The Morning Blend: One Play Can Win the Game or Job!

Jacksonville is a great place to live, but being in an NFL city during the fall makes it even better! I was listening to Head Coach Jack Del Rio’s weekly radio show on Tuesday night as he described a play in the Jaguars last game against the Buffalo Bills that largely went unnoticed. However, in the coach’s mind, this one play changed the game completely.

The Bills were leading the Jags 10-3 and were driving toward another score. Buffalo Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick dropped back to pass and flipped a short throw toward rookie sensation speedster, C.J. Spiller. Coach Del Rio said as he watched the play develop he knew instantly that Fitzpatrick had audibled to a screen pass because he saw the Jags blitz package ready to pounce. The Buffalo QB saw an opportunity for a big gain if he changed the play quickly – and he did.

Coach Del Rio said that when he saw the screen pass to Spiller materialize, his first thought was “Damn, he got us – this could go for a touchdown!” Fitzpatrick had checked into the perfect play against the blitz and if Spiller could just stay upright, he could almost walk into the end zone.

However, Jags Defensive End Aaron Kampman had other ideas. Kampman, a veteran DE who played for Green Bay for many years, was rushing the QB, but saw Spiller slip out in the flat, waiting for the screen pass. Kampman couldn’t get to the QB fast enough to sack him before the throw, so he tried to get in the way of the pass and knock it down if he could. Fitzpatrick lofted the throw just over Kampman’s outstretched arms and to everyone on the field – and apparently Coach Del Rio – it looked like that the play was going to hit and hit big!

But Kampman didn’t see it that way. He lunged and stretched as far as humanly possible and got the tips of two fingers on the pass as it sailed over his head. This slight deflection was just enough to send the ball on a wobbly flight path too far away from Spiller for him to make the grab. On the stat sheet, this play was listed simply as an incomplete pass. But, to Coach Del Rio, it was the most important play in the Jags ultimate 36-26 win in Buffalo.

Had he caught the pass, Spiller most assuredly would have scored and the Jags would have been down 17-3 early in the game. After Kampman’s heroics, the Bills were forced to go for a field goal, and their lead was only 13-3, plus the team gained momentum from stopping the Bills.

So, the biggest play of the game was not a fumble recovery, an interception, a sack of the quarterback or a goal line stand. In fact, the most important effort given in the 60 minute game didn’t even show up in the stat book. Kampman’s effort to barely tip the screen pass away from Spiller, lead to the Jags winning a big road game – but the play was almost invisible.

What in the world does any of this have to do with you and your job search? Think about it this way. Are you too concerned with making the “big play” in your interviews? Have you decided that to get noticed you have to try and make a huge splash with your contacts? Do you believe that you are not getting the right job offers because you haven’t shown hiring managers your all-star ability?

The simple truth is that if you have been invited for an interview, in most cases the hiring manager believes you have the skill set to do the job. The questions on his or her mind at that point involve things like: whether you fit in with the organizational structure and culture; if you will bring a great attitude and new ideas to the team; and if you are likeable and will be a true asset to the staff.

My advice today is to not overlook the simple things in your quest to “throw the long touchdown pass” and WOW the crowd! You never know when one small thing that you do will make the difference. One conversation you have with a contact or reference could lead to a great introduction. One follow up email worded properly could move you from the “like him” pile to the “very interested” pile of applicants. One great question that you ask a hiring manager during the interview could set you apart and convince them that you have the vision to lead the department.

Bottom line – you never know when that one play might be made – so don’t overlook or skip over the details. Make every play like it’s the one that will make a difference and win the game for you. Chances are, it will and you will have your perfect job faster than you ever thought possible.

I’m here to help.

Sincerely,

Brad Raney

brad@improveyourvowels.com

Brad Raney is a motivational speaker, life coach, author and sales trainer. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and sales management within the broadcast industry. Brad developed the VOWELS program in 2009 and the success it brought his sales team has spurred keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, a website, and his first book “Improve Your VOWELS, Improve Your Career!” which was released in July 2010. Click here to order “Improve Your Vowels, Improve Your Career! The A, E, I, O, U’s of Finding Your Perfect Job!” — Available Now!

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