Impatience, desperation, and insecurity.

After Shad acquired the franchise, we've had turnover from the top down. Trying to replace players with the wrong players, or in the wrong year (picking QBs in years of weak classes, thinking your QB is a long-term solution and picking other positions, etc.). Trying to win over a fickle fanbase that tends to only show when the wins are plentiful.

If you bring in the right guys (front office, coaches, or players), you have the option to ask for patience while the other gaps are dealt with. Changing from Gene to Dave was absolutely necessary, and likely the best move that allows a defence of patience over replacement. I don't know that you can say Mularkey was hired to be a long-term fixture at HC, nor could you say the same for Doug. Our desperation to acquire QBs has either depleted our draft capital (trading up to acquire guys, overvaluing the position instead of picking other positions, etc) or drastically impacted our cap room. Swinging for the fences in free agency and missing on a number of players has only hurt our ability to be more patient.

Vic has said that locals were spoiled by college fandom. The big 3 in state, whichever you root for, had runs of success with a big-name coach and a steady base of renewed talent by way of recruiting that made winning seem easy, and expected. The harsh reality of the shield is that unless you are blessed with a generational guy, expecting anything beyond competition for a playoff spot is likely delusion.

Look at the teams that tend to be successful. They have fixtures at HC, GM, or the key positions on the field. They have an identity. They have a fanbase that sells out the stadium. All those things contribute to the long-term health of a franchise. They don't swing for the fences in a desperate act to try and fix a problem. Look at the Browns - they have all this change, almost constantly at QB, HC, and even GM. Last year, they give Hugh the boot, quite understandably, but their coaching hire is a fan and player favorite, first year coach promoted up from coaching the OL. He's proven to be unprepared for the leap, and they are likely going to have to either stick through the growing pains with him, possibly wasting some good talent in the process, or firing him and starting over again with someone more qualified.

Shad seems to be a patient man, sometimes to a fault. I don't know what change will come this season, but I hope it's the last change we have to endure for a very long time.

---