Our team has to come with more "fire" next season

[Mike Bass]

Along with a few new players and improvements from our coaching staff, O-line, D-line and QB next season, I think that we are going to have to come with a bit more attitude. IMO, our team's lack of fire in the second half of the season was evident in every game except the Philly game. I know that we take pride in having a team with "character" players but I do no think that displaying emotions on the field or sideline shows lack of character. In fact, I think that it adds to an individual's performance when he stays fired up throughout the game. Bump chests, do the "first down" thing, jump into each other arms, stomp or do whatever else it takes to keep the fire going.

Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers is not the biggest receiver in the world but it seems like every game that I see this guy play in, he is breaking away from tackles on the way to long gains and/or TD's. This is because he plays like every play is the last play of the Superbowl . Yes, Santana has that same fire but he is in the minority when it comes to our player's showing a lot of emotion. Marcus Washington has it but he is hardly on the field, there's some in Chris Horton but he's a rookie and hasn't become the leader that we are going to need to get the attitudes jump started just yet.

I would love to see our QB get fired up from time to time, run down the field, fist's pumped in celebration of a big play instead of having the same look on his face whether he'd thrown a bomb or a intercepton. Or someone other than  CP showing any kind of emotion on the sideline and even him shaking his head is not what we need, especially in games that is yet to be decided. There is something to the "lets get fired up" statement and it just should not mean for the first series or for the pre-game introductions. Momentum means a lot in sports and just like a fired up player or two can get the entire team going, a lack of fire is also contagious and can be draining to a team.

I know, I know "we just want to see our team play better", but I think that one goes along with the other. Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu (sp?), Hines Ward and James Harrison are other examples of players who change games, not only by their talent (we have talented players) but their desire is evident in every game on every play. Winning or losing,  our players have got to stay fired up throughout the game or they are going to let the last minute 60 yard drives happen , along with the late 3 and outs and everything else that goes with a unispired team.

The players may or or may not change drastically, but with whomever we have, winning is going to have to start with having  winning attitudes.

[Hitman21]

I agree you have to have a chip on your shoulder that you not going to allow anyone come in your house and push you around. You have to Have Pride something i felt Coach Gibbs Preached and instilled in this team before he left. I think somewhere along the road we lossed alittle bit of that.  we faced alittle Bumps in the road and we did rise up above those things.


In the cases of Cinci,STL I got the feeling that we felt we were just going to roll the helmets out on the field and team were just going to lay down.  I think even in the loss to the 49ers we proved many time this year that we have the fight we just have to show up in BIG games and when it counts. 


Enjoyed your post sir

[riggins44]

Being "medium" is fine for most cases.  However there are times you need to play with sense of urgency
and a fire in your belly.  Football is an emotional sport, so you can't play every game flat lined.

[tryfuhl]

Agreed.. our guys either looked bored or solemn sitting on the bench.  Someone needs to step up as the offensive put a fire under your ass type guy and I'd love to see it be campbell .. cooley could but well you typically don't see that from a TE

fletch is good and I hope that someone can help him with it.. we seemed to just be going through formations and then trotting off and on the field this year

[AlexandertheGreatestFANEV]

Right on with the entire post, MB. IMHO, you can blame this team's issues on the FO all you want, but they can't be entirely responsible for the guys on this team not being fired up. I would think that grown men making millions of dollars and playing a sport that they (SHOULD) love and (SUPPOSEDLY) know inside and out would know that in order to win games, you have to come out ready to play and bring your A+ game on EVERY single play. Also, EVERY game matters. I know that football is a tough sport mentally and physically, but the fact is that those who play have to have a firey mentality. Somehow this team needs to find that.

[Skins12th]

Being "medium" is fine for most cases.  However there are times you need to play with sense of urgency
and a fire in your belly.  Football is an emotional sport, so you can't play every game flat lined.

Agreed! Being 'medium' when it comes to not letting bad plays get to you or becoming too cocky w/ a winning record is a good philosophy to embrace. BUT when it comes to 'go time'--- fire up the furnace!