To say this team has a culture problem is to kick a head horse, but it's a cliché point to make because it's true. Coaches can only do so much to influence the culture within a program. It takes some special upperclassmen to really buck a bad trend in this area. You need some older kids to set examples and show how to hold each other accountable. Reading all the scuttlebutt around attrition and the youth of this team has me worried for more reasons than the obvious ones. The optimist in me wants to know if the handful of upperclassmen we've got coming back have got it in them to leave a legacy of being the class that turned around the culture on this team.
Is it Ronnie Bell? He showed probably more grit and determination than anyone else last year, but it didn't seem like it rubbed off on anyone. Do teammates not gravitate to him? Is it a young quarterback? That locker room video that surfaced of Cade after the Rutgers thriller 🤔 was neat to see because we typically don't get that kind of access (rightfully so), but although it was a nice try, it didn't seem to come natural to him. Maybe he'll get better with some practice.
I think (hope) that Harbaugh has addressed the lack of leadership issue through the kids that he's targeting on the trail, but it will take 2-3 years before we see if that's true or not. And of course those kids are actually going to have to stick around for a few years which seems to be easier said than done these days.
I'm buckled up for a tough season, but my eyes are going to be peeled for those that seem to have the leader gene and I'm going to be rooting a little harder for them.
Is it Ronnie Bell? He showed probably more grit and determination than anyone else last year, but it didn't seem like it rubbed off on anyone. Do teammates not gravitate to him? Is it a young quarterback? That locker room video that surfaced of Cade after the Rutgers thriller 🤔 was neat to see because we typically don't get that kind of access (rightfully so), but although it was a nice try, it didn't seem to come natural to him. Maybe he'll get better with some practice.
I think (hope) that Harbaugh has addressed the lack of leadership issue through the kids that he's targeting on the trail, but it will take 2-3 years before we see if that's true or not. And of course those kids are actually going to have to stick around for a few years which seems to be easier said than done these days.
I'm buckled up for a tough season, but my eyes are going to be peeled for those that seem to have the leader gene and I'm going to be rooting a little harder for them.
