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Utility Player December 21, 2021
In training my daughter to
eventually play NCAA softball, she was made to play all nine positions & was
referred to as a utility player. Although she never understood this, and
really didn't care all that much, what I knew was that to get onto that field as
a full time starter, she needed to do her best to master every position, to fill
any defensive hole or to fill in for any other player on that field. Sure,
she was never going to be a Division II pitching starter, playing ball in the
Philadelphia area that included a whole host of Division I players that were not
interested in all that commitment, but she could displace anyone else in that
lineup anywhere.
There were times that her team struggled where conversations arose with her
coaches where a concept was thrown out there. Why not use her to displace
other players in the line-up too. You see, there are times that players
struggle hitting game after game in the same hitting slot, sort of like a Power
Forward longing to take outside shots instead of banging it on the boards.
Now what you might think would be that my daughter would be hated for hitting in
that number 2 slot, or floating throughout the hitting line up, as any
particular player could be slumping, however what happened was actually quite
counter-intuitive. In taking on the utility role within the hitting line
up she was seen as not taking someone's role but rather to be helping them out
... to re-establish themselves. In other words, mental pressure was taken
off these struggling players where their focus changed from feeling sorry for
themselves ... being "Alibi Ike's ... into pulling themselves up by their
boot straps ... toward getting it done. Needless to say that her team
excelled and hasn't ever reached that level of success
since.
Yesterday, this franchise was given a great gift having Akiem Hicks play against
us to expose our offense before a potential playoff run. By the way, is it
just me, or does Hicks take the year off except when the Bears play the
Vikings? Maybe Kirk Cousins & Dalvin Cook should send Mr. Hicks a side
of beef for Christmas because you dudes have got to do something to take the
edge off that dude. What it exposed, was that when playing a top level
interior lineman like Hicks (which you will see in the playoffs), you cannot
start Mason Cole (#52) & Garret Bradbury (#56) next to each
other. What I'm saying is that you need to make a choice between them who
is going to be your Center going forward & my guess is that its Mason
Cole. Although all kinds of people are upset that Oli Udoh has way too
many holding penalties it is without doubt that Kirk Cousins has a much better
chance as getting that first down with that specimen known as Udoh than he does
looking out his ear hole. In other words, if I was Kirk Cousins this
morning, feeling all those aches & pains getting tossed around like a rag
doll in Chicago, I'd be clamoring for Darrisaw, Cleveland, Cole, Udoh &
O'Neil as my starting five with the following caveat. Udoh will remain as
my swing tackle with Bradbury as my utility interior lineman. As for
Bradbury, talk & remorse should never propel you into a starting role where
digging into the utility role should be his best bet at regaining a starting
role however at this juncture it is clear that he still has much to clean
up. As for last night, giving Oli the night off means he should be all the
more refreshed as well as re-focused on his role ahead. Just in case ...
not to mince words ... have a clear slate of choices ... Oli Udoh over Bradbury
...
Period!
Halleluiah!@ The news of Bashaud Breeland being released in favor of
Dantzler, Hand & Boyd was way overdue & clearly the Bears had no where
to go with the ball last night to take yet another victory from this team.
Seeing Dantzler destroying that outside run as well as Boyd's fumble recovery
paid off in spades. Although it is too early to tell, this team is
clearly becoming an elite defensive squad.
In regard to Michael Pierce, to be direct ... we (this Viking Nation) was as
angry as hell, and for good reason ... because we were always left to wonder
what might have been. To be direct, this is a fair assessment, as others
had to pay the piper ... which is a fact. The only question is ... are you
really ready to be here ... to be able to meld into it? You see, there are
two ways that you can look at it. You can be a pompous ass & think
that this team cannot win without you or instead, you can dig in, & become
part of something very special. There is no question that this defense has
the ability of attaining an elite status with you in the line up but it is
dependent upon your integration into the weave ... to be apart of it.
Brothers can only bond within your free souls. There is no question that
the players around you clearly understand your role & its importance.
Focus on that player that this nation knows ... to be. You don't have to
do anything special other than to be there & be apart of it ... bonding with
the boys. The money & the commitment follow the free-nature within
those bonds & we are all now ready for you to let it happen. If you
don't think that everyone on the planet can't see it ... then you'd be
mistaken. Carry on!
The Bears may be claiming that the calls were against them last night but they
also got away with a great deal that was not called too. Today, when
players feet get tangled they call that intermittent contact. To be
direct, no contact is allowed after 5 yard down the field & there is also
tripping that should be called. Defenders are not allowed to trip
offensive players, which is exactly what they did to Jefferson on that Bear's
interception. Intermittent contact, in most cases is questionable at best
& is allot of hog wash used by defenders to their advantage. Also,
Jefferson was clearly hit well before the ball reached him where Pass
Interference should have been called. I don't think that the Bears will be
allowed to do that when the game is replaced on week 18. Also that early
50/50 ball to Marsette could would have been called P.I for Mr. Rodgers in his
neighborhood.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: December 21, 2021
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