Perspective for the odd attitude of the Huddle

[lightsout]

So, I was one of the first after our week 1 win to point out the negatives of that win. I was also quick to point out the negatives of this week's win. A lot of other posters feel much the same. This team is not performing in the manner which inspires a lot of confidence at this time. Is it possible that they improve as they go week to week? Yes, and I'd say that is most likely going to happen.

A lot of other posters are wondering "why are we so upset being 2-0?". This is a fair and legitimate question. Why are we talking so negatively about a team (particularly offensively) that has won both games in a somewhat dominate fashion (at least on the defensive side of the ball)?

I can't speak for everybody, but I can speak for myself. Having played and coached and advised other coaches on football, I like to believe I know the game more than your average casual fan. I can assume that a lot of people here can say something similar and it be equally valid. I watch games from a coach's perspective. This sucks some of the fun out of it for me .For sure I view big plays as a casual fan and freak out. I don't care about the technique or if a couple of guys got beat in their respective matchups on that play if it benefited the Panthers in a positive way.

So, having this mindset of watching certain guys during plays and paying attention to individual matchups across the field, I see the things that I assume the coaches address in film sessions. Sometimes it's as simple as "TD has to get more downhill there, he allowed that cutback lane by floating over top". Sometimes it's Matt Kalil not squaring his shoulders to an end going outside on a pass rush, which allows them to dip through that block and get pressure. Sometimes it's more about communication in coverage. Whatever the case, I see things that are worrisome. I point them out sometimes on here. 

Applying this to the offense in terms of play design, the time used on the play clock pre-snap, the personnel decisions, etc., I see things that flat out don't make sense to me and other people who do coach or have coached the game. The pro game is for sure different, and these guys are professional coaches because they clearly have demonstrated an ability greater than the average Joe like me. I would probably get out-coached by Ron and Shula. No denying it. But that does not help alleviate the concerns with this 2-0 team.




TL;DR: some of us have a "coach's mentality" to watching any football game, and we tend to view every game (win or lose) as a "how can we improve for next week?" situation rather than just enjoying the wins as they come.

[Jangler]

look, it's the Madden effect. I can go 19-0 3 years straight. wtf?

[BIGH2001]

That's all? Give us more analysis...

[lightsout]

Just now, Jangler said:

look, it's the Madden affect. I can go 19-0 3 years straight. wtf?

As I appreciate the sarcasm, this is also part of it. People who don't understand X's and O's football but think they do because they only have to run 5 plays on Madden to go undefeated on the pro difficulty who are quick to point out simple things like "we need more drag routes because nobody can cover *insert receiver* on them". These people annoy me.

[BIGH2001]

I do agree with the play clock thing.  Why does it always have to be 1 second when we snap the ball. Opposing defenders know when the ball is going to be snapped every time and it probably helps them get  jump.  It takes away cadence and hard count as well.  Not to mention it seems like we are always rushing to get a damn play off.  If we were up 3 scores in the 4th quarter this is fine, but it's every single drive of the game. 

[Jangler]

3 minutes ago, lightsout said:

As I appreciate the sarcasm, this is also part of it. People who don't understand X's and O's football but think they do because they only have to run 5 plays on Madden to go undefeated on the pro difficulty who are quick to point out simple things like "we need more drag routes because nobody can cover *insert receiver* on them". These people annoy me.

this is the real problem.  Life does not conform to reality. or something like that....

[Saca312]

8 minutes ago, lightsout said:

 "we need more drag routes because nobody can cover *insert receiver* on them". These people annoy me.

Bang 8 routes for Funchess every game pls

[panthers55]

Maybe it is me but after coaching and playing sports most of my life I enjoy just watching other folks play with no responsibility to fix it or worry about it. Of course during the game I am  yelling about what we should or shouldn't be doing but like just being a fan. I was always anxious as a coach because I couldn't be out there and always blame myself for everyone. Maybe why I seem overly defensive when people trash our coaches.

[TN05]

1 hour ago, lightsout said:

As I appreciate the sarcasm, this is also part of it. People who don't understand X's and O's football but think they do because they only have to run 5 plays on Madden to go undefeated on the pro difficulty who are quick to point out simple things like "we need more drag routes because nobody can cover *insert receiver* on them". These people annoy me.

Yes, obviously the reason you all are ragging on us is because you are so much better at understanding football. Us stupid simpletons who like winning games and are optimistic about the team are suckers!

To be a true fan, you have to overreact to everything and act like everything is the end of the world, unless Dave Gentleman (PBUH) did it in which case his actions were perfect and beyond criticism. 

[lightsout]

12 minutes ago, TN05 said:

Yes, obviously the reason you all are ragging on us is because you are so much better at understanding football. Us stupid simpletons who like winning games and are optimistic about the team are suckers!

To be a true fan, you have to overreact to everything and act like everything is the end of the world, unless Dave Gentleman (PBUH) did it in which case his actions were perfect and beyond criticism. 

:I never even hinted at a superiority of fans like me to fans of other types within our base. I never name-called or gloated or anything of the sort.

Me thinks you want to be "enough" for somebody. I'm here to tell you, you are. 

Also, I am optimistic. I just can't help but point out things that are a concern moving forward. Hell, I specifically started the post by saying "I think we will improve as the season goes on". Pure optimism.

[lightsout]

57 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

Maybe it is me but after coaching and playing sports most of my life I enjoy just watching other folks play with no responsibility to fix it or worry about it. Of course during the game I am  yelling about what we should or shouldn't be doing but like just being a fan. I was always anxious as a coach because I couldn't be out there and always blame myself for everyone. Maybe why I seem overly defensive when people trash our coaches.

I get this. In teams I'm not invested in, I feel much the same. Probably a bit of me being "too invested" in this team and putting myself in a position of analyzing the game the team is playing rather than simply enjoying it. Part of it too is watching on TV vs being there live. Being there live, I'm as you say, just being a fan. Watching it on TV, particularly if I'm watching through PS Vue and have the ability to rewind, I can actually breakdown things a bit. 

All that being said, part of me just enjoys that aspect of football. Love x's and o's talk.

[GoobyPls]

Cause we have higher expectation than what we are seeing in our putrid offense. And I know for a fact we can't win a SB like that. And before you say Denver that was anomaly 

[Ace_Aladdin]

Because most Huddlers overreact to each game. They knew damn well QB coming of shoulder surgery with no off-season chemistry is just gonna come in & run the offense with no hiccups while losing an an all pro TE but I guess you never coached an offense where you had to make adjustments due to injury to your QB and new pieces. Once the offense gets going against Saints &  many fake huddlers m will hop back on the train , I sometime question loyalty of many Huddlers don't be one of those guys.

[RoaringRiot]

1 hour ago, GoobyPls said:

Cause we have higher expectation than what we are seeing in our putrid offense. And I know for a fact we can't win a SB like that. And before you say Denver that was anomaly 

Baltimore.