Hogs Haven: Chris Cooley Highlights Leadership Problems Now & Past Years

[SMOSS89]

Chris Cooley appeared today (as he does every week) on The LaVar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes. Bill Rohland filled in for Chad and this was as real and deflated as I've heard Chris in some time. He's always been a straight shooter, but you can almost hear the dejection in his voice. As in "I really can't stand this much losing. It f'n sucks and it's not getting better."

It's clear this team is making too many fundamentals mistakes to be where it needs to be. Any end in sight? It doesn't look like it for this year. LaVar asks Chris why himself and Fred Davis aren't targeted more...and again, it's the lack of breakdowns everywhere...plus the game plan. To say the Redskins are a work in progress is misnomer. As Chris said, the yearly roster turnover has been a killer for leadership.

On to the interview. LaVar brought up the lack of consistency with the offense and why the 2 biggest impact players for the Redskins, Cooley and Fred Davis, are not getting the ball more.

Cooley:

"It's frustrating for me and Fred that we're not on the field all the time. Of course there's a game plan. I want to be targeted 15 times a game. I feel that I have the ability. I'm not going to complain...All I can do is go back to work and see what I could have done better."

Bill Rohland then asked why was the 1st drive was so good but the rest so bad.

Cooley:

"I'll be honest with you. It's what we discussed as a team. People aren't making plays. It doesn't come down to one person...it comes to down to one or two different guys every play. I'm not saying at a certain position we're not good enough. It's different positions every play. We're not functioning as a team or a whole offense...I don't know if there was a play in the game everyone did what they were suppose to do. I'm not saying I was perfect because of course I was wrong...If we want to get better things have to change."

Lavar then asked if things can things with it being week 12 already.

Cooley:

"Of course. Maybe it's leadership. Maybe it's team leadership. I would never say it's coaching. I've been so impressed with the how the coaching staff has prepared us. But as long as I've been a part of this team, there's been no consistency in leadership and consistent players being around. There's been turnover every year. Maybe put on me. Maybe I have to step forward and be the leader of this offense. People have to step up and hold each other accountable. There's been our problem year in and year out. There's been so much turnover...we haven't been around each other enough to be comfortable enough to do it."

"People lead differently. I'm not going to grab a player and tell him he's a dbag if he's only been here a year."

http://www.hogshaven.com/2010/11/29/1845390/chris-cooley-highlights-leadership-problems-now-past-years for the rest of the article

[skinfan2k]

Its the culture of this organization that leads to this. Who are our home grown stars? Besides Cooley, i dont think anyone significant besides Landry. Thats a pretty sad list. Typically the leaders of the organization are the draftees who have been there forever like the Brady, Manning, Rivers, Marc Sanchez at a young age already, Ray Lewis, Troy P, Big Ben, Rodgers, Eli

[paloffs]

Is it just me or is Cooley starting to get annoying?

No, McNabb doesn't go to Cooley as frequently as Campbell did. However, Cooley's not as good as he used to be either.

In my opinion, don't complain about something not being done if you're not willing to do it yourself. He refers to leadership a lot... since he knows what it is, why doesn't he demonstrate some?

[holmester]

I agree this offense has lacked a leader. Even though its really not his style I would like to see McNabb step it up and get on some of these guys when they drop balls or miss blocks. Only problem is he will say this and then over or under throw a pass. We don't have a player that is consistent enough to be a true leader on offense IMO like we have Fletcher on defense.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I know some guys are born to be leaders and some are not, but if you've been on the same team since 2004 and are one of the very few common threads on the team...shouldn't you be looking in the mirror when it comes to player leadership? Maybe instead of chirping that someone needs to step up and be the leader, Cooley should just take it upon himself to begin leading.

If he believes he's not getting the ball enough, he should say something to his coaches about it behind closed doors. That's what a leader would do in this situation...not talk to the local media about the lack of a team leader.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's ironic that the longest-tenured offensive player (I think) is complaining about a lack of leadership on the team due to the turnover. He's the obvious choice to carry that flag.

[veteranskinsfan]

I liked what Cooley said about team leadership. The owner has changed coaches a lot over the years. Some teams expect just the quarterback on offense and the middle linebacker on defense to be team leaders-that was true when Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff played. But now Cooley may be right- you probably need multiple leaders on both sides of the ball who will challenge players- especially the veteran players. Yes, there has been a lot of roster turnover but some of those guys on offense have been there for more than one year. Moss has been there and Portis etc.

[andyburd]

Is it just me or is Cooley starting to get annoying?

No, McNabb doesn't go to Cooley as frequently as Campbell did. However, Cooley's not as good as he used to be either.

In my opinion, don't complain about something not being done if you're not willing to do it yourself. He refers to leadership a lot... since he knows what it is, why doesn't he demonstrate some?

I agree, Cooley needs to STFU and catch the ball and block a little better, he is being like CP to the media

[OuterBanksTarHeel]

Yada yada yada.

The team simply doesn't have enough talent. It hasn't been that talented since the early 90's. I'm so sick and tired of this organization's unjustified arrogance. Guys like Cooley and Portis running around thinking the team is talented enough to win consistently in this league.

Newsflash: you and your owner are delusional.

The reason why 1-2 guys mess up per play is because you're relying on substandard talent at key positions.

The leadership talk is nonsense. This team, for years, has been talented enough to complete for an occasional playoff spot and finish with average to poor records. This is a clear sign of a lack of talent, first and foremost.

The Redskins will never get to where they want to be until they get over themselves and stop pretending they're good, when they've done absolutely nothing to justify such expectations.

Sometimes I wish we could just blow this entire team to shreds and just start over with young guys who wouldn't have the luxury to spout off, whine, and rationalize crap to death like Cooley and CP.

And I agree with others--I'm sick and damn tired of Cooley. He says the same crap after every loss. Do something about it for once, you goofball. Be a leader yourself if you really think that's the issue. Stop walking around the field with that deer in headlights look and then hopping on some radio show and whining the next day, or uploading some jokey video to your Youtube account.

[Chicken Fried]

The constant roster turnover is because we have no talent. We have to continually cut these old players Vinny left us with and try out new guys. The roster turnover will not end anytime this soon. This offseason won't see as many drastic moves as last time, but it will still be significant turnover.

[Chicken Fried]

Yada yada yada.

The team simply doesn't have enough talent.

This is the key. We are not as talented as we thought. When a rookie who weighs as much as a leaf of paper is our best offensive threat, we know we are talentless. Don't get me wrong, Banks could start for any team on returns, but we have nobody who matches his playmaking ability right now. There are some guys who CAN do it like Cooley and McNabb, but the other guys flat out aren't good enough to give them a chance.

[OuterBanksTarHeel]

The constant roster turnover is because we have no talent. We have to continually cut these old players Vinny left us with and try out new guys. The roster turnover will not end anytime this soon. This offseason won't see as many drastic moves as last time, but it will still be significant turnover.

And that's part of the problem. The team's absurd, annual marketing campaign--the one that preys off a fanbase that expects to play for the SB every year--impacts the way the team is built.

This is one reason why I envy small market teams that can't hide behind such lofty expectations, largely formed by past success. There's a reason why the Skins and Cowboys have sucked lately--both owners think they should be good just because they happen to own the Skins and Cowboys. This trickles down to the fans and players. It's a vicious cycle.

[LaRonDontLikeUgly]

If Cooley doesn't think he should be grabbing the new guys and calling them D-bags, then who is gonna do it? Is he gonna wait for the other dude to get tenure so he can tell Chris to put down his ****ing blog and be a man in the locker room?

[moondog]

And that's part of the problem. The team's absurd, annual marketing campaign--the one that preys off a fanbase that expects to play for the SB every year--impacts the way the team is built.

This is one reason why I envy small market teams that can't hide behind such lofty expectations, largely formed by past success. There's a reason why the Skins and Cowboys have sucked lately--both owners think they should be good just because they happen to own the Skins and Cowboys. This trickles down to the fans and players. It's a vicious cycle.

In just a short paragraph you have probably more accurately summed up what happens with this team than anything else I've heard. With every win and every loss this entire fan base seems to say we are going to the playoffs or we need to fire/cut everyone. There's way too much knee-jerk and I think it has to do with expectations. I really don't know fans of other teams that react as unreasonably as most of the people here. Yes, I'm pissed because we could be one game out of first place with a win against Minny, tied for first place if we beat Minny and Detroit, not to mention the Rams. But that's who we are. Right now, we're a work in progress and it may take three years of consistency around the front office/coaching. But this fan base will probably never give it that time.

[#98QBKiller]

I know some guys are born to be leaders and some are not, but if you've been on the same team since 2004 and are one of the very few common threads on the team...shouldn't you be looking in the mirror when it comes to player leadership? Maybe instead of chirping that someone needs to step up and be the leader, Cooley should just take it upon himself to begin leading.

If he believes he's not getting the ball enough, he should say something to his coaches about it behind closed doors. That's what a leader would do in this situation...not talk to the local media about the lack of a team leader.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's ironic that the longest-tenured offensive player (I think) is complaining about a lack of leadership on the team due to the turnover. He's the obvious choice

to carry that flag.

I definitely agree with this, and Cooley needs to start taking accountability himself and stop dropping passes that hit him in the hands. There's a hungry TE w/ lots of playmaking ability waiting behind him.

[GoDeep81]

Maybe Cooley's not a leader? Like was said, some are and some arent.. Plus, I dont think it's up to him (or the players) to think or say they arent talented enough to win. They start thinking that and they wont win any games.. It's up to the management to determine that, and do something about it.. The players are just pieces of a puzzle.. If Cooley gets on the radio and says were not talented enough, what good comes of that? I just hear a frustrated player speaking his mind.. Wanting a team to have more leaders isnt a bad thing..

[MrDuble81]

he is right. he should step up and be THE leader for this offense. he has been the only consistent staple to this offense in recent years. the offense should run right through Chris Cooley. he should be getting those 15 balls a game. hes is more than capable of that. the sooner that happens, the sooner we will start to see this offense move forward.

CC47

HTTR

[skinsrbeast]

Maybe im alone here but I like Cooleys comments ... Say what you want about talent but strong leadership and

[MWCREDSKINS]

Is it just me or is Cooley starting to get annoying?

No, McNabb doesn't go to Cooley as frequently as Campbell did. However, Cooley's not as good as he used to be either.

In my opinion, don't complain about something not being done if you're not willing to do it yourself. He refers to leadership a lot... since he knows what it is, why doesn't he demonstrate some?

Cooley is not annoying he is one guy you know cares. Carlos Rogers, and Albert Haynesworth are annoying

[No_Pressure]

Actually, for a team that has played as badly as the Washington Redskins has, there has been surprisingly little turnover on offense.

[shemp nixon]

Wait til Cooley sees the roster turnover this offseason.

[Bibby]

Cooley step up to the plate, man. You were drafted by us and the vet. If somebody isn't doing something right regardless how long they've been here you got to confront them.

[OuterBanksTarHeel]

Cooley is not annoying he is one guy you know cares. Carlos Rogers, and Albert Haynesworth are annoying

Sorry, but I don't get the love affair with Cooley. He is constantly whining, rationalizing, and making excuses in the media. You can also count on him disappearing and losing focus at least 2-3 times a year.

I feel like I just read the same comments he's made in the past; his comments could've been made a few years ago.

Dude needs to STFU for once.

[ZoEd]

I think the constant drone of "we're not talented enough" is total bull****! There's much less talented teams in the league winning football games, Bills anyone?

Anyway, there seems to be a problem with this team that's been a constant for quite sometime and since I'm not a player inside Redskin Park I don't know what the culture is like so of course I can't speak to what exactly it is. However, even when Gibbs was back there seems to be a disconnect inside the locker and with the coaches. Every single year you hear grumblings about how people aren't playing together as a team, making mistakes, lack of communication from coaches to players and between the players themselves. You know, there's a hell of a lot of super smart people in the world who can't lead and a lot of really stupid people in the world who are good leaders. We need leaders in key positions within the organization, coaches, players, freaking water boys, something.

Look at the past several seasons, what has the constant been? "I don't know why I'm not on the field", "I don't know why I'm not getting targeted more", "I haven't really talked to anybody on the team", defensive players have separate meetings, talent sitting on the bench to rot. WTF goes on inside the locker room? Jason Taylor is having a decent season, Brandon Lloyd has blown up, yet they were labled as busts here. There has to be a culture within Redskin park that demotivates people, WTF can it be?

You know I tell Airmen fresh out of basic trainig something every week. I tell them "your greatest asset to the Air Force is being a good Airman, of course I want you to be extremely good at your job but being a good Airman is all heart and you can't teach that". The same thing is true in football, you can be the fastest, strongest, most talented suma**** on the field but if 53 guys can't go out on gameday, play with heart, as a team, then all the talent in the world will not put W's on the scoreboard. Look at the teams around the league that have suddenly had success with no apparent change in personnel, did all of these guys suddenly become superstars? Look at the coaches who are successful, besides maybe Bellicheck who is simply just a mastermind of coaching, look at the teams that are successful; Jets, Pittsburgh, Ravens, Saints. They're coached by "football" guys. Not a bunch of pencil pushing X's and O's type guys, they're guys their players will strap up and go to battle for, they're leaders!

Talent is important, but it's not the answer, you need heart and someone who inspires their players to go against a more talented foe and play their guts out. Why don't our Redskins have this desire?

[joeknows]

Is it just me or is Cooley starting to get annoying?

No, McNabb doesn't go to Cooley as frequently as Campbell did. However, Cooley's not as good as he used to be either.

In my opinion, don't complain about something not being done if you're not willing to do it yourself. He refers to leadership a lot... since he knows what it is, why doesn't he demonstrate some?

i like cooley alot ... prob my favorite on the team .... but like you said, he has ****ed a few times before about leadership.... well if no one is gonna step up .... what is stopping him?

[SirClintonPortis]

I think the constant drone of "we're not talented enough" is total bull****! There's much less talented teams in the league winning football games, Bills anyone?

Bills are talented enough to be Super Bowl contenders? That the frame of reference usually used when people talk about lacking in talent.

Besides, Barry Switzer won a Bowl with talent alone.