What writers and what exactly did they "report" other than the 1 meeting and 1 time being late.
- College DC
- There was an interview with Hill's 2nd college DC (Randy Shannon). I posted it here last year.
- He said that there was not a problem with Hill's attitude and that Hill worked hard in practice and had a "high motor".
- The only problem they had related to "attitude" was that Hill got angry when the new HC denied his request to transfer with the other coaching staff.
- It was not Shannon's decision to not start Hill. That was made by the HC. Shannon implied he didn't agree.
- Hill was clearly better than the other DTs in game footage. Al Davis once "benched" Marcus Allen by not starting him and limiting his snaps because of personal reasons.
- Shannon said that their HC didn't always start the best players. They started the players that best implemented their schemes/techniques.
- Remember when Nick Golden Cock Hayden started multiple seasons at 1tech because he always had the least "loafs" when they graded film?
- Much like what Marinelli said, Shannon said that Hill didn't always implement the techniques that they wanted him to use.
- They had moved him to 3tech. He had played 3-4 NT with the previous coaching staff.
- Just like Marinelli, they wanted him to focus on pass rushing but the original college staff had ingrained into him to play the run first.
- Fan Narrative
- I'm certain that I've researched this subject far more than you have researched it.
- I have no reason to support Hill. I didn't advocate to draft him or anything like that.
- My interest is in regards to false fan narratives.
- Hill was in the 2nd college Head Coaches doghouse; therefore the fan narrative becomes that he is lazy and a problem child.
- The fan narrative continues despite the fact that the DC on that 2nd college coaching staff clearing saying that Hill did not have an attitude issue and that he practiced hard and had a high motor.
- The fan narrative then expands due to minor issues during his rookie season despite Marinelli clearly saying that bad attitude or lack of work ethic were definitely not the problem.
- Then the narrative further expands with either some media speculating that Hill had an attitude problem or fans imagining that the media "reported" that Hill had an attitude problem.
Is it just the fan narrative?
1. Hill didn't play a lot in college
2. Hill was in the dog house with college coaches
3. Hill appeared to be in the dog house with Cowboy coaches (reading between the lines)
4. Media have said "he was not well liked in the locker room"
5. This has been reiterated by independent coaches (non cowboy) who train others in the off-season
6. He looked terrible in training camp
7. Hill simply didn't play as a second round pick in his rookie season despite defense crying out for a DT
I'm not sure if he's a slow learner, has a poor attitude, didn't work on the playbook or just alienated himself but there is a body of evidence that points to a narrative of poor attitude. At some point you've got to look at this stuff and think where there is smoke there is also fire..