CouchCoach
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After watching them in all 6 games, there is one constant, they're in a fog to start the games.
The most ridiculous assumption we can make is that everybody has the same degree of distractions and responds the same. Totally depends on the individual and this team is comprised of a bunch of individuals and that keeps changing.
I am not looking for excuses but reasons for what I see. The adjusted off season, the change at coaching, the protocols within the games and league, the more complex defense and the injuries, particularly to the QB and leader on a one year contract. Is it too much?
Are these guys thinking too much and not just playing football? Elliott is not a fumbler, he's never had a season with more than 2 fumbles and he already has 4 this season, all turned into TD's, and he has more lost fumbles in these 6 games than the top 10 RB's combined, that ain't normal. I would bet that on his second fumble last night, all he was thinking was 'don't fumble'.
I know the easy part of this is to not consider them human beings, they're professional football players, they're paid to do this. They should just block all of that out and play the game.
The other distractions may come within the units. That OL, are they as concerned about who is to the left and right of them as much as the player in front of them? There has been so much turnover on the OL there's no way they can gel in this amount of time.
The other distraction and the real crippler is mistakes. I've seen people who feel they're snake bit and so concerned about making another mistake that they become the self fulfilling prophecy, was just a matter of time.
The coaching staff has to treat this as a distracted team and get the game simplified and just enjoy playing the game. Forget the record and all of the negativity about the division. Just play football. Reduce it down from the game to 4 quarters to 10 possessions to each individual play. It really is a simple game but distractions make it complicated.
I am not big on catch phrases but there is one that applies to this team and McC and his staff should just steal it from Belichick, "just do your job". There's nothing simpler and more to the point than that.
The most ridiculous assumption we can make is that everybody has the same degree of distractions and responds the same. Totally depends on the individual and this team is comprised of a bunch of individuals and that keeps changing.
I am not looking for excuses but reasons for what I see. The adjusted off season, the change at coaching, the protocols within the games and league, the more complex defense and the injuries, particularly to the QB and leader on a one year contract. Is it too much?
Are these guys thinking too much and not just playing football? Elliott is not a fumbler, he's never had a season with more than 2 fumbles and he already has 4 this season, all turned into TD's, and he has more lost fumbles in these 6 games than the top 10 RB's combined, that ain't normal. I would bet that on his second fumble last night, all he was thinking was 'don't fumble'.
I know the easy part of this is to not consider them human beings, they're professional football players, they're paid to do this. They should just block all of that out and play the game.
The other distractions may come within the units. That OL, are they as concerned about who is to the left and right of them as much as the player in front of them? There has been so much turnover on the OL there's no way they can gel in this amount of time.
The other distraction and the real crippler is mistakes. I've seen people who feel they're snake bit and so concerned about making another mistake that they become the self fulfilling prophecy, was just a matter of time.
The coaching staff has to treat this as a distracted team and get the game simplified and just enjoy playing the game. Forget the record and all of the negativity about the division. Just play football. Reduce it down from the game to 4 quarters to 10 possessions to each individual play. It really is a simple game but distractions make it complicated.
I am not big on catch phrases but there is one that applies to this team and McC and his staff should just steal it from Belichick, "just do your job". There's nothing simpler and more to the point than that.
