DC Bob Sanders let players make calls

[mmmdk]

Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders left it up to his players to make the calls (at half time).

As a result, the Lions managed only a fourth-quarter field goal, while punting twice and giving it up on downs.

"He sat everybody down with 13 minutes to play and just told us, 'I'm going to give you all the calls,'" Carroll said of Sanders. "He asked us what we wanted to call. We told him, and we went out there and played."

Gutsy? I think so but it also has me a bit worried. 'Cos it could be interpreted that Sanders is clueless calling plays. What do you think?

[Sef0r]

Unbelievable. I'm guessing highway-28 was not suppose to say anything to the media about this because I am with you on being worried that maybe, just maybe Sanders may not know what he is doing.

Either that or he got sick of calling plays the Defense doesn't know how to execute.

[cpk1994]

Unbelievable. I'm guessing highway-28 was not suppose to say anything to the media about this because I am with you on being worried that maybe, just maybe Sanders may not know what he is doing.

Either that or he got sick of calling plays the Defense doesn't know how to execute.

I wouldn't worry. Mike Holmgren was known to get fed up with the Offense at times during games and would give the playcalling to Sherman Lewis. Now granted its not the players in that case, but handing over playcalling isn't something new.

[red]

well, it looks like we can get rid of sanders then, if the team sucks when he's making the decisions, and they look good when he's not. then get rid of him

[Lurker64]

Well, if our defensive players have their heads in the game enough to be able to diagnose the offense and successfully figure out what to do, and then actually go out and execute, I would have to say that's a good sign. I think this is less an issue of "Sander's doesn't know what to call" and more of an issue of "motivating the D." I mean, if you can't execute what the coach wants you to run and you can't execute what you want to run, how much pride can you have as a defensive player.

I'm not sure we want to make a habit of it, but it at least reflects well on our defense mentally.

[MJZiggy]

Whatever works. It worked. They called the plays as a team and executed as a team.

[chewy-bacca]

I guess if it helps communication, Im all for it!! The more they talk about things back there, the better.

Maybe start that before the game, plan it as a group leading up to the game. and then work it as a group.

[GoPack06]

i think it gives the players confidence. They played alot better in the second half.

[rdanomly]

Which player called the plays then? Was it Manual, Collins, who?

[oregonpackfan]

If it was up to a specific player, I would hope it would be someone like Barnett or Harris. Heaven help the Packers if it is Carroll!

OPF

[MJZiggy]

Whoever did it did a pretty good job.

[Partial]

I would guess Manual. I don't think they did a good job, either.

[MJZiggy]

Better than the first half.

[Guiness]

Maybe it was Corey Williams, and the play call went something like this:

If any of you f'ers let someone convert a 3rd and long after that sack I just made, I'm gona come over there and sit on you!

[KYPack]

Which player called the plays then? Was it Manual, Collins, who?

It would normally be the mike (Barnette) or the Safety (Manual)

They have the best view of the field. Leroy used to make most of the calls from the bench for Fritz, but the mike would make game calls (audibles), for instance.

[Brainerd]

Too funny. Even his own dang self knows he's not qualified. I now have renewed hope for the season assuming he continues to be so self-aware and introspective.

[Chester Marcol]

I hear next week Magic 8 ball is calling the defense.

[jack's smirking revenge]

I was calling the plays. That's why I couldn't watch the game at the Park Tavern.

tyler

[Fritz]

It actually kind of depends on the context of the situation. If Sander was desperate and at a loss, then it's the picture of a guy who's in over his head. If he used this deliberate tactic to motivate his guys and give them a sense of "ownership," then he's a guy who's comfortable in his skin and doesn't mind handing over the authority for a bit if it means his D will work better.

[FritzDontBlitz]

Too funny. Even his own dang self knows he's not qualified. I now have renewed hope for the season assuming he continues to be so self-aware and introspective.

i don't have a problem with the defenders calling the plays, its the way games used to be called anyway before coaches got so bigheaded they felt they had to spoon feed the players everything. if carroll was referring to the 4th quarter defense - and he did say the last 13 minutes - then they definitely played better when they called the plays themselves. i assume the one who took over the playcalling was manuel and not barnett because manuel has been to the big dance so he should know a little more about running a successful defense than barnett.