I think the penalties we've had this year are symptomatic of a larger problem on the team that will rear its ugly head tonight against KC -- the players are anxious and on edge. The announcers for the Denver game quoted Zach as saying, "Everyone's on edge -- and I mean everyone."
And that was before we'd lost any games -- how do you think it is now that we're 2-3 and coming off two losses in a row riddled with penalties?
The fact that we had nearly as many penalties against TB even after Saban addressed the issue last week by having the team run gassers suggests that the players aren't committing penalties because they're lazy, lax, or unfocused.
It suggests that they're committing penalties because they're anxious and on edge. And judging by the quotes from Saban and the players this week, I don't think the problem is getting any better.
An anxious football team isn't a very good one.
KC 31
Dolphins 10
When something happens three times in a row, you can be pretty certain there's a pattern and an underlying cause, and if my prediction about tonight's game is correct I'll float a theory tomorrow about why the team is anxious. If they prove me wrong tonight and get a win with a lot fewer penalties, I'll flush it down the toilet.
And that was before we'd lost any games -- how do you think it is now that we're 2-3 and coming off two losses in a row riddled with penalties?
The fact that we had nearly as many penalties against TB even after Saban addressed the issue last week by having the team run gassers suggests that the players aren't committing penalties because they're lazy, lax, or unfocused.
It suggests that they're committing penalties because they're anxious and on edge. And judging by the quotes from Saban and the players this week, I don't think the problem is getting any better.
An anxious football team isn't a very good one.
KC 31
Dolphins 10
When something happens three times in a row, you can be pretty certain there's a pattern and an underlying cause, and if my prediction about tonight's game is correct I'll float a theory tomorrow about why the team is anxious. If they prove me wrong tonight and get a win with a lot fewer penalties, I'll flush it down the toilet.
