Jean-Jacques Taylor: Henson Project Could Be Sacked

[ABQCOWBOY]

Parcells has said himself, you don't know anything about a QB when the team is playing great and there winning. You find out about a QB when the team isn't playing great and the QB is struggling. Until you see a QB in that situation, you don't know what you have or what you don't have.


That is what Parcells thinks. I don't see the problem with applying his own priciples to our backup QB and seeing what comes of it.

 

[RCowboyFan]

I just look at it differently. Nothing could be had by beating the Rams with Bledsoe, IMO. The time on the field for Romo is more valuable to me.

You know, I am understanding what Ice has been saying for a while now. I guess if you don't like BP's approach in developing QBs, or any of his choices, you pretty much be labeled disliking him or his coaching staff?

I understand some people questioning a person if that person is critisizing every move BP makes. Then you can say, he/she hates BP or doesn't like his decisions at all in all cases.

Anyway, it seems like some are firmly entrenched that no good can be gotten out of playing players in games that its been already decided it wont make any difference to the season. Strangely BP is only of that view on QBs only. It was clear, in his second year, Bradie James was a liability when he played, but BP still tried to play him, eventually giving it up and playing Dexter more.

So I don't buy the argument that BP only plays players when they are ready. He obviously has different standards for different positions on football. And thats seems a good position too, personally, IMO. I guess you can find a LB far more easily than a QB. But I doubt every HC is the same way, having seen far more QBs played before they are ready. Few succeed and far more fail, obviously. And money obviously dictates many of the starts before the QBs is ready.

I just happened to like the way McNabb was brought along though. He played even in his rookie year, although sparingly, which helped him immensely.

 

[Alexander]

No. Part of evaluation is also adaptation. Can a player adapte to a situation and be effective? IMO, nothing is given to you in sports. When an opportunity arises, you have to meet the challenge. If you don't, then next guy might. If that happens, you don't get an opportunity. I understand not rushing a QB into a bad situation for fear of losing the player but lets be honest here. He's 4 years in. He's the backup QB. If he can't handle coming in to back Bledsoe up against the Rams of all teams, he doesn't need to be here.

And maybe he doesn't. There is this idea that he is "holding" Romo back. What earthly good would that do?

The difference here is that your viewing this from the perspective of Romo as the franchise.

Yes, you are viewing it like a fan, because you want to know. I trust the staff to do the right thing. You don't that's as simple as it is.

I am not. I view Romo as the back up guy. In that scenario, not only should he be ready to come in and play, we should know if he can. It's a different thing to face the rush down in a game. He is the backup. There is nothing at all wrong with finding out if he can actually back somebody up. He could easily have come in and played a half. Nobody would have been harmed by it. He only could have benifited from the experience. This is my opinion on the matter.

Bowing to the wishes of the fanbase is something Coach Parcells has never done and I hope it continues.

And you are talking about forcing opportunities when there is something to play for. In the end, the games are for the players just as much as they are showcases for the fans. And the average fan wants to win. Only those who are "backup-curious" are interested in evaluations. I am not arrogant to assume I know more than this coaching staff, especially about the QB position, which is very difficult to evaluate.

Like I said before, when we blow out other teams and get the playoff byes, then you will get all the evaluation time because we earned it.

 

[AbeBeta]

Nothing could be had by beating the Rams with Bledsoe, IMO. The time on the field for Romo is more valuable to me.

Disagree. Drew didn't want to come out b/c he knew that he could send a strong message to his offensive teammates. Drew stood in and took a wicked beating. He got up over and over and wouldn't come out.

That game was about respect -- Drew getting it from the rest of the team and, more importantly, Drew showing some of the guys who were dogging it how to respect themselves as players.

Drew became the unquestioned leader of the offense in that "meaningless" game. I think that is worth far more than getting a backup some reps.

 

[Alexander]

Disagree. Drew didn't want to come out b/c he knew that he could send a strong message to his offensive teammates. Drew stood in and took a wicked beating. He got up over and over and wouldn't come out.

That game was about respect -- Drew getting it from the rest of the team and, more importantly, Drew showing some of the guys who were dogging it how to respect themselves as players.

Drew became the unquestioned leader of the offense in that "meaningless" game. I think that is worth far more than getting a backup some reps.

Bravo.

Romo getting killed would not only damage him, but lost us the game in a brutal fashion the way many of those players were performing.

Who here thinks we play more passionate when the coach has already thrown in the towel and inserted your unseasoned backup. That alone signals it is okay to give up and mail it in. How fair would it have been to Romo to have Leonard Little pounding on him all game long? Our offensive line played some apathetic ball that night.

And there is one thing to note, if memory serves me right, I think Coach Parcells said he thought about getting some trash time in, but Bledsoe talked him out of it. That was part of the emergence of Bledsoe as the leader at QB we have now. You know, the one we have been craving at the position since Aikman?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Disagree. Drew didn't want to come out b/c he knew that he could send a strong message to his offensive teammates. Drew stood in and took a wicked beating. He got up over and over and wouldn't come out.

That game was about respect -- Drew getting it from the rest of the team and, more importantly, Drew showing some of the guys who were dogging it how to respect themselves as players.

Drew became the unquestioned leader of the offense in that "meaningless" game. I think that is worth far more than getting a backup some reps.

Perhaps. To me, he could have shown that in 3 quarters worth of work and been justifiably pulled.

I don't really buy into this proving to team mates that he is the leader thing. That happened the day Parcells signed him IMO. This team will not question Parcells because they have all seen what happens to players that do that. Not saying it's a bad thing, by any means. I'm just saying that Bledsoe didn't need to prove anything by taking a beating to his 14 year vet body. To me, that is just not a part of the equation that I buy into.

 

[superpunk]

And there is one thing to note, if memory serves me right, I think Coach Parcells said he thought about getting some trash time in, but Bledsoe talked him out of it. That was part of the emergence of Bledsoe as the leader at QB we have now. You know, the one we have been craving at the position since Aikman?

No.

When Bledsoe does that, it's selfish, and just Parcells listening to one of his "guys".

Not leadership.

Nice take, btw abersonc.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Bravo.

Romo getting killed would not only damage him, but lost us the game in a brutal fashion the way many of those players were performing.

Who here thinks we play more passionate when the coach has already thrown in the towel and inserted your unseasoned backup. That alone signals it is okay to give up and mail it in. How fair would it have been to Romo to have Leonard Little pounding on him all game long? Our offensive line played some apathetic ball that night.

And there is one thing to note, if memory serves me right, I think Coach Parcells said he thought about getting some trash time in, but Bledsoe talked him out of it. That was part of the emergence of Bledsoe as the leader at QB we have now. You know, the one we have been craving at the position since Aikman?

Who here has heard, for them selves, the speech from Parcells about you only know about your QB when the chips are down speach? Is that just good for the QB who has been in the league since 93 or do you think that it would apply to our back up as well?

 

[Alexander]

No.

When Bledsoe does that, it's selfish, and just Parcells listening to one of his "guys".

Not leadership.

Nice take, btw abersonc.

Ah, that's right. I keep forgetting.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Perhaps. To me, he could have shown that in 3 quarters worth of work and been justifiably pulled.

I don't really buy into this proving to team mates that he is the leader thing. That happened the day Parcells signed him IMO. This team will not question Parcells because they have all seen what happens to players that do that. Not saying it's a bad thing, by any means. I'm just saying that Bledsoe didn't need to prove anything by taking a beating to his 14 year vet body. To me, that is just not a part of the equation that I buy into.

Besides, Bledsoe already proved that point by playing in Washington, when he took the brutal beating in that game. I am not sure what other leadership brownie points he could get by taking another beating against Rams?

Sure, if Romo was 1st year player, I completely understand the argument of not playing him, since it might get his confidence down, probably like Henson was. But he was third year player last year, and Bp told multiple times during the season that he had confidence in playing Romo if he needed to.

Yet when it comes to action he never did do that. Whatever it is, I guess past it past, I hope that excuse doesn't hold this year. Thats all I hope for. I don't want to hear that argument of losing the player again.

Because to me Romo hasn't shown much, even in pre-season, to warrant all the hype about him being the future of franchise. Or that Bledsoe should look over his shoulder talk some NFL coaches seem to feel, according to Mickey etc. If he is that good, a quarter or half of meaningless game, if it happens this coming season, should do him no harm. So past is past, I guess I hope if opportunity presents itself, I hope BP plays him, if he wins the Backup job or Henson if he wins the backup job.

Or we are not supposed to question BP's approach on that at all even then?

 

[Alexander]

Who here has heard, for them selves, the speak from Parcells about you only know about your QB when the chips are down speach? Is that just good for the QB who has been in the league since 93 or do you think that it would apply to our back up as well?

You also took that quote and twisted it to fit the backup situation.

We found out quite a bit about our QB when the chips were down in Washington and in the Rams game where Petitti was yelling OLE as Leonard Little breezed by him. We found out what Bledsoe was made of.

I think it's good for our QB. Bledsoe is our QB. We don't need to know how Romo is going to do when the chips are down. When he's "the man", then you can roll out this saying then as well.

 

[Alexander]

Because to me Romo hasn't shown much, even in pre-season, to warrant all the hype about him being the future of franchise.

Has the team truly said this? Not really. And Romo's contract doesn't speak to this either. So I am curious about the source of the hype. To me, it's people reading what they want to in it.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Has the team truly said this? Not really. And Romo's contract doesn't speak to this either. So I am curious about the source of the hype. To me, it's people reading what they want to in it.

Did I say BP said that? No, I am saying some of the media in Dallas speculating about it. Now could it be, that the media is reading into it? I guess it could be. But Sean Payton raving about Romo is not speculation, so I would like to see what Payton sees in him. But numerous reporters have said that, BP, has something special in store for Romo too. So I am guessing BP makes off the record comments to them to indicate that.

Obviously I would be happy if he is that special, since he sure didn't look to me that way from the limited opportunity we have of seeing him play. Obviously its limited so we don't know what he might be doing in Practice.

Edit: Ugh I thought you said BP, not team. Yeah, Team or BP, one and the same thing under BP right?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

And maybe he doesn't. There is this idea that he is "holding" Romo back. What earthly good would that do?


Yes, you are viewing it like a fan, because you want to know. I trust the staff to do the right thing. You don't that's as simple as it is.



Bowing to the wishes of the fanbase is something Coach Parcells has never done and I hope it continues.

And you are talking about forcing opportunities when there is something to play for. In the end, the games are for the players just as much as they are showcases for the fans. And the average fan wants to win. Only those who are "backup-curious" are interested in evaluations. I am not arrogant to assume I know more than this coaching staff, especially about the QB position, which is very difficult to evaluate.

Like I said before, when we blow out other teams and get the playoff byes, then you will get all the evaluation time because we earned it.

I know this. I know that after 4 years on the team, Romo should be able to log playing time without having to worry about losing him.

You may say I'm viewing it as a fan but that's really here nor there. At some point, you have to know what you have. If we have nothing, OK, but lets move on then. If we have something, that's better but if that's the case, then give him time to show you. All this business of not knowing what you have until the players have faced the fire or straight from Parcells. This is why it's so funny to me that when they come from a "Fan" it's labled as Fan View. That's simply not the truth of the matter. I'm only repeating what Parcells himself has said in the past.

For what it's worth, there also things that I have used in my lackluster coaching experience and what I have been taught by other coaches. It's pretty simple from my view in the cheap seats.

Like you said before, when we blow out other teams..........

I hope, for your sake, that it's not like I said before. If Bledsoe goes down and so much BS hits the fan, we will have to see what we actually have at the backup. I hope it's everything everybody imagines it is and I hope it's not a situation where it's a must win.

 

[Alexander]

Did I say BP said that? No, I am saying some of the media in Dallas speculating about it. Now could it be, that the media is reading into it? I guess it could be. But Sean Payton raving about Romo is not speculation, so I would like to see what Payton sees in him. But numerous reporters have said that, BP, has something special in store for Romo too. So I am guessing BP makes off the record comments to them to indicate that.

Obviously I would be happy if he is that special, since he sure didn't look to me that way from the limited opportunity we have of seeing him play. Obviously its limited so we don't know what he might be doing in Practice.

Edit: Ugh I thought you said BP, not team. Yeah, Team or BP, one and the same thing under BP right?

Well, not really.

We have seen quite a bit of hype from a couple of the writers, who happen to really like Romo. I think it's Mosely that does it the most, just like Hutchinson was an idol of Spagnola's.

 

[iceberg]

WE know nothing. The team knows exactly what they want to know. This is a case where our curiousity is far greater than theirs.





You and apparently others also have the axe to grind. And even if Parcells played Henson or Romo, there would be something else to complain about or form theories over. Like the Thanksgiving game for example. Some people actually find fault in yanking Henson, who clearly wasn't ready and was ripe to get his confidence shattered, not to mention lose the game. The final game of the year was also exposed on national television against a division rival. Who wants to lose one of those games. Oh, that's right. Fans who are curious.

Take an example from way back when in the Landry days. He did that with Kevin Sweeney and Reggie Collier. All we found out as fans is that they were both pretty bad. It obviously hasn't crossed many people's minds that maybe, just maybe, we have a couple of QBs who aren't even ready for that, particularly Henson.



It sends the wrong message if you are trying to get players passionate about winning and who hate to lose. We had games in Campo's final year and we started players like Pete Hunter. That got the fans all excited about nothing because he was playing out the string against a playoff team that truly wasn't giving it a competitive effort. Again, what is the point.



Fan talk and fluff is what all this "DAMN PARCELLS FOR STARTING VINNY" nonsense is, actually. Funny you should mention it.



This is exactly what I was referring to when I spoke of the correlation.

you make good points, alexander. i may or may not have an axe to grind, but it's not because i just picked it up and got bored one day. it was ? move after ? move to me. when BP got here i was excited as hell to see what he'd do and how he could help this team be a much better team.

then as i got to know him better, i just kept losing respect for him as a coach. it's not that i *wanted* to. i don't often wake up and go "man, i sure could get some good "hate on" someone today!" - i just really don't understand him at times.

right or wrong in the moves he makes - i can't defend or counter "but you're not bill" but then again, bill doesn't make 100% "proper moves" so this argument alone falls on my deaf ears and not likely to get the result intended - to back off.

since i think we can all agree bp can and will make mistakes, i don't see the "foul" in talking about what we feel are mistakes along the way. yet time and again "you're not bill!" gets lobbed at you.

in any event - appreciate the civil discussion.

 

[Jarv]

Like I said before, when we blow out other teams and get the playoff byes, then you will get all the evaluation time because we earned it.

Like the blowout victory in the 1st game in Philly for example ?

 

[iceberg]

Yes, you are viewing it like a fan, because you want to know. I trust the staff to do the right thing. You don't that's as simple as it is..

i trust him to *try* and do the right thing. however, i feel those who rubber-stamp each move as trying to do the right things are fans also, just like me - a whiner. : )

giving blind faith to our coaching staff doesn't make someone a better fan any more than ripping each and every move that staff makes. it just puts a different end-approach to it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

You also took that quote and twisted it to fit the backup situation.

We found out quite a bit about our QB when the chips were down in Washington and in the Rams game where Petitti was yelling OLE as Leonard Little breezed by him. We found out what Bledsoe was made of.

I think it's good for our QB. Bledsoe is our QB. We don't need to know how Romo is going to do when the chips are down. When he's "the man", then you can roll out this saying then as well.

So what are you saying? Are you saying that the criteria only applies to the starter but not the backup? If that's the case, then let me just say that we are one play away from the backup being the starter so I can't see it myself.

This last post you made is completely wrong. EVERY player needs to justify there position on the team. EVERY player needs to be ready to play when called upon. EVERY player. Not just the 14 year vets who so admirably stand in and take the beating of there lives, thus gaining the respect of there team mates as if to say "SEE! It took 16 games to do it but now, I've finally earned your respect." at the hands of a beat down from the RAMS, no less.

 

[Alexander]

I know this. I know that after 4 years on the team, Romo should be able to take log playing time without having to worry about losing him.

You may say I'm viewing it as a fan but that's really here nor there.

Why is that? You fault the head coach for not thinking like a fan.

At some point, you have to know what you have.

And the team may. You don't. I don't, nobody does. I just won't lose sleep over it. I realize that regardless, our hopes rely on Bledsoe. Romo getting time would only serve to give us either false hope or excessive gloom.