What's Wrong With the Offense

[Skinsfan55]

Now I don't get to "see" a lot of the games, but the offense appears to be the biggest problem going into this offseason. On paper our offense is great, and the defense is suspect... but in reality the offense has been terrible and the defense is elite, all while missing Barrow, Arrington, Bowen, Daniels, etc.

But what is really wrong with the offense?

Would we be a playoff team if we had Ramsey starting the whole season? Is Clinton Portis just not the right kind of back for Joe Gibbs' offense. Most good teams have a good tight end who can stretch defenses and/or is a big redzone target, is that what we are missing? Is this a problem mostly due to the injuries on the line?

What problems would you adress in the draft or in free agency to fix this team's offense... and why? Keep in mind that our 2nd round draft pick this year went to the Saints in exchange for the 3rd round pick that netted us Chris ey.

[Deadskins]

Maybe a center or a defensive end. Basically, we are set on both sides of the ball. What we really need is depth, so that injuries don't have that big of a negative impact.

[NikiH]

I think the problem with the offense is summed up in pretty easily. Fans are too critical. We are improving. Things are looking better. Ramsey is looking more confident. So in my opinion the offense's problem is they needed time to actually work as a team and get adjusted. Unforunately with switching to Ramsey mid season, that adjustment happens during game time. Our offense is coming into their own, just be patient.

[groundss]

Living in Texas for most of the year, I also haven't seen us that often this year. But in the few games I have seen, it looks like we still have weaknesses on the offensive line. Ramsey rarely gets enough time to go downfield, and if he does, it's likely that our recievers lack seperation. Additionally, while Portis has done a good job of gaining patience this year, he clearly hasn't been the homerun threat that I expected. Is it his fault? Probably not. Missing Jansen has been a huge loss. I also think that we're weak at the center position. Coles has become a wonderful possession receiver, while the rookie ey has the best hands on the team and is becoming Ramsey's favorite target. The other glaring problem is that Portis, Betts, and Cartwright are all below 6'0" and less than 210 it seems like. That hurts us tremendously in goalline situations. Maybe we need to adopt the Pats philosophy and put in Griffin as a blocking fullback, or better yet, put Arrington at TE and run some playaction on 1st and goal. All things considered, they are improving, albeit slowly.

[hkiss444]

The offense is coming around. The Oline play needs to continue to get better. With a healthy Jansen back will make a huge difference. I think Ray Brown has played admirably for a 42 year old but it is alot to ask for Brown who hasn't played in two years and is playing out of position. Raymer is a good back up center but not a starter.

Joe Gibbs football starts with dominant line play which has been inconsistent all year. With another year together this line will start opening bigger holes for Portis and giving Ramsey more time to throw, this offense will click the way it did against the Giants.

[ANT7088]

I think the fact that BOTH the Head Coach & the Defensive Coordinator will be back next year is better then any off-season move we can make! We have minor problems that can be fixed. It's more important that any new players we get, the players we have now will be able to teach them the system because it won't be new to the whole team (again).

[Scooter]

Excellent call on the Center or DE. Raymer has been fair-to-poor all year. We need to score in the Redzone - TD's. FG's aren't good enough. Portis is too small to break through the line on a stack. No doubt we should be throwing to the TE's in that situation. Roll out Ramsey and let him survey the field.

Portis isn't a leaper. Sellers doesn't run well. I'd put in Betts on the 1'st and goal situations.

Yes, if Ramsey's played all year - we'd be a playoff team. That's not saying a lot though - we're practially a playoff team now.

[SkinsJock]

Good post Niki. We were all expecting instant success from Joe, Breaux and Bugel. How could this not work well?

Nobody (with any knowledge) thought Brunell would be as bad in this situation. Joe, obviously did not want to put Ramsey in until he (Joe) thought he was ready.

Patience! The transition is ongoing! Let's give these players and coaches some more time. Things are looking very promising. With a few additions and getting some key people healthy, will be a huge bonus.

We are so much better than we were last year. I also think we are a lot further along than we thought we could be in week 8 of this year.

I think it is now safe to say that we are going to be very competitive next year!

[USAFSkinFan]

No deep threat!

A deep threat in the passing game would cure a whole lot of ills. It would create space for Portis like he had in Denver. There are a lot of obstacles to us having a deep threat.

1. No receiver who's ever been good at going deep
- Coles is great (and quick) but he's not going to get behind people
- Gardner has the size but he's also not going to get behind people
- Taylor hasn't figured out wht he can do yet
2. Protection has been a problem, they need a center
3. penalties have hurt... hard to throw deep when you're in a definite passing situation
4. Brunell just plain through a week (jump) ball down field
5. Gibbs has no confidence in all the above getting the job done, so he plays conservative because he says great defense is the character of this team, and you have to play to your strength...

[ernie0326]

I think that since we haven't had any pure threat of a passing game (until recently when Ramsey took over), opposing defenses have hung their hat on stopping our only real threat on offense, which is Clinton Portis. Once we begin to attack downfield with CONSISTANCY, then the defenses will pay big time for attenpting to stack the line of scrimmage for Portis. I expect our offense will be MUCH improved next season.

[Deadskins]

Welcome Earnie. How's Bert?

[chicosbailbond]

Excellent call on the Center or DE. Raymer has been fair-to-poor all year. We need to score in the Redzone - TD's. FG's aren't good enough. Portis is too small to break through the line on a stack. No doubt we should be throwing to the TE's in that situation. Roll out Ramsey and let him survey the field.

Portis isn't a leaper. Sellers doesn't run well. I'd put in Betts on the 1'st and goal situations.

Yes, if Ramsey's played all year - we'd be a playoff team. That's not saying a lot though - we're practially a playoff team now.

i agree about raymer... i would challenge you guys to not watch the ball when it is snapped... focus on our line... raymer in particular... he is slow out of his stance and gets pushed back on most plays... he does do a good job sealing the defender after that... but he gets beat off of the snap... and he is damn center... he is the "weakest link" bye bye....

[gundo]

what's wrong with the offense? the center, right guard and right tackle positions have played terribly. this results in an inconsistent running game and watered-down passing game. randy thomas is having an off-year - i wonder if he's playing more injured then he lets on. and, obviously, brown is not nearly as good as jansen. if this problem gets fixed during the off-season, the skins will be moving deep into the playoffs in '05.

[darkwing99]

look the fact is cory ramer sucks. iwatched a cuple of games were he just gets dismantled by opposing DT.We either need to get a center in free agency and draft a guard preferrably David Bass from michigan who can also play center for a big guy.Also we should try to draft antonio perkins CB for depth at that position Ade Jimoh should not be in the NFL.

[Cooley47]

Our offense is pefectly fine

Next Year we will have Ramsey in starting at QB all year and Portis running effectively behind a healthy Jon Jansen and an improving Derrick Dockery

In the draft we should either take Mike Williams to solidify our WR spot if we really need to go offense

I would take either A DT or a DE in the first round

I have faith in Coach Gibbs he WILL make the right choice no matter what

[darkwing99]

Ray Brown and cory Raymer are not ok on that oline

[RedskinsRule56]

we need a Deep threat as well getting rid of Ray Brown and Raymer. We could also use a big fullback and pass rushing DE! We need to get more pressure on the QB.

[Hooligan]

Agreed on the Center, DE, and big FB. All our backs are too damn small to muscle out that last yard or two on their own.

Why can't Cartwright go back up to 240-ish? He's 5'7'' for crying out loud. He'd bust right through the defenders' knees

Seriously... a big bruising RB or FB is a must for us.

[Skinsfan55]

Would we use a big fullback? I mean with ey as the H-back how does a big FB fit in?

[Smurfskin]

A big FB fits in on special teams, short yardage situations, and goal line situations. right now, we don't have anyone big enough to jam it in the end zone or gain the yards on third and two.

We have to get a fix for the problem.

[hailskins666]

what's wrong with the offense? the center, right guard and right tackle positions have played terribly. this results in an inconsistent running game and watered-down passing game. randy thomas is having an off-year - i wonder if he's playing more injured then he lets on. and, obviously, brown is not nearly as good as jansen. if this problem gets fixed during the off-season, the skins will be moving deep into the playoffs in '05.

what? thomas has actually been a bright spot. maybe center, and a big wish for jansen to be in there, but, i think the exact opposite... left side.

[Deadskins]

A big FB fits in on special teams, short yardage situations, and goal line situations. right now, we don't have anyone big enough to jam it in the end zone or gain the yards on third and two.

We have to get a fix for the problem.

I think ey is plenty big to handle those duties.

[jdmills23]

We have a big target in the redzone with ey and dont forget Dar!

[SkinsHead56]

But what is really wrong with the offense?

1. Would we be a playoff team if we had Ramsey starting the whole season?

2. Is Clinton Portis just not the right kind of back for Joe Gibbs' offense.

3. Most good teams have a good tight end who can stretch defenses and/or is a big redzone target, is that what we are missing?

4. Is this a problem mostly due to the injuries on the line?

5. What problems would you adress in the draft or in free agency to fix this team's offense... and why? Keep in mind that our 2nd round draft pick this year went to the Saints in exchange for the 3rd round pick that netted us Chris ey.

1. Yes, Brunell lost it faster than a doped sprinter.

2. No, Gibbs will make it work. Timmy Smith.

3. No, #47 Chris ey.

4. Partialy, Raymer & Dockery have to get better.

5. Draft a D-end 1st round, a center later on, or trade down and stock up on role players.