12-17-2020, 09:03 PM
(12-17-2020, 08:37 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Here's what I think would be a reasonable quote:
"It's been a tough year, there's no doubt about that. But our goal moving forward is the same as it was to start the year, to win balls games.
We're going to get ready for Pittsburgh, and my job is to make sure that our guys are going to give the effort we demand here. And if they don't then we'll find someone who will.
Even with the playoffs out of reach, this team still has the opportunity to pick up a couple of division wins, which is something we desperately need. We've failed in that department thus far and we have no intention of packing it in, or getting down on ourselves. We need to do better. Now is another opportunity.
Look, guys. It's real simple. This team has to get better. I have to get better. We all need to get better. We're going to have to find a way to find some success to close out the year. It's imperative to see results to build off of moving forward.
I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. Neither are our guys. None of us are happy right now, as I'm sure none of our fans are either. But the best thing we can right now is to go out there on Sunday and leave it all out on the field. That's the best answer I can give right now.
This isn't an excuse, or an answer meant to explain our woes. But we have one focus right now. Until the season is up, I can't allow myself to think of anything beyond this slate of games ahead of us.
We need to win. Period."
I'm not writing this and believing this exact quote needs to be said, it's just a typical coach speak repsonse that I think hits on a couple key things:
-Acknowledging the season has been a failure
-Stating the results/effort is not acceptable
-Preaching accountability (for coaches and players)
-Not looking forward (saying things will be great in the future), and simply focusing on the present task
That's really it. He doesn't need to hit on all of these things, or come anywhere close to the wording I used. That's not really all that important.
What is important however, is not coming out (for the umpteeth time) and giving a quote where speaks down the road when everything is going to be hunky dory. No one wants to hear that right now. And people see better than the here.
Show them. Show them something. Show them anything.
Until then, shut the hell up with this snake oil bs and give a typical response like the one I just took the time to give to you. It's not that hard to read a room, and spare everyone with this nonsense that no one is in the mood to hear.
Thanks for taking the time to write that. I like it but I don't think many people on the board would give him a break if he actually had said that. Fans want wins and that is it. Anything else is just BS. I get it and I want us to win too. I guess I am the only one on this board who did not think this was a 2 year fix and we would be playing for the Championship. I know everybody wants progress but 2020 has been a tough year for all teams involved especially rebuilding teams. I know Miami is playing well but I feel like they are a year ahead of us. I also think Bengals beat them if we had Joe Burrow. People also like to point out our losing record against the NFC East. Well Redskins did beat the Steelers and the Cowboys and Giants both gave the Steelers everything they wanted. In fact if it were not for 4 horrendous calls Cowboys beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh. One more year and then I am done with ZT if I do not see a major improvement. 8-8 is what I would consider major. Thanks again!
