TWT: it's Finer in Carolina

[BossHog]

There's a nice Stephen Davis article in the Times today:

It's finer in Carolina
By Jody Foldesy

Asked what part of his game makes him most proud, Davis paused.
"When the clock's running down, catch a ball out of the backfield and run 25 yards downfield," he finally replied. "Score a touchdown. I take a lot of pride in that."

This part particularly caught my eye... wanna know why SOS was never gonna make it in the NFL... he couldn't coah. There's more to coaching than X's and O's... there's team management as well:

That change in philosophy stung Davis badly. He admitted yesterday that late in the 2002 season he scarcely felt like a part of the Redskins. Sidelined by injury in the finale against the Dallas Cowboys, he wondered why he even needed to be at FedEx Field.
"That was probably the lowest point of my career," Davis said. "I didn't really want to go to the stadium. Marvin Lewis and Hue Jackson convinced me to go. It was a learning experience. Everything happens for a reason."

Wow. Pretty bad statement on team management when the Co-ordinators have to pull a team together.

Click here for the rest of the story.

[gibbsfan]

There's a nice Stephen Davis article in the Times today:

It's finer in Carolina
By Jody Foldesy

Asked what part of his game makes him most proud, Davis paused.
"When the clock's running down, catch a ball out of the backfield and run 25 yards downfield," he finally replied. "Score a touchdown. I take a lot of pride in that."

This part particularly caught my eye... wanna know why SOS was never gonna make it in the NFL... he couldn't coah. There's more to coaching than X's and O's... there's team management as well:

That change in philosophy stung Davis badly. He admitted yesterday that late in the 2002 season he scarcely felt like a part of the Redskins. Sidelined by injury in the finale against the Dallas Cowboys, he wondered why he even needed to be at FedEx Field.
"That was probably the lowest point of my career," Davis said. "I didn't really want to go to the stadium. Marvin Lewis and Hue Jackson convinced me to go. It was a learning experience. Everything happens for a reason."

Wow. Pretty bad statement on team management when the Co-ordinators have to pull a team together.

Click here for the rest of the story.

sure sounds like someone who knew what was going on.
i would say steve had no clue whatsoever and did,nt know half his roster,let alone didn,t know who to put on the freakin field. this whole thing was bad from the start.

[JansenFan]

And wouldn't Stephen Davis look sweet in the backfield in the Gibbs offense. It's basically what they are running in carolina and 1440 yards in 14 games is pretty darn good.

[newshog]

On the other hand, Stephen Davis at this stage in his career is really on the downslope of his term as a player and probably wouldn't be as helpful to Joe Gibbs at this point. He can't be relied on as the sole back--he always misses games with injuries.

Now, if Gibbs had come in when SOS came--or better yet, when Marty came--we'd really see Davis roll. But now--I'd want to look elsewhere.

[tnathan]

if joe gibbs had come in when marty came in, we would have won the superbowl that year. and the next.
and then i'd be whole.
instead... well, you all know what happened.

[BossHog]

While I totally agree that Davis is on a downslope now... he will be an excellent back for any offense for at least 2 more seasons and that's a country mile in the modern day NFL... I think Gibbs would've LOVED to have him even for the next 2 years.

But hindsight's 20-20, and it'll never happen, so why dwell? That $3 million bonus SD's getting is one of the biggest factors in his departure... at this point, we need more economical help at RB than a 5-6 mil a year guy.

We've got a boatload of cash tied up in a defense that finished near bottom last year. It has some good components, but needs some major work, and it has to be our focus with our cap dollars. With the talent we already have on offense, some better game planning and coaching will go a long way... but we need to get our defense back to a top 5 level again if we want to ever make the playoffs.

So a reasonably priced back like Duce Staley or the 'like' will STILL be a better fit for the new Gibbs' offense than a Stephen Davis would be... but not because of current ability level IMO... but because of cap constraints.

[tcwest10]

... I think Gibbs would've LOVED to have him even for the next 2 years.

...But hindsight's 20-20, and it'll never happen, so why dwell?

We've got a boatload of cash tied up in a defense that finished near bottom last year. It has some good components, but needs some major work, and it has to be our focus with our cap dollars. With the talent we already have on offense, some better game planning and coaching will go a long way... but we need to get our defense back to a top 5 level again if we want to ever make the playoffs.

So a reasonably priced back like Duce Staley...

Boss, I agree that the past is no place to make your home. I also agree (as any rational fan would) that the defense needs a nearly major overhaul (although replacing rings and pistons can sometimes cost as much as a new engine entirely). I support that the changes must be made, but I take issue with the components suggested. Duce Staley was my favorite Eagle last year, for good reason: He caused major tumult in a team I seriously dislike. Was that a fluke, or did it expose a larger problem previously gone without notice ? I'm more part of the problem than the solution, as I have no viable backup to offer in his stead. Still, it'd be like having Connell back after his thing with the Saints. The severity of the offense may differ, but the character flaw that was exposed is just as bad. (By the way, this has been in my head, and I was saving it for a more appropriate thread, but here goes anyway. Why hasn't Albert Connell gone with the trendy abbreviation of his name, like Jennifer Lopez did with J-Lo ? Ah, I'll let you figure it out. It has to do with the penal system, though. )
On the other side of the ball, I wonder if Gregg Williams is really going to be an impartial judge of Jevon Kearse at (take note, DEhog ) End ? Doesn't he seem to come up gimpy, more often than not ?
Surely, there are more suitable people out there to take these positions. I'd rather not overpay someone elses headache to come in and be Prima Donna or the second coming of Shawn Barber (promise AND pain).
I'll be watching these threads carefully to see who can come up with what.