I have had a back and forth with several other Slanters/KU FB diehards about whether this group lacks toughness. Mental toughness vs. physical toughness? Does the former get you the latter or vice versa? I offer that the biggest issue for this team right now, is the mental side of the game. And I am the first to point out that we are still an undersized football team, physicality matters.
An example of what I am talking about came last week when in the first quarter, Cozart was flushed from the pocket and ran to his right. The filed was wide open but for one safety he had to beat. Instead of planting his foot and trying to cut or juke the defender, Cozart ran to the sideline and out of bounds. Had he gotten by the safety, it was likely going to be a touchdown. There are many other examples for Cozart I could list but it would be overkill.
No one knows why he made this decision besides Cozart. However, to me, the mindset should have been to run for the goal line not the sideline.
On the surface, Cozart's public apology looks like a young man trying to step up and be a leader. However and I agree with Keegan, his apology highlights a soft mental attitude on this football team.
The tape doesn't lie. Cozart has shown for three years now that he will not run to contact. That is not being a tough-minded, hard nosed football player. There is no way that his teammates don't talk about it either. Ramblood, I would like your thoughts on this.
The bigger issue is that Cozart is just emblematic of the entire team. These guys need to play pissed off, play with passion, play to win. Effort is a reflection of attitude. As I posted after the Memphis game, the team was as flat as a pancake coming out of the tunnel and on the sidelines the entire game. I worry that Beatty has been so consumed with every little detail that he has forgotten that one of his main jobs is to make sure his team plays with passion. Passion and energy feed into toughness. A smaller man who is energized can compete against bigger players but it requires that mind set. And to hold that for 60 minutes requires toughness. See James McClinton. See Willie Pless.
I am not trying to pick on Cozart but if you are playing with passion, playing ticked off that you are considered to be a crap team, you don't run for the sideline. You make move and try and beat the defender, or, you lower your shoulder pads and run his butt over. This issue apples to the entire team.
Not one player on this team has been on a winner since he got here. It has to be very hard to find that passion. But if you have a weak or losing mind set, you will not play with any toughness. This issue may be the biggest one that Beatty faces, more than recruiting or position issues etc.
Just my take, been thinking about this since the drive home from Memphis.
An example of what I am talking about came last week when in the first quarter, Cozart was flushed from the pocket and ran to his right. The filed was wide open but for one safety he had to beat. Instead of planting his foot and trying to cut or juke the defender, Cozart ran to the sideline and out of bounds. Had he gotten by the safety, it was likely going to be a touchdown. There are many other examples for Cozart I could list but it would be overkill.
No one knows why he made this decision besides Cozart. However, to me, the mindset should have been to run for the goal line not the sideline.
On the surface, Cozart's public apology looks like a young man trying to step up and be a leader. However and I agree with Keegan, his apology highlights a soft mental attitude on this football team.
The tape doesn't lie. Cozart has shown for three years now that he will not run to contact. That is not being a tough-minded, hard nosed football player. There is no way that his teammates don't talk about it either. Ramblood, I would like your thoughts on this.
The bigger issue is that Cozart is just emblematic of the entire team. These guys need to play pissed off, play with passion, play to win. Effort is a reflection of attitude. As I posted after the Memphis game, the team was as flat as a pancake coming out of the tunnel and on the sidelines the entire game. I worry that Beatty has been so consumed with every little detail that he has forgotten that one of his main jobs is to make sure his team plays with passion. Passion and energy feed into toughness. A smaller man who is energized can compete against bigger players but it requires that mind set. And to hold that for 60 minutes requires toughness. See James McClinton. See Willie Pless.
I am not trying to pick on Cozart but if you are playing with passion, playing ticked off that you are considered to be a crap team, you don't run for the sideline. You make move and try and beat the defender, or, you lower your shoulder pads and run his butt over. This issue apples to the entire team.
Not one player on this team has been on a winner since he got here. It has to be very hard to find that passion. But if you have a weak or losing mind set, you will not play with any toughness. This issue may be the biggest one that Beatty faces, more than recruiting or position issues etc.
Just my take, been thinking about this since the drive home from Memphis.
