People can talk about the leaders we lost, the character issues we brought in, the bull's-eye we've painted on ourselves and any number of things, but those are all theoretical problems. One very real problem we have had since Rex has been our leader is a systemic lack of discipline, in the form of stupid penalties and stupider turnovers. We cleaned it up in the playoffs last year, and I chalked up our earlier struggles to the Manchez coming of age, but then the problem cropped up again this preseason. Don't get me wrong, I love how Rex talks some serious shit and is always talking his players up, but what I need to see more of is the ability to instill discipline. His "football must be fun" mantra is great, but not at the expense of "football must be held onto." I just don't want to see the Jets Plaxico. After all, shooting oneself in the foot is the easiest way to lose. So, in order to avoid this being a purposeless rant, I'll throw it out to my fellow TGGers: Can anyone give me any definite signs that we are, or are becoming, a disciplined team?
I'm not going to worry about discipline based on penalties and turnovers in the preseason. I'm not saying that it definitely won't be a problem, but you really can't read anything into what we've seen so far--every team is sloppy in the preseason.
We were pretty middle of the road in terms of penalties last season. Turnovers, on the underhand, are an understandable concern.
Waterloo is a town on Ontario. It's nice. I know several girls who are really hot who live in Waterloo. I like Waterloo.
Turnovers are our Waterloo. They're every team's Waterloo. Penalties? Ah, fuck flags. Most penalties in 2009, NFC: Green Bay (playoffs!) 2nd most: Philly (playoffs!) Most penalties in 2009, AFC: Cincinnati (playoffs!) 2nd most: Baltimore (playoffs!) Fewest penalties in 2009, NFC: Atlanta (playoffs?!) 2nd fewest: Washington (playoffs?!) Fewest penaties in 2009, AFC: Jacksonville (playoffs?!) *2nd fewest: Indy (yeah, yeah...)
Rex tells his guys to take risks, I want you to go out and make plays. When you tell guys that, your team will NEVER have the fewest penalties and turnovers. Offensively, the guys are taking a little extra risk to try and make a play with the ball so sometimes, they overdo it, and lose a fumble. In Sanchez case, i don't think his turnovers can be attributed to coaching as much as pure inexperience. Defensively, the guys are taking a little extra risk trying to get the INT, or pass breakup, and will bump guys early, it happens. Our guys make more big plays, than the teams who play it safe, so its all about a tradeoff. I would rather see an extra 4-5 penalties a game than any other team, if it also means we see two or three more "big" plays in a game than any other team.
Vil, read this article in its entirety: http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=59017 It completely changed my perspective on Rex's coaching style.
I attempted to attend the Allmans at Waterloo, in 1989. We brought a keg for the tailgate. I was passed out by six after keeling over while pissing by the woods. I then spent the next four hours vomiting in the back of a minivan, but I do remember hearing the tail end of Whipping Post through my drunken haze. Good times.
I saw George Carlin there. He did a skit about people dying randomly - lbut nothing subtle like keeling over. "Wouldn't it be fun if people heads would just explode? You'de be on the bus and all of a sudden - BOOM! You're sitting next to a body with a neck tie and no head. That would be more interesting wouldn't it"
it's preseason don't worry about it. If we turn the ball over three times monday night then we can worry.
