Emotional Leadership Void?

[Guest RBates]

I cant believe some of you guys on this thread.  Ray Lewis indeed was a great motivator.  We lack that now.  The team cant get anything going early in games.  Their only motivation seems to be coming from being behind in ball games.

 

This team does lack leadership.  From the coaches down.  Someone needs to step up and get these guys going.  Envy alone can be enough to motivate players.  Because Ray got so much camera time, players are out there playing their hearts out trying to steal that spotlight.  Which I have no problem with. That's what made Ray great.  Who cares if the speeches didn't make sense they served their purpose. 

[funky141]

At first when this post came out I thought "hog wash", NFL players don't need a leader as they are professional football players. But a little over a quarter into the season I'm starting to think the loss of Lewis, Reed and Burk is a big hole in the leadership department.

 

Someone on the team needs to step up and show leadership because right now I don't see it.

[Ed_Reed20]

At first when this post came out I thought "hog wash", NFL players don't need a leader as they are professional football players. But a little over a quarter into the season I'm starting to think the loss of Lewis, Reed and Burk is a big hole in the leadership department.

 

Someone on the team needs to step up and show leadership because right now I don't see it.

 

Are you at the Castle, at practice or on the sidelines on game-days? I'm guessing not. So don't assume there aren't leaders on the team currently.  

 

While there have been communication breakdowns and play-calling issue, the biggest problem for the team to this point has been execution and injuries.

[Alexir]

It's not leadership it's all the offensive line and tight ends. As soon as the line is fixed, we will be fine

[flynismo]

I cant believe some of you guys on this thread.  Ray Lewis indeed was a great motivator.  We lack that now.  The team cant get anything going early in games.  Their only motivation seems to be coming from being behind in ball games.

 

This team does lack leadership.  From the coaches down.  Someone needs to step up and get these guys going.  Envy alone can be enough to motivate players.  Because Ray got so much camera time, players are out there playing their hearts out trying to steal that spotlight.  Which I have no problem with. That's what made Ray great.  Who cares if the speeches didn't make since, they served their purpose. 

 

And once again, being a motivator or leader has nothing to do with waving pompoms

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

The more I think about this topic, and really everything - all the drama, fear, the blow it up and start over, the we suck and we'll be lucky to go 8-8.... the more I find it all funny.

 

I'll admit, I was very frustrated and have been.

 

But now im thinking about it and... we've played a lot of good teams, and have not yet played 1 single good game on both sides of the ball. In fact, I'd say we've played downright terrible in most - the most shining example is the Bills game and to a lesser extent the Packers. The D played well but the offense was grotesque.

 

But the Packers are considered by many a true contender. And if not for a few questionable decisions we would have won, even with our terrible performance. AND THIS IS MY POINT.... Us playing downright TERRIBLE is still competitive with contenders.

 

Going into the Packers game I was nervous bc I thought we would have to play an all-around great game and even still we might not win. If someone had told me we wouldnt be able to run the ball, would punt 9 times, get sacked 5, and not score a TD until the 4th quarter I would have assumed we got blown out.

 

But it was close. Real close, and we should've won. That's in its own way, awesome.

 

Keep the faith boys and girls. We can only start to play better, and they WILL figure it out even if only by trial and error. Our terrible is on par with even very good teams. Yes we're currently playing terrible, but we've been competitive. 2 of our losses we absolutely should've won even without playing much better. And Denver we were winning before halftime. We could just as easily be sitting at 5-1 having not played ONE GOOD GAME.

 

Once it clicks, and it will, we will be one of if not THE best team in the league. We have a legit shot at going back-to-back still, so strap in for the ride.... it promises to be a bumpy one for a little bit, it will be exciting , it will be frustrating, but eventually it will be enjoyable and what we all expect. It will.

[GrimCoconut]

If we're missing any leadership it's not Ray Lewis. We're missing Ed Reed.

[RedFire]

I dunno how to address this...

Look at the saints and how their coach was all the emotion and motivation they needed to turn it around. Players couldn't get it done alone.

Ray Lewis at the tail end of the Brian billick years wasn't controlling or influencing a mentally and physically lost team in 2007.

We improved from 2007-2008 especially from a discipline perspective with a new staff minus Rex Ryan. The 15yrd penalties near the end of the billick era was crazy....people used to call our team thugs!

[funky141]

Are you at the Castle, at practice or on the sidelines on game-days? I'm guessing not. So don't assume there aren't leaders on the team currently.  

 

While there have been communication breakdowns and play-calling issue, the biggest problem for the team to this point has been execution and injuries.

I can say the same thing about your comment(highlighted above). Yes playing calling, O-line are some issues but leadership is important and you would like someone to take charge out there on the field.

[flynismo]

I can say the same thing about your comment(highlighted above). Yes playing calling, O-line are some issues but leadership is important and you would like someone to take charge out there on the field.

Well, that's just his point. Nobody knows anything regarding that, so nobody can make a claim that there is some kind of leadership void.
And for the record, Harbaugh has addressed this very topic a bazillion times over the past six months

[Guest RBates]

And once again, being a motivator or leader has nothing to do with waving pompoms

I agree with not waving pom poms but if you are referring to Joe not being a rara guy, then I would say I disagree to an extent.  

 

 In leading your team you don't have to be overly vocal but you do have to communicate your frustrations with the team, by showing them the screen shots of what they are doing wrong.  Joe as the QB has to be an extension of the coaches on the field.  That is what Ray was on defense,  later in his career he had the ability to mask his shortcomings because he could put his defense in position to make plays.  Joe has to think the same way about the offense.  He doesn't have to scream and shout but he does have to make them better. 

[busterblue52]

Lets get Tim Tebow and put him at Center problem solved.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Ray Lewis couldn't hype the Ravens to a winning season before 2000. Then in 02,03,05, and 07 not even Rays emotions could get us into the playoffs.

This team has PLENTY of veteran voices in the locker room. Ngata, Suggs, Dumervil, Ihedigbo, Webb ect.. Then of course Flacco, Rice, Oher, Yanda, ect..

The O line sucks right now and until they improve, our offense will continue to be stagnant.

[BloodRaven]

Ray Lewis couldn't hype the Ravens to a winning season before 2000. Then in 02,03,05, and 07 not even Rays emotions could get us into the playoffs.

This team has PLENTY of veteran voices in the locker room. Ngata, Suggs, Dumervil, Ihedigbo, Webb ect.. Then of course Flacco, Rice, Oher, Yanda, ect..

The O line sucks right now and until they improve, our offense will continue to be stagnant.

 

Yeah and 9 playoff seasons, look around the league and tell me how often you've seen a young team with that kind of strike rate.