Patience 2.0 [Archive] - Page 3 - Commanders Post at The Warpath

JoeRedskin

09-20-2006, 12:07 PM

As a fan, I can be patient. Hell, I have been patient since 1992 - through Petibon, Turner, Schottenheimer and (sigh) Spurrier and now for year three of Gibbs; through Casserly, Cerrato, Schottenheimer and Cerrato 2.0; through Jacke Kent & John Cooke and now Snyder (at the next game, I will be selling T-shirts saying "I bought the most expensive ticket in the NFL and all I got was a meglomaniacal owner who couldn't run a Madden Playstation team"). After the build-up this year, however, being told to, yet again, be patient is very bitter pill.

Don't get me wrong. I think this team is light years ahead of where it was under Spurrier – But I was lead to believe this was the year it was going to payoff. I was given this impression not from the media (though they did seem to be given us a newfound degree of respect), not from the homers who think always think this is the year (though, again, the hope seemed more well-founded based on last year's performance), and not from the coaching staff (who made it clear that last year bought nothing but a harder schedule).

No, this year's high expectations came from the players directly. They constantly spoke of this year being something special, telling us fans that they wanted and needed us because this year was their year, that this was the year "Superbowl or bust" was the appropriate slogan. From the QB who talked of Superbowl, to the veterans who told us that poor preseason play was nothing to worry about, this was a team that encouraged us to expect big things of them.

Given their statements, my concern with being patient is that the players have simply got the wrong attitude and that their "patience" is what is the root of the problem. Whether it is the QB, the line, WR's or the defense – what we are seeing is PLAYERS not winning the games. Gibbs can take as much on himself as he wants, but the truth is the players are simply not winning their physical battles, committing penalties that kill/sustain drives, and simply not making plays. Are they not as talented as their competition? I don't think so – they may not be the most talented team in the league but, given their finish last year, this team has talent comparable to and capable of beating good teams. Rather, I think the players seemed to assume things would "click" and got lazy.

I saw no sense of urgency in either of the first to games. By urgency, I mean that the players did not play focused and mean. Yes, injuries hurt us, but rather than disrupt the team, this should have them to focus more and to step up their game. I just don't see it. As we have seen, through last year and, by contrast, through the Spurrier years, is that winning on this level requires full time focus and energy. Every little thing counts, all the time. You don't fall into winning – you crave and pursue it. I am afraid this team seemed to assume it would just happen.

Will they step it up? I just don't know.

I guess I'll just have to be patient.

I hate that.


	Commanders Post at The Warpath > Commanders Football > Locker Room Main Forum > Patience 2.0 PDA Patience 2.0 Pages : 1 2 [3] TheMalcolmConnection 09-20-2006, 10:09 AM I'm getting clowned from left to right today by my managers (Bears and Seahawks fans). They seem to think that we have only two games that are winnable on our schedule and one even boldly predicted we're no better than 8-8. It pains me to take crap from them but I have patience on my side. Mark my words, we'll have the last laugh. Very nice quotes saden. I don't know if I speak for everyone else, but honestly I've been done worrying about Sunday. I'm ready for Houston, Brunell or not. warriorzpath 09-20-2006, 10:13 AM A little patience for the fans (so we all don't go insane), but there better be some sense of urgency for the team. The team better figure things out as fast as they can. JoeRedskin 09-20-2006, 12:07 PM As a fan, I can be patient. Hell, I have been patient since 1992 - through Petibon, Turner, Schottenheimer and (sigh) Spurrier and now for year three of Gibbs; through Casserly, Cerrato, Schottenheimer and Cerrato 2.0; through Jacke Kent & John Cooke and now Snyder (at the next game, I will be selling T-shirts saying "I bought the most expensive ticket in the NFL and all I got was a meglomaniacal owner who couldn't run a Madden Playstation team"). After the build-up this year, however, being told to, yet again, be patient is very bitter pill. Don't get me wrong. I think this team is light years ahead of where it was under Spurrier – But I was lead to believe this was the year it was going to payoff. I was given this impression not from the media (though they did seem to be given us a newfound degree of respect), not from the homers who think always think this is the year (though, again, the hope seemed more well-founded based on last year's performance), and not from the coaching staff (who made it clear that last year bought nothing but a harder schedule). No, this year's high expectations came from the players directly. They constantly spoke of this year being something special, telling us fans that they wanted and needed us because this year was their year, that this was the year "Superbowl or bust" was the appropriate slogan. From the QB who talked of Superbowl, to the veterans who told us that poor preseason play was nothing to worry about, this was a team that encouraged us to expect big things of them. Given their statements, my concern with being patient is that the players have simply got the wrong attitude and that their "patience" is what is the root of the problem. Whether it is the QB, the line, WR's or the defense – what we are seeing is PLAYERS not winning the games. Gibbs can take as much on himself as he wants, but the truth is the players are simply not winning their physical battles, committing penalties that kill/sustain drives, and simply not making plays. Are they not as talented as their competition? I don't think so – they may not be the most talented team in the league but, given their finish last year, this team has talent comparable to and capable of beating good teams. Rather, I think the players seemed to assume things would "click" and got lazy. I saw no sense of urgency in either of the first to games. By urgency, I mean that the players did not play focused and mean. Yes, injuries hurt us, but rather than disrupt the team, this should have them to focus more and to step up their game. I just don't see it. As we have seen, through last year and, by contrast, through the Spurrier years, is that winning on this level requires full time focus and energy. Every little thing counts, all the time. You don't fall into winning – you crave and pursue it. I am afraid this team seemed to assume it would just happen. Will they step it up? I just don't know. I guess I'll just have to be patient. I hate that.