Facelessness: Good or Bad?
by HorseStance on Jun 23, 2009 5:54 PM MDT
31 comments
I'm sure most of you have read Mark Kiszla's 'wonderful' message to Mr. Pat Bowlen. If you haven't here is the Link although i would suggest skim reading as there is a large amount of poisonous anti-kool aid on offer and i would not want you diluting the pure orange and blue running through you!
Anyway so that piece of 'Journalism' got me thinking about the concept of 'face of our team' and what that means for us in a time where we are seeing so many changing faces. Kiszla ends his delightful article with this insight.
But what are the Broncos now?
A team without a face.
So we are faceless? But what does faceless mean? Lets ask the dictionary...
From Merriam-Webster:
face·less Function:adjective Date:1568 1 a: lacking character or individuality : nondescript <the faceless masses> b: not identified : anonymous <a faceless accuser>2: lacking a face
So either the Broncos are lacking character, not individual enough or we cannot be identified at all becuase we have no face.
Oh reeeeeaaally Mark Kiszla is that so... Lets take a closer look!
It is quite clear to me as it probably is to the rest of you that one thing we are not lacking is character. We kept the high character guys that were on our squadlast year , Champ, Royal, Weigmann.. just to name a few.. We got rid of some players with questionable character.. i won't delve any further into that one! We Signed a boat load of high character free agents including,Dawkins, Davis, Goodman, Hill... We also drafted only high character guys, and we took a load of high character players from UDFA e.g. Rulon Davis.
So i think it is safe to say at this point that character has been a MAJOR theme this offseason and we are certainly not 'Lacking Character'!
Not Individual Enough:
Another Major theme this offseason has been versatility. Josh Mcdaniels likes too run a versatile Offense that can change and adapt. This can be seen when watching the Patriots, how they don't just play to their collective strengths instead they play to the opponents weaknessess and exploit the weaker players of the missed asignments or the gaps in coverage. It can also be seen in how Mike Nolan likes to run his defense.. He doesn't just say 'ok we are now changing to the 3-4 and you players better adapt quickly or we will be just as bad as last year', he says something more like 'we are going to transition to the 3-4 but along the way if a player has strengths that don't fit into the conventional 3-4 alignment we will use those strengths in another way to make us more effective and help our team win'.
Versatility is common within our players as well. We have a LB who can play full back, WR's and CB's who can play KR/PR, a new RB and some TE's who could double as a WR's, DE's who are now switching to OLB, a LB that can and has played every LB position and lets also not forget Mr Versatility himself Peyton Hillis.. (Denver Post said it so it must be true.. ;-P)
So i would argue that what makes us individual is our versatility and i hope you all agree. Feel free to add what you think makes us individual as well incase there is something i have missed.
Not identifiable, Lacking a face:
JeffG brings up a good point in this thread (The Straw that broke the camels back) which also helped formulate some of my ideas.
This has been to problem all along, as far as the MSM is concerned.They can’t tout games as "Cutler and the Broncos" vs. "Peyton Manning and the Colts."
That is, they can — but Kyle Orton just isn’t sexy sounding, and there’s no Urlacher on the Broncos’ defense to fall back on.
It’s all about THEM. They aren’t really upset about what the Broncos are doing. They’re upset that this uppity McDaniels punk has taken away their shorthand.
by JeffG
So it's not just what being faceless means for us but also what it means for the journalists trying get a read on the Broncos so that they can pigeon hole us and put us into one of their preferred categories.
But there must be more to it than that, i mean yes Peyton Manning is the 'Face' of the colts but without the other 10 players on offense he wouldn't get very far, not to mention they players they have on D like Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders.
Expanding on JeffG's point i would say that what it gives the pundits is the ability to forget about the team and focus on one or two general things that can help prove their point.
If we where to have a face who would it be?
On our squad we have 8 time pro bowl CB Champ Bailey, obviously a fan favorite but not a glamorous enough position to be the 'face'. We also have 7 time pro bowler S Brain Dawkins, who in Philly was the 'Face', now i guess he is just another guy in the locker room. We have young players like Clady, Hillis, Woodyard, Larsen who could very well develope into great players but can you place any of them in the 'face' position? Eddie Royal is quickly becoming a fan favorite and he has a stellar character to compliment his great catches and amazing runs, but is he ready to be a 'face' for this franchise? We have a new RB who was definetly considered one of the two faces of the Georgia Bulldogs from the last few years, can Knowshon live up to his potential and be the game changing running back we all want him to be? Regardless of that unless he puts up numbers like Adrian Peterson he will likely not become the 'face' yet in Denver. We also have an underrated QB who could have taken the 'face' of the Bears from Brian Urlacher but it still remains to be seen how well he does under McDaniels system.
It seems that we have a roster stacked with talent that either could be, should be or will be the 'face' of the Broncos in the eyes of the media. But for some reason or another, despite our roster being stacked with talent, our team is faceless.
Is facelessness really a problem though?
Maybe Facelessness is an asset. The fact that this team is so versatile means that other teams don't know what to expect, we will have one look one week and a completely new one the week after. There are not many things about our team that other teams can plan for, McDaniels has a new coaching staff and an entire new team. We might resemble the patriots on offense occasionally but you can't game plan against that because we have a completely differerent squad of players and each one will be used differently because we are so versatile! So maybe in this case Facelessness is a good thing as it brings unpredictability.
Another of the things emphasised this offseason and that is TEAM > INDIVIDUAL. Yes we have many potential 'faces' but actually, if our lack of 'faces' makes a more effective team, then surely that is a good thing? Dawkins is a great example of this; He was the face in Philly, moreso than McNabb, and now he is just another guy in the locker room. The benefit to the team of having a guy like that in the locker room, who is more interested in the team and winning that with being the 'face', is immense.
Add to that the focus on team first guys with high character and hard working attitiude and you are better off than have a team full of individuals playing for themselves.
So what do you think is facelessness a good or bad thing?
---
First fanpost for me so take it easy on me.. :-)
It's getting late here in the UK and i'm pretty sure that the later it gets the more i start to ramble. So apologies for that and any englishisms that mean absolutely nothing to you guys.. Also not quite sure i got the hang of posting yet..
Peace
HS
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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Great post!
I do not think that having one player as a face is important, when you have a TEAM
"Really, I'm a high-motor guy. Tough, hard-nosed, a hard runner, can make you miss at times. And just competitive. I love to play the game and I bring that energy to my team. So, we'll see how that goes." - Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno is the boss!
by stedtfeld on Jun 23, 2009 6:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
The thing to remember about Kizla...
…is that he was a scandal baiting cliche machine long before it became fasionable with the rest of his MSM collegues.
Though I don’t read Kizla anymore, my first thought on his general complaint was, duh!! That’s sort of the point. The McD revolution is built on the foundation of team first principles. The fact that Kizla hasn’t been able to do the math on that independently tells you how seriously any of his opinions should be taken. He is the poster child for what is wrong with a once proud industry.
I am an idiot walking a tightrope of fortune and fame
I am an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame
If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame
and though I'll never forget your face,
sometimes i can't remember my name.
--Counting Crows, "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby"
by PredominantlyOrange on Jun 23, 2009 6:41 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
It's hard to visualize ONE face on the Broncos
when you have so many players that are going to make huge impacts next year. Take it from a Photoshop addict, it’s hard as hell to alter 53+faces onto ONE set of shoulders. I’ll take faceless over one or two impact guys any day.
Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.
by Joe Medina on Jun 23, 2009 6:58 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Post HS, keep the thoughts coming
Here’s a thought — since we’re being called “faceless” how about we promote the idea of everybody on the team wearing those dark visor thingies on their helmets so no-one can see their faces? LOL
Pray for the best, prepare for the worst, and know you will come down somewhere between the two.
by BShrout on Jun 23, 2009 7:55 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Ill take a "faceless" team with many could be or should be faces any day!!
The Patriots lost the face of their franchise but were still able to win, and thats because they were a team with could be and should be faces. The Bengals lost the two “faces” of their franchise: Carson Palmer due to injury and C Johnson to stupidity and that team went straight to the tank.
On To Victory!!!
by alacumba!! on Jun 23, 2009 8:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Facelessness is a good thing considering....
The Broncos were\are in need of rebuilding. The fire was lacking. So when a new coach comes in in a rebuilding year, especially when all phases of the game needed improvement, facelessness means that what wasn’t working is gone. From the ashes arises the pheonix in its fresh incarnation. A new offense that can control the ball, score, and control the clock. A defense that can stop drives and take away the ball. A special teams unit that can consistantly get good field position. If we are faceless still in week 9, it will be a problem, but faceless before training camp means we are doing what needs to be done for a new team to emerge.
As far as one individual face for the team in the media, I’d rather have the focus on 3-4 guys who can be seen as leaders in their units who contribue equally to overall team success. (but free season tickets and unlimited beer would be nice too, while I’m dreaming)
"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton
by odarol on Jun 23, 2009 8:47 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
This whole affair may have a quirky finish to it.
Flash: Headline news: The “FaceLess Team” just won the Super Bowl. Nice first time post Horse Stance, and in my honest opinion the Denver Post is “faceless” for even existing. It is beyond me why people keep going back the vomit they just read. Once bitten twice shy is my motto. I come here and get the facts, and only the facts. broncobear does a great job profiling players in his “Tales”, Hoosierteacher does a great job in analysing player positions and systems, styg50 does a great job in people ethics and writing, Colinski does a great job in football playbook and scheme, Topnation does a great job in topic writing, The Sports Guru does a great job in play by play and setting this all up for us to enjoy, zappa does a great job in bringing a witty humor in a football sense, Predominate Orange does a great job in stats and analysis, sayre does a great job in providing football information in a professional way, boydy does a great job in posting articles of a football nature, fact is, why in the world would anyone want to read their garbage??? You tell me, I don’t read it, all I know is what is said right here. I’ll be honest with you all, I want them to talk bad about and treat us like we have no face, because when we put it in their ear, then they won’t be able to say it anymore. They are the scum of the earth, plain and simple. 13-3 Baby!!!
by bfree2bronc on Jun 23, 2009 8:50 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe scum of the earth is a bit strong..
..but i agree with your sentiment, i was thinking about why Kiszla and many other reporters are taking this end of the world approach to any stories related to Denver.. and the answers i come up with are either they are feeling shell shocked and have strong emotional turmoil due to the end of an era..
Kiszla also says this..
The overt desire to reshape this team as Patriots West might well be based on sound football principles, but it’s also a slap in the face to everybody who loves Denver’s own fine football tradition.
So that says to me that he enjoyed the Shanahan era and he didn’t want it to end or he feels it ended prematurely, this i think is a sentiment being echoed by a lot of fans as well so maybe it is the fan inside Mark Kizsla, and other reporters that blind them from the reality of the situation and that was IMO that it was apparent to me that the coaching was a problem last season not just the players on either side of the ball. Something had to change, and it did drastically.. Change is always difficult to begin with and without results or real information for them to write about they have to return to their default style, which i guess in general terms is either Kool-Aid or Anti-Kool-Aid.. lol And that says more about them as a person than it does about the subject they are writing on..
As for the other NFL and ESPN analysts, i think many of them have just jumped on a bandwagon and are going along with what is fashionable.. But i also think that a few of them have had a bee in there bonnet regarding Denver for a while now and this just gives them a reason to air their angst publicly without being reprimanded for being bias.
by HorseStance on Jun 24, 2009 11:59 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Character
ok…so i went and looked up character…on wikipedia…and they talked about moral charter:
“An evaluation of a particular individual’s moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits. Moral character primarily refers to the assemblage of qualities that distinguish one individual from another. Psychologist Lawrence Pervin defines moral character as “a disposition to behave expressing itself in consistent patterns of functioning across a range of situations” (Pervin 1994, p. 108)."
Soooo…like they gotta have character…cuz they arent zombies…they are real people…and…well…its like how they act…and maybe we can see how they acted in the past…like…when they maybe played for us last year…or another nfl team…or maybe college. That means we can sorta wonder what they were like where they were…or when they were.
And…we can kinda guess how they might be now…only Jedi doesnt let us see the practices…so we dont really totally know…and we can only hope…cuz Jedi and Dr X are gonna make them into something. Like…we want them to be made into a team…a really hard working bunch of brainiac smart guys who totally get the job done. And we are so totally gonna keep our fingers crossed that they win more than they loose…cuz we all want to feel good about them…cuz they have really good character…and are way cool dudes…and not gangsta types.
And…i dont care one bit what Mark Kizla says. If he doesnt wanna believe…thats so way too bad for him…and what a totally sad world he must live in…cuz he doesnt have any hope…and he doesnt care about anything…all he can do is tear people down…and…like…whats he ever done with his little life.
Soooo…maybe i wonder what kinda character Mark Kizla has…and what kinda face hes got…prolly not one that he can look in the mirror and smile about…just saying.
MHR...and proud of it!
by MHRsGirl on Jun 23, 2009 8:53 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
especially on the last part. It reminds me of this episode of Nip/Tuck where Sean gets bashed by a reporter for being ugly, etc. Turns out the guy that wrote the article was jealous and upset at his own shortcomings. I think Kizla has quite a few of those.
Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.
by Joe Medina on Jun 23, 2009 9:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't hold anything back, Girl.
LOL. Tell us how you really feel!
"He can take his'n n beat your'n, or he can take your'n n beat his'n." Florida A&M Coach Jake Gaither on Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
by turnerstoe on Jun 24, 2009 10:52 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morality is important!
And we are so totally gonna keep our fingers crossed that they win more than they loose…cuz we all want to feel good about them…cuz they have really good character…and are way cool dudes…and not gangsta types.
+1
If we are going to put our effort in supporting these players you don’t want to suddenly one day find out that they breed and fight dogs for fun or beat there girlfriends! We want way cool dudes!
by HorseStance on Jun 24, 2009 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
White Glove Treatment
Ha ha!! Read this article:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/06/23/mail/index.html?bcnn=yes
scroll to the bottom.
Interesting take at the top on Green Bay’s Nick Collins.
by Endzone on Jun 23, 2009 9:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Elway was the singular face of the Broncos...
…throughout the 80’s and early 90’s, but we never won a Super Bowl until we had a lot more faces (TD, Neil Smith, Alfred Williams, Atwater, Smith, McCaffrey, Sharpe, Zimmerman, etc.).
Kiz is just a blowhard of course, but in this article he’s feeding off a common problem among Bronco fans – we became so used to the idea of having a “franchise QB” in Elway that we forgot how to cheer for a team with a solid or even pedestrian QB, even though we’ve seen the Lombardi Trophy hoisted by the likes of Doug Williams, Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Eli Manning. Those guys all had their moments, but they were far from being the face of their respective teams.
Meanwhile Dan Marino, the face of the Dolphins for a decade and a half, never won the big one.
by ShawnDenver on Jun 23, 2009 9:23 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Excellent point Shawn
"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
by KaptainKirk on Jun 23, 2009 9:42 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is a lot of work being an objective reporter
looking up facts, research, research, research. More looking up f facts. More research. WOuldn’t it be nice if you only had to know one player or person from every team, and that would impart the most info to the most people? Then you get to look like you know what you are talking about too!
That is never true, even at the lowest rungs of the sports hierarchy. But reporters have gotten away with it on many levels for a long time.
This whole “instant, constant info” internets thing really is turning this world upside down.
Again. Just like the printing press.
There is no army so powerful as an idea whose time has come.
by Jeremy Bolander on Jun 24, 2009 2:30 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
It's true
32 teams is alot to keep track of….LOL jking
These guys like Kizla are so lazy, they want the easy road. With Cutler gone, their one stop shop for excuses and praise is gone. They’ll actually have to do some research on the team if the Broncos start winning. Never forget, the MSM is nothing more than entertainment. They don’t get paid to do research or promote the truth. The whole point is to keep you watching or reading so you’ll view the commercials, which actually pay their bills. You want the truth? Stick with MHR.
by rollinthunder on Jun 25, 2009 12:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Team identity
I think teams do develop a "personality " (for want of a better term) based on how they execute plays and perform overall in games. Here’s the point though — they haven’t played any games yet! The face or personality of the team will become apparent only after we’ve played some games against different kinds of opponents. The type of characters McD has assembled will no doubt create a certain team chemistry that then will become the teams identity. This article is so inane at this point in the preseason as to be silly filler that an editor should have wiped without a second thought. The fact that this appeared in print is testimony to the demise of writing in the MSM.
by Ponderosa on Jun 24, 2009 9:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Who was that masked team?!?!?
That will be the reaction from many opponents this year. Great post. Great responses. Rec’d with gusto. Keep the insight coming. As you & the respondents to your piece have made it abundantly clear, this is the best watering hole you can find if you’re a Bronco Fan.
"He can take his'n n beat your'n, or he can take your'n n beat his'n." Florida A&M Coach Jake Gaither on Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
by turnerstoe on Jun 24, 2009 9:35 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I can here the batman music now..
Biff! Bam! Whap! Klonk! Kapow!
And the ‘Faceless’ Team shuts out the opposing team for the 5th time this season.. who are these guys?!?!
by HorseStance on Jun 24, 2009 12:13 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
How about the "DOOM" defense
named for Elvis of course.
"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
by KaptainKirk on Jun 24, 2009 10:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Look at the Patriots
Until Tom Brady started going on a Super Bowl tear, he was just another NFL QB – no cannon arm or high draft pick or anything of the sort. With success comes recognition (and having male model looks didn’t hurt) and now he’s just one face of the franchise – the other is Belichick – there are really no other recognized superstars on that team and Brady might be the first to tell you that he’s really not one either (particularly in the face of last year’s Cassel performance), it’s all somewhat manufactured. This need to generate “superstars” comes from the NFL’s marketing department and is amply demonstrated during network game telecasts (a fact that’s driven the great Dr. Z up the wall for decades now). I wonder whether whether part of McD’s early plan at least is to take on the “face” label and therefore the heat in these early days of this rebuilding or reloading scheme. Go Broncs!
It's "just" football
by Donkhead on Jun 24, 2009 11:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I approve of Faceless!
I love the idea of Faceless. It should be the entire identity of the team. With every TD scored, every interception, sack, fumble recovery or bone jarring tackle I would love to see the players cover their faces in celebration!
Being Faceless can be our Face. We could even have fans in the stadium with Faceless Masks too!
A really good post HS. As a fellow Brit though you should be immune to thoughtless, crass journalistic sports pap. After all our tabloids are the world’s leading exponents of it.
I have so many friends some I haven't even used yet
by BlobTheMagnificent on Jun 24, 2009 12:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Excellent work from across the pond!
As a fan, or as a former coach, I’ve never cared about if a team has a “face”, and frankly, no coach or fan does. This is a concept that only a journalist cares about.
I care about a team having class, and I care about winning.
Excellent points HS.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Jun 24, 2009 1:22 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks Everyone!
Donkhead: Good point!
Blob: As bfree2bronc said about the Denver post, i have long since stopped reading the tabloids over here it’s just not worth it. Plus there is no news on the broncos in them any way so what’s the point? Again as bfree said i can get everything i need from the vastly knowledgeable posters on this blog and in doing so i have learned a whole lot about about this foreign game which i have come to love! So thanks to everyone that has been a part of that.. I’m looking at you HT, and BB, Styg…. (see bfree2bronc’s list earlier in the post.. lol). Also to TSG for having that initial thought, ‘if i build it they will come’ and we did!
by HorseStance on Jun 24, 2009 3:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Post Horse Stance.....and here's the face
.
.
Maybe not Hillis as the face….but, ‘The Mile High Salute’.
I would really like it to come back—it could very well become our team’s ‘Face.’
and I agree, a team without ‘A Face’ may very well have an advantage.
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Little, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, Davis, and Sharpe...
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
by Mike Clark on Jun 25, 2009 12:17 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
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