Interview Question for New NFL Head Coach

Hello Applicant, and thank you for your interest in our organization.

Here is the scenario: You are the Head Coach of an NFL team with playoff aspirations for the first time in franchise history. However, your team has drifted into a familiar tailspin, and is in the midst of a 3 game losing streak following a 4-2 start to the season, leaving you at a disappointing 4-5. If you don't turn it around quickly, those playoff hopes could be dashed.

You're in the 4th quarter of a close game on the road, clinging to a one point lead. Suddenly, your struggling, bottom-ranked passing defense gives you a gift - an interception, which hands the ball to your top-ten ranked offense with just under two minutes to go...

Which of these most accurately represents your coaching philosophy in this situation?:

a) "We must do everything possible to get the ball into the end zone, with an obvious concern for protecting the football. We will emphasize the run, but we will leave ourselves the option to throw if the defense over-commits to the run. If we must, we will settle for the field goal, but our best chance of winning is to go up by 8. Even if we leave a little more time on the clock, we have a much better chance of protecting an 8 point lead than we do a 4 point lead. This is a 'points or clock' decision, and with our defense, we need the points. Our offense gives us the best chance of winning."

b) "Our primary concern is to protect the football and run out the clock, forcing the other team to burn its time outs. If we happen to score a touchdown, that would be great, but we don't want to try to force it and risk a turnover. In fact, I would not even give the slightest appearance of being willing to throw the ball. We will run three consecutive running plays, keeping the ball in the middle of the field so that our kicker can kick the chip-shot field goal with as little difficulty as possible, and then we will just have to hope that our porous passing defense can keep the other team out of the end zone so that we can hold on for the win."

Please print this form with your answer circled. Write your name legibly at the bottom, with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

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Thank you.