John Parrella?s Coaching Mantra: All Gas, No Brakes

Randy York’s N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

In the history of NFL defensive linemen draft choices, Nebraska ranks third all-time with 45 draftees, including one who came out of nowhere and has the opportunity to increase that number moving forward.

Meet John Parrella, a Grand Island (Neb.) native who walked on at Nebraska and went on to play in three Super Bowls. In his first year as the Huskers’ defensive line coach, Parrella is a game-changer on the field and a difference-maker in recruiting.

“To me, there are no days off. We’re all gas and no brakes,” Parrella said. “I don’t believe in slow or non-padded practices. When we put the pads on, we’re full speed because I want our practices to be harder than the games.”

Parrella knows exactly how the student-athletes he inherited have adapted to his style. “Our defensive linemen will tell you I’m as hard on them as anyone,” Parrella said, “but at the same time, I’m the first to tell them I love them because I love every one of them.”

Parrella’s unremitting style works because he inherited the fundamentals from Charlie McBride, his defensive coordinator/line coach at Nebraska. Thankfully, head coach Mike Riley embraces the same unstinting effort.

“I’m honored to be on a coaching staff that’s 'seen this' and 'done that',” Parrella said. “I was fortunate to be in the NFL for 12 years, so I knew exactly what that league is about. They’re looking for the same precise techniques they need to play at that level."

John Parrella: My Expectations Are Probably Bigger Than Memorial Stadium

“My expectations are probably bigger than Memorial Stadium,” Parrella said. “Besides my wife, Mike Waufle, one of my good friends, is the defensive line coach for the Los Angeles Rams.”

The Huskers mirror many of the techniques the Rams use. “Our objective for every kid we coach is to help him reach his goal,” Parrella said. “If they’re looking to get into the National Football League, the tools are certainly here to get you there.”

Looking back, “you realize how fortunate you were to have a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach like Coach McBride,” Parrella said. “He prepared us to be great football players and great men. If we were good enough play in the NFL, it’s because of the way that we were prepped and developed in college."

 Charlie McBride Was Like a Dad to Parrella and He Prepared Him for the NFL

“I’m forever grateful for Charlie. He’s been like a dad to me, and it feels like I’ve known him my whole life,” Parrella said. “We were probably as well coached as anybody in the country, and we were taught more than just to be good football players. We were taught to be a total person.”

Parrella learned you have to take care of the little things before you take care of yourself. “I think our group of defensive linemen would tell you that I really believe in the statement that you don’t rise to the occasion – you fall to your level of training, and that’s why we train so hard,” he said.

“They’ve all embraced our mindset and blue-collar approach. They bring their lunch pails to practice every day. Everyone is geared to go out there and fight and take care of business. The techniques we’re teaching are really working."

Parrella has made an instant impact in his first season as Nebraska's defensive line coach, but he's quick to point out that it's a team effort to get players to reach their potential.

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child and a Whole Staff to Build a Football Player

“It takes a village to raise a child and takes a whole staff to build a football player,” Parrella said. “Mark Philipp and his strength and conditioning group are part of our mentality. So are Mark Banker, Trent Bray and Brian Stewart. They all bring toughness and experience to the table.

“Coach Philipp and his staff have worked hard to make us bigger, faster and stronger,” Parrella said. “They’ve changed people’s bodies and that gets them on the field. Those players have learned that what they thought was hard isn’t what I think is hard.”

Parrella preaches work ethic and dedication because it's what helped him go from Nebraska walk-on to 12-year NFL veteran. According to McBride, Parrella's path back to the Husker sideline has prepared him to maintain Nebraska's great defensive line tradition.

“John has everything it takes and can do whatever you need,” McBride said. “He can teach, motivate and recruit because he’s done it all. There wasn’t a guy who worked harder than John Parrella did. Mike Riley got the full Nebraska deal when he hired John.

All-America Teammate Terry Connealy Can Vouch for Parrella's Toughness

Husker All-America defensive lineman Terry Connealy agrees. “John’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I remember him breaking a finger and the bone coming out of his hand. He runs to the locker room, a doctor puts the finger back in, tapes it up and he comes back on the field to scrimmage.

That toughness still defines Parrella, although he does show his soft side when discussing the privelege of leading young men.

“I get to coach a great group of young men on a daily basis," he said. "They’re truly like my kids, and I treat them the same way I treat my kids. I love being around them and I love coaching them. That’s why I coach them hard and love them hard.

That 'all gas and no brakes' approach represents a style that appeals not only to current Huskers, but also recruits. It's an approach Parrella hopes will help the players at his position live up to the tradition he helped create.

“It’s important how you honor the past to honor the future,” he said. “At Nebraska, we want the best, and we’re going to recruit the best.”

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives