Ask the team 10/2/03 on front page

[Skkorpion]

The photo was one returned by a google search I can't duplicate again. Something about Dave McGinnis and some other parameters.

Article is by Jo Sparkes. Good questions guys.

 

[Sandan]

I'd like to add something Jo didn't put in the article.

Mac really did come over after his regular Q&A session was complete. If he keeps doing this then we may at least be able to ask some more "pointed" questions. Jo has put a lot of effort into building this relationship with Mac and it is paying off.

When we started (way back early in the offseason) Mac would say hi, this week he just went for it without Jo or I needing to add the "polite filter" on the questions.

A lot of my caution in what and how we ask questions was aimed at developing this relationship, not avoiding asking difficult questions. I think we get more leeway than the regular press these days.

 

[Stout]

That's excellent. It's really too bad that he's on the hot seat, and he's not turning out to be the kind of coach many of us are looking for. Personally, I love the guy as a people person, and am almost ashamed to admit I don't think he's a quality NFL head coach. That won't stop my opinion that I think he needs to go after the season, but it does make me feel a little sad he hasn't panned out.

 

[Billy Flynt]

Where's the thread for posting new questions?

 

[Brighteyes]

Ian's taking care of it now.

 

[cardsunsfan]

It would be great to ask tough questions and have Mac actually think about it and learn something from the question. I know we're just fans and that's probably not going to happen but it would just be nice. Like for instance why has Green been kept on when none of our drafted Dlinemen have developed into good defensive players who can get pressure on the QB? He has been around for a long time and in all those years we have had the worst Dline in the NFL. I know he wouldn't answer that question and he looks at that numbers, but I just don't get it

 

[Sandan]

In answer to a couple of responses I've seen about the locker room question, "who cares".

The answer is Jkf296 cares, it was his question

Last Weeks Questions

 

[Shane]

Not trying to sound like an ass here but it seems to me especially with Macs comments that he is willing to accept tough questions. He said the fans have a right to know!

The way this team is playing and the downward spiral they are in he should expect and be willing to answer tough questions. That includes the players as well.

So trying to play patty cake with them on the qustions is all well and good and makes for a good article. but really doesnt give us the answers we want and deserve to hear as the Diehard fans who fork out thousands of dollars on this team!

So go back in all of those threads and maybe try asking some not so hunky dory questions next week? Just a suggestion!

 

[Russ Smith]

FYI the fish in the picture is a striped bass, now you made me want to go fishing.

Oh well this will have to do for now.

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_obw_cam.asp

 

[SECTION 11]

Originally posted by Russ Smith
FYI the fish in the picture is a striped bass, now you made me want to go fishing.

Oh well this will have to do for now.

http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_obw_cam.asp

My dad caught a 23" rainbow trout in the San Juan river this week.

 

[Brighteyes]

Shane -

I don't mind asking tough questions. In fact, that's why I wrote up the conversation. I just don't want to ask 'stupid' ones.

For example, when someone asks, "why the hell should we be paying you anything with the expense of a new stadium, and your stupid coaching?" , I believe that is stupid. We're not going to get good information from that. It's just someone taking out their frustration.

The question, "the defense seemed totally ineffective against the Rams. What was the difference in that and the GB game?", or "Why?" or "What are you doing to repair this?" are 'tough', but fair questions. I think they'll get answers.

Questions like, "why don't you fire Green?" are the type to get 'pat' answers. He won't say anything bad in the press (and we're basically press) against a player or a coach, whatever is really going on behind the scenes. I don't mind asking those, but they won't get real answers.


What do you want to ask?

 

[Russ Smith]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
My dad caught a 23" rainbow trout in the San Juan river this week.

I actually fished 2 saturdays ago, was really a coastal conservation cleanup day at my favorite reservoir but we fished too. 100 degrees and about 20-25 of us filled 70 bags with garbage.

2-3 weeks the California Delta will be cooling off and the stripers will be there and I'll be there chasing them with flies.

 

[jf-08]

Originally posted by Shane H
Not trying to sound like an ass here but it seems to me especially with Macs comments that he is willing to accept tough questions. He said the fans have a right to know!

The way this team is playing and the downward spiral they are in he should expect and be willing to answer tough questions. That includes the players as well.

So trying to play patty cake with them on the qustions is all well and good and makes for a good article. but really doesnt give us the answers we want and deserve to hear as the Diehard fans who fork out thousands of dollars on this team!

So go back in all of those threads and maybe try asking some not so hunky dory questions next week? Just a suggestion!

Unfortunately any tough question has already been asked by the media. If one wasn't you will get canned answers any and every time. I am sick and tired of hearing about the canned answers.

They will also not answer any questions pertaining to specific game plans.

If Jo & Ian repeat those questions, they will very quickly wear out their welcome around the facility.

So why not try and learn something more about the players and what the "Football Life" is really like?

 

[Sandan]

Originally posted by jkf296
If Jo & Ian repeat those questions, they will very quickly wear out their welcome around the facility.

Every player we have talked to says that they get tired of the "media" continually asking the same questions. Emmit said that this week, Wendel said it at camp.

We have to be a little different, that's how we are making progress. Tough is fine, insulting phrased is not.

And from my perspective neither are comments like those from BeantownBird but I am containing my response as Jo would not appreciate how I would like to respond to him.

 

[jw7]

*Baffled*

At why everyone is so hard on Jo and Ian on "asking tough questions".

I really enjoy the "what is your favorite locker room" etc...type questions because it is out of the ordinary from what the normal media would ask.

For a message board to have access to the players/coaches and answer the questions everyone asks is a big privelege. Take advantage of it.

We all know the tough questions, the print and broadcast media asks them, I like the different perspective.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by nidan

And from my perspective neither are comments like those from BeantownBird but I am containing my response as Jo would not appreciate how I would like to respond to him.

Get over it Nidan - you put yourself out there and get that kind of access you better be prepared for feedback, whether it be good, bad or insulting - you didn't see me, ouchie, harry or walter's other halves come up here and comment on some of the stuff which was said in regards to our article. If you're gonna be in the public eye and get the perks of it like you and Jo get, well, criticism comes with the territory as well.

Edit: Okay - Beantown's comment did seem on the tad bit of cruel - but no worse than some of the stuff siad to others - regardless - got to get used to stuff like that - Hell - guys like Dan Bickley and Woody Paige I know have gotten those kind of messages from people on this board and most have deemed it okay.

 

[Sandan]

Cheese, I'm going to take break from this for a while, my sense of humor is not firing on all cylinders right now.

I'll be back when it has recovered, probably tomorrow.

 

[ChiCard]

Originally posted by Brighteyes
Shane -

I don't mind asking tough questions. In fact, that's why I wrote up the conversation. I just don't want to ask 'stupid' ones.

For example, when someone asks, "why the hell should we be paying you anything with the expense of a new stadium, and your stupid coaching?" , I believe that is stupid. We're not going to get good information from that. It's just someone taking out their frustration.

The question, "the defense seemed totally ineffective against the Rams. What was the difference in that and the GB game?", or "Why?" or "What are you doing to repair this?" are 'tough', but fair questions. I think they'll get answers.

Questions like, "why don't you fire Green?" are the type to get 'pat' answers. He won't say anything bad in the press (and we're basically press) against a player or a coach, whatever is really going on behind the scenes. I don't mind asking those, but they won't get real answers.


What do you want to ask?

Well here's what I said on the other thread:

"I'm not being sarcastic in saying this but instead of asking which are the best and worst locker rooms, why not ask him if the team continues to flounder who should the fans hold responsible? Ask him if he thinks the fans should have expected more out of him and his staff this season? Lastly if he doesn't get more out of the players from here on out should he lose his job? I think those are valid questions in light of the pre-season expectations, the millions being spent on the new stadium, the generally bad play up to this point, etc."

Now in the first place you asked for questions. In doing so, I understand it gives you the power of editing and deciding upon which you'll ask. So you have a choice in the matter. Given the fact that there's only so much time available to you to ask the questions it's my opinion, and only my opinion, that asking qustions that go to the heart of the matter, serve a better purpose and use your access better, then asking questions like what's your favorite locker room. Now that takes us to the point where you are now deciding which questions are "stupid". Now I have no idea what your criteria is but given a choice between "who is responsible for this mess" and "what's your favorite locker room" which is the "stupid" question is certainly a matter of conjecture. Nidan losing his "sense of humor" because you were challenged on the point is unfortunate and I hope he's regained it by now. The type of questions I asked, are regularly asked in professional locker rooms and have certainly been asked here in Chicago of late after the collapse of the White Sox followed shortly by the discharge of their manager. After all of his "rah-rah" from the pre-season I think his thoughts on whether or not we were led to believe the team was better then it is, are relevant to what we should expect the rest of the way.

Here are the questions that were proposed last week:

1- To the DL. “What’s your favorite pass rush move”?
2- What’s your favorite locker room?
3- Why should anyone come to the game Sunday?
4- What will the game plan do about the CB’s coverage failures?
5- Will we blitz more?
6- Will Garcia be in game shape?
7- Why does the OL fail to block on screen plays?
8- Do players have “game plan” input?
9-Will we move Bryannt?
10- Will D. Anderson get the ball?
11- Does it bother the DL that they are on a pace to set a record for sack futility?
12- Have they considered a switch to a “4-2-5” formation on D?
13-Does emotion factor into the level of play?
14-Have we abandoned the running game it seemed we worked on in pre-season?
15-Have we schemed a Boldin to Johnson pass play?
16-Have Thompson & Shelton decided to try free agency?
17- Has Pace set any goals for himself?
18- Where is Pete Kendal from?
19- What’s going on with McKinnon’s car?

Now you asked #2,#8,#10, & #13. Of those, not one is even remotely "tough". In fact I think the most important question you could have asked would have been why should anyone attend these games?

You assert you refuse to ask certain questions because you'll get "pat answers", and that's fair enough, but when you look at all that were proposed it seems you chose those, in the main, to which such answers would be given. I don't think it's fair for you to label questions as "stupid". It's too convenient of an excuse for not wanting to rock the boat.

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
My dad caught a 23" rainbow trout in the San Juan river this week.

San Juan here in New Mexico? If so, cool!! I've caught a 26 inch Brown there. Some of the best trout fishing in the world there.

 

[Sandan]

Hopefully for the last time, I'll go through your list point by point.

Originally posted by ChiCard
Here are the questions that were proposed last week:

1- To the DL. “What’s your favorite pass rush move”?

We did not manage to talk to any DL guys, particularly Pace who the question was asked to. We just didn't see them coming off the field.

2- What’s your favorite locker room?
Was posted and asked

3- Why should anyone come to the game Sunday?

What do you expect coach Mac to say about this? I know fans are frustrated. I'm a fan and I'm frustrated. What do you expect to get in the way on an answer? I will tell you (and have) Coach Mac is more pissed off about this than you or I.

4- What will the game plan do about the CB’s coverage failures?
We didn't see the question, it wasn't "editorialy removed"

5- Will we blitz more?
We asked that question the previous week

6- Will Garcia be in game shape?

Asked and answered by us and in regular press

7- Why does the OL fail to block on screen plays?

Got missed, so sue me. I just tried to find the question you refered to and can't. Please repost it. I see no reason we shouldn't ask it. I'm trying to avoid posting a lot of questions myself or I'll get ripped for only asking my own questions.

8- Do players have “game plan” input?
Asked and answered

9-Will we move Bryannt?
Asked and answered

10- Will D. Anderson get the ball?
Asked and answered

11- Does it bother the DL that they are on a pace to set a record for sack futility?

Will not be a proxy for venting. Of course it bothers them

12- Have they considered a switch to a “4-2-5” formation on D?

Jo didn't fully understand the question and was going to ask you guys for more explanation before asking it.

13-Does emotion factor into the level of play?
Asked and answered

14-Have we abandoned the running game it seemed we worked on in pre-season?

Answered. Mac said that with the way 3 of the games have gone, we have been taken out of our game plan.

15-Have we schemed a Boldin to Johnson pass play?

Future game planning, they will not answer.

16-Have Thompson & Shelton decided to try free agency?

We didn't manage to talk to either of them but the origianal question was not phrased that way but was actually "How do you feel about free agency".

As Thompson was just signed part of this question is moot.

17- Has Pace set any goals for himself?
We didn't get to see Pace

18- Where is Pete Kendal from?
We didn't get to see Kendal

19- What’s going on with McKinnon’s car?
We didn't get to see McKinnon

Ok your honor, I have tried to address your question, although it was really a little more pointed than a question. I don't see one place on your list where we avoided asking a difficult question. We will ask tough questions and most of those will be to Coach Mac.

We won't insult him though. He has treated us with respect and we will continue to treat him (and the rest of the organization) with respect. This does not preclude asking difficult questions.

Remember it's not like these guys stand around waiting for us to ask questions. Most of them are exhausted, sweaty and tired and just looking of get out of the sun and into the A/C for lunch. We snag them as and when we can, this is further complicated by the fact that they come of in large bunches often with their jerseys/padds off, making fast idenfication difficult.

I hope this explains what we are trying to do. Jo and I are doing our best at this and are frankly working out the process as we go.

I confess that my feeling are a bit brusied that some folks on the board here don't seem to appreciate that we are trying our best. If you have suggestion on how we can improve it great, we welcome that but organizaing the questions and then getting all of them answered (regardless of filtering) is not easy.

This last week is was more difficult for Jo as I was at a meeting desiging a VPN, so she had to snag them and interview them. It's not as easy as it sounds folks.

I hope this answers your question Chicard, lord knows I tried. How about giving us the benifit of the doubt occasionaly ?

 

[jw7]

Yet still baffled...

Nidan/Brighteyes,

I really enjoy your articles and insight that no other website can offer.

For all you folks that are beating up on them, give it a rest. This is really pretty unique where a website has press access to players and coaches and y'all want to crap on it. They are doing this for free, and instead of appreciation, you want to bash them for not asking tough questions.

If you have a problem with the team, call one of the KDUS shows. Mac is on Thur am, BRR is on Fridays.

Keep up the good work Jo/Ian - this fan appreciates it!

 

[cardsunsfan]

How about us voting on the questions right before they are asked and commenting why we like it better. You could tell us why certain questions won't be good too.

 

[Sandan]

Actually that was my original plan.

This feature was my idea in the first place and the reason I never followed through with that was mostly time. I just don't have the time to organize it proberly

The other problem with that idea is the diffculty in snagging players. given that there is no assurance of who we are going to get to talk to, we opted to just take the whole list and get who we can. I do have a priority for getting people but it rarely pans out, I've been trying to talk to Shipp for three weeks and keep failing to spot him in the crowd.

Net result is I dropped the idea of a poll on questions as it was not practicle. Nice idea but not practical.

 

[red desert]

Re: Yet still baffled...

Originally posted by jw7
Nidan/Brighteyes,

I really enjoy your articles and insight that no other website can offer.

For all you folks that are beating up on them, give it a rest. This is really pretty unique where a website has press access to players and coaches and y'all want to crap on it. They are doing this for free, and instead of appreciation, you want to bash them for not asking tough questions.

If you have a problem with the team, call one of the KDUS shows. Mac is on Thur am, BRR is on Fridays.

Keep up the good work Jo/Ian - this fan appreciates it!

I agree. Keep up the good work. I, for one, truly appreciate your efforts.

 

[ChiCard]

"I hope this answers your question Chicard, lord knows I tried. How about giving us the benifit of the doubt occasionaly ?"

I did give you the benefit of the doubt and never would have responded if it weren't for the fact that you opined that you weren't going to ask "stupid" questions and intimiated that mine might qualify as such.