DC.COM Blog: It's Time For A Batch Of Cupcakes

[AbeBeta]

That "extraordinary talent" lost 3 of the previous 5 games before Wade took over, so I'm not sure winning in spite of the head coach is really an argument you can make here.

Again, this isn't about heaping accolades on Wade, it's about justifying criticism. The original claim being attacked here was that training camp was problematic. If someone was making the claim that those starts were a feather in his cap, absent criticism, you might have a point.

Either way, going 9-1 to start off two consecutive seasons is nothing to shake a stick at no matter who you are or who you play.

Well, it comes down to how you interpret the criticism -- me, I take the "camp cupcake" to mean much more than a criticism of the camp and rather a criticism of Wade's approach overall.

We may have started 9-1 but what is really troubling is that we are 13-10 after those first 5 games.

This may also be a sign of a problematic camp - one that builds confidence and performances that fold at the first bump in the road.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

wade saying something to the media doesn't mean he said it to the team, difusing media criticism of the players onto himself is something a good coach should do.

I think it's dumb to crucify the guy for taking it on himself publicly, none of us knows what happens in the locker rooms and meetings.

Correct, sir.

But for some reason, people think that what the coach says to the media in PCs is exactly what he tells the players in private. I've never understood that.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Has Wade found the box marked "Pads"?

 

[theogt]

Well, it comes down to how you interpret the criticism -- me, I take the "camp cupcake" to mean much more than a criticism of the camp and rather a criticism of Wade's approach overall.

We may have started 9-1 but what is really troubling is that we are 13-10 after those first 5 games.

This may also be a sign of a problematic camp - one that builds confidence and performances that fold at the first bump in the road.

Well, here we get into some nebulous psycho-babble discussion about "confidence" and "leadership" etc. that apparently only has long-term effects (without short-term effects) that I don't feel qualified to engage in.

 

[1fisher]

What did he do? Take a dump?

Shaved his mustache.... :laugh2:

 

[AbeBeta]

Well, here we get into some nebulous psycho-babble discussion about "confidence" and "leadership" etc. that apparently only has long-term effects (without short-term effects) that I don't feel qualified to engage in.

and here we get into willful ignorance to my argument -- the training camp issue isn't something special about how Wade preps a team -- it is reflective of his day-in, day-out approach to the team. The phrase "camp cupcake" simply comes about because it pretty much everyone's first crack at making fun of Wade for the season.

 

[theogt]

and here we get into willful ignorance to my argument -- the training camp issue isn't something special about how Wade preps a team -- it is reflective of his day-in, day-out approach to the team. The phrase "camp cupcake" simply comes about because it pretty much everyone's first crack at making fun of Wade for the season.

If you you feel qualified to speak for everyone who has criticized Wade's training such as to completely alter the argument, then so be it.

 

[AbeBeta]

If you you feel qualified to speak for everyone who has criticized Wade's training such as to completely alter the argument, then so be it.

Let me ask this then. Do you really think our failure to thrive can be attributed to any SINGLE issue -- like a soft TC?

 

[theogt]

Let me ask this then. Do you really think our failure to thrive can be attributed to any SINGLE issue -- like a soft TC?

I don't think the issue or the argument was ever about defining a single issue for the lack of late and post-season success. I think the issue was whether or not training camp prepared the team for the season. And given the opening record, I think that's likely the case.

The only issue with training camp would be the lack of depth in the playbook, particularly the offensive playbook, that was installed during training camp. And that issue is apparently being cured, despite it having nothing to do with cupcakes or any other pastry.

 

[AbeBeta]

I don't think the issue or the argument was ever about defining a single issue for the lack of late and post-season success. I think the issue was whether or not training camp prepared the team for the season. And given the opening record, I think that's likely the case.

The only issue with training camp would be the lack of depth in the playbook, particularly the offensive playbook, that was installed during training camp. And that issue is apparently being cured, despite it having nothing to do with cupcakes or any other pastry.

So wouldn't problems with the lack of playbook depth be hidden by the fact that we were playing a bunch of crap teams early? With those teams we had the greater talent and could simply run over them with that

 

[theogt]

So wouldn't problems with the lack of playbook depth be hidden by the fact that we were playing a bunch of crap teams early? With those teams we had the greater talent and could simply run over them with that

No, it wouldn't. For a simplistic example, let's say you have 20 plays in your "master" playbook. NFL teams don't take their entire playbook to every game. The coaches review the film and select a subset of the playbook for each game. Thus, for any game they may only have 5 plays in the "gameday" playbook. Early on in the season only having 20 plays total wouldn't be a problem as you could sufficiently mix and match to keep your opponents guessing. However, after 10-15 games your opponents begin seeing the same plays over and over and you become more predictable. This was the problem with Parcells' defenses and apparently was the problem with Garrett's offense last season.

 

[AbeBeta]

No, it wouldn't. For a simplistic example, let's say you have 20 plays in your "master" playbook. NFL teams don't take their entire playbook to every game. The coaches review the film and select a subset of the playbook for each game. Thus, for any game they may only have 5 plays in the "gameday" playbook. Early on in the season only having 20 plays total wouldn't be a problem as you could sufficiently mix and match to keep your opponents guessing. However, after 10-15 games your opponents begin seeing the same plays over and over and you become more predictable. This was the problem with Parcells' defenses and apparently was the problem with Garrett's offense last season.

So you are saying a) the problem with TC was not enough plays in the playbook and b) you don't see the impact of that until later in the season.

So tell me again how our record over the first 5 games is relevant to arguing the effectiveness of training camp?

 

[theogt]

So you are saying a) the problem with TC was not enough plays in the playbook and b) you don't see the impact of that until later in the season.

So tell me again how our record over the first 5 games is relevant to arguing the effectiveness of training camp?

There are two arguments to be made.

1. Training camp is too soft and as such doesn't prepare the team. The "cupcake" argument.

2. Lack of playbook depth installed.

They're completely exclusive arguments. One argument, the former, has been made by the media and fans. The other, not so much. One argument, the former, is refuted by the opening season record. To the other, the opening season record is irrelevant.

Get it?

The "cupcake" argument is actually anti-thetical to the playbook argument. Most players have claimed that Wade's training camps are the most taxing mentally. Well, the defensive players have claimed that. I don't recall the offensive players ever claiming that, which does sort of fit. The "cupcake" argument isn't just some general criticism of training camp being ineffective. It's a specific argument about lack of physical contact and intense work conditions.

 

[AbeBeta]

There are two arguments to be made.

1. Training camp is too soft and as such doesn't prepare the team. The "cupcake" argument.

2. Lack of playbook depth installed.

They're completely exclusive arguments. One argument, the former, has been made by the media and fans. The other, not so much. One argument, the former, is refuted by the opening season record. To the other, the opening season record is irrelevant.

Get it?

The "cupcake" argument is actually anti-thetical to the playbook argument. Most players have claimed that Wade's training camps are the most taxing mentally. Well, the defensive players have claimed that. I don't recall the offensive players ever claiming that, which does sort of fit. The "cupcake" argument isn't just some general criticism of training camp being ineffective. It's a specific argument about lack of physical contact and intense work conditions.

So if it is the defensive players that are well prepared mentally then why has their performance been so up and down if you can't blame the soft physcial camp?

Giving up 37 points at home to Philly, unable to stop Portis and Jason Campbell at home. Making Eli look like a great QB ... again, at home.

Seems that faced with tough teams, the D got runned over (shout out to Emmit). How does that fit with Wade's contention? Were they ready to go?

So we may have the good record and as you point out an argument for why the O could do well early, but we've got a D full of probowl players and alternates that looked ugly early.

 

[theogt]

So if it is the defensive players that are well prepared mentally then why has their performance been so up and down if you can't blame the soft physcial camp?

Giving up 37 points at home to Philly, unable to stop Portis and Jason Campbell at home. Making Eli look like a great QB ... again, at home.

Seems that faced with tough teams, the D got runned over (shout out to Emmit). How does that fit with Wade's contention? Were they ready to go?

So we may have the good record and as you point out an argument for why the O could do well early, but we've got a D full of probowl players and alternates that looked ugly early.

 

[AbeBeta]

yet just 5-4 after Wade took over. Hmmmmm.

 

[theogt]

yet just 5-4 after Wade took over. Hmmmmm.

I see that you want to overlook the record when it's convenient for you, but use it otherwise. I think it's pretty clear there was a stark difference when Wade took over the defense. Surely you don't disagree. It wasn't enough to make up for Brad Johnson and the offense losing steam, though, obviously.

 

[casmith07]

So if it is the defensive players that are well prepared mentally then why has their performance been so up and down if you can't blame the soft physcial camp?

Giving up 37 points at home to Philly, unable to stop Portis and Jason Campbell at home. Making Eli look like a great QB ... again, at home.

Seems that faced with tough teams, the D got runned over (shout out to Emmit). How does that fit with Wade's contention? Were they ready to go?

So we may have the good record and as you point out an argument for why the O could do well early, but we've got a D full of probowl players and alternates that looked ugly early.

Brian Stewart calling the plays.

 

[casmith07]

yet just 5-4 after Wade took over. Hmmmmm.

look at the offense in those games -- by then Garrett was calling the Tecmo Bowl plays and they weren't working. The offense had gone vanilla and TO had obviously lost a step.

The defense still played Stellar....except against Baltimore. I blame that largely on Anthony Henry getting beat like a low-rate stripper by one-armed Derrick Mason half the game. Regardless of the back to back TD runs at the end, there's no way Derrick Mason should have been in the game as soon as he was running with one arm down, I would've jammed him at the line every play until he was knocked out of the game.

 

[AbeBeta]

I see that you want to overlook the record when it's convenient for you, but use it otherwise. I think it's pretty clear there was a stark difference when Wade took over the defense. Surely you don't disagree. It wasn't enough to make up for Brad Johnson and the offense losing steam, though, obviously.

There was a stark difference in TB. They were inspired. But they SUCKED against the Giants in NY, B-more, and Philly ... seemed that when we needed them most the air went out of the tires. That fact remains that the mentally prepared D wasn't so hot coming out of the gates.