It's a preseason game, but...losing is not an option.

[TD alt]

OK, I know that it's wrong---I know that it's wrong---to put undue importance on a preseason game, but If we can't beat the hapless Browns with their trainwreck of a QB situation (and a  still unsigned rookie RB), then who the hell are we going to beat? 

You can't lose to the damned Browns. Not this Friday.

[toldozer]

I would say that sanders and Gabriel are better than Plummer so I don't give a rats ass if we lose. I would like the 1st string offense and defense to looks competent. Out side of that it doesn't matter.

[TD alt]

29 minutes ago, toldozer said:

I would say that sanders and Gabriel are better than Plummer so I don't give a rats ass if we lose. I would like the 1st string offense and defense to looks competent. Out side of that it doesn't matter.

They just signed Tyler Huntley, and it's reported that he'll be playing. Two greenhorns, huh? I'm not convinced that Sanders or Gabriel are necessarily better than Plummer at this point. And I know damned well that Dalton should outplay either one of them. You're talking about their third and fourth string QBs. Let's not get carried away with the new kids on the block.

[Waldo]

It's just practice. Winning is getting better and showing up game 1 ready to win when it matters. 

[Butterflyj30]

I hope we win and I hope the first string can get some good work in

[shaqattaq]

1 hour ago, toldozer said:

I would say that sanders and Gabriel are better than Plummer so I don't give a rats ass if we lose. I would like the 1st string offense and defense to looks competent. Out side of that it doesn't matter.

If we score during our first 2 possessions I'll be happy. If we score twice, I'll be elated! Everyone has to remember that even with our starters on the field, our play calling will still be vanilla AF. We're not trying to show the Jags anything that they can use. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Nobody cares about the final score of a preseason game. We just want to see the guys who are likely to be on the final roster look like they belong.

[CarolinaRideorDie]

I think winning preseason games do matter. Baltimore Ravens went on a 24 game preseason win streak, that's 6 consecutive preseasons that they haven't lost a game. Preseason may not say anything about the starters but it does say a lot about your depth. Baltimore is one of the deepest teams at all positions. If we can have an undefeated preseason, it'll show that our depth is pretty good. 

[Joe Bear]

Lions went undefeated in the 2008 preseason, then went 0-16. Preseason wins beat preseason losses, but I care more about what the 1s and 2s do in the first half.

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

It’s always an option for this team

[CRA]

3 hours ago, TD alt said:

OK, I know that it's wrong---I know that it's wrong---to put undue importance on a preseason game, but If we can't beat the hapless Browns with their trainwreck of a QB situation (and a  still unsigned rookie RB), then who the hell are we going to beat? 

You can't lose to the damned Browns. Not this Friday.

Winning doesn't matter.  Winning or losing often comes down to the actions of future insurance salesmen in the 4th quarter. 

What does matter, is how well specific players look doing basics vs other competitors.  Tmac getting open.  Bryce making smart reads, downfield placement.  Renfrow showing juice in his step.   XL hands.  Probably need to see Horn run blocking.   Stuff like that.  

Final score means nothing.  Eyeball test for certain players does mean something IMO.  

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

Funny how some of y’all scream bloody murder at the idea of tanking in December because “you gotta build a winning culture,” but suddenly turn into philosophers when the preseason rolls around, “oh, the score doesn’t matter,” “it’s just evaluation,” “wins don’t count.” Give me a break.

You either believe winning matters or you don’t. You can’t act like you’re Vince Lombardi when we’re 2–14 and then shrug off preseason games like they’re backyard scrimmages. Winning is a habit. Losing is too. And this team, this franchise, needs to start expecting to win every time it steps on a field, I don’t care if it’s August, January, or a damn joint practice.

You play to win the game. You want to teach guys how to win? Then win. You want to build a culture? Then treat every snap like it means something. Otherwise, stop pretending you care about culture at all.

Pick a damn lane.
 

[CRA]

9 minutes ago, Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D. said:

Funny how some of y’all scream bloody murder at the idea of tanking in December because “you gotta build a winning culture,” but suddenly turn into philosophers when the preseason rolls around, “oh, the score doesn’t matter,” “it’s just evaluation,” “wins don’t count.” Give me a break.

You either believe winning matters or you don’t. You can’t act like you’re Vince Lombardi when we’re 2–14 and then shrug off preseason games like they’re backyard scrimmages. Winning is a habit. Losing is too. And this team, this franchise, needs to start expecting to win every time it steps on a field, I don’t care if it’s August, January, or a damn joint practice.

You play to win the game. You want to teach guys how to win? Then win. You want to build a culture? Then treat every snap like it means something. Otherwise, stop pretending you care about culture at all.

Pick a damn lane.
 

when I was burying Canales and prior to that Frank for hiding and protecting Bryce the past 2 seasons.....I always said winning the actual game doesn't matter.   Sure, you "try" to win.....but if in the 4th quarter you don't get it done w/ dudes that literally aren't going to be on the team that doesn't actually matter. 

[Leeroy Jenkins Ph.D.]

3 minutes ago, CRA said:

when I was burying Canales and prior to that Frank for hiding and protecting Bryce the past 2 seasons.....I always said winning the actual game doesn't matter.   Sure, you "try" to win.....but if in the 4th quarter you don't get it done w/ dudes that literally aren't going to be on the team that doesn't actually matter. 

 

Nah, see, this is exactly the kind of excuse-making that keeps this team stuck in neutral. If you’re evaluating a coach or a culture, then yes, even how your 3rd stringers approach the 4th quarter matters. Because that mindset bleeds into the locker room. If you're cool with losing just because it’s late in a preseason game, don’t turn around and cry about “soft coaching” or “lack of accountability” later. That’s where it starts.

You don’t get to cherry-pick when effort and outcome matter. Winning habits are built in the margins, even in the 4th quarter of a preseason game full of bubble guys.