I hate to say it, but I have made, as have others, multiple references to the lack of team leadership.
This does not come as a surprise and is just a further indictment of Bronco's lack of awareness and leadership for at least the first half of this season AND why the need for his reassertion of the much needed and now, "better late than never" engaged leadership on this team. SO, who has "IT"--that intangible of leadership or who could of had IT or should've had IT.
Riley Nelson--had a shot at having "IT and showed some of IT--AND certainly should've had IT"--and this should not be a surprise either since Bronco made several references to this back in spring and what would define the selection of a qb; And in AFA was attempting to SHOW IT by taking over the offense with his biggest assest--his legs, because, to his credit, the offense (and maybe the whole team) was giving up--got to give Riley credit, even if he was drop, look once and run; AND btw, IMO, how the team just seemed so unmotivated behind Heaps--
--SO, Heaps. Whether he has IT or not, at least in latency form, remains to be seen. But IT has to be earned on the field. And whatever happened in the summer workouts and we know of some of the problems with that, whether showing up late (for whatever reason) or the older players setting themselves aside form the newbies; AND then Jake, attempting to show IT, forming his own little "band of baby brothers"--(not appreciated by the older brothers) along with probably other true fresh who were also not invited or welcomed to join the more "experienced"/"im-afraid-to-lose-my seniority-even-though-I-know-the-new-guy-is-more-athletic-and-talented-than-me" crowd.
Hopefully he finds IT, Earns IT, and is GRANTED "IT" BY THE ALMIGHTY POWERS THAT BE "IT", and in whose rightful hands IT now belongs--namely BRonco.
Matt Reynolds--hate to say it again--never had IT; was granted IT, didnt show up with IT, needed to step up to IT and, is probably a very very nice kid, with super talent but seems to be disgusted by IT; AND why Speredon, IMO, has shown more of IT even though he wasnt granted IT.
JJ-seems to have showed IT more than anyone else. BY his play and by his support of the system and "having paid his dues". probably should have been granted more of IT (named as an additional captain), and wasnt. Bronco didnt want to give IT to JJ and leave out KAriya? Probably should have given IT to both.
AGAIN, I harp--but to have only TWO CAPTAINS. And why? bc no one has stepped out and earned IT?????
Give it to TWO players in addition to Matt and Andrew, who earned it each week with their play. Dont just totally delegate IT, ignore IT, and refuse to encourage IT. IT has looked lame ever game. IT is lame every game and is a wierd manifestation and symbolic team proclamation (by Bronco) of how entrenched thinking can make matters worse. Get some additional and/or new fricken captains, Bronco!!!!!
Receivers--Really??? Forget IT!! Very very unfortunate, McKay shoulda, coulda, woulda. What has happened to that guy? Or Ashworth. ?????
DEFENSE
Andrew--has IT; shows IT with his play, not sure how vocal he is with the team or how much Hill let him use IT. ONLY absolute guy truly worthy of being a captain--oh wait I excoriated that approach already.
Pendleton--has "it" athletically, maybe too much of a headcase to have IT/leadership given to him; + injury.
#So'Oto--seems to have IT in from what I have seen (e.g., FSU a year ago when everyone else had quit; and in other games this year). Dont know why he doesnt have IT more. Again, player development--leadership development--IT doesnt happen automatically Bronco.....because.....
....HILL didnt have IT. And whatever he was granted, had lost IT a long time ago. So, Bronco having delegated IT fully last year, IT was not being developed; and IT left with the Sr's from last year....
...ANAE--ughh. NOt enough of IT to motivate a pack of ANTS. But, in good LAvell Edwards style of coaching by delegation, Bronco, gave IT to him and wiped his hands stating "he knows nothing about [IT] offense."
Bronco. HAS IT NOW, thank goodness; always had IT since being DC; is amazing at IT most of the time, till he fully delegated IT last year and expected the LEadership COuncil and his fully delegated OC and DC to exhibit IT, develop IT (sorry, cant develop IT in others when you cant smell IT from two inches away). Sorry to sound like a whiny little kid, but I really think Bronco just turned his back on this part of the program and IT; AND the lack of IT has shown up in gross and maybe even unpredictable proportions. BUt of course he has had the factory of IT going for the last 5 years and there was just such a dearth of IT this year.
No wonder THE poster this year showed all the Sr's. Good attempt. Too big of a void to be filled. Sort of a 2 quarterbacks = 0 quarterbacks? All Sr leaders = no leaders (at least on offense).
