My Little Weinke Benched Theory

Sorry if I implied I'm a "coach." In my professional life, I develop and train teams of engineers to work together. It is different but the same. Developing leaders is developing leaders. Oh, I was also a drill sergeant many years ago. You know...left, right, left right, thumb on your seam type stuff?

 

no, but wouldn't that rock?

 

This is it in a nutshell...

And by judging the early printed responses from Weinke to Fox's decision, that's exactly what's happening. Weinke hasn't shown any fire since draft day, 2001. He played scared and disoriented last year (rightfully so--baptism by fire is like that).

This year, Weinke has consistently been the best QB in mini-camps, training camp, and practice, according to the writers and a few fans that commented on practices they attended. Granted, Peete missed a lot of time, but I refuse to believe he's better in any way than Chris. (other than marital status, but that's luck, I'm sure )

No, the entire 1st string offense, has been lacadaiscal in their approach to preseason games, the noted exceptions being Steve Smith and DeShaun Foster, both of whom are trying to earn spots as starters. The rest have been uninspired, to say the least. That's probably the nature of pre-season to an extent, but clearly Fox doesn't look at it that way.

Something else you said, Colin, hit me and I think you're right. Indeed, you can't bench the entire offense, so the leader takes the hit. Weinke should be the leader of the offense at least, if not the whole team. His poise, history, and even his age should contribute to him being that leader. But he's been so quiet and even-tempered, there is an obvious leadership vacuum. As Warren Sapp has more than proved, a defensive team leader cannot lead the offense. Fox had to figure a way to break Chris out of this quiet complacency mold and light a fire under that boy. I think he's done it.

A fired up Chris Weinke should be able to run this tailor-made offense, and run it well. Let's just hope Fox can keep the burner on high under #16.

 

true enough HB2k. BTW, notice you're now -99 not 2000. You have a welcome thread here:
http://thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12455

 

Re: This is it in a nutshell...

Maybe we should just add him to the practice squad since he does that so well..

 

The '99 / 2000 story is a long one that I won't bore anyone with. Thanks for the welcome. Always nice to find another group of good intelligent football fans to bounce ideas, opinions, and unfounded speculation off of.

 

I don't think Weinke is used to the leadership role. Bobby Bowden is and always will be the leader of the Noles. Weinke had it made at FSU.

 

Has Fox been saying Weinke is the future since he benched him? 'Cause technically he was speaking the truth before. We just all thought he meant long term.

 

ColinG, there are two things you said which are in my opinion 100% true. At the opening game if W goes out and looks bad the fans would wear him out calling for Fasani. This would probably finish Weinke for the Panthers. Thus your second point, that this move has probably saved W's career as far as QBing for the Panthers.

Think of it all you W fans, 2 home games, Fasani has captured the imaginations of all us fickled fans, we want him in there, more we want a winner, W starts the first game and throws a INT, what do you think is going to happen? Weinke will be booooooooooed out of the stadium. That I can guarantee. This probaby would create a chain reaction with Peete the next victum. Until Fasani was in. If the coach did not put F in then evarything comes unglued. A terrible situation. These coaches are doing the only thing they can. Peete will play the first two games then we will probably give the ball to W for a two game tryout. If he wins one then he's in.

To all you Weinke supporters, you ought to be praising Fox and staff for saving W's ass.

 

I wouldn't say I'm a Winky supporter but as posted in several other theads... Fox had nothing to lose here:

If we lose and he comes back in and wins for us, most people will say.... Good call John Fox, way to give Winky a wake up call.

If we win, we might not see him again (highly unlikely), but if we do win, most people will not give a shit and no one will be calling for him.

Looks like a win/win for Fox and company... Damn smart move!

Oh and if we lose after Winky comes back in, nobody really has any Merit to say Winky would have won had we not benched him... his record in the NFL would be supporting evidence here.