My Man Greg
by CJHutch on Aug 29, 2009 5:19 PM EDT
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Greg Blache is THE MAN!! The way he left Trevor Matich stuttering (and called him out on it) made me want to suit up for the guy. Last week I talked about him being old school, and this is another example. He has been in charge of some pretty damned good defenses, yet he doesn't get the pub other DC's do. I think this is why. It's the Art Monk factor. He doesn't like schmoozing with the media, so they think of him as some crotchety old guy who doesn't know what he's talking about. Well, I learned more about the ins and outs of pass rushing from his 3 minute dressing down of Matich than I ever did from any statements made by any DC that's ever been here. It reminded me a lot of Richie Pettibone, when he used to talk about disguising secondary matchups.
Blache pointed out that they were in a short yardage defense, and Brady audibled out of his initial play to take advantage. Now I know this isn't earth-shattering information, I'm sure most of us understand the continuous chess game between the QB and the defense. But, when you take a step back and look at it, we DO hold individual guys, or units, accountable for certain things sometimes that just simply didn't go their way. Like D. Hall said (and many before him), both sides get paid to make plays, so you're gonna come out on the wrong side sometimes. As far as the 3rd down call, if anything it shows the value of having versatile guys on defense who can change up assignments on the fly. As good as our D-line should be this year (fingers crossed), we're not at that level yet. We have one Sampson-esque DE who is a roadblock for the running game, and one feather weight DE who specialized in pass rushing. Again, I know this is nothing new, and plenty of teams are in the same mold, but it just shows the difference between the good and great defenses. The great ones have 11 guys who can stay on the field on pretty much any situation. I know that's oversimplifying it a bit, but that's basically true to form.
As for Blache, I just like the way he handles the media. He's not worried about etiquette, he's clearly never taken the coach's "Speaking to the Media 101" course, and he doesn't care what people think about him. AND he stands up for his players, which is really what that whole thing was about. Maybe I'm alone on this, but I found the whole thing pretty refreshing. Definitely a tad different than Zorns "Aw shucks" routine.
Blache's verbal beatdown of Matich >>
[Image via voices.washingtonpost.com]
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I thought the Matich question was a reasonable one. But I was still glad to see Blache be a real person on camera. That’s rare. I think the point is not made often enough how bad much of the commentary is on the game, both from reporters and broadcasters. Especially from broadcasters. I wish more coaches would call them out like Blache did, but this seemed like an odd moment to do it since the question was one that had to be asked. After all, there has been a lot of talk about the pass rush (not so much from the players and coaches), so it’s fair to ask about that. In Matich’s defense, he accomplished what he’s supposed to… he got a coach to say something specific and substantive about the game. I was wondering about the rush myself, so I was glad to hear Blache’s answer, which was a good answer.
Overall, I think reporting on football is decent, and broadcasters are terrible. For example, Simms saying that Tryon made a good play when he never looked back for the ball. How could Phil Simms not know what good coverage is? And no one pointing out that there was no audible whistle and Westbrook could have advanced that fumble. At least, I heard no whistle. I was wondering why everyone was just standing there. If there was a whistle, the broadcasters should have said something about it.
Zorn’s style in press conferences is perfect for a coach who doesn’t want to give anything away. He’s slow, vague and repetitive. I actually think he’s pretty funny sometimes, but he does play dumb most of the time.
yeah
Matich’s question was fine. But I see Blatche’s point in that he’s always being asked about it, and asked the same way. I think what he was saying, essentially, was “come up with your own question”, rather that piggyback off the same thing everyone else says. It’s like ESPN’s take on the game. I don’t remember who the reporter was, but they spent most of the article lavishing praise on Brady and Moss, saying THEY beat the Redskins. In reality, THEY tied the Redskins. Then, when the Skins were finally mentioned, he said that they need are still looking for another capable receiver to help out Moss. He then said Kelly was the player we “envisioned” in that role, but he underperformed. Then he said Thomas did OK. Now, all of this may be true, but to me it’s lazy journalism. While Campbell spread the ball around pretty well, Moss is still our primary receiver. naturally he’s gonna get more looks. Just like THEIR Moss is their primary receiver, and HE got most of their looks.
Anyway, what bugs me about Matich is he doesn’t seem to have any coherant thoughts of his own. If you watch him, every question he asks is “Take us through what happened on that play.” He says it everytime. I know it’s a valid question, but do you have to use it for EVERY interview?
Anyway, I agree, the pass rush is a big question. Expecially since it was supposed to be fixed this year. And that’s probably whay had Blache ornery. I also think he was trying to take some of the heat off his players with the explanation.
It's part of the job
I mean, the defensive line did not put any pressure on Brady…so it seemed like a fair and honest question…“what’s your evaluation?” He didn’t at all imply they did poorly. I mean, the media are going to ask high-level questions…did Blache expect anything different?
Having said that, I still love the guy.
It's the media with an agenda
Over at TORB, on
Sunday’s talk with Coach Zorn a reporter asked"
" Zorn was asked who was better than Fincher, and looked slightly surprised by the question."<
Zorn gave the best answer but what kind of question is that, maybe similar to “how’s the pass rush coach”
“The guys that we kept,” he said. “I don’t wanna take anything away from Fincher, because he’s worked really hard and he has improved, but to us there was kind of a ceiling there on him compared to some of the other guys that are coming on.”
The coach or the media
I go with the media for lacking the fortitude to ask real questions instead of general stupid questions.
I don't see how that was a high-level question though
It was a really generic question that you could ask any defensive coach after any game. Did Blache need to lay into the guy like that? No. But I do believe he has the right to ask journalists for well-thought out, original questions. He’s contractually required to be available to the media. The least they could do is stop asking him questions that he could answer in his sleep. That’s my opinion, but that’s partly because I think that journalism these days sucks and that sports journalism is just about the lowest form of it.
"One-on-one? You can't." -Gilbert Arenas
JC Bandwagon all day!
It's Understandable
I can understand how Blache would be aggravated and irritable by hearing this question virtually every single time he’s asked to answer questions. There’s the fact that he has to hear it, and then there’s the fact that he has to answer it every single time. When someone asks you the same thing over and over, it can understandably be frustrating and annoying. However, Blache should also understand that we acquired Haynesworth and Orakpo in the offseason; two people who are significantly supposed to bolster our pass rush. So it’s also understandable for Trevor Matich to ask the coach what he thought about the pass rush with those two in the lineup.
Until our line brings constant pressure for the opposing quarterbacks this question is going to be asked. This is just something Blache is going to have to realize. However, the reporters also have to realize that they’ve asked the question 100 millions times before and that it would eventually begin to annoy the heck out of Blache (or anyone for that matter).
I really wish Brian Mitchell had asked the question to Blache instead of Matich. Could you imagine the both of them going at it? I know for sure the censors would be working overtime if the two of them got into it.
Wise wrote: "Matich just stared at the camera, looking like he was about to lose his mind, or vomit, or something."
Nope. That was the look of a man whose balls had just shriveled up and gone into hiding. Trevor needs to get back into the locker-room; maybe have a few beers with some players and remember what it was like to be a part of that great masculine fraternity.
by benevolent skinsfan on Aug 30, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions
Well, where was the pass rush?
Besides the slip-n-slide play, how many times was Brady sacked? But how much was invested in the defensive line this year? It was reasonable question to ask when that particular part of the team is supposed to be the foundation.
Blache should be blowing up on Fred [S]moot for his utterly stupid celebrations on meaningless plays. The diving pass breakup was worthy of a mini-celebration but other than that Smoot’s performance hasn’t shown any sign of improvement. Tryon and Barnes should get ready.
Don't just look at sack numbers
Remember, Brady had to be evaluated by the medical staff because of the hit he took from Haynesworth in the second quarter. He got the ball out of his hands in time, but it was an incompletion on a third down and resulted in a 3-and-out. Our line is almost brand new, so the fact that they aren’t getting lots of sacks in the preseason doesn’t concern me. They consistently get in the backfield and pretty soon they’ll be a cohesive enough unit to sack in high numbers.
"One-on-one? You can't." -Gilbert Arenas
JC Bandwagon all day!
HH management:
Whichever one of you guys edited this post – Thanks. Much improved.
I’m sitting here looking at it, and I’m thinkin’ " I just DO NOT remember putting that picture in there. Then I see the poll, and I’m about to call my shrink. Truthfully, I was half lit and giddy when I wrote it, and actually fell asleep before pushing publish. So I KNOW I wouldnt’ve had the wherewithal to put that stuff in there while lookin’ through my Jamison’s bottle.
So, again, thank guys. I knew we kept you around for something.
yea, no problem
We have some standard protocols for posts so I added in the minimal stuff to front page it. good stuff.
by Kevin Ewoldt on Aug 31, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Blache didn't go too far
But if our pass rush continues to play that soft, he better expect to get aggravated by that question A LOT.
RAK EM UP!
Classic and High-larity
Matich is a turd sandwich eating douche. I dont know what it is about him that enrages me so, but he is to me what randy cross is to my father. A Media Arch Nemisis (MAE). I dont have just 1, I have like at minimum 10 MAE’s. They all force me to mute/fast foward the tv, shout obscenities at the tv, and or just plain turn it off. The look on Matich’s face was priceless to me; i took a screen shot of it, and intend to get it signed, authenticated and laminated at my first available opportunity. Therefore, for me, to go against anything said that would make any of my MAE’s pull-off a “Ooops i just crapped my pants on National TV,” is pure blasphemy. And besides Blache is my kind of guy and you can NEVER go wrong with the truth, even if it forces you to shit your over sized panties.
by TheOverLordMarshl on Aug 31, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions
well said
wrong or right, it’s nice to see these guys put in their place every once in awhile. Matich is just another example of a guy over-valuing his importance. While B Mitch is the obvious star of that show, Matich is the resident blow hard. A guy who adds nothing original to the broadcast. The questions he asks could be read just as easily by a 12 year old…….girl.
That said, I do agree that the pass rush DOES beg for questioning. Just let someone with their OWN cognitive train of thought ask the important questions of the relevant interview-ees. I was already a non -fan, but when the guy proclaimed pre-game that if the Redskins D-line, Orakpo in particular, reached Brady, they should “pull up because i’s only preseason.” Should they lay rose petals at his feet as well?
hmm
I hadnt heard that he said that about Brady. I can only assume that when Haynesworth broke through and crushed Brady’s shoulder, Matich’s tampon shot out the back of his capri’s. And B-Bitch….he’s a blow hole too. A few months back i was in a daily email assault against him, but i had to quit because he was keeping it going just to argue. Now i love to argue, but he died when he signed with Shytadelphia, so arguing with him, and his post-Redskin existence are/were wastes. And I told him that. I told him he is a traitor. He couldve played somewhere else. He said “I didnt want to,” well ok, thats fine, “Youre baby-dick, big-presence (thats him in a nutshell after emailing with him for over 2 months) opinions dont mean shit to me.” Basically what it comes down to is that Comcast Sports Net’s Redskins coverage is piss poor and an embarassment to sports coverage. so F Trevor Matich and B-Bitch. I’d like to see Blache chew on B-Bitch a bit. I bet his Napoleon Complex would force him to stand up and buck at the camera, saying “You want a peice of me old man?” I could then see Blache pointing back at the camera, laughing and then replying…..“Sure punk, you know where I am at”
As Far as the pass rush…..I’m willing to wait until a few weeks into the REAL season before there should be berating questioning. I mean I know the media is just doing their job. But screw that, your press pass doesnt give you a right to be overbearing and annoying. I would never make it in athletics, because I’d be in jail too frequently for popping reporters eyeballs out of their sockets.
by TheOverLordMarshl on Aug 31, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
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