--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think every coach has to adapt to what…" description: "\"I think every coach has to adapt to what they have, because they're what you get. You can't just go out to the player tree and pick all the great ones...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/matt-millen-45098_adaptability_i-think-every-coach-has-to-adapt-to-what_958019.jpg" --- # I think every coach has to adapt to what they have… ![“I think every coach has to adapt to what they have, because they're what you get. You can't just go out to the player tree and pick all the great ones. That doesn't happen. You get a Barry Sanders every now and then. You get a Billy Sims every once in a while. And when you have it, you adapt to…” quote by Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/matt-millen-45098_adaptability_i-think-every-coach-has-to-adapt-to-what_958019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/matt-millen-45098_adaptability_i-think-every-coach-has-to-adapt-to-what_958019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/matt-millen-45098_adaptability_i-think-every-coach-has-to-adapt-to-what_958019.jpg) > “I think every coach has to adapt to what they have, because they're what you get. You can't just go out to the player tree and pick all the great ones. That doesn't happen. You get a Barry Sanders every now and then. You get a Billy Sims every once in a while. And when you have it, you adapt to their strengths. Whoever comes in here and whoever has this job needs to adapt and will do that.” [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Coaches must tailor strategies to the specific talents of their players rather than seeking a perfect, generic roster. **In simple terms:** Adapt coaching to player strengths. Key Takeaway Fit tactics to talent. Themes leadership adaptability teambuilding Mood pragmatic realistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - drafting - game planning - player development - team meetings Key Concepts Talent optimization situational strategy resource management Questions to Reflect On - How do you identify a player's core strength? - When should you change a strategy? A Different Perspective Not all players can be molded; some may lack necessary skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sims/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [The things you do early on, people don't know, but once they start studying videos and know what to plan, they know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/the-things-you-do-early-on-people-don-t-know-but-once-they-start/) [Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/) > [NATO needs to adapt its strategy to meet new challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/nato-needs-to-adapt-its-strategy-to-meet-new-challenges/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I do not agree that the coach has to adapt to the players. There was a time when I thought it, but that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/i-do-not-agree-that-the-coach-has-to-adapt-to-the-players-there-was-a/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [That's the most challenging thing for a coach, to adapt their own pride to be able to speak to everyone with their different egos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-valdes/that-s-the-most-challenging-thing-for-a-coach-to-adapt-their-own/) [Victor Valdes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-valdes/) > [Barry Sanders, by far. Not only one of my favorite Lions, but one of my favorite NFL athletes. It's all about highlights for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-burleson/barry-sanders-by-far-not-only-one-of-my-favorite-lions-but-one-of-my/) [Nate Burleson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-burleson/) > [Do I want a shot at the belt? Yes, of course I do. Put it this way: I am Barry Sanders on the Detroit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-nelson/do-i-want-a-shot-at-the-belt-yes-of-course-i-do-put-it-this-way-i-am/) [Roy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-nelson/) > [I always idolized guys like Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Steve Young and the entire 49ers team, really. I was a huge 49ers fan growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-bush/i-always-idolized-guys-like-deion-sanders-barry-sanders-steve-young/) [Reggie Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-bush/) > [To be able to be mentioned with guys like Emmitt, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin and my man LaDainian Tomlinson, it's a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/to-be-able-to-be-mentioned-with-guys-like-emmitt-walter-payton-barry/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [I don't want to play forever. I want to give everything I can now and then walk away knowing I gave everything. The example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-watt/i-don-t-want-to-play-forever-i-want-to-give-everything-i-can-now-and/) [J. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-watt/) > [If you understand our salary cap, you have to be logical. If Barry Sanders , for instance, came out of retirement, if we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/if-you-understand-our-salary-cap-you-have-to-be-logical-if-barry/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [Running backs like Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders, you were lucky to get a piece of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/running-backs-like-emmitt-smith-and-barry-sanders-you-were-lucky-to/) [Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/) > [I remember watching Barry Sanders highlights as a kid, and the Lions always being a fun team. I, personally, really never had a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ndamukong-suh/i-remember-watching-barry-sanders-highlights-as-a-kid-and-the-lions/) [Ndamukong Suh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ndamukong-suh/) > [My parents were not big sports fans, but my mother loved Barry Sanders, but she wasn't a huge fan. Now she likes Calvin Johnson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/my-parents-were-not-big-sports-fans-but-my-mother-loved-barry-sanders/) [Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/) > [I could never understand why they did that to Barry Sanders in Detroit. I know that's one of the reasons why he retired, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/i-could-never-understand-why-they-did-that-to-barry-sanders-in/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Nobody I ever broke bread with - and I see players all the time - talked about using their head running the football. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/nobody-i-ever-broke-bread-with-and-i-see-players-all-the-time-talked/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) ## More by Matt Millen > [What I should have done, if I was going to be a GM, was gone on the road, gotten into the personnel a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/what-i-should-have-done-if-i-was-going-to-be-a-gm-was-gone-on-the/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [They're my mistakes. ... I didn't pick the right guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/they-re-my-mistakes-i-didn-t-pick-the-right-guys/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [I'd run over Russ Grimm's mother to win the Super Bowl, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/i-d-run-over-russ-grimm-s-mother-to-win-the-super-bowl-too/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [To win, I'd run over Joe's mom too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/to-win-i-d-run-over-joe-s-mom-too/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [We want the right people, the ones who love to play football. I want a guy who, if I punch him in the mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/we-want-the-right-people-the-ones-who-love-to-play-football-i-want-a/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [I can't root for Jimmie Johnson to win the Nextel Cup b/c of all of his Super Bowl wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/i-can-t-root-for-jimmie-johnson-to-win-the-nextel-cup-b-c-of-all-of/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [Leaders are never appreciated or needed until you don't have them,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/leaders-are-never-appreciated-or-needed-until-you-don-t-have-them/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) > [Mark my words: If Shaun Rogers is healthy, he'll be the NFL defensive player of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-millen/mark-my-words-if-shaun-rogers-is-healthy-he-ll-be-the-nfl-defensive/) [Matt Millen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) [Explore all 9 Matt Millen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-millen/) ## More Adaptability quotes > [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [We'll have a different set of values, and society will adapt. That doesn't mean these changes are all good, just because we will accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reischauer/we-ll-have-a-different-set-of-values-and-society-will-adapt-that/) Robert Reischauer > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [I think that human beings have gotten as far as we've gotten because of our adaptability, our ability to adapt, and our ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-think-that-human-beings-have-gotten-as-far-as-we-ve-gotten-because/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“It's a fact— everyone is ignorant in some way or another. Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The fastest thing computers do is go obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-fastest-thing-computers-do-is-go-obsolete/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Thea was still under the belief that public opinion could be placated; that if you clucked often enough, the hens would mistake you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/thea-was-still-under-the-belief-that-public-opinion-could-be-placated/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“adaptability coupled with readiness to flower year after year right from the first, roses are clearly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-oster/adaptability-coupled-with-readiness-to-flower-year-after-year-right/) [Maggie Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-oster/) > [There's a mindset of flexibility and adaptability that comes with us. We don't mind hardship. We don't mind somebody saying, 'Go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/there-s-a-mindset-of-flexibility-and-adaptability-that-comes-with-us/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [“Change is inevitable. Wise leaders anticipate it and adapt quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rivard/change-is-inevitable-wise-leaders-anticipate-it-and-adapt-quickly/) Cynthia Rivard > [“Marketing is a never-ending story. It’s about perpetual motion where innovation plays the lead role.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-kehoe/marketing-is-a-never-ending-story-it-s-about-perpetual-motion-where/) [Stacey Kehoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-kehoe/) > [“...such it is with all human sensations that people become gradually used to everything and this is truly a beneficial gift from nature, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-wagevier/such-it-is-with-all-human-sensations-that-people-become-gradually/) C. J. Wagevier > [“That was certainly a case of snowballing momentum. Who would've thought he'd succeed being that far behind?" "True. This particular assignment was designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuto-tsukuda/that-was-certainly-a-case-of-snowballing-momentum-who-would-ve/) [Yuto Tsukuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuto-tsukuda/) > [My point was simply that the war on global terrorism is going to be a long one, and we need to adapt as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-myers/my-point-was-simply-that-the-war-on-global-terrorism-is-going-to-be-a/) Richard Myers [Browse all 162 Adaptability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think every coach has to adapt to what they have, because they're what you get. You can't just go out to the player tree and pick all the great ones. That doesn't happen. You get a Barry Sanders every now and then. You get a Billy Sims every once in a while. And when you have it, you adapt to their strengths. 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