Link: Three Departing Players Explain What Went Wrong in 2013
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Or in Hubbard's case, go to the NFL. I found it ironic he would say that since he never really "got" it and reached his potential.
Being a Texan, I follow the San Antonio Spurs which Coach Popovich has molded around the importance of TEAM play. The first thing he demands of his players is "get over yourself".
Certainly he wants players to maximize their individual skills but only within the team concept. Some players either cannot, or will not, buy into that concept and move on down the road.
Some talented players refuse to "get over yourself".
Players who accept Pop's team concept often choose to stay and work for less money in order to bring in better players to help the TEAM. If a guy is really a star, he will be better with better players around him.
I see many "Popovich" qualities in Coach Saban and consider him the best coach in CFB today. Although Coach Saban cares deeply for his players individually, he is strong enough to DEMAND team unity above all.
Certainly he wants players to maximize their individual skills but only within the team concept. Some players either cannot, or will not, buy into that concept and move on down the road.
Some talented players refuse to "get over yourself".
Players who accept Pop's team concept often choose to stay and work for less money in order to bring in better players to help the TEAM. If a guy is really a star, he will be better with better players around him.
I see many "Popovich" qualities in Coach Saban and consider him the best coach in CFB today. Although Coach Saban cares deeply for his players individually, he is strong enough to DEMAND team unity above all.
I'll agree with that whole heartedly. There were other issues that are rarely touched upon as well.
I think the Texas rumors hurt somewhat. Like it or not, it's hard for players to "buy in" when there's talk, rumor or not, that the coach who's asking them to may possibly be leaving.
I also think A.J. getting all the sudden national acclaim had an effect. Although he deserved it very much and beyond, I think the distractions of having to take the time to do a Sports Illustrated interview, etc. effected his performance somewhat after the LSU game.
These are just a couple of things, and I'm sure there's others, but it certainly seems like a rather large amount of distractions hit us this year that had a negative impact on our focus.
We started slow, gained some momentum and then played like a pretty average team the last four games. sip
Almost sounds like they are saying some players became complacent to winning and "phoned it in" for the IB.
Wouldn't you agree that the IB looked like that? We've not played that poorly in YEARS.
I agree and have seen this happen to many programs over the years. Both in the positive as well as the negative direction.
I also think when Vinny Sunseri went out it impacted the team on a couple levels. He was a team leader and in many ways the glue that held the defense together.
We all know there are many components to winning and sometimes it doesn't take much to upset the dynamic.
I also think when Vinny Sunseri went out it impacted the team on a couple levels. He was a team leader and in many ways the glue that held the defense together.
We all know there are many components to winning and sometimes it doesn't take much to upset the dynamic.
I think the biggest problem with last years team and what concerns me about the upcoming season is junior and senior leadership.
Coaches can talk all they want but there have to be enough team leaders to hold everyone accountable. Our success and the success of many of our players has caused a drain on the number of junior and senior leaders. Those are the guys who have to step up and lead.
If you look over our roster you're not going to find many upcoming juniors or seniors who have been consistent starters, which is one of the criteria to be a team leader. You have to have played a lot, know a lot and be respected by the other players.
Losing Sunseri hurts more from a potential leadership role than actual ability. I think Collins will become a leader. DePriest may become one but on offense Yeldon, Cooper and Sheppard are going to have to come out of their shells to become leaders on the offense.
Coaches can talk all they want but there have to be enough team leaders to hold everyone accountable. Our success and the success of many of our players has caused a drain on the number of junior and senior leaders. Those are the guys who have to step up and lead.
If you look over our roster you're not going to find many upcoming juniors or seniors who have been consistent starters, which is one of the criteria to be a team leader. You have to have played a lot, know a lot and be respected by the other players.
Losing Sunseri hurts more from a potential leadership role than actual ability. I think Collins will become a leader. DePriest may become one but on offense Yeldon, Cooper and Sheppard are going to have to come out of their shells to become leaders on the offense.
I agree with you, heck I usually do but a couple of things concerns me about next year.
Who will be the leaders?
What happens to the ones who did not buy in? Are they still there? If it was so obvious why we're they not sit down?
I believe in CNS he will get it done, but next year is going to be really tough unless we have a bunch of freshmen step up to take the place of those not buying in.
I thought that complacency was behind us with all the talent Coach Saban had stockpiled at virtually every position. I reasoned that the competition for PT would ensure that everyone would have to try to excel because if not, there's others right behind you that are just as talented and are hungry for your PT.
So much for that theory.
Bet that Coach Saban gets it fixed PDQ though.
It's really a shame though that this team didn't realize what they were on the edge of and stupidly let it slip away.
That's why the 1966 team will always be so special to me, they were in the same position and would not be denied. Unfortnately, a bunch of thieves posing as sportswriters took that away from them abd denied them their much deserved place in history.
So much for that theory.
Bet that Coach Saban gets it fixed PDQ though.
It's really a shame though that this team didn't realize what they were on the edge of and stupidly let it slip away.
That's why the 1966 team will always be so special to me, they were in the same position and would not be denied. Unfortnately, a bunch of thieves posing as sportswriters took that away from them abd denied them their much deserved place in history.
In 2012 Mosely wasn't a vocal leader at all, but he stepped up this year, as did Vinnie. I can see Depreist doing similar on the defense, as well as perhaps Collins.
On offense, we have any number of skill players coming back that tasted the sweetness of the NC in 2012 - I suspect several will step forward to become leaders. We had a great leader in AJ this year and we still couldn't get it done, so it's not just about the leadership.
I'm most interested in seeing what kind of OL we put on the field next year - if we get back to attacking and mauling, we'll have a very good year.
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Along with Dickson, Perry, and Williams.
.
Yep. Coop, TJ, Nudie, DeAndrew, and Christion immediately come to mind.
I completely agree. That's what made it hard for me to understand why Saban would have Sexton kicking up all that talk. I understand it was to influence the administrations' decision as to how big of a raise to give him. But how could Saban expect that the Texas two-step was getting in the administrations' heads to sway them, and not expect it to affect the team the same way.
With the three-peat on the table, I was disappointed in the Texas distraction and don't understand why it was tolerated. To me, it just seemed counter-productive to the process.
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What you said is the God awful truth.
I just cannot imagine how one could be complacent for the IB!!!
How could you not want to roll out of bed that day and NOT want to knock the crap out of your rival, just because? That is something you should look forward to all year, like your birthday or Christmas or something.
Because you grew up in Texas or Ohio or Arkansas or California or Louisiana and the Iron Bowl means very little to you other than being a game on the schedule. Heck, AJ admits he didn't know much about the Iron Bowl, and he grew up in Mobile.
Could it be that the players (or at least a number of them) are not as emotionally invested in the rivalry ? That might be particularly true for someone who`s more into "Me" than they are into the team, school and what the game means to the fans and the state.
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