Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan: An unlikely win-win situation?

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not sure what to make of Haynesworth really. But it seems to me like his biggest concern has always been that as a NT he has to sacrifice certain stats, namely sacks. Like it doesn't matter if playing NT gives say Orakpo room to roam and adds 5 more sacks to Orakpo's stat sheet but that Haynesworth isn't getting those 5 stats. So AH would rather come off the bench as a pass rusher and get those 5 sacks himself. I'm guessing he wouldn't be as keen to come off the bench if it was to clog the middle

^^ This. I see no evidence that AH is trying to "get up to speed" on playing the nose. His comment that someone else is better at playing it was not conditioned by a "for now" or "until I show the coaches I am can play it better". AH wants his stats, wants to play his way. If, to do that, he is happy sitting on the bench, and the coach's are happy to have him sit there, fine.

Is he ever going to be an All-Pro that way? Nope. Could he be one if he worked hard at learning the new position and being willing to do what the coaches told him to do? Yup. Could he really improve the team by sacrificing stats? Yup. Is he willing to do those things? Nope.

Again, Shanny and he have reached a mutual peace (I guess) and now we can just (hopefully) move past the drama.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

^^ This. I see no evidence that AH is trying to "get up to speed" on playing the nose. His comment that someone else is better at playing it was not conditioned by a "for now" or "until I show the coaches I am can play it better". AH wants his stats, wants to play his way. If, to do that, he is happy sitting on the bench, and the coach's are happy to have him sit there, fine.

Is he ever going to be an All-Pro that way? Nope. Could he be one if he worked hard at learning the new position and being willing to do what the coaches told him to do? Yup. Could he really improve the team by sacrificing stats? Yup. Is he willing to do those things? Nope.

Again, Shanny and he have reached a mutual peace (I guess) and now we can just (hopefully) move past the drama.

He's still taking snaps in practice at the nose, and Haslett is still convinced that he can play there.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

He's still taking snaps in practice at the nose, and Haslett is still convinced that he can play there.

Guess I missed that. Was that in the Post article?

[Hog1]

Well....at the least perhaps we can use him in a positive way for the remainder of this season and showcase his talents for a useful offseason trade?
Who knows.....maybe he likes it and begins to make a statement, becomes a great TEAM player, great locker room guy............
and maybe I win the Lottery three times and spend the weekend with Scarlett Johansson.......
Maybe a nice offseason trade?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Well....at the least perhaps we can use him in a positive way for the remainder of this season and showcase his talents for a useful offseason trade?
Who knows.....maybe he likes it and begins to make a statement, becomes a great TEAM player, great locker room guy............
and maybe I win the Lottery three times and spend the weekend with Scarlett Johansson.......
Maybe a nice offseason trade?

Let's hope so. He makes too much to just be a nickel pass rusher, so unless things change I can't see him sticking around at season's end.

[Chico23231]

Albert needs to shut up and play, and give 150%. Im kinda tired of this, and really wish the media would focus on something else.

[MTK]

Haynesworth fine doing what he does best

Shanahan stressed that to be a "complete lineman," a player has to be strong against both the pass and the run, and he's noticed improvement from Haynesworth in recent weeks. Haynesworth continues to take practice reps at the nose tackle position, though Haslett said Kedric Golston will now serve as backup to Ma'ake Kemoateu.

Haslett said he's convinced Haynesworth is still capable of playing in the 3-4. "He's athletic, he's big enough, it's more of a mind-set than anything. Is it what he does best, if it was 3-4? Probably not," he said. "But it doesn't mean he can't do it."

[JoeRedskin]

^^ Thanks.

While not a complete condemnation of AH, it is certainly less than a ringing endorsement of him as an unselfish player. Essentially saying, if he adopted the proper mind set, AH could be just fine.

Again, whatever - if it gets us past the drama, I'm all good with it.

[12thMan]

Whatever the case, I think we're about to Haynesworth's best football. I'm all too excited about it - finally!

[GTripp0012]

I think it's a myth that Haynesworth is a better pass rusher than a run-stopper. However, when we put him right smack in the middle of our defense at the nose, his technique made him a poor run stopper. Moving him a couple feet to the outside makes him an excellent short yardage run defender.

Haynesworth could rush the passer equally well from anywhere.

[MTK]

Belichick didn't become a hard ass when they won, he wore out his welcome in Cleveland because of that. The best coaches are the ones that do things their way, no exceptions.

[Hog1]

[QUOTE=Mattyk;754837]Belichick didn't become a hard ass when they won, he wore out his welcome in Cleveland because of that. The best coaches are the ones that do things their way, no exceptions.[/QUOTE]

Apparently......not here?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Belichick didn't become a hard ass when they won, he wore out his welcome in Cleveland because of that. The best coaches are the ones that do things their way, no exceptions.

I think the progression of Coughlin and Belichick from my-way-or-the-highway to more adaptive styles is evidence to the contrary. As is the transition of Parcells from a guy who won a lot of games and super bowls to a .500 coach in his last two stops.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think the progression of Coughlin and Belichick from my-way-or-the-highway to more adaptive styles is evidence to the contrary. As is the transition of Parcells from a guy who won a lot of games and super bowls to a .500 coach in his last two stops.

I don't see any evidence that supports the notion that Coughlin or Belichick have become any less stubborn or demanding. They simply suffered through the growing pains -- alienating, cutting or trading anyone without unconditional support for them -- and now they have good teams full of professionals who don't question anything, show up to meetings on-time, and work hard at their jobs. That is a strategy for success, regardless of your profession.

People usually respond well to people who know what they want. Coaches like Coughlin and Belichick, spend a lot of time and effort to devise a solid long-term plan, and then they stick to it. The plan wasn't pulled out of thin air -- it was decided upon for many good reasons, and you'd never see coaches like them abandoning their plans mid-season. However, if they came to realize that a guy on their team didn't fit their plan as well as they originally thought, they wouldn't hesitate to make a change. The plan > the player.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Belichick didn't become a hard ass when they won, he wore out his welcome in Cleveland because of that. The best coaches are the ones that do things their way, no exceptions.

Belichick also drafted a hall of fame QB with a 7th rounder. A little luck goes a long way too.