welch wrote:Hello, all,
I "confess" that I'm old enough that I could say I'm ferom the Joe Kuharich (check spelling), Mike Nixon, Bill McPeak, Otto Graham, Vince Lombardi, Bill Austin, George Allen, Jack Pardee, as well as Joe Gibbs era.
Consodering it all carefully, thinking over those coaches, Joe Gibbs is the best ever. Lombardi was only here for a year before cancer got him, and old George was something special, but Joe Gibbs is beyond them all.
An old-timer's not-so-old story: in the winter of '91, Coach Gibbs had two young QB's. He told Stan Humphries, approximately: you are my quarterback. You have a strong arm, you're the better athlete, you have the release: now, go study the playbook. IT's your job to lose.
Humphries went home and got fat. He ignore the playbook.
Mark Rypien, a guy who always came through, and a guy that everyone always said was just filling in until the Redskins found a Real QB...well, Rypien studied the playbook inside out and upside down. He worked and worked. He showed up to camp in great shape, and knowing the offense better than anyone except maybe Joe Gibbs himself. Humphries came to camp and chased women.
That year, Humphries did not play a down. Not one.
Rypien led the Redskins to 14-2. They won the Superbowl, against the predictions of a ceertain Mr. Zimmerman from Sports Illustrated, and Rypien was MVP.
Joe Gibbs judges talent and character and brains. Patrick Ramsey seems to have those. If he does, really does, then Ramsey will make it.
For younger fans, be assured. There is not a thing to worry about. Gibbs takes players and makes them better. He always has. He quietly discards the real cranks, which is why I find it interesting that some current Redskin players are reported to have chosen not to contact him. It's their choice...in a way, they are helping Gibbs choose who to cut.
Best regards to all, and I wish mini-camp started tomorrow.
Welch - Very well put. I too go back quite aways. Since '73 I've been watching the Burgandy and Gold. And I too remember a man who made alot out very little. That being in regard to him being able to hone or even develope a player(and not just him, but his entire staff. This is a team effort and Gibbs said it even before this year.)into something special.
Does the name Timmy Smith ring a bell to anybody???
But Patrick Ramsey is the name we and everybody else is talking and pondering about here. This is the young talent who performed so well this last year, against overwhelming odds. From the media early on, to his coach, to his offensive line, to himself. Sometimes holding the ball too long. But, as I've said before, this is a kid who really has only logged one full season into his resume'.
Patrick Ramsey is a QB, who even right now, is showing signs of maturity, an understanding of what he needs to do and at times, even brilliance. I do hope that he doesn't get discouraged by the bringing in a vet. But I also hope that(and I'm sure it is, because Coach Gibbs said it)the position is open, like every other position, to competion. With bright individual like Ramsey, I believe he'll shine.
All Hail Washington!!!!!