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Could EJ have the "yips"?


YoloinOhio

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Interesting thought YOLO

 

People often reference athletes that are very good, and say things like "if only they focused more they could be the best ever" (Manny Ramirez in baseball)

 

Not everyone can approach the game with a Peyton Manning level of attention to detail, and play well.

 

Some guys just have to let it rip like Bubba Watson.

 

 

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Interesting thought YOLO

 

People often reference athletes that are very good, and say things like "if only they focused more they could be the best ever" (Manny Ramirez in baseball)

 

Not everyone can approach the game with a Peyton Manning level of attention to detail, and play well.

 

Some guys just have to let it rip like Bubba Watson.

he mentioned that he only took 5 days off from working on his game in the whole offseason. Maybe he should relax a little. You are right, the manning way doesn't necessarily work for everyone.
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Every professional athlete will perform their best when they are confident and in the zone. They say that the game slows down and they are able to execute and perform at a high level.

 

Clearly EJ wasn't in that mental place and may never be. One thing I know for sure is that until he has confidence in his abilities and frees his mind he will never reach his full potential.

 

Is that the yips? Not sure, I think of Mackie Sasser or Steve Sax when I hear that term. Loads of golfers as well and guys who can't make free throws in the NBA.

 

I am pulling for EJ to take this benching as a opportunity to gain perspective and to be able to rebound when his number is called again.

Edited by agardin
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But, it is shirely a mental issue and some times you can have it all in the tool box and never be able to get them out right.

I would agree that a large part of it is mental. In combination with this his physical reaction has been slow. He may have the physical tools but it is hard to say because his confidence has clearly been shaken. Bottom line is that his play degraded from barely adequate to bad.

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I feel bad for EJ separately as a person, though I know he needs to step aside for the good of the team. Tonight, he tweeted about breast cancer awareness month and how proud he was if his mom, who as many know is a breast cancer survivor.

 

One of his followers replied and asked if he was getting a pink clipboard.

Lots of people relish the opportunity to be a dick, especially on the internet where no one can track them down.

 

If you've got a problem with EJ's play, that's cool, but I don't understand why anyone feels they've earned the right to make it personal just because they donate their ass to a couch on Sunday.

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Lots of people relish the opportunity to be a dick, especially on the internet where no one can track them down.

 

If you've got a problem with EJ's play, that's cool, but I don't understand why anyone feels they've earned the right to make it personal just because they donate their ass to a couch on Sunday.

 

Keyboard Cowboys... no way the guy who tweeted back @ him would ask that to his face.

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I doubt it, if the definition of yips is inability to do basic things. Knoblauch couldn't hit first base from 15 feet away. EJ can still hit the dump off. The bigger issue was with his reads and decision making.

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I feel bad for EJ separately as a person, though I know he needs to step aside for the good of the team. Tonight, he tweeted about breast cancer awareness month and how proud he was if his mom, who as many know is a breast cancer survivor.

 

One of his followers replied and asked if he was getting a pink clipboard.

 

That's mean...... But pretty hilarious

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The yips were exactly what I was thinking after last week. His confidence is gone right now.

 

I think the "yips" are when you've been there, done that and then the confidence in your swing goes away for an unexplained reason.

 

EJ has never attained that level of play to even get the yips. I think he was seeing ghosts. He was seeing things that aren't there in the pass rush and in the secondary. So he's got a mental issue and an accuracy issue that only time will tell if they can be corrected. At least he'll get the time now to step back and slow down instead of forcing him to "learn on the job" which in his case, would only make it worse.

 

I think Manuel should watch and learn the correct way to play QB the rest of this season and also work like crazy on his passing accuracy. I think he's got the fire in him, he just needs to understand that as the starting QB you bring the fire with you on the field. It's ok to play QB like they stole money from you.

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EJ's problems are not due to a condition. Its due to his poor decision making process and his bad throwing mechanics. He needs to come to grips with this, subject himself to a lot of self inspection, criticism from everywhere, and come out of this demotion with a solid awareness of the problems along with an action plan and desire to correct them. This will certainly test his mental 'toughness' and as someone who has probably been a better athlete than most of the other kids growing up it might be the first time in his life that he's been told he's not good enough. He's probably going through the same feelings and emotions that somebody that gets laid off from a job experiences after many years of doing it well. A lot of people have been through that including me. You either mope around feeling sorry for yourself or pick yourself up and get motivated to move on. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger might apply here with EJ.

 

Some of his issues are certainly correctable and with an solid support system he can improve. While there's very few examples of a young pro being pulled at this point in his career coming back and playing at a high level it shouldn't be viewed as impossible. I support Marrone's decision but I'm pulling for Manuel to face his problems, fight to improve, and come back better at some point. But I think the fault can be found by EJ taking a good look in the mirror.

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This may be a good thing for him. He doesn't have all the pressure obsessing about the game being the backup. If something happens and he is thrust into action he may do it with a clear mind and start performing which may snap him out of this funk.

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