Are you aware of what the meaning of the term "chemistry" is as it relates to sports? Building a good relationship based on trust through familiarity due to repeated practice is exactly what "chemistry" means. Your argument makes no sense.
What...I disagree with you, and you suddenly think that I must not be familiar with "chemistry" and "as it relates to sports."? It must be pretty neat to live in your world where--if someone disagrees with you--you immediately jump to the conclusion that others must be just stupid and unaware, and that you opinion
must be correct because no one with any sense would disagree with you.
sjt18, this response is for you as well.
Let me tell you a few things. The term "chemistry" has been thrown around ad infinitum. Do you have a brain, and if so, do you think critically about things? I happen to think critically, and believe that "chemistry" is a term that has no relationship to performance. None. Can you point to any proof--not opinion, but
proof--that "good" chemistry (whatever that is) is directly proportional to improved performance? Since the question I just typed was a rhetorical question, I'll go ahead and answer it: no, you cannot show any empirical evidence that "chemistry" causes better performance.
From an offensive line standpoint, the so-called "group-think" mentioned in this thread, and taking care of your teammate's back, is the function of knowing what protection is called, who you need to block in that protection vs. what package the defense is running, and making adjustments on the fly if the defense doesn't rush the same people in the same lanes that they showed on film. A feeling of comraderie, or "chemistry", is irrelevant to whether an O lineman will make the proper read and make a play that bails out his teammate. Making such a play is a function of film study, footwork, strength, balance, and--especially with referrence to O line play--technique.
I am always somewhat amused at fans who speak wistfully of how a team has chemistry, or that a player is "good for the locker room." Truth is, none of that stuff matters. Again, if you think it does, show me some empirical evidence that it does. Anecdotal rambling about the importance of "chemistry" is just that: anecdotal rambling.
And, yes, I was a player. I played in middle school, high school, and four years at a D-1 universtiy. I played quarterback. I daresay I have been around the game longer than you have, since if I am asked to name the names of UT players I grew up on as a child, I would mention names like Faircloth, Wantland, Fulton, and Warren. I watched as Tennessee was the last major holdout in running the single wing, and watched Doug Dickey usher in the T-Formation. So, please don't question my bona fides to speak on the subject of football. Look at my other posts on this board...it should be obvious that I know what I am talking about.
Don't get me wrong, its not my intention to be a jerk, although when someone claims superior knowledge (like I do in this situation) it always comes off like I deem myself to be superior to others. It is not my intention to come off that way. However, when you say that I make "no sense" and others ask "have you ever played O line," I then must answer those questions.
Like Jules says to Vincent in "Pulp Fiction", "if my answers scare you, Vincent, don't ask scary questions." Similarly, if you don't want to hear about the source of my expertise, don't ask questions like "have you ever played" or questions like that. Looking back, I don't think I have ever said anything about playing football on this message board. Why? Because everyone can have an opinion, and mine is not necessarily right just because i played football at a high level. However, you (or someone else in this thread who disagreed with me) asked me directly whether I ever played, so I am answering directly.
Finally, back to thinking critically, just because something like "chemistry" or "there is no 'I' in team" is tossed around doesn't mean there is any substance to the term. It is much more important to evaluate a player based on his ability, since no amount of "chemistry" can spur a player to give more than the 100% he is capable of. It is simply anatomically impossible to give more than you are capable of. Therefore, I don't take "team chemistry" into account, as such terms are most times used to
describe successful teams, rather than
providing a reason for their success.