You're Unhappy with Your Commanders

Green - a calm color

I get it.

Bad is bad.

Fans of the Washington Commanders are fed up. They are so fed up that Tony Perkins of the Donny Simpson show on Magic 102.3 and formerly of #GetUpDC on WUSA9 is tweet mad. 

How do you upset T-Perk??? C'mon, now!

Detroit, Cleveland, and other teams that have had bad years, you don't have to read on. You have your own issues but keep winning.

Alright, let's cut to the link between busyness and success: It is difficult to have intense busyness and scrutiny over a year or more and expect to have a very successful team.

Hold up!...Stop! I mentioned this comment not as an excuse because it is far from an excuse.

But, check it out: How many pro teams do you know that had successful seasons or that won championships after an intense off-season full of issues occur?

I'll wait.

Actually, let's list the stat line:

Rams...No intense, multiple off-season issues. Won Super Bowl.

Buccaneers...No intense,  multiple off-season issues. Won Super Bowl.

Chiefs...No intense, multiple off-season issues. Won Super Bowl.

Let's go to basketball:

Warriors, Aces, Sky, Bucks...No intense, multiple off-season issues. Won the Larry O'Brien.

Hockey:

Avalanche, Lightning, Blues, Capitals...No intense, multiple off-season issues. Won the Stanley Cup.

Baseball: 

Braves, Dodgers, Nationals...No intense, multiple off-season issues. Won the World Series

NFL Playoff teams:

Patriots...Juggled with a new QB. No intense, multiple off-season issues. Plus, they handled issues well. Still won.

Packers...Juggled any challenges with Rodgers. No intense, multiple off-season issues.

Bills, Heat, Penguins, Cardinals, Sun, Galaxy, Spirit, 49ers, Bengals...

OK, you get it.

The intense off-season issues that have bombarded the Commanders of recent:

1. Name changes
2. Jersey change
3. Stadium relocation talk (it adds stress)
4. Stadium malfunctions
5. Coaching carousel
6. QB carousel
7. Owner and front office malfunctions
8. Cheerleader mishap
9. Training staff problems
10. Major driving infarction

My goodness! No other playoff or championship team in any of the typical five major pro sports leagues (baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, and soccer) has experienced all of these intense issues in the last two years.

Yes, I know the problems have existed for a longer period of time. You are only supporting and adding to my argument by saying that.

All of the aforementioned issues made national news. ALL. OF. THEM. 

It would take one heck of an organization with extremely strong up front leadership in order to overcome everything and present to the public a Super Bowl or 12-5 caliber squad. No other team that has had recent success has seen this much intensity off the field, which has certainly affected on-field performance.

Do you think these issues affect coach and player mindset? Absolutely! 

With social media, fans will talk everything about it. Sports talk radio will mention everything. Opposing fans mention it. Everyone knows about the problems at the Command Center.

Look, I grew up a Redskins fan. So, I enjoyed the thrills of great teams and yelling at the TV. Lol. I don't get stressed on Sundays because I don't want to. I listen to everyone else. I also lived in New England for ten years and witnessed all of their success in sports. I drank some of the NE sports juice. It tasted good even through all of the -gates. Let me say that...when this area talks about the Commanders and other teams, the mood is downright depressing. Goodness, folks. Stop!

So, what is the plan?

Well, despite the eight, nine, ten, or more issues mentioned above, the team still has to practice, draft, play, coach, and win well. The overhead problems do not help. As you can see, no team has succeeded with A through Z and a couple of umlauts and accents of errors. Minimize the errors intra and inter-org. 

Folks, you have been in this situation yourselves. Strengthen your structure with a fine toothed comb. Attack the problems that bother you and serve as distractions. Then, orchestrate a win. 

As far as time...well, psssh, significant change can happen exponentially. It has not commanded in this case.

Much success to you | Derek | @teemptraining | derekteempt@gmail.com