The psychology of defending poor performance.

[jimmifli]

Our QB situation has become an interesting study in human psychology.

Most players must prove that they are good to make the roster or win the starting job.

Our QB is in the opposite situation. He will start until he proves beyond a reasonable doubt that he isn't good.

Seems strange to me.

Imagine this situation at your work. Your company installs new boss into a job he's never done before (he managed a small department for a smaller company with mixed results, but he has great credentials). He turns out to be a terrible manager and it's adversely affecting your entire department. By all performance measurables he isn't doing very well.

The guys upstairs want to keep him because he's got some pretty good credentials and he could turn into a great manager someday. They don't want to cut him loose until they are sure he won't work out.

In a real life situation like that how many people would defend their new, poorly performing boss? I bet the answer is almost none.

So my question is what makes us do it with our football team? Why do fans excuse poor performance on the football field that they wouldn't tolerate in their real lives?

[Philagape]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

Because it isn't as poor as some people say it is. Simple.

[THE END OF ALL DAYS]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

sorry, not an accurate comparison. its like comparing the performance of a heart surgon with a garbage collecotr... the two dont compute

[jimmifli]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

sorry, not an accurate comparison. its like comparing the performance of a heart surgon with a garbage collecotr... the two dont compute

Why not?

[Romes]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

JP won the job by preforming better than his competition in camp. He is starting because he is better than any other QB on our roster.

[jimmifli]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

sorry, not an accurate comparison. its like comparing the performance of a heart surgon with a garbage collecotr... the two dont compute

Oh it's very poor.

So I guess this is reason number 1.

Denial.

[jimmifli]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

JP won the job by preforming better than his competition in camp. He is starting because he is better than any other QB on our roster.

But he's proven to be inadequate sincegetting the job.

In my real life example, most people would want the guys upstairs to try somebody else. Wouldn't they?

[Romes]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

But he's proven to be inadequate sincegetting the job.

In my real life example, most people would want the guys upstairs to try somebody else. Wouldn't they?

But he is the best option the guy upstairs has at the moment.

And it appears the guy upstairs thinks the boss should get some more time to prove himself since the boss is still learning on the job.

[jimmifli]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

But he is the best option the guy upstairs has at the moment.

And it appears the guy upstairs thinks the boss should get some more time to prove himself since the boss is still learning on the job.

And if your boss was severly underperforming and affecting the entire department, you'd cut him some slack because the guys upstairs want to wait?

[BSXIII]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

I've always wondered the same thing myself. For example lets say an offensive guard is underperforming, everyone wants his head on a platter. Regardless of his upside or resume, he’s just a cog in the system who needs to go ASAP. Milloy, Vincent, TKO, Moulds, and Fletcher, to hell with what they’ve done, they are past their prime and need to go. Yet the QB gets coddled and is referred to as “The Kid”, and we can’t do anything to hurt his confidence. Boo away at everyone else, but just support our “Kid”, because he is “the future”.

I don’t get it either.

[Romes]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

And if your boss was severly underperforming and affecting the entire department, you'd cut him some slack because the guys upstairs want to wait?

if he is my boss what choice do i have?

[ddaryl]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

young QB's need experience, and the journey to gaining experience means you take your lumps.

JP defintiely deserves critisicm, but so does the entire offense. JP is going to get most of this season to prove he can or can't develope. If by game 12 or 13 he's still sucking it up we might see a change, but until then he's going ot be the Bills QB.

[YardRat]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

'Optomist' is spelled with an 'i'. 'Optimist'.

[jimmifli]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

if he is my boss what choice do i have?

I guess this is reason number 2.


"I have no ability to change things so I will support everything the team does."

I think this is silly. Of course you can't do anything. But when your friends ask about your new boss you aren't going to say "he's young, but he's got potential. Sure he's pretty bad right now and he's hard to work with but if the guys upstairs think he should be boss, who am I to question it"

[Romes]

Re: The psychology of defending poor performance.

I guess this is reason number 2.


"I have no ability to change things so I will support everything the team does."

I think this is silly. Of course you can't do anything. But when your friends ask about your new boss you aren't going to say "he's young, but he's got potential. Sure he's pretty bad right now and he's hard to work with but if the guys upstairs think he should be boss, who am I to question it"

I agree that is silly. Where did I say you aren't to question it?

One thing is JP doesn't appear to be hard to work with, so that is a false assesment.

Second, if your Boss is the best option you have, there is no one out there that would do any better. Complain to your friends all you want but at work you can either be divisive or try to do what you can to help him out and make him better.