Bledsoe earned my respect

[LaTunaNostra]

No it shows you do not understand the situation; and you do not understand the ramifications of those actions. That is something young guuys tend to do and then the coaches chews on them because that was not the time to do that. Like I said there is a time and place for those type of actions; Bledsoe is not fighting for a roster spot and he is not fighting for the starting QB spot. Preseason is not the time or the place for that from a vet that should know better.

Of course, Drew "knows better". Knows the potential risks, (a season ending injury) and the rewards (one lousy first down in a meaningless game).

I think he's more than capable of not allowing 'the moment' to swamp his good sense. I've seen him make the judicious call time and again in 'real' games..Bledsoe has no death wish, rampant ego, or lack of understanding regarding where he is, what the down is, and what the odds are. The day he took the life threatening Mo Lewis hit, he perhaps could have gotten out of bounds sooner, but he did nothing outrageously chancy by trying to get a few yards down the right sideline. It was just a 'fluke' hit as far as seriousness goes.

Last nite, he chose to go for it. Great risk against very minimal reward.

I'd guess he was not just caught up in the natural instinct to make something happen or to subvert a busted play..but made a very conscious decision to send a message ..to the opponents, to his team-mates, and perhaps even to his coaches.

Bet they "got it" more than some of us did.

 

[Banned_n_austin]

Not if you are patting it when you get hit, from standing there.

The patting does three things and they are all bad:

1. It's a tell to any DBs looking in that he is about to look elsewhere.

2. It slows down his delivery.

3. It takes a hand off the ball which makes a strip or hit and fumble more likely.

4. It gives him a tighter grip.

5. Squares his shoulders.

 

[BlueWave]

4. It gives him a tighter grip.

5. Squares his shoulders.

Basically, it doesn't do anything. It's just a habit. No one had any problems with it while he was at Washington State, in the combines, when he was drafted first overall by the Patriots, or during his Pro Bowl years and while he emassed nearly 40,000 yards (soon to be tenth all time). But, all of the sudden, in the Cowboyszone message board, a bunch of football experts have decided it's a problem. They have decided that it is the root of all of Bledsoes passing so called shortcomings and why he only led the Bills to a 9-7 record last year. To think all those scouts, Coaches, General Managers, and Bill Parcells himself have never seen this as a problem doesn't matter. Because a few posters in here have deemed it so. And they know so much about being a QB in the NFL. So much more than those silly NFL people who do it for a living.

 

[baj1dallas]

There's no way he didn't do that to send a message. Guy is not stupid.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

4. It gives him a tighter grip.

5. Squares his shoulders.

It gives some guys some thing to complain about. And it gives some guys some thing to compare to their QB of choice. Myself? I see no problem with it. Another of our QBs holds the ball to long to some times, he just doesnt pat it. So its ok.

 

[cowboygolfer]

Wow we really will find anything we can about the players we don't like and go after them with zeal.

The guy made a gutsy play, he has new kids counting on him to be the guy, only way to earn the respect of your soldiers is to get into the fight and coem out with a little blood on your sword (and nose sometimes). He made teh right call for his teammates. I would fight for him. I don't even like the guy but he showed he is not here to get a pay check he wants to show all the doubters he is the real deal and Tom Brady was the wrong decision, JP Losman was the wrong decision, I hope he can.

 

[AsthmaField]

Basically, it doesn't do anything. It's just a habit. No one had any problems with it while he was at Washington State, in the combines, when he was drafted first overall by the Patriots, or during his Pro Bowl years and while he emassed nearly 40,000 yards (soon to be tenth all time). But, all of the sudden, in the Cowboyszone message board, a bunch of football experts have decided it's a problem. They have decided that it is the root of all of Bledsoes passing so called shortcomings and why he only led the Bills to a 9-7 record last year. To think all those scouts, Coaches, General Managers, and Bill Parcells himself have never seen this as a problem doesn't matter. Because a few posters in here have deemed it so. And they know so much about being a QB in the NFL. So much more than those silly NFL people who do it for a living.

:laugh2:


You hit the nail on the head brother. Lol. It's like "Pat" is the word of the week.


I thought it was great, him diving for the first down. Bet his teammates did too.

 

[Kangaroo]

Basically, it doesn't do anything. It's just a habit. No one had any problems with it while he was at Washington State, in the combines, when he was drafted first overall by the Patriots, or during his Pro Bowl years and while he emassed nearly 40,000 yards (soon to be tenth all time). But, all of the sudden, in the Cowboyszone message board, a bunch of football experts have decided it's a problem. They have decided that it is the root of all of Bledsoes passing so called shortcomings and why he only led the Bills to a 9-7 record last year. To think all those scouts, Coaches, General Managers, and Bill Parcells himself have never seen this as a problem doesn't matter. Because a few posters in here have deemed it so. And they know so much about being a QB in the NFL. So much more than those silly NFL people who do it for a living.

No the pat thing is funny it is what happens later he fumbles and stuff. The pat is just there to make fun of because we see it all the time pat pat sack; pat pat sack/fumble; pat pat int that what makes it funny. Instead of having to type Bledsoe goes back stands way to long sack we can just say pat pat and everyone knows what you are talking about :. Most people never said it was a problem but he does do it pat pat fumble I never said it was the root of all evil for Bledsoe standing back there to long and not dumping the ball off;slow reads and horrible accuracy.

 

[blindzebra]

It gives some guys some thing to complain about. And it gives some guys some thing to compare to their QB of choice. Myself? I see no problem with it. Another of our QBs holds the ball to long to some times, he just doesnt pat it. So its ok.

I gave specific and 100% accurate reasons why it is a bad habit.

Perhaps if you saw the AZ game, you'd have seen him nearly lose the ball mid pat and have to re-grip it one time, and fumble when he got hit mid pat another.

But of course it all comes down to Henson.

 

[jimmy40]

On the contrary, I though he moved pretty good last night. Better than I think most people tend to give him credit for.

Anybody can take off running, hell, Vinny could take off running. Drew Bledsoe does not move around in the pocket to make plays, he just stands there and he does not have a quick enough release to make up for it. He is what he is, an average quarterback with lots of yards because he throws LOTS of passes. This is the same QB that 100% of Cowboys fans laughed their arses off at two years ago. Now all the sudden he's supposed to be some great QB because he's with the Cowboys. I hope that Bledsoe plays great this year but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Tripod]

No the pat thing is funny it is what happens later he fumbles and stuff. The pat is just there to make fun of because we see it all the time pat pat sack; pat pat sack/fumble; pat pat int that what makes it funny. Instead of having to type Bledsoe goes back stands way to long sack we can just say pat pat and everyone knows what you are talking about :. Most people never said it was a problem but he does do it pat pat fumble I never said it was the root of all evil for Bledsoe standing back there to long and not dumping the ball off;slow reads and horrible accuracy.

Mensa member #445623

 

[BillsFan]

I thought he looked a bit nervous in the first game. He didn't pat the ball so much last night and looked less jittery.

I imagine he'll connect with Witten and Glenn for some big plays. You know he wanted to hit Witten with that one deep one last night, Witten had his man beat too.

It's just converting 3rd downs which would drive me nuts the last few years. The 3rd and 4's, 3rd and 5's. That is where I think you'll struggle this year, just moving the chains. Hopefully Witten and Johnson will help that, Buffalo had no presence at TE and Johnson is a nice big target for Drew.

Obviously the running game is going to have to get going. Jones didn't really have much room to run last night. Oh well it is the pre-season!

 

[Seven]

Basically, it doesn't do anything. It's just a habit. No one had any problems with it while he was at Washington State, in the combines, when he was drafted first overall by the Patriots, or during his Pro Bowl years and while he emassed nearly 40,000 yards (soon to be tenth all time). But, all of the sudden, in the Cowboyszone message board, a bunch of football experts have decided it's a problem. They have decided that it is the root of all of Bledsoes passing so called shortcomings and why he only led the Bills to a 9-7 record last year. To think all those scouts, Coaches, General Managers, and Bill Parcells himself have never seen this as a problem doesn't matter. Because a few posters in here have deemed it so. And they know so much about being a QB in the NFL. So much more than those silly NFL people who do it for a living.

Nice. Elway did it. Marino did it. If Bledsoe was to bite his tongue with every pass that would be an instant issue to some. I can hear it now "Slows down his read progression".
"Pats the ball and I can tell ya why it lessens his performance"......give me a break. Geez.

 

[EndGame]

First off, he did show more mobility last night than I thought he had. I hadn't paid too much attention to Bledsoe's career before he came to Dallas, so I just assumed he was the tree stump everyone said he is. He DOES stand there and get hit sometimes, but he's not completely immobile.

On the other issue here, I do respect him for toughing it out trying to get that extra yard, but if he had gotten injured on that play I would have been pissed off.

 

[dougonthebench]

Not if you are patting it when you get hit, from standing there.

The patting does three things and they are all bad:

1. It's a tell to any DBs looking in that he is about to look elsewhere.

2. It slows down his delivery.

3. It takes a hand off the ball which makes a strip or hit and fumble more likely.

how does a DB watch the QB's hands and the receiver at the same time?(especially when you are covering a receiver on a go route.)

 

[Rack]

how does a DB watch the QB's hands and the receiver at the same time?(especially when you are covering a receiver on a go route.)

You ever heard of Peripheral (sp?) vision?

Bledsoe earned my respect

Oh good! I'm sure Bledsoe will sleep better at night knowing he has "earned" your respect.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

I gave specific and 100% accurate reasons why it is a bad habit.

Perhaps if you saw the AZ game, you'd have seen him nearly lose the ball mid pat and have to re-grip it one time, and fumble when he got hit mid pat another.

But of course it all comes down to Henson.

I saw the game Monday and his pating the ball wasnt a problem. Maybe it was the heat in AZ.

 

[Doomsday101]

As Bledsoe get more familiar with the players around him he will find that comfort zone and know who he can go to in a pinch.

 

[Verdict]

Bledsoe said something I agreed with completely when he was first signed. Everyone and their dog was chanting the mantra about how he is an immobile, pocket passer. People called him a statue. He mentioned that when one of those running quarterbacks wins a Super Bowl, then maybe its an argument. Success in this game demands a good pocket passer, not some out-of-position WR type who runs most of the time.

But there he was in a pre-season game, taking off for a good ten yards for the first down marker. Looking like he can actually move.

And when he got near the marker, what did he do?
He dove.
Head first.
Took the hit.
Trying for the first down in a Preseason game.
That is the play of a warrior. Kind of stuff Troy would do. Bledsoe earned my respect on that play for fighting in a preseason game. No one would have faulted him for sliding. People would have said "Well, it's a preseason game. He should slide and avoid injury." But guys with heart fight for it.

My first thought when I saw Bledsoe do that was Quincy. I lost all respect for Quincy and permanently was on the anti-Quincy wagon following that game with the St. Louis Rams a couple years ago. I don't remember the specifics anymore, but the situation was something like this:
It was late in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys were down by three.
It was third down.
Quincy dropped back to pass.
He couldn't find a WR open.
So he took off. That is what Quincy was suppose to be good at. He is, after all, one of them "mobile" QBs. The Cowboys' very own Vick.
So Quincy took off for the first down marker.
As the defenders approached, Quincy slid.
Feet first.
A couple yards short of the marker.
If he had a heart, he would have fought for it and got the first down.
But he slid.
The FG unit came out, and we tied the game. But this was a regular season game and we could have been in a position to win if Quincy had fought for the first down--and running was supposed to be the selling point of a Quincy like QB.

So those moments were juxtaposed in my head. Quincy sliding short of the first down marker when they game as on the line in the regular season. Bledsoe diving head first in a desperate attempt to get the first down early in the game in a preseason game. And that juxtaposition reminded me why I couldn't stand Quincy, and gave me respect for Bledsoe as a competitor---even if he isn't the answer at QB.

If Bledsoe had suffered a season ending injury on that plat the ENTIRE board would have been complaining about how stupid it was. They would be right, and wrong. It would be devastating to see a guy go down for the season in a meaningless preseason game. On the other hand, it is my opinion that you play like you practice. It is refreshing to see the Cowboys doing the little things, which when added together, win close games, instead of doing the little things, which added together cause losses.