I would put it as equal to talent, perhaps even more important. You can overcome a lack of talent in many ways by solid teamwork and chemistry. Witness the 2008 Miami Dolphins, to win the AFCE with that level of talent, was all chemistry & teamwork.

 

I think talent rules in most cases, however is some instances you can see bad chemistry having an affect on a team....Our team last year was a good example...that team imploded and showed their *** by coming out flat and uninspired on several occasions ...

The first quarter of the tampa game was a joke, I knew right then there was something wrong chemistry wise with the 2009 dolphins. The texan game was even worse, I remember losing it on them after that game..The final 3 games and their fold, was predictable.

 

You need only look back at the great Dolphin teams, the 72 Dolphins in particular. They had great chemistry and you could tell they loved playing together. Everyone played untill the whistle was blown, and the defense swarmed the ball.

 

IMO the answer depends on units and schemes. For the OL, chemistry can trump talent. They have to play together or even the most talented OL will play like a sieve.

Scheme is also an important variable b/c some schemes rely more on individual talent than others. For example, the Jets or Saints blitzed a ton last year. If you can get great pressure from individual pass rushers then you could get by with lesser support players. But in defenses that are more "bend but don't break", they all have to be on the same page or they'll give up a ton of big plays.

 

Agree wholeheartly! I will also state that chemistry starts with the QB, it doesn't end there, but it sure starts there. Henne's growth and the team's belief in him will get us there but its really on his sholders imho.

 

The element of chemistry beginning with the quarterback is Leadership. Coaches as well, creating culture and philosophy to march their motivated troops into battle, making sure they are prepared and in the right positions for sixty minutes to earn victory.

A successful team is much more than 53 talented athletes playing in the same uniform.

At first I wanted to type about the impact of losing Pennington on the team's chemistry, but I don't think that was the cause in 2009. The team, specifically the offense, was absolutely flat in the first game against Atlanta, and the 2 minute drive at the end of Indianapolis was the most uninspired unprepared lethargic pathetic comeback attempt I have ever seen.

 

Agree, in '08 it was Penny who put the team on his shoulders, and JP seemed to care that year so he led the D. This is Henne's year, but I also look to Mike Nolan and how he turned around the Denver defense in one year with not ALOT OF TALENT LAST YEAR. i THINK WE'VE POSSIBLY GIVEN HIM MORE TALENT TO WORK WITH HERE, BUT imho THE d IS ON nOLAN AND HIS SCHEME'S, AND THEY TAKE CHEMISTRY & (Damn caps lock!) teamwork. If Henne and the improved talent on O combine with chemistry and teamwork on D, we could be tough to beat this season.