Who is Chad? An inside look at the open secret that has completely changed Cowboys’ game prep
FRISCO – The name comes up again and again in discussions about cowboys, often unprovoked, the word seems to be uttered more in this area of North Texas than since George W. Bush’s first presidential election victory.
Chad.
On Sunday, Dak Prescott left his press conference after his fourth straight win, a 44:20 win over the New York Giants. When the quarterback walked to an elevator that leads to the AT&T stadium parking lot, the quarterback agreed to the idea that this cowboys season has a different, special feel.
“I think that’s obvious,” said Prescott. “I think that’s obvious when you watch us play. We are aware of this and we have worked on it. I owe Chad Bohling his mental work and our mental training. We will only continue to grow for the better. “
Since Mike McCarthy’s first season as Cowboys coach in 2020, the Friday before a Sunday game at the Ford Center at The Star has been known as STAA day. Two hours are devoted to the STAA program, which begins with Mental Conditioning Advisor Chad Bohling speaking to the team.
Anyone looking for McCarthy for their hand in the 4-1 start of the Cowboys can start here.
One of McCarthy’s primary responsibilities is planning the week of training and making sure the players are in the best of physical and mental shape for the day of the game. Wellbeing management is the focus of the STAA program, which stands for soft tissue activation and application.
On Fridays, instead of training like most NFL teams, the Cowboys hold meetings and a walkthrough before moving on to STAA. Bohling speaks to the team. According to his mental message, the players engage in physical recovery work.
Methods include hot and cold tubs, yoga, and NormaTec compression therapy boots.
McCarthy first accepted the STAA program in 2014 after several years of hesitation. The late coach Marty Schottenheimer introduced McCarthy to NFL coaching, and practice was always required on Fridays before Sunday games.
Always.
But after extensive research, the then Packer’s strength and stamina convinced Mark Lovat McCarthy that Fridays are better used for recreation. Most of what makes up normal Friday practice is postponed to Saturdays, which serve as the physiological start to the game.
“I think, as with anything, the longer you do this, the longer you have to remain open to possible change,” McCarthy said on Thursday. “This is the best for your team. Of course, I really believe in the schedule and the STAA program because I’ve seen the results. I’ve seen results that reduced fatigue injuries.
“Our vision is to become a champion and your planning for the last part of the season doesn’t start when you get there. You have to implement that now. “
Players have shopped.
Prior to that year, Safety Damontae Kazee hadn’t soaked in a cold tub since graduating from Montezuma Mesa, San Diego state. He’s on board with therapy now. Wide receiver Amari Cooper wasn’t a yoga fan before STAA. Today he is not a big fan of yoga, he admitted with a laugh, but he sees the benefits.
“McCarthy is big on it [STAA] and our recovery for our body, ”said linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. “He preaches that a lot. What he does for us by assigning us those two hours to put our bodies in order and then going straight to the afternoon where we know we have our personal stuff that we already have lined up – massages or what Anyway – it only fits into Saturday and play a day. “
In 2014, STAA started with a focus on the body.
Today it has expanded to acknowledge the mind.
Bohling is the secret ingredient of the STAA program, and it’s not new. The Cowboys have been relying on Bohling as a consultant under Jason Garrett since 2014. In business, the worst new managers make big changes without first learning and incorporating what worked before they arrived.
McCarthy made a lot of changes when the Cowboys hired him in January 2020.
He wisely kept Bohling, who has also worked closely with the New York Yankees for more than a decade, like offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Bohling speaks directly to the players, including through text messages that may contain videos, said rookie linebacker Micah Parsons. Bohling and Prescott spoke regularly during Prescott’s recovery from the ankle fracture last October.
Bohling encouraged Prescott to keep track of his weekly wins and losses. Every week Prescott was reset and started over.
In 2016, Moore was quarterback for the Cowboys when Bohling helped him overcome an injury. As a coordinator, he still sees Bohling helping the players today. This includes a joint message for players that Bohling delivers on STAA days.
He has preached to stay neutral and not get too high or too low with the ups and downs of an NFL season. Dealing with success has recently emerged as relevant.
“The first thing I love about Chad is that he has the credentials to back this up,” said right-wing guard Zack Martin. “Sometimes you have these guys – you know, he worked at a high level, two of the biggest sports organizations in the world. He has dealt with a lot of great players and a lot of great situations.
“He has this instant credibility. Just the message he’s giving is like he’s just right with the message every week. “
The cowboys won’t train on Friday.
They believe, partly because of Chad, that they are making better use of their time.
More cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News can be found here.
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