Ya know DM has a point...
See Bolded parts in this Edmonton Sun's Article by Huntington
Fourth and long
Coach Maciocia stays cool under fire
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
In the face of intense public criticism, Danny Maciocia is preaching patience.
With fans and media calling for the Edmonton Eskimos head coach to be fired, Maciocia wants more time to build a championship contender.
"If people are patient with this organization and these football players they are going to realize they are going to have themselves a special product for years to come," said Maciocia yesterday.
"If we are in the business of pushing panic buttons then they will realize quickly that you will always be starting over.
"It will take a few years in order for you to get something that you deem to be special.We are close. We have had some setbacks. Patience for some people hopefully isn't a four-letter word."
With the Eskimos in serious danger of missing the playoffs for back-to-back seasons - something that hasn't happened since 1964 and 1965 - calls for Maciocia to be fired are getting louder every week.
LAID OUT HIS CASE
But in a very calm and collected fashion yesterday, the Eskimos' bench boss laid out his case to be retained for 2008.
"The reality is I think we got something really special here," he remarked. "I think the organization feels the same way. And I think a lot of those people in the locker room feel the same way.
"We are going to have certain choices, decisions to make here.
"We can keep it together or we can start from scratch again.
"But don't expect to be a playoff contender and compete for the Grey Cup if you are constantly starting from scratch."
The ultimate decision lies with Eskimo president and CEO Rick LeLacheur.
Like any smart business executive, LeLacheur isn't tipping his hand with three games to go in the regular season.
The Eskimos Tragic Number in the East Division is two, meaning any combination of Montreal wins and Edmonton losses that total two means the Green and Gold are out of the playoff race in the East.
In the West Division, the Tragic Number is one for Edmonton. If the Eskimos lose once or Calgary wins once the rest of the season, the playoff dream in the West is over.
The Eskimos play in Vancouver on Saturday night against the same Lions crew that won last weekend at Commonwealth Stadium.
It was that loss that really brought the calls for Maciocia's head to the forefront.
But the coach and director of football operations has almost become unaware of the criticism.
"Here is reality," quipped the Montreal native.
"You guys hold these microphones and I am the one answering the questions for the last three years. There comes a time when you just become numb to it.
"When they say you are good, it doesn't register. When they say you are bad, it doesn't register."
YEAR 1
Maciocia believes this is really Year 1 for a new organization regime after he was bumped up to be director of football operations last winter - helping pick the talent with chief scout Paul Jones.
Yes, this is the third season for him as head coach, but the first with him calling all the critical shots on the football side of the business.
"The reality is that we have 65 guys here," said Maciocia, referring to all the injuries.
"Normally you go to camp with 68 - and we are still under the cap."
Maciocia is trying not to use the rash of injuries to key players as an excuse, but couldn't help himself.
"If we get guys like (Dan) Comiskey, Mathieu Bertrand, Ricky Ray...a Jason Tucker that can run back into the lineup," he stated before applauding his healthy defence.
"I think someone told me here who has been following this football team for 20 years that is one of the best defensive performances they have witnessed in the first half (last week).
"And there was some continuity there in the last few weeks."
Coach Maciocia stays cool under fire
By JONATHAN HUNTINGTON, SUN MEDIA
In the face of intense public criticism, Danny Maciocia is preaching patience.
With fans and media calling for the Edmonton Eskimos head coach to be fired, Maciocia wants more time to build a championship contender.
"If people are patient with this organization and these football players they are going to realize they are going to have themselves a special product for years to come," said Maciocia yesterday.
"If we are in the business of pushing panic buttons then they will realize quickly that you will always be starting over.
"It will take a few years in order for you to get something that you deem to be special.We are close. We have had some setbacks. Patience for some people hopefully isn't a four-letter word."
With the Eskimos in serious danger of missing the playoffs for back-to-back seasons - something that hasn't happened since 1964 and 1965 - calls for Maciocia to be fired are getting louder every week.
LAID OUT HIS CASE
But in a very calm and collected fashion yesterday, the Eskimos' bench boss laid out his case to be retained for 2008.
"The reality is I think we got something really special here," he remarked. "I think the organization feels the same way. And I think a lot of those people in the locker room feel the same way.
"We are going to have certain choices, decisions to make here.
"We can keep it together or we can start from scratch again.
"But don't expect to be a playoff contender and compete for the Grey Cup if you are constantly starting from scratch."
The ultimate decision lies with Eskimo president and CEO Rick LeLacheur.
Like any smart business executive, LeLacheur isn't tipping his hand with three games to go in the regular season.
The Eskimos Tragic Number in the East Division is two, meaning any combination of Montreal wins and Edmonton losses that total two means the Green and Gold are out of the playoff race in the East.
In the West Division, the Tragic Number is one for Edmonton. If the Eskimos lose once or Calgary wins once the rest of the season, the playoff dream in the West is over.
The Eskimos play in Vancouver on Saturday night against the same Lions crew that won last weekend at Commonwealth Stadium.
It was that loss that really brought the calls for Maciocia's head to the forefront.
But the coach and director of football operations has almost become unaware of the criticism.
"Here is reality," quipped the Montreal native.
"You guys hold these microphones and I am the one answering the questions for the last three years. There comes a time when you just become numb to it.
"When they say you are good, it doesn't register. When they say you are bad, it doesn't register."
YEAR 1
Maciocia believes this is really Year 1 for a new organization regime after he was bumped up to be director of football operations last winter - helping pick the talent with chief scout Paul Jones.
Yes, this is the third season for him as head coach, but the first with him calling all the critical shots on the football side of the business.
"The reality is that we have 65 guys here," said Maciocia, referring to all the injuries.
"Normally you go to camp with 68 - and we are still under the cap."
Maciocia is trying not to use the rash of injuries to key players as an excuse, but couldn't help himself.
"If we get guys like (Dan) Comiskey, Mathieu Bertrand, Ricky Ray...a Jason Tucker that can run back into the lineup," he stated before applauding his healthy defence.
"I think someone told me here who has been following this football team for 20 years that is one of the best defensive performances they have witnessed in the first half (last week).
"And there was some continuity there in the last few weeks."
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