Like Pete said earlier this is brad and chad's team now and we haven't had leaders like those guys in a while
Yeah because Duke and Denzel weren't leaders
Sorry to say..but they weren't. Especially Denzel. This team didn't need a "leader by example". We were not that mentally strong as a unit to have a leader like that. Sean Taylor lead by example and never talked much because that 2003 team was mentally tough. Reggie Wayne and Damione Lewis led that 2000 team by example. They were mentally tough.
Ed Reed and Michael Irvin led by example AND made their presence known. Got in someones face when warranted or when they weren't doing their job. I was so sick of hearing guys say, "Well, its not the coaches fault, guys were freelancing too much and not sticking to the scheme." Ok...So what did you do about it? What do you think Jon Vilma would have done if someone freelanced and did whatever the ***** they wanted on his defense?
So yes, were they very good-great players for us? Of Course. Were they great leaders? The kind this team needed? No.
Even I can't answer this question, but how can you quantify Denzel's leadership without knowing what is going on Monday through Friday? Who's to say Denzel and Duke didn't motivate their teammates too? I am just not buying this "new leaders new team" deal because we have been doing a rinse and repeat of this for the past ten years. Especially with a lame duck coach I'm not sure how much two guys can change something. Would love to be wrong
Fair rebuttal. I will take you back to 2002, when that defense was absolutely getting shredded by the running QB and getting ran on up the middle week after week. We played TENN and Sean Taylor freelanced out of his lane and Cedric Houston ran for 74 yards until Kelly Jennings walked him down. They didn't score but as soon as they got to the sidelines, Jon Vilma checked Sean immediately. Sean said, My bad and it didn't happen again. At least that game. Tenn ended up rushing for less then 100 yards IRRC. THAT'S a leader. Who checks the immortal Sean Taylor? Jon Vilma that's who!
Vilma didn't sit by and wait for us to continue to get gashed and then say in the postgame, "Hey, its not the coaches fault, guys are freelancing too much." And shrug his shoulders.
You don't like the scheme? Fine. Me neither. You hate Al golden? Me too. You hate Dno and most of these coaches? So do I. But don't sit here and tell me these guys were the blueprint for leaders when the same **** is happening every week and no one is holding anyone accountable "Monday through Friday" like you say.
I don't know if Kaaya and CThomas will be leaders or not. Time will tell. Its been so long since we had REAL ones most of the kids on this board wouldn't know what one looked like. Sad stuff.
