1. It must be very exciting to be involved with a winning program at this point in the season. How has this football season been progressing for you, personally?
No doubt the process is an enjoyable one.
No doubt that winning trumps losing.
Regarding my place (the place of a physical preparation coach) within the process, the present institutional hierarchy within the collegiate and NFL atmosphere is highly restrictive with respect to what could truly be accomplished.
X and I often remind ourselves that a physical preparation staff never won a football game; however, we also have no hesitation in stating that our contribution toward the team’s success cannot be ignored. I don’t think we’d encounter much argument on this front as there have been enough circumstances during games this season (2nd half comebacks, 4th quarter comebacks, 4th quarter demonstrations of bioenergetic superiority, overtime wins, etc) that have somewhat highlighted the physical and psychological preparation level of our athletes and in this regard I think our work has been recognized.
I state that these components of our preparation have been highlighted because in many of those game scenarios I think many would agree that, more than anything else, we won the physical and psychological battle.
This aspect of our team’s play can be compared to those of recent years for some perspective.
Having said that, I’m not going to ignore the fact that we have our share of tremendously gifted athletes that, to this point, demonstrate a level of playing ability that is largely innate and has only moderately advanced due to training. These players are outnumbered by those, genetically less gifted, who must maximize the training potential in order to compete on a high level, however.
More than what I could say about the program, I’d like to think that our athletes know what is going on.
Just this morning I was giving a lesson to our running back sensation LeSean McCoy about the relevant bioenergetic training for American football. As he was walking on a treadmill at a 15% grade, 2.0-2.20 mph, at a heart rate of 120-130bpm for 20 minutes, prior to his strength retention workout, I was explaining the difference between the anaerobic-alactic, anaerobic-lactic, and aerobic systems and why we only train two of those systems during our general specific and specific training.
Will he retain everything I told him? The answer is no; however, I asked him if it would mean something to him if I were to take the time to provide him with some training insight and he said yes.
I enjoy giving these lessons to my athletes, especially those who are strong candidates to play at the next level, because it’s very likely that no one else will.
I’d also like to point out that our injured list has dramatically reduced in size versus what X and 62 inherited in January of ‘07.
2. In watching your athletes compete, is there anything you'd change about the way you've prepared them? Have you learned anything new about the process from watching them compete?
I wouldn’t say I’d change anything in hindsight, per se; because careful thought is applied prior to constructing the training and what I do at any given time is ultimately a result of what I feel is optimal at that time. What happens, however, as I continue to learn via my growing correspondence with my overseas associates, is that I carefully integrate new training tactics as time moves forward in such a way that I avoid introducing adaptation stiffness to my athletes.
Something that I have been spending more and more time on this season is soft tissue work with a few of my top athletes. Before practices and games I’ve been working on three of my top skill players’ hamstrings. It’s been a great process learning as we go.
3. You've consulted with Shelby Starnes and seen results in your body composition. Can you talk a bit about this?
It’s been a great learning process with respect to the manipulation of the macro-nutrients for the desired morphological effect.
The way that Shelby programs the nutritional blueprint is a true testament to the fact that many who struggle with fat loss or lean tissue gain (save congenital issues) are just unwilling to seek out and follow a systematic program that is well founded in physiological principles.
I’ve managed to make the best of both worlds by having combined information I gained from Eric Talmant with regard to my metabolic type and selecting from most of those food sources within the guidelines Shelby has provided for me in his nutritional programming strategies.
It’s easier said than done; however, in the end it’s simply a matter of doing it. My goals have been moderate compared to others on EFS. My aim was to get back up to my heaviest (mid 250lb/115kg range) and be leaner than I was before. Shelby advised me to lean out first. We just completed this phase of the training and I’m now on the lean gain phase of the program.
I’ve posted photos in my training log for those who are interested.
4. How have you been training recently, what are your current training goals, and how are you planning on achieving them?
Continuing on from my previous response. The training and nutrition is now geared to put on the most amount of lean tissue at the least expense of body fat gain.
Problematically, I just discovered that I have a small asymptomatic (no pain) umbilical hernia. Didn’t even know I had it until I saw the small deformity above my umbilicus. Having consulted with my respected associates I’ve decided to get the surgical repair so this will sideline my training for 4-6 weeks following the procedure that I’ve scheduled for the 24th of this month.
5. Closing statement, because I know you'll have one.
Along with debatable optimums there are, in fact, right and wrongs with respect to training. Furthering one’s knowledge of the biodynamic and bioenergetic character of the training target will allow one to distinguish between the two and minimize the room for debate. As knowledge grows in this regard we quickly realize that the debatable topics are futile to discuss because if the training is constructed in accordance with the relevant biodynamic and bioenergetic principles than everything else, in the words of Charlie Francis, is chicken soup