how these things get written

Quote

Snead also was instrumental in selecting defensive tackle Aaron Donald in 2014 and running back Todd Gurley in 2015. Both players won AP Defensive and Offensive rookie of the year, respectively, before bringing home the 2017 AP Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year awards.

Is a collaborative GM (not a uber type GM) "instrumental" in picking a player? I suppose he is as instrumental as the others involved in the process. But what are the chances the head coach was NOT as instrumental in picking Gurley, or the head coach plus defensive coordinator were NOT also as instrumental in picking Donald?

The way these things tend to get written, the person the article is about becomes instrumental. If the article is about Snead, HE is instrumental. If the article is about the draft process, several people are instrumental. It's just a thing where whoever happens to be central to the article being written gets the credit. In fact there was one article on Wauffle, the previous DL coach, where HE was instrumental in picking Donald. Why? Because the article was about him. If it was about Snead, Snead would be instrumental. If it were about Williams and Donald, Williams would be instrumental. If it were an article about how the whole draft process works with the Rams, they would all be instrumental.

Love the one you're with.


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