Mike Hartline and the blame game

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 28, 2008 6:03 PM EDT in Commentary

*** UPDATE*** : Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal gets the Hartline situation exactly right, I think. Kudos to him. The Fake Gimel Martinez also has some thoughts over on Kentucky Sports Radio.

Today, Mike Hartline had this comment to the media about losing his starting job:

"I'm disappointed. It stinks," Hartline said. "You don't ever expect to win the starting job and then lose it because the guys around you aren't performing the way they should. It's disappointing, but at the same time, it's best for the team. I'm a team player, and that's just the way it has to be." [emphasis mine]

I know Mike Hartline is a young man, and I understand his disappointment. What I don't understand is why he places the blame for his failure of leadership on others.

Look, even if what he says is true, and I'm sure it is to some extent at least, I can't understand what he hopes to accomplish by airing this grievance in public. Yes, it always sucks getting demoted, but what Hartline needs to learn (and should have learned before now) is that when you are the quarterback, you are seen as the team's leader, at least on offense. If the other guys don't do their job, that is a failure of leadership.

Hartline's complaint reminds me of a quote by Arnold H. Glasgow:

"A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit."

Blaming others for failure when you are a leader is, in itself, a failure of leadership first and foremost. Many in the Big Blue Nation have rebuked Hartline for his comments on message boards and blogs, and I hope he finds out about it and comes to appreciate why people feel his words were inappropriate.

Rich Brooks gave us a lesson in leadership the other day when he accepted all the blame for his complete failure to properly prepare the team for Florida, and he was right -- as the leader of this program, the blame for that failure belongs squarely on his shoulders. That's what being a "team player" in the context of leadership means, Mike.

But apparently, Hartline hasn't yet learned that shouldering the burden of blame, particularly when it belongs mostly with you, is what leaders do. Leaders are interested more in protecting their teammates than themselves, even when their teammates are blameworthy. It's one way you earn respect, and learn humility -- two things which all great leaders have in abundance.

Hartline may not be solely responsible for the poor offensive performance, and I don't think he is. But when you accept a leadership position, it is with the understanding that you will accept responsibility for failure -- yours, and that of every single on of your charges.

Hartline can do better, and must if he wants to play quarterback in any capacity -- both in leadership and execution. But the first step in self-improvement is a good long look in the mirror, and if what you see isn't pretty, don't blame the mirror.

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Hartline...

It’s disappointing, but at the same time, it’s best for the team. I’m a team player, and that’s just the way it has to be."

That is all he should have said.

by kykat51 on Oct 28, 2008 6:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow.

That’s bordering on appalling. What was the context? Was he asked a question or did he just preface an interview by saying this? Have any players responded?

It seems to me that the line has been more than adequate when it comes to pass-blocking, and the receivers are performing as well as they can although some lack experience and some would not be playing regularly if it wasn’t for injuries. Maybe he’s upset with the team’s inability to establish a firm ground platform in the early part of games that could open up opportunities for him to throw. Maybe he forgot his arm is mediocre at best.

by mrmondaynite on Oct 28, 2008 6:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Between The Lines

It’s always a bit precarious to read between the lines but many times the insight gained is worth the gamble, so it would seem with the remarks of young Mr. Hartline. To me his words say much about the relationship between him and his teammates and go a far piece in explaining the obviously strained interactions. Considering that, is it any wonder that his offensive teammates performed with more passion, intensity and concentration for Randall Cobb? And is it not apparent why there was an open and growing distrust between offense and defense? A more troublesome point is, however, why weren’t experienced coaches able to recognize such intra-team dynamics and address them before they reached such a detrimental state?

by Wild Weasel on Oct 28, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs

he can't make them catch it!

by vinceuk1 on Oct 28, 2008 9:19 PM EDT 0 recs

The move will not fix this team!

I’m a little disappointed that Brooks made the move in a public forum. Pretty much blaming Hartline! I feel that Brooks is using Hartline for “the coaches” lack of play calling. The play selection has been questionable all season and I think you guys can agree? He could have started Cobb in the next game for a quarter or two without all the fanfare, IMO. Also, if anyone believes that Joker is going to be a good head coach, they’re crazy. Isn’t he the one that has been calling the offensive plays, for the most part, all year? Help me if I’m wrong. Bottom line is: This is a very, very young team that will need another year or two to jell, but once we get some of those "4-star" recruits in house, we should be back at the 7-8 win seasons again.

by vinceuk1 on Oct 28, 2008 9:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Which came first? The bad players or the bad play-calling?

If the receivers can’t run the right routes, can Joker keep calling those plays? Or is he limited to the plays they can perform? I wonder how much our receivers are hampering our team, and Joker is trying to compensate for that with stale playcalling.

Also, I think Brooks has always been a straight-talking guy. And I think he handled the Cobb announcement fairly well. I have not been stumping for Cobb to take over, but I can see the logic in giving the ball to the most talented playmaker on the team every snap.

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on Oct 28, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

But in a public forum?

This is what has me upset. Cobb is very deserving, a agree, but come-on, it will not change anything. IMO…
Cobb will get more running yards, and that’s a good thing, but quoting you, “receivers are hampering our team”, and unless they start catching the ball that hits them in the chest, the scoring will not change. SEC teams know how to stop a single threat.

Also, Hartline’s quote may end up helping this team out in a unusual way. Think about it, the receivers have been called out by a previous starting QB, so they will want to prove him wrong… hummmm

by vinceuk1 on Oct 28, 2008 9:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

somebody else mentioned that...

…Hartline may be publicly challenging the team knowing that it will make them step up. I don’t subscribe to that theory.

As for Brooks’ comments, he didn’t throw Hartline under the bus. He said that Cobb allows them to do something different. So now we’re one-dimensional on pass plays instead of zero-dimensional? Perhaps.

And perhaps this is some sort of gamemanship on Brooks’ part. Maybe he wants MSU to set up a “linebacker spy” for Cobb, which might open some space for the receivers. This is purely speculation on my behalf; I still stand by the idea that Brooks wants to try more snaps for Cobb, and he’s just straight-talkin’ about it.

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on Oct 28, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Mike has a point, but it doesn't excuse a public critique

“If the other guys don’t do their job, its a failure of leadership.” I agree, but Hartline can’t shoulder the whole blame for this. The WRs, the offensive coaches, everybody deserves a bite of the “can’t move the ball worth shit” sandwich. And when Hartline does have a receiver in the right route, he can’t make the receiver catch it. Granted, this doesn’t excuse any sort of public critique made by Hartline; he hasn’t been perfect at all.

I’ve got some more fleshed out feelings about Mike’s comments over at KSR: http://new.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=8471

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on Oct 28, 2008 9:29 PM EDT 0 recs

As soon

as I read this article I knew Hartline would get criticized. I think he is both right and wrong. The receivers and tight ends haven’t really stepped up this season but they are young and inexperienced as well. There is a fine line between honesty and coach speak. Anytime an athlete speaks out (even if he is right) they are told to shut up and criticized for their honesty. And I said the same thing when Locke spoke up about the run game. In this case, however, Hartline has no leg to stand on. His play is just as culpable as the receivers. He hasn’t been good or consistent enough to keep the starting job….plain and simple.

Criticizing play calling is easy. I sure wouldn’t without being present at practice and on the sideline to understand the logic and design of the play calling. There are many motives behind why and when a certain group of plays are called. It is way more complicated than it seems and Joker is way more knowledgable than I would profess to be in desigining offenses.

by SevenRings on Oct 28, 2008 10:04 PM EDT 0 recs

kind of

disappointing that Brooks made the move so openly. I mean, to say that the offense actually moves with Cobb in the game is a bold statement. Cobb played here locally and was good, but he is playing above himself thus far. Cobb is going to give UK a dimension that they actually need and that is a mobile quarterback.

by SECRival on Oct 28, 2008 10:23 PM EDT 0 recs

It is Brooks' job ...

… as coach to honestly assess his team. He didn’t say anything that wasn’t obvious, and he didn’t say Hartline was the reason the team didn’t move with him at the helm.

What he did say that the reason for the change was production. The team is producing more yards per possession under Cobb than Hartline, and as Capt. Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon) said in A Few Good Men, “Those are the facts, and they are undisputed.” Making the move publicly like that is something some coaches do (i.e. Spurrier, for example) and some don’t.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 29, 2008 6:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

Hartline`

I agree with Tru’s assessment of the situation.

Hartline is a young man speaking out of frustration and disappointment, just as Derrick Locke did a couple of weeks ago.

While much of what Hartline said is true, it doesn’t take a Vince Lombardi football mind to recognze that the mistakes that Hartline has made, along with the success (albeit limited) that Cobb has enjoyed, is a recipe for a QB change. A change I support, and honestly feel will lead to a more efficient offense, which is absolutely necessary if UK harbors any hopes of reaching a third straight bowl game.

As for those questioning Phillips and his play calling: Keep in mind that on any given play there are three or four reads (options) that a QB can make. UK QB coach Randy Sanders is responsible for teaching and-or ‘coaching up’ the quarterback to where he is making the right read, and therefore throwing the ball to the receiver most likely to gain yardage.

Like many others, I have been highly critical of the some of the plays UK has run this year, but I have never assigned blame to Joker for the exact reason stated above.

I don’t think Phillips has forgotten how to do his job. I tend to blame the personnel, rather than the coach in this particular instance.

I certainly wish Randall Cobb nothing but success. As most know, I feel that Cobb will be very successful … regardless of what position he plays. He is UK’s best chance at winning at least two of their remaining games.

At this point, that’s all that matters.

by Ken Howlett on Oct 28, 2008 10:52 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm not getting into the Hartline comment...

Which I feel was a bad move whether he feels that way or not. But someone brought up coaching as a culprit in the offensive stagnation. I agree but on a different point than has been brought up by anyone thus far.

Hartline, as a pro-style QB, needs some chemistry and timing with his wideouts. He isn’t an improviser and if they run the wrong route or if their timing on the route isn’t where it should be, he is unfortunately hung out to dry. And worse yet, the wide receiver rotation has still been chaotic at best due to lack of success by anyone not named Randall or Dicky. I seriously question how much it has hampered Hartline practicing and playing with any number of receivers (Lyons, Cobb, Boyd, Adams, Ford, Roark, Adeyemi, McCaskill, Lanxter, Drake, Grinter…). I just think that the lack of reps with a certain group has stunted Hartline’s growth. For comparison, Andre’ threw to the same primary guys over and over and over (and yes I do acknowledge those guys were much more ready and polished, but the point remains the same).

by lacrosse_cat on Oct 29, 2008 12:52 PM EDT 0 recs

... and the point is a good one.

by Ken Howlett on Oct 29, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I detest screen passes

And I wish Joker would quit calling them. Our offense started this downward spiral towards the end of last year. Our offense has gotten predictable. Has for awhile now. If all our players on D don’t go pro, I think we could be an 8 win team next year if we figure something out at QB and start throwing the ball down the field. When you get beat 63-5, it’s the coaches fault more than any player. Totally unprepared to play. Has been a theme in several Brooks-coached games. Last year we won seven in the regular season on talent with a team that should have won 9 or 10. This year we’ve won five games, really two against anybody approaching decency, with talent on D. Lack of offense shows the true colors of Brooks, in my humble opinion.

by daniel81 on Oct 29, 2008 5:26 PM EDT 0 recs