Improvement and "The Wall"

[BIGDen]

Here's something that I don't quite understand: How is it that basically ALL of our rookies seemed to have hit "The Rookie Wall" yet other rookies around the league (including good ol' Merriman) continue to play well? Also, does everyone remember when the season started and the consensus was that this defense would get better as the season went on and players became more comfortable with the 3-4? Our defense was one of the best in the league by midseason and now we tail off. I know that the LB injurues have had some effect, but this dropoff has been significant! I watch as the Giants defense (considered a joke earlier in the year) improves and ours collapses. This late season plummet reminds me of 2003. What happened to Parcells "The Master Motivator"? All Parcells seems to be good at is pointing fingers. C'mon Bill, prove you can do it without Belichek. We're waiting while everyone else gets better....

 

[HTownCowboysFan]

Henry's injury. Losing Dat and Al Singleton. That hurt us. Plus, when our O isn't doing ****, it puts more pressure on the D and they are on the field a whole lot more.

 

[Juke99]

I have a theory about Parcells....

He is a mastermind at hiding weaknesses...this season is a repeat of his first season here...the team started off very well and then the rest of the league caught on...I suspect the same thing might be happening this season.

 

[wileedog]

I have a theory about Parcells....

He is a mastermind at hiding weaknesses...this season is a repeat of his first season here...the team started off very well and then the rest of the league caught on...I suspect the same thing might be happening this season.

I agree with ya here Juke. The defense in particular is between a rock and a hard place. The league has figured out what we are running, but some players are just not ready to take on any more.

It will come down to execution the last two weeks.

The important difference was that in 2003 Parcells was hiding the weaknesses of bad players. This year we are hiding the weaknesses of inexperience, which will get better next year (as opposed to being off the roster).

SOmething to look forward to, at least, for a change.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

That offensive line is just to big to hide....

 

[EndGame]

Here's something that I don't quite understand: How is it that basically ALL of our rookies seemed to have hit "The Rookie Wall" yet other rookies around the league (including good ol' Merriman) continue to play well?

Ware has started every game and played the bulk of the snaps. Merriman has not started every game and is a situational pass rusher. There's your answer.

 

[BIGDen]

Ware has started every game and played the bulk of the snaps. Merriman has not started every game and is a situational pass rusher. There's your answer.

That may be part of the reason, but I can't figure out why so many of our rookies seem to have hit this wall. It would be nice to see some guys start to step it up.

 

[Sarge]

I have a theory about Parcells....

He is a mastermind at hiding weaknesses...this season is a repeat of his first season here...the team started off very well and then the rest of the league caught on...I suspect the same thing might be happening this season.

Perhaps, but the injuries to Henry, Flo, Dat and AL S. have a whole helluva lot more to do with it than anything else.

 

[jimmy40]

Ware has started every game and played the bulk of the snaps. Merriman has not started every game and is a situational pass rusher. There's your answer.

That and Merriman is just flat out bigger, stronger and better.

 

[chinch]

Even though it was given as a backhanded compliment Juke was actually right in that Tuna does hide problems - that is a tribute to his great coaching.

Maybe you guys will realize we were a perennial 5-11 team with zero drafted impact players in the prior decade and fixing this takes time.

 

[lspain1]

That and Merriman is just flat out bigger, stronger and better.

So if Merriman was all of that why isn't he taking more snaps? Perhaps San Diego's D is just that much better than ours?

I'll admit Merriman is better than Ware right now. It's true even though I think there are good and valid reasons Ware should be behind right now. But let's look at this again next year and the year after before we declare the competition at an end.

 

[Kevinicus]

Maybe you guys will realize we were a perennial 5-11 team with zero drafted impact players in the prior decade and fixing this takes time.

Chicago has sucked, they're good. Cincy sucked 3 years ago, now look at them. San Diego sucked. Carolina sucked 3 years ago. The Giants weren't very good the last few years. Why should we be expected to keep waiting when there are plenty of other teams that have made huge turn arounds the past 2-3 years? Why does Parcells get all the time in the world? It's year 3, the time to wait is over. There is no reason this team shouldn't be in the playoffs this year, and strong contenders. The offensive line has gotten worse each year the last 3 years. There comes a time when patience needs to run out. We're past that time. Either get it done, or move on.