GDT Ott at Mtl, Thu Aug 20, 6:30PM

[Tecno]

Maier is what he's always been.  I have no idea why Dinwiddie even tried.  It's like someone dating and seeing the other person is basically nuts and broken and thinking "I can fix 'em!".  Ya, you can't, and similarly no one can fix Maier.

Maier can't see the pictures.  He has no idea where the chess pieces are on the field.  He'll happily throw into double and triple coverage (the EZ INT), and throw quick ones where the separation isn't enough (the curl INT).  And he'll do it over and over and over again.

Dru isn't the best, but at least Dru sometimes sees pictures.  Why a "QB Whisperer" couldn't see this is beyond me.  Maier made it abundantly clear in CGY!  It was just like this!!  Even Arbuckle could see the pictures -- and that's why he was serviceable in the GC and actually won some games for TOR in '25.

Just end the Maier experiment, and relegate him to backup (or retirement) where he has always belonged.  It's making everyone feel uncomfortable watching them trot him out to suck the same way every week.  MBT isn't much better.  Maybe trade for Arbuckle (or Dru haahahaha, for 3 1RDPs!) or Powell or even Crum.  Or be first in line when Kelly & TOR part ways in 1-2 FAs.

As for feeling sorry for OTT: they are basically 2012-2013 WPG, and I lived that pain.  If we can take it, so can they.

[Tecno]

Did you notice MTL was getting really sloppy & taking tons of penalties when they had the slow start?  I think they feel entitled to win every game, and aren't used to not getting their way.  Their D was really blowing up doing the dumbest things.

We should try to find a way to inflame that further when we play them.  Get them frustrated.  Maybe it's as simple as methodically moving the ball for long drives, especially early in the game, and smacktalking it up.  Now, Mafia won't coach or encourage that, but the players should amongst themselves!

I'm sure Maas will have a talk with them, but I bet we can get in the headspace of some of their hothead D nonetheless.

[blue_gold_84]

Methinks Dinwiddie may have underestimated the challenges of wearing two hats simultaneously when he just accepted the RedBlacks GM/HC offer. It's not like he acquired some well oiled machine, either.

0-10 is rough as it is, but doubly so for a franchise that's struggled a lot in recent years.