TO ADJUST OR NOT TO ADJUST

Imagine being inside of David Akers mind on Sunday. For those of you who aren't familiar with David Akers, he is the field goal kicker for the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles. He is obviously good at what he does and has done well for many years. He is the highest percentage field goal kicker of all time for the Eagles. That's what made it so significant that he missed three field goals in a row this past Sunday in a game against the Atlanta Falcons, a first in his All-Pro career.

He missed his first field goal of 37 yards just slightly to the left. The winds were swirling, and it looked like he overcorrected for the wind. A small time later, he was faced with the same situation, only this time the field goal was 10 yards further out. He must have decided to make the same adjustment, and hoped that the wind would even out over the longer distance. Again, he missed the field goal just slightly to the left. In the third quarter, he faced the same kick from the same distance as the first field goal. Should he adjust again or follow the same approach? He went with his initial plan and ended up with the same result, again wide to the left.

When he came off the field, he threw his helmet in disgust. He had tried to make some adjustments, only to become confused by whether to adjust or not to adjust. Doing the same thing did not work for him. When he finally got another chance in the fourth quarter, he went back to the tried and true. Not only did he go back to what got him here, he also got rid of the pink shoe that he was wearing to honor breast cancer, and put back on his normal black kicking shoe. He kicked the 30 yarder right through the middle of the goal post. Must have been the pink shoe.....

Contrast Akers adjustments with Charlie Manuel's decision to stay with Jimmie Rollins as his shortstop for the second game of the NLCS series against the San Francisco Giants. Rollins had been hurt much of the season and was returning to the lineup only recently after re-injuring his calf. Charlie decided to make no adjustments, kept Rollins in the lineup, and was rewarded by his hitting a two out 3 RBI double in the 8th inning that iced the game for the Phillies.

To adjust or not to adjust is the riddle for the athlete in any sport. From both these stories, seems the common theme is your best shot is to go with what got you there. Worked for Manuel, Rollins and in the end, Akers too.