Quote:I'm working on it... I think every poster is going through the five stages of grief...


Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.


I read this entire thread before I made my first post. And I've seen all five stages from different posters. I'm not sure where I'm at right now. I'm trying to get to acceptance...


Here's my conflict... I think I'm bouncing from bargaining and acceptance. You tell me...


This is Gus Bradley's time to truly show us his "juice". It's a common critique that Gus is a motivator, but not a technician. This blow so early in the season is make or break in terms of how the preseason will shake out.


Dante, I don't even know the guy, is obviously a Gus type player. High motor, high enthusiasm, high positivity.


Can Gus use this set back as a stepping stone to motivate the team? To me, this is why Gus has the helm of our team. Gus can bring this team to great things. I have faith that this can be sticking point for Gus. This can be the moment that solidifies him as the coach.


Injuries happen. But could I be bargaining, wishing for Gus to be the head coach we all expect, am I in denial of what the cynics already think, or am I in acceptance that this one player isn't the main point of what will make or break this team.


If Gus really has juice with our squad, this will be a moment that seals it.


Whatever people think of his game day decisions, and I'm one of those cynics, I think this type of disaster is what can make Gus the head coach that turns this malaise around.

 

Mon frere Anchor.  Good stuff; introspective.  I can respond via a thesis but won't bore our posters.  I'd say this, stages of grieving is a theory, as you purported.  Hence it's a challenge to pinpoint its individual phases.  As long as one acknowledges an issue and find ways of channeling the emotional toll it yields, all good.

 

I have spoken about Gus Bradley.  I am not a believer thus far, in spite of the talent level he had to work with.  Del Rio would have won more with the same level of talent, in my view.  He proved that with comparably thin rosters.  I agree mate, let's see how Coach Bradley utilize this early setback.  I wrote in another thread that he has to absolutely, personally, focus on getting a W on opening day, at your house.  That's a luxury, to host the first 2.  Anything less than 1-1, then it'll be disaster looming.  No matter how much you develop over time.  A young group needs to start expecting Ws for Ws to become part of the culture.  All this 'we just want to compete and get better' jargon, to me, is an inherent excuse for losing, and yields a cop out/loser mentality.  We have moved from that phase now.

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