Recent Switches to 3-4 Defense Usually Mean Improvement

[NLC1054]

Haynesworth's a crybaby who moaned and griped and complained under Greg Blanche in 2009 and then moaned and complained and griped about his role in the 3-4 until he essential wrote himself off the field. He's motivated by money (his two best seasons from a production standpoint came in contract years). He wants to do whatever he wants. He's said that what he liked about Tennessee. "They let me do what I wanted." It's about team first. It's not about doing what you want, it's about doing what you can to help the team win. They cut the guy a check to show up to camp, in shape and ready to play.

It's not like they just sprung the 3-4 defense on him. Mike told him what he expected in his first meeting with the team. Then they paid the man. I'm not saying Mike didn't handle certain aspects of what happened the wrong way, but Albert's about one person; Albert. Period.

Let me clarify what I mean about the coaches adjusting thing. Coaches do need to adjust to what their players are best at on the field and adapt what they do to suit the talents of their players. It was dumb of me to say otherwise.

However, if you're coming up with solutions to a potential problem with a player, and he just flat out refuses to play...what else can you do? I think they did everything they could to get Albert on the field, because when Albert actually could be bothered to play hard, he played well. But they pretty much offered to let him play at any position on the defensive front he wanted, and he picked one very specific set of circumstances to go out and play. He just wanted to rush the passer. He just wanted sacks.

You adjust to the strengths of your players and what they're best at...but the player's gotta meet you halfway. They have to be willing to adjust like you're willing to adjust. That was Haynesworth's problem.

The funeral thing sounds bad until you realize that Haynesworth didn't have full week of practice. Practice is a big thing with Mike, right or wrong. And since Haynesworth apparently practiced at half speed anyway...I mean, Mike was honest about it. Albert hadn't practiced, he didn't think Albert could contribute, so Albert was deactivated.

And wasn't it Phillip Daniels or one of the vets that said Haynesworth getting suspended was actually a good thing, because they didn't have to worry about trying to fit him into a scheme he didn't want to play in and could just practice?

Mistakes may have been made on both sides, but at the end of the day, it was Albert that sealed his own fate.

Now back to your regular scheduled thread.