Now that I’ve been doing sports talk radio for a bit, I think about sports fandom differently.
I don’t say that in a negative way.
I’ve learned how much I find studying fans fascinating.
It’s sort of my internal psychological study I think about whether I’m at a game, taking callers, or reading social media.
MY CURRENT STUDY
This city discussed the same topic for MONTHS during the offseason. We prepared ourselves that it’ll be a journey to answer a bunch of questions.
Most importantly:
- Who is Jalen Hurts & Nick Sirianni?
- How will they handle adversity when it hits?
The study is basically your standard: You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?
The Birds were set at 6.5 o/u wins by Vegas for a reason. Yes, Sometimes they are wrong.
They are right more times than not hence why you’re constantly losing money leaving yourself wondering, “how do they always know?!”
So if you were an irrational fan claiming this was a 12-win team… well that’s on you for having unfair expectations.
A 17-11 loss to the 49ers after a strong win against the Falcons fits the mold of what was going to happen. (If not even a pleasant surprise)
Lots of ups and downs and a ton of learning.
Now that we are experiencing it play out in the moment, I wonder… how will YOU react as a fan?
Can you keep yourself calm after a loss that was winnable?
Are you freaking out about Jalen Hurts’ arm or Nick Sirianni’s game plan?
The amount of calls I took postgame on 97.5 the Fanatic disgusted with Jalen Hurts saying there’s no way he’s a franchise guy is ABSURD.
Last week he was and this week he isn’t?
What happens if the Birds beat Dallas on the road next week? He’s a franchise guy again?
Unfortunately, Hurt is in a tough position because 17 games is not a big enough sample size to really give a young QB a full diagnosis.
He obviously played 4 games last season as well, but in what world is getting thrown into that mess something you can objectively analyze? No OTAs and proper camp for a rookie and then oh yeah here’s the most banged up O line in the history of football with a one-legged Alshon Jeffery and a bunch of practice squad receivers!
Anyway, you know what? You might be right.
He may not be a franchise guy.
One loss to a GOOD San Francisco 49ers team and your raw QB being surrounded by young skill players and a new play caller in Sirianni isn’t going to tell me that.
Josh Allen was 5-6 his first year with a 52.8% completion percentage. 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Aaron Rodgers Week 1:
- 15/28 – 133 yards
- 0 TD
- 2 INT
- 13.9 QBR
To be clear, Hurts isn’t Rodgers or Allen and I’m not saying that he is.
(I know the arm strength discussion is being thought about with that statement)
Do you know who wins A TON of football games without a strong arm?
Jimmy Garoppolo.
They went to the Super Bowl.
I’d take Jalen Hurts over him anyday.
Ryan Tannehill and the Titans have had success schematically without an arm.
Carson Wentz has a strong arm. Do you want him back?
You can be successful as a franchise without an absolute cannon, especially in today’s era of the mobile QB.
Do you know how hard it is to find an elite special arm?
A franchise would drive you NUTS if they kept turning over the QB position until that was found.
Remember, I did say above that Hurts may not be the guy.
I just sense that some fans put these ridiculous expectations on the QB though. They demand zero issues, zero misthrows, and no mistakes are allowed.
That’s impossible.
The best of the best have poor efforts let alone someone being 6 starts into their career.
A 2 game sample size is not enough to properly digest and make certain claims.
We understood what this season was going to be.
Just let it play out.
Can you walk the walk?