Player Leadership

[North Texas Golfer]

Here is the problem I see with player leadership.

For a player to be a leader he has to be a badass on the field.

And we only have 1 player that is a badass, Malcom Brown (the DT, not the RB).

We're lacking leaders plain and simple.

 

[streettopeschel]

how many championship teams can you name (nfl or college) where the QB wasn't the leader? i can think of a few, but by and large, he's the man.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I think Texas Football's leadership can come from a pool of 4 players on defense & 1 on offense; M. Brown, C. Reed, J. Hicks, Q. Diggs, and J. Shipley.  So far, only Diggs seems to want the responsibility.  Not having a QB capable of taking on the role is a serious hindrance.  

 

[PeteA422]

I disagree, you don't have to be a badass to be a leader.  You have to be someone the rest of the team respects and will follow.  A leader is the not necessarily the best on the team, it is the guy that everyone turns to for direction during times of adversity.  A leader is the guy who does the right thing, as well as expects and demands the same from those around him.  A leader is the guy that holds himself and those around him accountable. 

Now, more often than not, the leader turns out to be one of the better people on the field, but it is not because he has more talent, it is because he holds himself to a higher standard.  He is the guy who goes in and watches film on his free time, whether his teammates join him or not.  He is the guy in the offseason that is always doing something on his own or bringing others along with him to get a little extra work in.  That is why this guy is usually better on the field. 

IMHO this is what CFS is looking for, he is looking for that person that will stand up and hold themselves and those around them accountable.  If you read between the lines on what CFS has been saying and doing, he relates everything to parenting.  And the goal of parenting is not for you to constantly be the enforcer, it is for you to teach your kids to stand on their own, to take personal responsibility for themselves and to make those around them better.  I believe that is what CFS wants and where he is trying to take this team.  He is looking for someone on the team that will stand up and be that kind of leader. 

 

[North Texas Golfer]

how many championship teams can you name (nfl or college) where the QB wasn't the leader? i can think of a few, but by and large, he's the man.

Totally agree. Very rarely do you see championship teams where the QB is not the leader or one of the leaders. And they were badasses because of their play. Think Colt McCoy, Vince Young, James Street, and Duke Carlisle (yes I saw him play back in the early 60's) among others.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Totally agree. Very rarely do you see championship teams where the QB is not the leader or one of the leaders. And they were badasses because of their play. Think Colt McCoy, Vince Young, James Street, and Duke Carlisle (yes I saw him play back in the early 60's) among others.

Swoopes has that in his personality, but he has to grow into the position first. He's had one game as the starter. It's not reasonable to expect him to take on a huge role yet, IMO.

Right now, the offense is full of "want to". They need someone to step forward and go from there to "can/will". It needs to be Swoopes, Brown, Gray, Shipley or Raulerson for it to be most effective.

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

I think Texas Football's leadership can come from a pool of 4 players on defense & 1 on offense; M. Brown, C. Reed, J. Hicks, Q. Diggs, and J. Shipley. So far, only Diggs seems to want the responsibility. Not having a QB capable of taking on the role is a serious hindrance.

Huge hindrance when your "Field General" is not a General...

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Swoopes has that in his personality, but he has to grow into the position first. He's had one game as the starter. It's not reasonable to expect him to take on a huge role yet, IMO.

Right now, the offense is full of "want to". They need someone to step forward and go from there to "can/will". It needs to be Swoopes, Brown, Gray, Shipley or Raulerson for it to be most effective.

Well said...

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Agree, we're lacking leadership. We have it on the defensive side, but not on the offensive side.

It doesn't have to be the QB, but it works well when it is.

When I think of leadership at the QB position, my mind goes to Major Applewhite. The guy had mox in his personna. He wasn't the star of the offense, but he made others into stars.

Major went into the OU game wanting to hurt somebody. The team fed off of that. And he played with that same attitude. After the long pass to McGarity, Applewhite went down to end zone and almost made the OU DB cry. The players trusted Applewhite because they knew there was always a shot with him at the helm.

 

[North Texas Golfer]

Agree, we're lacking leadership. We have it on the defensive side, but not on the offensive side.

It doesn't have to be the QB, but it works well when it is.

When I think of leadership at the QB position, my mind goes to Major Applewhite. The guy had mox in his personna. He wasn't the star of the offense, but he made others into stars.

Major went into the OU game wanting to hurt somebody. The team fed off of that. And he played with that same attitude. After the long pass to McGarity, Applewhite went down to end zone and almost made the OU DB cry. The players trusted Applewhite because they knew there was always a shot with him at the helm.

Yea, I definitely should have included Major with the other quarterbacks I mentioned. I don't know what I was thinking.