affirming (’fake’ rin still unable to findst the right key combos his ’80s WANG computer.)
heh heh heh!
Now then, today we shall discuss nee talk about 52 Pop GO & 65 Toss Power Trap- aka Hank Stram.
As Bob G points out via the auspices Hank just as Herm Edwards knew: the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth:
“The desire to be a champion must come from within. Do not expect your coaches, or anyone else, to do everything for you.”
AND
“Never miss a weigh in and never be fined for being overweight. This is a lack of self respect.”
- how true! Whether on field application of that which the coaches taught, as well implementation of self discipline (oh…for example like weight control/conditioning) on & off the field coaches (any/all) cannot, will not & are not responsible for holding a players hands - for - we are not our brothers keeper nee we can’t do it for them.
As Herm Edwards said: “nothing good ever happens after midnight - and “we can’t be watching these guys 24 hours a day.” Some choose late sleep-ins aft long nights o’er self-discipline, others BBQ instead of training regimen. No one’s perfect of course but ultimately a burden always lays/ne’er lies with the individual.
If anything, one person (could be a coach, player or other) CAN set a good example - Herm did this by way his own shining example - deeds & words.
That Herm he expected players to be accountable & thus pointed out how they failed to put into play what he/other coaches had taught them aft a loss is what the similarly “un” self-disciplined folk call Edwards blaming the players, when as has shown a coaches W -L record is his ultimate accountability - despite said being manufactured for him by the players.
Herm Edwards own life as a player & a man on the field as off tells the tale of his doing. “Gotta clean those corners - they’re the most important part of all.”
When ‘check’ pleaded Chiefs players get in even better shape than they already were, was honest enough to realize that ‘he’ was out of shape himself (going from 217 down to 192, in the process losing 25 lbs. blubber - most of it from his head appears as since said weight loss has not mentioned that ridiculous “any 22″ hooey common to a fathead - i.e., his self-serving ego stroke nonsense he evacuated from the bowels his vacuous grey matter afore.
But enough of this Herm & Hank adulation & & denigration, same.
It was all good Hank’s manna as referenced by Bob G, but those two highlighted quotes sum it all up: self-discipline nee accountability.
Get some!
Real Rin says as He speaks - daddy-o
July 11, 2009 - Rin Tin Tin says:
Hailey is a Better coach than Hank & Herm.
Uhhhhh, prove it.
Hailey has yet to be the head coach of a single game. He could be 10 times worse than Herm ever was.
Saying Hailey is a better coach than Hank Stram when hes never been the head coach of a team in his career is ridiculous.
I’m fake rin and I said that about Hailey. So blame me and not him.
Finally some real honesty from the ‘fake’ rin. Real Rin daddy-o is bringing ‘fake’ rin down to his knees…AHHH!
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Stram didn’t say it, but I’ll say it.
(1) “If your father was a union member, forget his affiliation.”
(2)”Don’t think like a union member who punches the clock and punches out. You are a professional now first and foremost, the union affiliation comes second.”
(3) “Make yourself the best player you can be regardless of the overtime commitment.”
Stram’s rules show that players need GUIDANCE. You could look at half his tips and say “an NFL player should know that already”, but many don’t and many need to be reminded, as Hank obviously understood. I would think this to be especially true for a team of rookies.
I try to avoid getting on Herm, because I liked him, but if his team WAS out of shape it was his responsibility to motivate them to be in shape.
Anyone in a position of leadership (in sports, business, etc.) knows that they are ultimately answerable for the performance of their team. My guess is that Coach Edwards understood that, as well.
ILChiefsFan,
Your comment is about the only one that’s been made in almost a week that is worth responding too.
I thought the same thing after reading this list. Nothing on this list is any different than my High School Coach preached. In fact one could say it’s all cliche’ish, but it has to be stressed and enforced. Very few people have the discipline to do all the things required to be a champion.
Yeah! You would hope guys would take it on them selves to know their weaknesses and put in the extra work to correct it, but… Still it doesn’t take a genius to see when a group or an individual isn’t committed. That’s when a Head Coach has to make the extra work mandatory, or he is failing the team, not the team failing him. Like I said, their are very few Jerry Rice’s, Walter Paytons guys that have all the skills in the world but still worked their asses off, or on the other end of that spectrum are guys like T Rich, Priest Holms and a thousand other guys that have had amazing careers just because they work so hard at it. Most Athletes need to be pushed! It’s so fundamental, how does any Coach justify an environment that ignores this?
Bob, thanks man….fantastic work as usual
Long but good quotes from the old ball coach.
These are Professionals, and I would imagine if “a coach” instructs his players to read and meditate on these points doesn’t matter what their feelings are– READ SON!
Coach Stram sounds an awful lot like Coach Edwards in that the onus is always on the players. I agree with the blogger Rin Tin Tin in that it seems some fans want to give players a pass at the expense of coaches. It doesn’t work that way.
Item #1 on the list constitutes a universal truth in sports and in the real world.
Happy b-day Mas. loved watching you play. You always gave it 110% for us.
Great article in the star today about the chiefs move to ST Joe. The mayor didn’t have any fond memories of Peterson . In his defense Thum said the past coaches like Wisconsin . Iam wondering if a blogger that gives 30min oracle’s on this blog well feel the need to respond in the star.
“Coach Stram sounds an awful lot like …”
Not sure I agree with your assertion at all…but Stram WAS a whole lot more successful in the accountability (and player performance) side of things. Not sure of anyone here who wants to give players a pass - nor are most of the fans here going to cut a break to a coach whose team failed in the worst way (worse than ANY other team in the franchise’s history).