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Originally Posted by Kope
It will take us, the fanbase as a whole, some time to become great fans again. We are not there yet, close but not quite. It has been so long since we had a coaching staff we could trust that we have become "change it now!" fans. It has started to change, but it will still take time.
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Excellent point. Even now, although he has demonstrated it with his handling of the Brunnell/Ramsey situation, people don't trust Gibbs to put the best players on the field (Yes, this is a LaVar reference).
In the last 5-6 years, we have all (or certainly most of us, including myself) become so inculcated with the need for immediate improvement that it is hard for us to now trust that change will come from the inside albeit not immediately.
I have seen some columnists point to the 1999 team as a comparison for this team's offense. To me, the comparison is just not valid. The end of the Norv years was the beginning of the "change it now" syndrome. Between Norv's lackadaisacal atmosphere, Snyder's fantasy football mentality, and the clear favoritism towards certain players, the fundamental "team" aspect necessary to win at this level got lost and was never fully recaptured.
For both the franchise and the fans, rebuilding the mentality that it is occasionally necessary to take one step back to take two steps forward cannot be done overnight. For both players and fans, this attitude requires a trust in the ownership, coaching and the front office that has not been warranted since the Jack Kent Cooke days. Once this trust has been rebuilt, as it appears Gibbs is trying to do, then perhaps, just perhaps, players and fans can learn to enjoy the expectation of winning even when all appears bleak (For an example of this - Just look at the attitudes and statements made by players and fans up in New England)
Even if this season does not live up to our current hopes - as long as Gibbs keeps the players focused on being a "team" that strives to do the little things right, THEN this season will have been a success and a real foundation will have been laid for a long term winning franchise a' la New England, Pittsburg, and (yes I'll say it) Philadelphia. Gibbs is rebuilding the culture of winning and of "team" football. Once that is done, then the wins WILL follow.
Who knows, maybe Gibbs is teaching Snyder how to be a winning owner rather than just a flashy one.