Chemistry Problems on the Team (Players don't like each other)

[Dback Jon]

Today on Doug and Wolf, when talking to Bertrand Berry, this came up - that chemistry is a major problem in the locker room, with players not liking each other.


The team did lose a lot of veteran leadership in the off-season.

 

[kerouac9]

I agree with you, but winning cures everything.

 

[Big D]

After the game the Mathieu said that all season the players have not been holding each other accountable, and that too many things keep getting "swept under the rug."

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

I think it was huge to lose guys like Cory Redding, Red Bryant, and Dwight Freeney.

We saw on All or Nothing how big their presence was In the locker room. Redding's cookies in the locker room, etc. Those are the types of little things that make a team into a family.

I'm not saying that a lack of cookies are causing this team to lose, but a litany of poor decisions starting back in training camp have lead to the team's disfuntion. Keeping Olson Pierre, a guy who will never see the field, over one of your top locker room / leadership veterans? Just terrible mismanagement of a football team from the get go. Keim has made a lot of mistakes this year between longsnapper, punter, losing Marqui Christian over a bonheaded decision to keep a crappy injured punter on the roster, cutting too many veterans. Etc. Couple that with poor game management from the coaching and its a disaster. The whole team is just "off".

 

[unseenaz]

I think it was huge to lose guys like Cory Redding, Red Bryant, and Dwight Freeney.

We saw on All or Nothing how big their presence was In the locker room. Redding's cookies in the locker room, etc. Those are the types of little things that make a team into a family.

I'm not saying that a lack of cookies are causing this team to lose, but a litany of poor decisions starting back in training camp have lead to the team's disfuntion. Keeping Olson Pierre, a guy who will never see the field, over one of your top locker room / leadership veterans? Just terrible mismanagement of a football team from the get go. Keim has made a lot of mistakes this year between longsnapper, punter, losing Marqui Christian over a bonheaded decision to keep a crappy injured punter on the roster, cutting too many veterans. Etc. Couple that with poor game management from the coaching and its a disaster. The whole team is just "off".

i tried to bring this up yesterday and people rolled their eyes. leadership is a big deal on a football team. keeping guys in check, keeping guys focused ect.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Where this doesn't make a whole lot of sense is that the offense pretty much returned the exact same team while the defense had the changes. Yet, the defense has been better than the offense.

 

[Russ Smith]

Keim said something about this in his comments today. he also said Nkemdiche won't play until he earns it, learns to be a professional so I assume the 2 are somewhat connected.

I agree with CBUS though unless they're saying the new OL's are the problem it makes no sense that most of the changes are on defense if chemistry is the issue.

Keim said btw he doesn't need a total revamp, they have some ideas in place to improve the team going forward but didn't elaborate. He also essentially said goodbye Michael Floyd, said he's fond of Floyd and he hates to see guys not play well and have to take less money than they worth in FA. He was asked if Floyd's bad year means he's more likely to come back because he'll be cheaper, or less likely because he didn't perform, seems like the latter from his answer.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Where this doesn't make a whole lot of sense is that the offense pretty much returned the exact same team while the defense had the changes. Yet, the defense has been better than the offense.

Our o-line is not even swiss-cheese level... and our wideouts (with the exception of Fitz of course), wouldn't start on any other NFL team...

 

[82CardsGrad]

I think it was huge to lose guys like Cory Redding, Red Bryant, and Dwight Freeney.

We saw on All or Nothing how big their presence was In the locker room. Redding's cookies in the locker room, etc. Those are the types of little things that make a team into a family.

I'm not saying that a lack of cookies are causing this team to lose, but a litany of poor decisions starting back in training camp have lead to the team's disfuntion. Keeping Olson Pierre, a guy who will never see the field, over one of your top locker room / leadership veterans? Just terrible mismanagement of a football team from the get go. Keim has made a lot of mistakes this year between longsnapper, punter, losing Marqui Christian over a bonheaded decision to keep a crappy injured punter on the roster, cutting too many veterans. Etc. Couple that with poor game management from the coaching and its a disaster. The whole team is just "off".

Add in Powers and Rashad Johnson...
I really think the issues with Minter are massive and as the Badger suggests, keep getting swept under the rug. I have little doubt that many on defense see Minter for what he is - and are pissed off that coaching and management haven't dealt with it.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Our o-line is not even swiss-cheese level... and our wideouts (with the exception of Fitz of course), wouldn't start on any other NFL team...

Can't argue with that but most of the guys, and all of the WR's, were on the team last year. So, I have a hard time thinking chemistry should be an issue on offense.

Also, I'm going by the original OL. Only Mathis was new to the roster and he's been regarded as a great teammate. I think if backups were causing chemistry issues, they wouldn't be on the roster very long.

 

[DeAnna]

Must be the defense, otherwise why would TM32 say that? He's not on offense. Chandler Jones? Swearinger? Kimchee?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Must be the defense, otherwise why would TM32 say that? He's not on offense. Chandler Jones? Swearinger? Kimchee?

Those are the 3 that came to my mind too. Maybe Cooper too. Also, maybe Golden. I'm basing that on nothing than his outburst late last year.

 

[Chopper0080]

If I am looking at the play of players, the ones who are seemingly underachieving or playing lackadaisically are the most likely. Marcus Cooper. Kevin Minter. Robert Nkemdiche. Corey Peters. Chandler Jones. Deone Bucannon. Calais isn't a vocal leader, so I doubt he is an issue. Swearinger, Peterson, Mathieu, and Jefferson seem to share the same temperament.

 

[Russ Smith]

If I am looking at the play of players, the ones who are seemingly underachieving or playing lackadaisically are the most likely. Marcus Cooper. Kevin Minter. Robert Nkemdiche. Corey Peters. Chandler Jones. Deone Bucannon. Calais isn't a vocal leader, so I doubt he is an issue. Swearinger, Peterson, Mathieu, and Jefferson seem to share the same temperament.

I don't think Jones would be on there for his play, he's actually been pretty good and a big reason IMO that the pass rush has improved. Jones attitude remember there's a reason the Pats moved him and it wasn't just contract. He got in trouble in NE and I don't think they ever quite trusted him after that.

He's a spectacular athlete and can make some absolutely awesome plays but he's one of those guys who doesn't always do his assignment and that can drive teammates nuts when they see the QB break containment for a big first down run because someone who was supposed to keep him inside didn't. That's the kind of stuff Jones tends to do.

 

[BigRedRage]

on the field, the players appear to like swearinger a lot. he is always there to congratulate his teammates and etc.

 

[DeAnna]

on the field, the players appear to like swearinger a lot. he is always there to congratulate his teammates and etc.

He and Chandler Jones like to hot-dog it a bit more than some of the other vets.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Somewhat OT, but did you all see Aqib Talib shove Jordan Norwood after Norwood muffed a punt last night? Crazy.

 

[Mitch]

The chemistry issue may be partly the result of BA calling out players to the media. That can create a climate where the players fight amongst each other and finger point. This team has lost its swag and its confidence. There comes a point where criticism becomes more destructive than constructive.

 

[BigRedRage]

He and Chandler Jones like to hot-dog it a bit more than some of the other vets.

lol so maybe the other vets are jealous that only him and jones are making plays worth hot dogging about.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Unless we are in the locker room we have no idea and that is just an assumption by Berry. Injuries to the OL and a revamped OL has not helped and leadership on the field might be in question but what can a QB say to a OL which simply does not have enough talent... and regardless of the defensive ranking, maybe Rashad Johnson was more important than we think

 

[Dback Jon]

The chemistry issue may be partly the result of BA calling out players to the media. That can create a climate where the players fight amongst each other and finger point. This team has lost its swag and its confidence. There comes a point where criticism becomes more destructive than constructive.

And failing to call out his coaches when they suck (like Amos)

 

[oaken1]

it has crossed my mind that CC is a pretty well loved guy on the team... but bringing in Jones pretty much assures CC is gone. That may cause some tensions. as for Golden...it looks like bringing in Jones has lit a fire under his ass... there is obvious competition between the two

 

[unseenaz]

this is a really interesting dynamic. maybe the players have turned on bettcher? who knows. would be interesting to hear what the problem is, we'll never know, more than likely.

 

[DeAnna]

And failing to call out his coaches when they suck (like Amos)

I think they've lost credibility with the players with the above, and the punter situation. I think some players assume they are gone (will miss you CC/Floyd) so they're tuning out the coaches.

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't believe it is Jones, but he is a guy who isn't a huge grinder. He works hard and does his job, but he isn't watching film on his free time. It is one of the reasons he is gone from New England. Those are always guys you worry about after they get their big money deal.