No, it's not wrong at all.Scott4Pack wrote: ↑15 Nov 2022 10:19If you want to make a case that being “called out” is harmful, fine. Just do that. But to say that the WRs “didn’t perform because of it” is equally wrong in itself.
There is one thing (ONE thing) we can objectively, unambiguously point to -- a very specific point in time before which he was not playing well, and after which, he did play well -- and draw a direct link to his improved play: catching the long ball. That was the point after which he started playing well. And it's not hard to figure out why, the play gave him confidence.
If there were truth to the idea that Rodgers's words were what made the lightbulb go off, then Watson would not have started the game with two bad drops and a bad route. Or, to the extent it did matter, it didn't clearly matter enough alone to fix the problem.
And in the same vein that it's not hard to figure out why making the play actually does help (confidence boost), neither is it hard to see why call-outs often won't, they destroy confidence.
Saying "this is the NFL, these guys are adults" only serves to show that call-outs are acceptable from a certain subjective standpoint, not that objectively they do in-fact help.This is the NFL that we are talking about. These guys are adults, or at least they are supposed to be.
Truth is, if used judiciously, call outs can do more help than harm. And Aaron Rodgers has probably been one of the LEAST likely vets to call out players who aren’t doing their jobs. In a season like this, the QB needs to expect more from the young guys. If you look at Watson’s after game presser this past Sunday, it looks to me like Rodgers definitely has Watson’s ear. He hasn’t lost it. And the kid is waking up to his job and his skills. There was no harm done.
If they did objectively/verifiably work, I would be for it. I'm interested in what works, not opinions about what should be. Confidence is not something I want players to have because it's a feel-good story that gives me warm fuzzies; it's because it's NECESSARY for players to play well. Even vets need confidence. It's especially important in young players. They should be built-up, not torn down (again, for it being more likely to work, not what I just feel like is morally good).