After suffering through another "almost" won game this week and reading all the posts about individuals that "cost" us the game, I started to really analyze the difference between the Pats and the Dolphins. What really makes the Pats winners? Analyzing all that I saw yesterday, I came up with only one possibility: The Dolphins lack the mental edge to be winners.
Take the Pats for a moment. This was a Patriots team that should be in the cellar of the AFC East. They are so injury riddled that they shouldn't be able to field any semblance of a competitive team, yet they sit atop the East once again. Why? Because they are mentally tough. No matter what happens, they know they are winners. They know their coach will have a great game plan...they don't question it. They know that whoever they plug in to a position is going to do a great job. They understand their position and focus only on execution of that position.
Just as important as what they do, is what they don't do. There are no mentions of the word "dynasty" from the players. There are no meetings with coach whining about how offended his choice of words has made us. There are no excuses for losing. There is no "we are really close" comments. There are no outbursts at the media for not recognizing our stats.
Until the Dolphins can shed the crybaby antics and individual stat padding, they will never be successful, no matter how much talent they have. This team needs to stop whining and worrying about individual recognition and start acting as a team. They need to focus so much on their technique and the system, that they can run their drills in their sleep. This requires discipline, and discipline comes from mental toughness. Mental toughness makes great things happen, and once they happen enough, they become a habit.
Is there room for better talent on this team? Absolutely. Could the Dolphins be getting much better results with the same level of talent they have now? No doubt. I am afraid that many of our players are still trying to awaken from the Wanny mindset, and some of them may never be able to shake it. Don't be surprised if some of our "essential" veterans make a hasty exit this offseason and are replaced by mentally tougher players who accomplish much more with significantly less talent. The mentally challenged will be forced to go, and the rebuilding isn't going to be complete until they are gone...I fear this rebuilding is going to take longer than any of us want to believe.........
Take the Pats for a moment. This was a Patriots team that should be in the cellar of the AFC East. They are so injury riddled that they shouldn't be able to field any semblance of a competitive team, yet they sit atop the East once again. Why? Because they are mentally tough. No matter what happens, they know they are winners. They know their coach will have a great game plan...they don't question it. They know that whoever they plug in to a position is going to do a great job. They understand their position and focus only on execution of that position.
Just as important as what they do, is what they don't do. There are no mentions of the word "dynasty" from the players. There are no meetings with coach whining about how offended his choice of words has made us. There are no excuses for losing. There is no "we are really close" comments. There are no outbursts at the media for not recognizing our stats.
Until the Dolphins can shed the crybaby antics and individual stat padding, they will never be successful, no matter how much talent they have. This team needs to stop whining and worrying about individual recognition and start acting as a team. They need to focus so much on their technique and the system, that they can run their drills in their sleep. This requires discipline, and discipline comes from mental toughness. Mental toughness makes great things happen, and once they happen enough, they become a habit.
Is there room for better talent on this team? Absolutely. Could the Dolphins be getting much better results with the same level of talent they have now? No doubt. I am afraid that many of our players are still trying to awaken from the Wanny mindset, and some of them may never be able to shake it. Don't be surprised if some of our "essential" veterans make a hasty exit this offseason and are replaced by mentally tougher players who accomplish much more with significantly less talent. The mentally challenged will be forced to go, and the rebuilding isn't going to be complete until they are gone...I fear this rebuilding is going to take longer than any of us want to believe.........
