Happy to see Ryan and Cameron wearing the badges this year (Wake because he earned it in blood and Ryan mostly due to a lack of a better candidate), but how much do they mean to you? Up north, where Hoe-Kay is played, the team Captain is a symbol of respect, leadership, professionalism and commitment, at least that's what it's supposed to mean. Now in the NFL it's a bit different, and a relatively new thing but do you guys feel that a team captain in the NFL has the same responsibilities on and off the field as a hockey or soccer captain might have? Or is it just a shiny, meaningless piece of fabric?
Not that much to be honest. If your QB is anything other than a rookie, it is almost expected that he receive some sort of captaincy. It's more of a status symbol/media discussion topic. Look at how much of a stir there has been in Buffalo, because EJ wasn't named a captain. Anybody can step up and lead a team on gameday. Captain or not, Moreno put the offense on his back and lead by example in week 1.
I think its a reward to a player. Wasn't Trusnik a team captain last week? Probably for the hard work he has put it.
If it creates competition among the players, I would argue that it isn't meaningless. We should want our players to compete for that badge.
On offense I get that the QB is probably always going to be the captain unless you have the best center in the league or something. The QB position is by default a "captain-esque" role so by throwing the badge to the QB makes the most sense. It's on defense and ST that this badge really holds a special designation. When I think of defensive leaders/captains....one man comes to mind for sure. The fact that Cameron is up there with the likes of ZT as a defensive leader is reassuring, but somewhat unusual for his position as normally you'd associate defensive leadership with the MLB or other LBs.
Exactly; I would have liked to think that captains meant something on the Dolphins team, but when you make a degenerate moron like Pouncey a captain...then obviously nobody really gives a rats ***. It's disappointing.
Mostly due to his run blocking, which is a little surprise. PFF rates him the 4th best OL in Week 1. Behind, Derek Newton among tackles, and Kelechi Osemele and Josh Sitton among guards.
I'm still a little shocked by that. He completely whiffed on his block on Moreno's TD run. Though, if you re-watch that play, and I don't know that anyone's mentioned it on here - I missed it at first blush - but Jarvis Landry lines up in the slot and cracks back on a Patriots DB (Tavon Wilson I think) and de-cleats him. Best block I've seen by Landry.
I think that it definately CAN mean something, and does on some teams with veteran players and recent success. I'm not sure that it means a whole lot on the 2014 Fins. And I really don't think that the captain has to be one of the best players on the team. Just a great leader who's also a heavy contributor. I think of our current players on offense, I'd choose Hartline or Clay as the captain, based on merit and tenure. On defense, you have a lot more valid choices, and Wake is a great one.
I have a different take on Pouncey being a captain. Perhaps it was to get him to feel more responsibility and step into that role.
