Coach Leach used to say “all sacks are on the quarterback.”

As a player, that used to piss me off — because we all know that's not true. Sometimes the protection breaks down, a back misses a chip, or a tackle gets beat.

But looking back, it was great coaching!

It was about ownership and improving the situation.

If you’re a quarterback and you view every sack as being on YOU, you’ll look for ways to improve it:

• Change the play call.
• Adjust the protection.
• Check the ball down.
• Scramble.
• Throw it away.

But if you shrug it off as “the O-line’s fault,” you give your power away. You can only improve when THEY do — and that keeps you stagnant.

The same principle applies in other area’s for QB’s.

A receiver drops a ball?

• Take ownership. Ask yourself: Did I have the right pace? Was it a good location? Was it the right read? Did I spend time with him after practice working that route?

A missed signal?

• Take ownership. Did I communicate it clearly? Did I hold an extra signal meeting?

When you take this mindset — “it’s on me” — you stay focused on how you can grow, not on who you can blame.

Now, bring that into your own field. What are the “sacks” in your business, career, or relationships that you can start taking ownership of today?

Because ownership always leads to improvement — and excuses always lead to stagnation.