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The Fate of Bob Sanders
I am not a “fire the coach” kind of guy. I believe that most of the time the performance of teams is due to what the do players on the field. I think pretty much any scheme or system can win games (whether that game be football, basketball or, well, just about anything). What matters is having players good enough to execute and be difference makers. This season, I don’t think the Packers had enough of those players in their defensive front seven, and that, I believe, is why they failed so often down the stretch is losing seven games by less than four points. Given the foregoing, it might surprise you to hear me come out in favor of terminating Defensive Coordinator Bob Sanders.
Heck, I have even surprised myself with this take. But the reason for it is an acknowledgement that games are played by people, not mindless drones. They aren’t chess pieces on a board with no feelings, attitudes or memories. Considering the horrific collapses suffered by the Green Bay defense at critical times this year, I am not sure the defensive players can return under the same coach running the same system and believe the results will be better. If they don’t believe, the chances of improvement next year diminish. Sometimes the best way to create such belief is through something symbolic — even cosmetic — and, to me, that is what firing a coach really is all about.
Therefore, I am not sure it is all that important who is brought in as Defensive Coordinator. The key thing is that it is someone new, a fresh face with a new approach and different attitude. That’s not to say that someone like, for instance, Bob Slowik would suffice, but pretty much anyone with a proven track record might be enough to rekindle belief and spark the defense in 2009.
Well, that and an edge rusher who can put pressure on the QB and a interior lineman who can collapse the pocket. Players’ confidence can be improved by not just switching out coaches, but by a demonstration from management that the team is serious about getting better, and bringing in a proven player or two can be a jolt of electricity for morale in addition to whatever that player brings on the field.
After all, it is still mainly about the players. Always has been and, I think, always will be.
3 Comments
The theme looks great, gives me a lot of inspiration for some of my own projects.a definite bookmark
Have to agree about Sanders; keeping him in place or even replacing him with someone already on staff sends the unintended message that the status quo was acceptible, which it most certainly is not.
And wasn’t Dave Navarro the guy that used to be married to Carmen Electra?
If Dave wasn’t, I am sure he wishes he was.