(09-09-2024, 06:05 PM)Firesky Wrote: Honestly it's on the leadership. Coaching for sure is a problem, but i'm talking more about the team Captains and veteran leaders amongst the players. We have guys that have survived multiple regimes and losing cultures that are still here perpetuating the same old losing ways!!

The biggest strides we made in the past (2017 in particular for this example) was when Marrone after being promoted to Head Coach; ousted a lot of the vets from 2016 into 2017 and brought in vets from winning teams that knew how to win and set a good tone for the rest of the roster. Guys like: Calais Campbell, Barry Church etc. that were strong leaders as well as dependable players.

I know he's not playing and is on IR, but as a CAPTAIN i was alarmed last year to see this soundbite from Wingard after the Steelers game last year: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y8upx7DfH4A  "I don't need no complaining and oh, do this, do that, we're 6-2... JAGS!!" -Andrew Wingard. I may be a bit hyperbolic zeroing in on this in particular; and Wingard is correct that getting the W was what mattered. But the "complaining" was pointing out glaring issues that ultimately doomed our season to that god awful collapse. Considering the way our Defense last year had position groups not talking to each other and pointing fingers as to where the blame should be. Ignoring issues and communication breaking down is not good leadership!! I don't think it was enough to just swap out the Defensive coaching staff. I can't for the life of me understand why the Captains and player leaders on that Defense stuck around or were put into leaderships roles again this season after what allegedly occurred to end last year. 

Josh Hines-Allen is growing into a leader. But outside of him, I really don't see anyone else on this roster that's a vocal guy that can rally everyone like Calais Campbell used to. We are SORELY missing that veteran presence and respected voice that can get everyone to focus up, take a breath, and take care of business when the adversity shows up. In theory it should be Trevor Lawrence, but that's going to take time since that's not his style right now, and time is a luxury we don't have with a roster that's in its window to contend.

tl;dr - We need better vet leaders and captains from amount the players. Coaching changes will only do so much.

The only players still on the team that were here pre-Urban Meyer are:
Cam Robinson
Roy Robertson Harris
Logan Cooke
Josh Hines Allen
Andrew Wingard
DaVon Hamilton.

We can all agree that Cooke and Allen are good. Wingard is only a back up/ST guy who is always high energy.

Maybe you can say Cam, but they have definitely tried to find replacements for OT in the draft even if they failed with Little, Hamilton, and Foster. 

Basically there aren't that many "legacy" players that you are blaming this on.

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