Coach Henderson breaking down LA Rams #DAWGWORK

How does LA Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson do it? Well, it’s a bit like Colonel Sanders’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices that keep you coming back for Kentucky Fried Chicken, isn’t it? If we knew, then everybody would be doing it. What do I mean?  Well if you look back at how the LA Rams have sustained one of the best defensive line units in the NFL, you won’t find it heavily populated with first or second-round draft selections.

Rather, the Rams’ defensive line is brought together out of a passion for the sport, and a dedication to becoming the best regardless of the odds and the circumstances. A collection of players whose internal voices screaming “I can,” was louder than the critics’ voices shouting “You can’t.”

It all starts upstairs

But even a stubborn determination needs a helping hand in the modern-day NFL. That is where Coach Henny steps in.  He is the guide, the man who has played in the defensive trenches, fought like hell on each and every play, and is still smiling. How can you feel anything but love and admiration for a guy who has been more than a survivor of the line of scrimmage, but is now the expert who prepares veterans and rookies alike to realize their best as they take on the same challenge?

When you work around the best in the NFL, the bar is set pretty high for rookies and veterans alike. When your standard is starting at excellent, there is a lot of work to get there. That means training. That means commitment. And that means patience. That’s a standard that can be and is applied to everyone.

But how does that work? Participation awards in the NFL? Not quite. For the LA Rams, the door swings wide open for those players who already demonstrate giving their all on all plays, not just when the camera is on them. Once a veteran or college defensive lineman can demonstrate that they are all-in, then it’s just a matter of being shown the optimal methods to get them to where they want to be.

DAWG: Discipline, Attitude, Work Ethic, Grit

We frequently refer to the LA Rams defensive line as #DAWGWORK, a phrase inspired by the Rams Defensive Line Coach Eric Henderson. But have we ever truly broken down the term before, and explained why it is one of the most important mantras that has led to the success of this team?

Well, if we have failed to do so, here is a remedy. We will take the time to break down the team, why each is so very important to the defensive line and this team, and why this coach and this philosophy harmonize so well with the LA Rams defense. And it’s a strategy that seems to be working.

For starters, let’s look at the LA Rams defensive line roster. More specifically, let’s look at the range of skill sets of the players on the Rams’ defensive line. It’s a group of professional players who all exhibit these traits: Discipline, Attitude, Work Ethic, and Grit.

Wait a minute? Where is the mention of height? Weight? Power? The ability to stalk and bring down quarterbacks? Those qualities don’t really apply here. How so? Well, that is true because this is not a system that is designed to create NFL stars at the expense of others solely shouldering the burden of the less glamorous work.

This is about creating a defensive line unit that is willing to sacrifice on any given play so that a teammate can make the tackle. It’s a system that calls upon DL Aaron Donald to willingly take on a triple team at the line of scrimmage so that A’Shawn Robinson or Greg Gaines can make the play.

It’s the NFL version of the Three Muskateers: “All for one, and one for all!”

Making it about the team

Coach Henderson can tap into that basic and fundamental common ground because he is not some chalkboard theorist. Rather, he’s the best defensive line coach in the NFL for good reason, he’s been there and knows what it takes.

But it’s more than just lip service. A coach like Eric Henderson has shrewdly established the strength of his unit by establishing the strength of a group. Tying player loyalty to each other early is not an easy thing to establish.

He takes everyone who plays the defensive line position back to square one with OTAs and training camp. Veterans will get a refresher, while rookies will be getting new information. But the secret to it all is that they get it simultaneously.  That not only places everyone at the same place but encourages mentoring of savvy veterans to help the younger guys along to keep pace.

Motivating teamwork is not an easy task. If you have ever been forced to work in a group at your place of employment, or been forced into chit-chatting small talk and parties or gatherings, you know that chemistry is not an easy thing to create instantly.

But Henderson is more than a defensive line coach or a football coach for that matter. He is a gifted communicator, a source of powerful positive energy that is more about empowering players who are entrusted to him than simply a guy who barks orders on the practice field and makes players redo drills over and over again.

Coach Henny puts compassion into the players’ passion. And his unit begins to care about the quality of their performance, and about each other, as much as their coach does. You simply can’t bullshit your way in the NFL. You either have it or you don’t. Coach Henderson is the best at what he does because he cares about the players, their performance, and his opportunity to help them discover the best versions of themselves.

In Coach Henny’s world, it’s not about the players making him look good. It’s all about his role in making them look good. And the LA Rams players not only look good, but they make him look great in the process. Best of all? Coach Henny deserves every accolade.