An Interview with John Beck

There have been quite a number of inquiries as to how John Beck is feeling about his experiences in the NFL thus far.  In an answer to these requests I -Markell- interviewed John to find out what the former BYU QB is up to in Miami Florida.

To answer this question John shared with me the advice he got from Chad Lewis when John was a sophomore.  Chad told John, “No matter what your goals are, no matter what mountain you want to climb, as long as you keep stepping you will reach the top.”  That is what John is doing in Miami. He is approaching each day as another opportunity to keep climbing the mountain.

Another nugget from Chad is something he told John his Junior year: “I guarantee you that what you are going through right now is the best preparation you can have for the NFL.”  This has given John a great perspective on his situation in Miami and an opportunity to reflect on his time at BYU.

Lesson #1:
John’s first 2 years at BYU were nothing like he dreamed.  He was thrown in as the starting QB before he was ready - fresh off his mission - and before he knew a lot about the college game.  His rookie year in Miami followed the same story line.  Playing on the worst team in the NFL, forced into the starting role before he really understand the game at that level.

Application:
John is excited about the opportunity to learn from Chad Pennington this year.  John and Chad stay late at the facility studying together every week.  John feels like this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who has a lot of NFL experience and is someone who is a lot like John.  Both pride themselves on being Smart, Accurate, Hard Working, and being a Leader.  The best thing about it for John is that Chad is playing well, which shows John that the way Chad prepares shows on Sunday.  John is taking advantage of Chad and trying to learn all he can so that when his opportunity comes, he will be prepared.

Lesson #2:
Early in his career at BYU John found himself in a lot of situations that he did not know how to handle on the field.  Coming out of high school, John had only lost one game.  Everything had always gone his way.  At BYU the ball was bouncing the other way.  John learned to take a look at what went wrong, and why the team got in that situation.  He then studied until he found ways to not put the team in those situations.

Application:
After losing to Utah in overtime in 2005 John went back and studied all the plays in the game, especially the last one to find multiple options of things he could have done to make the plays we needed.  He said he found 6 options of things he could do if he was in that situation again.  So when we were at Utah in 2006 and there was one last play to be run, John said he has completely confident in what he had to do.  He was not nervous.  “That play was a bit backyard-ish, but that is what I knew it had to be.  I knew I had to hold the ball as long as I could, I knew I had to run around and throw it at the last second.  When I saw the first LB rush, I knew the O- Line would pick him up.  When I saw the second LB come I knew I had to run and I would throw it right when he got close.”

Right now John is really positive in his situation.  Like his start at BYU it is not what he had invisioned.  As John puts it,

“I am a second year QB who had an opportunity to get some experience as a starter.  I know what it is like to prepare as the starter.  I know how the coach’s treat you and what they expect out of you as a starter.  I played my first two games against two of the toughest defesnses on the road in two of the toughest stadiums, so I have experienced that.  I also know what it is like to come off the bench in the middle of the game, I did that last year too.  So I fell like there are not too many things that will be new anymore.”

WHEN PREPERATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY IT EQUALS SUCCESS

John has always been a hard worker and one who won’t settle for anything less than his personal best.  He approaches each game and each day as if he is the starting QB for the Miami Dolphins.  “I study the film and I have found what type of level I need to be at, I am getting to that level.”

John is preparing for his opportunity.  He knows it will come.  He doesn’t know what the situation will be, or when it will come, but when it does he knows he will be ready!

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I -Quinn- would like to thank both Markell and John for taking the time to put this together. I wish John all the best. When John and I lived together I knew he would one day be in the NFL. I don’t know anyone that loved football and competing more then John. I wish him the best. Thanks John!!

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