Teams think we're soft!

[peplaw06]

Nutt ran up and started leading the band, singing the fight song afterward, and jumping up and down all game. Its contigeous, the rest of the team looking fired up. But that is college, its different, you don't have to have that extreme. Side note, could you picture Bill doing that............nevermind, don't, lol.

So you want Parcells leading the band???

The reason why I think we aren't playing with much is cause we aren't playing well below our talent level. When that happens, alot of times, you are sleepwalking. Sure, I don't have a crystal ball, I don't KNOW for 100% certainity, noone does, but I do think it could be part of it. My point is they "look" like a team going through the motions.

Other things that could cause you to play below your talent level, well, coaching. It can be easily said that a defense takes on the personality of their coach. Maybe if we had a firey DC, then the defense would play with more fire.

It is just a feeling I get from watching the game. Like guys are just punching the clock, doing their job, and going home. That is a bit extreme, but you can see my point. Maybe it is the players, maybe it is the coach, but it is probably some of both.

I guess you see things the way you want to see them to some extent, I do the same thing. but statistically speaking our defense has been pretty good. They were really good before the Philly game. And I have confidence they will be good at the end of the year.

I couldn't even think of a scenario in my mind where it looks like guys are just going through the motions. Our D came out in the last game and kept us in it early on, when we could have been down 21-0 real quick... Westbrook fumbled... they were driving there. They gave up the one TD, and then they held Philly to a FG after they got the ball inside our 15. Saved us 11 points in the first 5 minutes. Doesn't sound like a D going through the motions, but I guess you're seeing something different.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

A+ Really hilarious thread.

Until now I never understood that being 'tough' and being 'a nice guy' were mutually exclusive.

We got one of the most explosive hitters in the past generation whose instinctually precise angles into players merely devastate them... a player whose hits are so perfectly plotted as to appear to defy the laws of physics...a player who's laid waste to so many opponents in sometimes problematical ways that they name "rules" after him.

But because the last time he exploded a full force bulls-eye blitz into a quarterback the size of a linebacker, hitting him so hard you could see Leftwich literally jacknife, and hear the 'ooomph' of air sucked out of his lungs....he followed up with a "sorry", Williams loses his 'toughness' credentials.

And we've got a dt two gapping some of the fiercest mofos in the league...but because he's got a sense of humour, he's wussified.

Oooookaaaayyy.

I think the definition of toughness needs elaborating.

For a pro football player, it is first and foremost playing with and in pain, no whining, no gold bricking, no looking for practice outs no matter how hurt.

Secondly, toughness is about doing the job, taking on the assignment and completing it..it's about discipline, stamina, and the ability to use every ounce of strength left unsapped when you're dog weary. It's about not letting your teamates down - THAT'S 'toughness'.

Toughness is about principles and reliability, about self-sacrifice and teamwork. About subjugating the ego to the greater good.

Toughness is not about macho posturing, unsportsmanlike behavior, trash talk, WWF style grimacing, or ever, ever about losing control. It's about self-control, because it takes a great deal of self-discipline to act like a man in physical, heated, often dirty combat.

Everyone wants to see 'mean streaks' in a player. But a mean streak is just will to excell, and I don't think that's lacking on this team. Not one bit.

Some players do appear superficially 'tougher' than others, but scratch the surface and you realize not one of them would have survived in the league one day if he weren't the epitome of tough.

BTW, I was worried when we lost Dan Campbell, because to me he was the face of true toughness in a football player (remember when he tore the Lisfranc...he just kept playing and said later. "yeah, I felt something snap"), but Witten and Fasano...they're more than capable of taking on the mantle.

So are the rest of them..or they wouldn't be here.

 

[peplaw06]

Nice post LTN...

too bad 50cent won't listen

 

[jrumann59]

Hey 50 cent since I put my .02 in earlier and you haven't really supported your statement can I have my .48 in change now.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

So you want Parcells leading the band???

I guess you see things the way you want to see them to some extent, I do the same thing. but statistically speaking our defense has been pretty good. They were really good before the Philly game. And I have confidence they will be good at the end of the year.

I couldn't even think of a scenario in my mind where it looks like guys are just going through the motions. Our D came out in the last game and kept us in it early on, when we could have been down 21-0 real quick... Westbrook fumbled... they were driving there. They gave up the one TD, and then they held Philly to a FG after they got the ball inside our 15. Saved us 11 points in the first 5 minutes. Doesn't sound like a D going through the motions, but I guess you're seeing something different.

We aren't seeing it too differently, do you think this D has played up to its potential?? I don't think so, whether it is coaching or the players, it is probably both. Our DC is sitting and waiting for the offense to make a mistake, instead of causing the mistake.

That does make the team have a tendency to look tame.

A+ Really hilarious thread.

Until now I never understood that being 'tough' and being 'a nice guy' were mutually exclusive.

We got one of the most explosive hitters in the past generation whose instinctually precise angles into players merely devastate them... a player whose hits are so perfectly plotted as to appear to defy the laws of physics...a player who's laid waste to so many opponents in sometimes problematical ways that they name "rules" after him.

But because the last time he exploded a full force bulls-eye blitz into a quarterback the size of a linebacker, hitting him so hard you could see Leftwich literally jacknife, and hear the 'ooomph' of air sucked out of his lungs....he followed up with a "sorry", Williams loses his 'toughness' credentials.

And we've got a dt two gapping some of the fiercest mofos in the league...but because he's got a sense of humour, he's wussified.

Oooookaaaayyy.

I think the definition of toughness needs elaborating.

For a pro football player, it is first and foremost playing with and in pain, no whining, no gold bricking, no looking for practice outs no matter how hurt.

Secondly, toughness is about doing the job, taking on the assignment and completing it..it's about discipline, stamina, and the ability to use every ounce of strength left unsapped when you're dog weary. It's about not letting your teamates down - THAT'S 'toughness'.

Toughness is about principles and reliability, about self-sacrifice and teamwork. About subjugating the ego to the greater good.

Toughness is not about macho posturing, unsportsmanlike behavior, trash talk, WWF style grimacing, or ever, ever about losing control. It's about self-control, because it takes a great deal of self-discipline to act like a man in physical, heated, often dirty combat.

Everyone wants to see 'mean streaks' in a player. But a mean streak is just will to excell, and I don't think that's lacking on this team. Not one bit.

Some players do appear superficially 'tougher' than others, but scratch the surface and you realize not one of them would have survived in the league one day if he weren't the epitome of tough.

BTW, I was worried when we lost Dan Campbell, because to me he was the face of true toughness in a football player (remember when he tore the Lisfranc...he just kept playing and said later. "yeah, I felt something snap"), but Witten and Fasano...they're more than capable of taking on the mantle.

So are the rest of them..or they wouldn't be here.

Nice Post.

Now how can I listen to a person whose favorite player is Terry Glenn, preach about toughness..........just kidding, lol, she is tough.......sometimes

All kidding aside, I still think some of you are pointing to the wrong terms. 50 cent put words out there such as "soft", or not "tough", but those are not the correct words, and I don't think they have much merit. What I think he means is what I'm talking about, an emotional leader.

A guy that wears his passion on his sleeve. A guy that pumps you up watching him, and you are just sitting on your couch. A guy that makes you want to punch a hole in your table, opps, sorry Rack, that was done out of anger right?

Irvin did that. There are a few that do it in this league, and alot of them have a tendency to be leading some of the top defenses. That is not a coincidence.

 

[peplaw06]

We aren't seeing it too differently, do you think this D has played up to its potential?? I don't think so, whether it is coaching or the players, it is probably both. Our DC is sitting and waiting for the offense to make a mistake, instead of causing the mistake.

That does make the team have a tendency to look tame.

There's no doubt our D could have played better against Philly. No question. We gave up a lot of big plays. But you're making it sound like we got a bunch of sleepwalking zombies out there, and that's a bit of an exaggeration.

All kidding aside, I still think some of you are pointing to the wrong terms. 50 cent put words out there such as "soft", or not "tough", but those are not the correct words, and I don't think they have much merit. What I think he means is what I'm talking about, an emotional leader.

Nope, 50 doesn't get a pass... he put the word soft in the title, then said other teams don't respect our players as men. And you don't have to be emotional to be tough.

That's not what you're talking about. Not saying I agree with you, but at least you have some kind of an argument.

50 accused Roy of being soft because he's a nice guy, and that's just ludicrous.

 

[HighTechDave]

we are soft, at least at the COACHING position.

attack, then when you get tired, ATTACK again.

Bill is a conservative old school wimp. Hammer 'em ******!!!!!

gawd

 

[Deep_Freeze]

There's no doubt our D could have played better against Philly. No question. We gave up a lot of big plays. But you're making it sound like we got a bunch of sleepwalking zombies out there, and that's a bit of an exaggeration.

One thing about it though, our DC could cause our guys to look like zombies out there, instead of agressively going after the QB and putting pressure on the opposition in general. But yes, sleepwalking zombies is a bit of an exaggeration.

Guess I would like more visual fire, like Junior Seau used to bring to the Chargers. Those type of guys look so intense that it contagiously perks up everyone on the team. Football is a violent sport, sometimes you need a balls to the wall mentality out there for a D.

Nope, 50 doesn't get a pass... he put the word soft in the title, then said other teams don't respect our players as men. And you don't have to be emotional to be tough.

That's not what you're talking about. Not saying I agree with you, but at least you have some kind of an argument.

50 accused Roy of being soft because he's a nice guy, and that's just ludicrous.

:laugh2:

Play nice now, I'm trying to help the guy out, lol.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

we are soft, at least at the COACHING position.

attack, then when you get tired, ATTACK again.

Bill is a conservative old school wimp. Hammer 'em ******!!!!!

gawd

:laugh2:

A bit crude, although may have some degree of truth about Zimmer.......and his passive style.

It is harder to show the fire I speak of when you are just trying to tackle them once they get the ball, and hoping they don't get the 10 yards.

Easier to show fire I guess if you have 8 sacks and 2 Ints, or something. Being passive does make us look a bit asleep. I don't know, I would just rather have a better defensive philsophy, I remember BP said he had to curtail alot of the plays that Zimmer wanted to run.

The culprit is probably somewhere in the middle of those two.

 

[HighTechDave]

:laugh2:

A bit crude, although may have some degree of truth about Zimmer.......and his passive style.

It is harder to show the fire I speak of when you are just trying to tackle them once they get the ball, and hoping they don't get the 10 yards.

Easier to show fire I guess if you have 8 sacks and 2 Ints, or something. Being passive does make us look a bit asleep. I don't know, I would just rather have a better defensive philsophy, I remember BP said he had to curtail alot of the plays that Zimmer wanted to run.

The culprit is probably somewhere in the middle of those two.

lol, that statement was not against Zimmer and the defense. Let loose the Hounds, is his statement.

no, actually it was against the offense. They seem just a little too passive and p-word on their calls and attack strategy. Go for the throat if your going to suck,,,, Bill.

that was all. Just seems there is no killer aura (sp?), which means lack of leadership on both the coaching and players.

had no prob in the Jimmy era......... hehehe

 

[Deep_Freeze]

lol, that statement was not against Zimmer and the defense. Let loose the Hounds, is his statement.

no, actually it was against the offense. They seem just a little too passive and p-word on their calls and attack strategy. Go for the throat if your going to suck,,,, Bill.

that was all. Just seems there is no killer aura (sp?), which means lack of leadership on both the coaching and players.

had no prob in the Jimmy era......... hehehe

Aaaah, I think the offense is fine from an agressive standpoint. Drew will stand back there all day patting the ball waiting on the big play first, so I doubt that he is being passive back there. If anything, he is being too aggressive waiting on something big, instead of dumping the ball off.

Now, they could be more creative with the offense, and perhaps that is what you are saying. If so, it seems to be OK, but it could stand some more trick plays or two.

 

[HighTechDave]

ask Patton about his trick plays. not dissing your points, valid.

just quit being a wimp U.N. Sanctions assembly group, and just kick their ***.

all I got. discuss

 

[dontpush]

since when is canty a nice guy on the field...that whole list is ****ed

 

[cowboyed]

Well then, the Eagles are just tougher than we are.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I believe it is because we do not attack enough......we play passive .....not to lose vs to win the game!

 

[LaTunaNostra]

All kidding aside, I still think some of you are pointing to the wrong terms. 50 cent put words out there such as "soft", or not "tough", but those are not the correct words, and I don't think they have much merit. What I think he means is what I'm talking about, an emotional leader.

A guy that wears his passion on his sleeve. A guy that pumps you up watching him, and you are just sitting on your couch. A guy that makes you want to punch a hole in your table, opps, sorry Rack, that was done out of anger right?

Irvin did that. There are a few that do it in this league, and alot of them have a tendency to be leading some of the top defenses. That is not a coincidence.

That I can agree to. A vocal, emotional leader like Key was - I think he and Dan struck just the right balance last year between in-your-face 'tude and calm, relentless 'nastiness'. The thing about that kind of leadership is it can't be feigned - it's in a person's personality, or not. Confidence breeds leadership, but the most effective emotional kind is part of basic temperament.

It's the kind of effect I prefer to see coming from the QB, and which Vinnie T or Drew Bledsoe never had. I think Romo may have it, tho.

On D, I see it developing somewhat in Bradie James.

 

[superpunk]

Having a vocal, fiery leader is a nice idea. And maybe seeing a guy that worked up gets a few select players just as worked up. Maybe it gets us worked up in our living room. But consider this - When was the last time you really saw that "fire" (and by fire, I'm assuming we're talking about guys who go nuts after they make a big play, maybe with a dance, some shouting, etc...) by itself inspire the rest of the team?

I thought about that, and I can't really say I've seen that. Ray Lewis receives a bunch of hype for his weekly pregame hype session, where he walks around screaming to anyone that will listen, but do you see any of them really reacting to it? Mostly, I just see players sitting around, on the bench, joking with one another, calmly talking, etc.

When a player makes a stop in the backfield, a la Joey Porter, and then has to do a little rehearsed dance, where he feigns kicking something, or something else that isolates himself, do you think that really gets anyone else fired up? Generally, when these players are doing their celebrations, they make a concerted effort to get away from their teammates, so as to get more exposure.

I think, what inspires the rest of the team more than anything else is performance. Because, even at that level, a hit that makes everyone cringe for the poor guy that got layed out, makes everyone go "Oooooohhhh". And noone - noone - delivers those hits more than Roy. How many times have you seen him deliver one of those, and then be surrounded by congratulatory teammates, sharing in his moment? That is inspiring.

At the NFL level, it's not about fiery emotional speeches. These guys have heard it all before. Do you really think Ray Lewis' act of checking to see whether or not the dogs, are in fact, in the house, isn't a little played out to some of his teammates? Do you think that effects them that much? I doubt it. The most effective thing is preparation. A team that is prepared, is going to be extremely confident when they go out there. They're going to be in position for game-changing plays. The confidence that comes from preparation is more empowering than any feigned "toughness" that comes out in dances or speeches. And that's where our team is one of the toughest in the league, at least according to Parcells, and actual opposing teams that we've faced. It is mentally taxing to play us.

 

[joseephuss]

Wasn't Pacman Jones just saying the other day that the Titans needed more thugs on the team. Perhaps Dallas needs more thugs as well. :laugh1:

 

[Uh-Oh]

So what the thread starter is saying is that he would rather have the Bengals' jail-hopping thugs in cleats, rather than good citizen NFL players.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Are the Skins "tough" and "men" because some of them play dirty?

And hey, did you see where Lawerence Philips just tried to run over some guys with his car? There's a guy we could add to our team to make us more street-tough and respectable on the field.