Football Fantasy: A Fan's Guide to a Winning Team

Many of you, like me, are looking forward to the excitement of the offseason. Reports relating to the draft, possible trades, and inevitable coaching changes probably have you hopelessly salivating. All in the hopes that your team will make the one or two moves you think it will take to become a championship contender.

In this era of NFL parody, every team, except maybe the Detroit Lions are just a hair's breath away from making it to the playoffs. So, you watch ESPN daily and have all the latest news delivered directly to your phone, hopeful that your team will make that blockbuster move.

But, what actually makes a great team? What are the characteristics of a winning organization? How will your team go from perpetual cellar dweller to consistent contender?

There are three characteristics that point toward success. If you were to look at the top teams in the NFL over the past 10 years, disregarding certain outliers, you would see them stand out like a sore thumb.

First, Organizational Vision separates the good teams from the bad. Organizational vision is the overall commitment to put a winning team on the field coupled with a plan for how to do it. The plan includes who is in charge of player personnel, how you spend money in free agency, and how you implement preparing for and executing a draft strategy. Teams that might be rated high in this area are Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Baltimore. Teams that might be rated low, and this is over the last ten years, would be Cincinnati, Oakland, and Detroit.

Second, Coaching is a vital component in determining the long term success of your football team. That might seem like a no-brainer, but if you were to look at teams around the league and notice the number of coaching changes they've experienced or the poor fit between coach and team, you will realize just how important the decision about a head coach can be. Poor judgments matched with unrealistic expectations have doomed the Lions, Browns, and Oakland in the last decade. While, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and the Patriots have reaped the benefits of having stability at the coaching position and a great strategy for hiring replacement coaches to fill vacancies. The seamless transition from one regime to the next is imperative for consistency over time for any team.

Finally, Player Accountability is the key cog in the organizational machine. Teams with singular focus, a strong work ethic, and professionalism across the depth chart have proven they can weather numerous storms. Players who sacrifice certain amounts of fame and fortune to blend in with teammates have reaped the rewards of championships.

But, those teams that welcome the three ring circus brought about by egotistical athletes have splintered. Cincinnati and Dallas can't seem to circle the wagons and get it together while Pittsburgh and New England just continually adapt and overcome.

So, where does your team fit on this organizational spectrum? Figure that one out, and even if you have no control over it, you'll be much closer to understanding just what your team needs to hoist that Super Bowl trophy. In the coming offseason, what else could you possibly spend your time thinking about?