First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself now and how you got there?
I’m a partner now at Vanguard Sports Group – not as an agent. I work with young players to help them prepare for interviews for pro days – the mental aspect and preparation for interviews with teams. I’ll work with agents, and if necessary, I’ll work with the players on the field as well and on film study to show them how to break down the competition and understand how to work on their own techniques.
This weekend I actually attended the Von Miller Pass Rush Summit. All the top pass rushers in the league attended and shared ideas and talked about their different techniques.
Are you surprised that these guys all share so much with each other?
No. There are no trade secrets – it’s all on tape, Any player can break down film of another player into its specific parts and see what other guys are doing. Knowledge is just a second-hand thing. We can access tape and learn from each other – coaches and players.
How did you get to this point in your career?
I was the VP of Personnel in Buffalo before this – before that I was their Director of Personnel and before that the Browns’ college scout.
Before that I was a defensive assistant for the Steelers and their special teams coach.
How has the game changed over the years – and is it for better or worse?
Here’s what I see. First off, players are different. Their approach is different. They’re smarter but that doesn’t equate to football intelligence.
Coaching has changed too – it’s not about motivation – it’s about stimulation. Everything is on tape now – and social media has changed the attitude of players and coaches. And Hard Knocks – that’s bad for the game and it’s a lie. Teams don’t succeed after it. Players and coaches don’t act like themselves – it’s not who they are. It’s about soundbites. And fantasy football and money mean fans are having more of an impact too.
Can you get into that more?
Now everyone is a writer and picture taker. And the game is now more focused on health. Everything in the game has changed except for the width and length of the field, and the ball.
The rules and attitudes have changed – the NFL missed the generation of discipline when 20-to-30 years ago so many served in the military first. That added more discipline with guys too.
Has money had a bigger impact now?
Money is money. 40 years ago guys played and worked to make money. But its not the endorsements – not many guys make much money on commercials. Most of the money is made on the field.
I worry it’s driven by fantasy football now – that and betting. I think gambling will change the game from the fans’ perspective. It creates different pressures for fans. The game is more analytical now too – analytics have always been there but now I think it’s replaced the heart and guts of the game. I don’t think many of the analytics guys understand the technical aspects of the game – the X’s and O’s.
So stepping back – how did you get your start in Pittsburgh?
I did three internships with the Steelers – it took 10 years to get an internship there. I sent a letter to Mr. Rooney Sr. and he told me that my resume was good but I should try to work with the Giants and recommended me there because the Steelers weren’t doing internships at the time.
After a while, some things changed in Pittsburgh and I had experience working with Dwain Painter, who recommended me for an internship in Pittsburgh. Rod Rust liked the idea of internships so they allowed me to come in as an intern. I did three under Noll then when Cowher was hired I was given the special teams job, partly because they needed minorities and partly because I had been there for three years.
What was it like working for Chuck Noll?
Here’s the thing. I visited the Steelers training camp when I was at Duke in ’78. The Steelers were always one of my favorite teams, but being there made it even more so. Being in that environment and around Noll made an impression on me.
As an intern I had a chance to know the players before Cowher was hired. Lloyd, Nickerson, Little – there were good players there. Woodson was the most competitive of them all – the most competitive player I’ve met. I did a private study of him – he hated getting beaten in practice – and handled kick and punt returns. His intensity and approach I admired – and I coached very good players like Lawrence Taylor and Pat Swilling.
I also learned a lot about how camps are run and set up.
I remember – guys then always talked abut same shoulder same foot. They played to win-even in practice. They hit hard in practice. Chuck had a special relationship with his players too – he treated guys like people – like men. That made it special to me.
How did that change under Cowher?
My position changed and that changed my perspective. I went from an intern to the special teams coordinator. I learned from the players – I really did. It gave me a different perspective . Cowher and Noll are different people and you have to adjust to that. My last year many of the players left – so there was lots of change. But they were good coaches – teachers.
Any good stories of your time there you can share?
Oh yeah. The first game of Cowher’s first year, Cowher said he wanted to run a gadget play on special teams. He was very involved with special teams – he was the special teams coach, to be honest. We were playing the Oilers and before the game he told me he wanted to run something. Well, it was at the point of the game where it was a good time for a fake punt. I got all of the guys together to get them ready on third down – counting men, figuring out what hash mark we were on..I called the fake punt and let them know before the play, then sent them out after the play. Royals looked back at me one last time and I confirmed he should run the fake. But in the meantime as they were going out I saw that a 15-yard penalty was called on us. It was too late to stop the call though – it wasn’t my place to call a timeout and if I tried to change the play I was worried someone would miss the call change and make a mistake and do the wrong thing.
The good thing was, most fakes are run between the 30s, and the penalty knocked us back before the 30. So it was less expected. Cowher walked back to me and asked me what I called and when I told him I called the fake, he said “Oh shit!” But Warren Williams caught the ball and ran it all the way downfield.
That’s how Bill got the “Gunslinger” name – because of that play. But it’s a play that I called on third down that he wasn’t aware of until it was too late to change it!
You were there for a couple of years under Cowher – why leave?
I don’t want to get into why I left – let’s just say it wasn’t how it was how it was printed.
Donohoe was good to me – Mr. Rooney was too. I enjoyed my time in Latrobe and Pittsburgh.
I also learned you have to create value for yourself. When Latrobe renovated their theater – it was what we used as our meeting and film room. I learned to turn on the lights there – it was stage lighting with the curtains and no one else knew how to turn them on and off. For three years I did so as an intern. Under Cowher, I was the only coach who knew how to turn them on and off!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
