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A number of years back, something called the Prevent Defense came into vogue in the National Football League.
Essentially a defensive set featuring a whopping seven defensive backs (four is typical), the strategy was developed as a way to "prevent" long pass plays from happening.
The theory behind the Prevent Defense is simple.
If your team is up by a touchdown or more late enough in the fourth quarter that the opposing team's only apparent hope of a comeback is to score very quickly on big-yardage plays, then allowing 5-8 yard runs or short passes here and there isn't going to beat you as there simply isn't enough time left on the clock.
Now in theory the Prevent Defense makes perfect sense, at least from a statistical, scientific perspective.
There's only one problem...and it's a BIG ONE.
Time and again, teams who have used the Prevent Defense in particularly huge playoff games where the entire season was on the line have often gotten burned by it.
Nobody could really explain why, but soon the more seasoned coaches began to stick to their defensive game plans in big games no matter what (e.g. Mike Shanahan in Super Bowl XXXII and John Harbaugh in the more recent Super Bowl XLVII)...and got MUCH better results.
What's up with that?
By way of explanation, let's consider a particularly big game in another sport.
If you happened to watch Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat, you watched a quintessential example of the same exact dynamic behind why the Prevent Defense tends to fail in big games.
Up by double-digits late in the game, Miami played largely with a strategy of doing what it took NOT TO LOSE.
Meanwhile, guys on the other side like Dirk Nowitski sensed the gravity of the situation, flat-out stepped up and played with the urgency of a champion.
Dirk and his team PLAYED TO WIN.
To some it was astounding that Dallas actually eked out the victory.
But anyone who understands the Heart Of A Champion knew better.
The "decision maker" there may very well be which team concerns itself more with WINNING than NOT losing.
Here it is: Whether you're playing in a Super Bowl, in the NBA Finals or yes...out with a woman the same principle holds true.
If you "play" as if you're trying NOT TO LOSE, your mindset will be too weak to carry you to a positive outcome.
Way too many of us as guys tend to run the Prevent Defense on first dates.
And sure enough, we end up looking like the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter of Game 2 back in 2011 out there.
We look in the mirror and tell ourselves "not to blow it" before we leave the house.
When we get in front of this amazing 100% feminine woman who looks capable of anything sexually, all we can think of is how NOT to make some sort of mental or physical error that will get her to run away from us as quickly as possible.
Further, wondering whether or not coming off as a fully sexual, masculine creature will utterly offend her or not, we "play it safe".
We trot seven defensive backs onto the proverbial field and, well ...we do what we can to guard against big mistakes.
We keep the conversation neuter. We talk about the weather and entertainment news instead of taking the risk of flirting with her in any way, shape or form.
We walk on eggshells, being very careful not to disagree with her or present any challenge at all.
And in the end we LOSE. Game over. No second date...not even an answer to our texts.
So why do things tend to turn out that way in big-time situations--for both pro teams AND for us?
You see, when you "play it safe" you're checking everything exciting at the door.
Just like a team who plays NOT to lose, you rely on statistically "proven" tactics and "safe" strategies precisely at the time when BOLDNESS, PURE ENERGY and utter FIRE in one's soul are prerequisite for "big game" success.
I'll say it for the umpteen thousandth time around here:
Women follow our lead.
If you expect success, women will get on board with that.
If you're clearly trying NOT to fail, you won't be giving any woman much more to focus on than what YOU'RE focused on: Failure.
So then, the next time you look in the mirror before you go out on a date, tell yourself to give that female human being who's going to be with you for the evening something to be EXCITED about.
Vow to yourself that you'll bring out the best in her by fully expecting everything to go well.
And last but certainly not least, remind yourself that when you've brought out the best in her you'll have equipped yourself with everything you need to truly assess whether YOU were pleased with her or not.
That factor is not to be underestimated.
The guy who runs Prevent Defense on dates wonders whether he'll be good enough to maintain attraction on the part of the woman he's with.
Meanwhile, the champion assumes that same woman will adore him and then sets his purpose upon deciding whether or not SHE'S woman enough to get a second date with him.
There's a big difference there. Just ask any Defensive Coordinator in the NFL.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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