Which unit will be better this season - the O or the D?

[Mursilis]

So after watching these first two games, and seeing the defense seems to have found its way again, I'm wondering which side of the ball will be ranked higher this season - the offense or the defense. Before the preseason started, I was sure it would've been the offense (like during the 2006 regular season), but I'm thinking the defense might actually be better this season. Comments?

[Countertrey]

I have anticipated that the D would rise. Here's why... Campbell, assuming he remains healthy, still has a significant learning curve... I believe that over the course of the next two years, he will make the move from higly skilled technician to wiley and cagey veteran... but that will take time. The offense will spend much of this year playing catch-up, as their system if far more complex and more dependent upon finesse, and maximizing that depends on a QB who is a wiley and cagey vet.

That's it!

[Mursilis]

I have anticipated that the D would rise. Here's why... Campbell, assuming he remains healthy, still has a significant learning curve... I believe that over the course of the next two years, he will make the move from higly skilled technician to wiley and cagey veteran... but that will take time. The offense will spend much of this year playing catch-up, as their system if far more complex and more dependent upon finesse, and maximizing that depends on a QB who is a wiley and cagey vet.

That's it!

I appreciate what you're saying, but I don't know if the learning curve will be so steep for JC. He's in his third year as a pro, he's been busting his rear working with the coaches in the past two offseasons, and he proved himself adaptible in college. Most importantly, unlike a lot of QBs drafted in the first round (like JaMarcus Russell now, Dave Carr when he was in Houston, and Alex Smith in his first year), JC won't lack for a supporting cast. He'll have a solid line, a great WR, a great TE, two great RBs, and hopefully two good secondary WRs backing him up. Plus, I think Gibbs and Saunders know better than to make him the centerpiece on offense - I think Portis/Betts will carry the load, and JC will just have to serve as a compliment, not the primary threat. Roethlisburger and Rivers both did well in similar circumstances in their first year as starters. We'll have to see how JC does, but I don't think he'll be an anchor on the offense.

[SkinsJock]

I have always felt that Gibbs would find a way to make this team great again and I still think his judgement on who to have with him as coaches and players will make that happen. Williams was one of the first people that Gibbs went after and that was because he felt that this guy was one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL.

Last year was an aberration on D and I think this year that Williams will have our D back in the top 10 again. I am sure the offense will be solid but I do not think they will be ranked in the top 10 overall and mainly because I think we will have a super running game and a average to good passing game.

[num1skinsfan]

The defense is obviously ahead of the offense so far this year. Now with that said, defenses are historically ahead in training camp and preseason, so lets give them a chance. I say after regular season game 1, retake the pole we will have a better benchmark, offense has a few pieces missing (ex: samuels & portis).

[1niksder]

So after watching these first two games, and seeing the defense seems to have found its way again, I'm wondering which side of the ball will be ranked higher this season - the offense or the defense. Before the preseason started, I was sure it would've been the offense (like during the 2006 regular season), but I'm thinking the defense might actually be better this season. Comments?

Hard to say which will be better considering the following.

1. It's still the pre-season and I doubt GW or AS has thrown everything out there yet.

2. The offense hasn't taken the field as a unit due to injuries.

3. The D-line wasn't addressed during the off-season because the plan was to bring Marcus Washington off the edge during obvious passing downs, his injury may cause adjustments to be made.

[skinsfan#33]

The O will be better if GW insists on blitzing on third and long. It seams like every time he sends the house on 3rd and long the other team picks up a first down or a big play. I cringe everytime they have 6 - 8 people in the box waving their hands to tell the QB that they are Blitzing. He very seldom hides the fact that a blitz is coming. Generally the player shows that he is coming way before the snap so the offense has plenty of time to adjust to the blitz. Here is a novel idea, how about showing the blitz and then only rush 3 or 4. That would totally catch a team off guard, because we almost never fake a blitz.

[Countertrey]

The O will be better if GW insists on blitzing on third and long. It seams like every time he sends the house on 3rd and long the other team picks up a first down or a big play. I cringe everytime they have 6 - 8 people in the box waving their hands to tell the QB that they are Blitzing. He very seldom hides the fact that a blitz is coming. Generally the player shows that he is coming way before the snap so the offense has plenty of time to adjust to the blitz. Here is a novel idea, how about showing the blitz and then only rush 3 or 4. That would totally catch a team off guard, because we almost never fake a blitz.

I suspect that GW is doing nothing to disguse blitzes right now, but that will change later on.

[SkinsJock]

^^^ what he said and I think that when the season begins the pressure will be applied in every way on every play - it will make no difference that they know its coming it will be there and they will not be able to block it.

[Justice Hog]

Based on the performance in preseason thus far, the winner has to be "defense". I won't be surprised if the "O" kicks it into high gear once Portis is back, however.

[old-timer]

The defense looks good but it will suffer if the offense keeps getting 3 and outs like last year. Collins obviously knows the offense better than JC and he could be key as backup, especially with the poor coaching on offense leading to JC getting shelled by the pass rush. Anybody else notice that we got an untouched blitz on Collins' blide side THREE PLAYS IN A ROW on one offensive series last night? Who's manning the ship here? Is anyone?

Even the most blinded must know by now that Brunell is done.


It's obvious that JC has the physical tools like Randall Cunningham but the big question is whether he struggles similarly with the offense mentally. That, we will see. 'Skins have never been big successes with the draft but Rocky and Laron are looking like big-time winners. I can't believe that Laron has that much impact this early in his career. Defensive line pressure will still be a problem this year but we've definitely fixed the secondary and LB problems.

[skinsfan#33]

The O will be better if GW insists on blitzing on third and long. It seams like every time he sends the house on 3rd and long the other team picks up a first down or a big play. I cringe everytime they have 6 - 8 people in the box waving their hands to tell the QB that they are Blitzing. He very seldom hides the fact that a blitz is coming. Generally the player shows that he is coming way before the snap so the offense has plenty of time to adjust to the blitz. Here is a novel idea, how about showing the blitz and then only rush 3 or 4. That would totally catch a team off guard, because we almost never fake a blitz.

I suspect that GW is doing nothing to disguse blitzes right now, but that will change later on.

I'm not talking about pre-season. I'm talking about the three previous seasons. They just don't disguis there blitz very well, seldom fake a blitz, and are much more efective when they only send one guy in addition to the D-line (which is technically a dog and not a blitz). They are most effective in third and long when they drop 8 and rush 3.

[skinsfan#33]

^^^ what he said and I think that when the season begins the pressure will be applied in every way on every play - it will make no difference that they know its coming it will be there and they will not be able to block it.

History says otherwise.

[VetSkinsFan]

The offense will depend on that blindside for the passing game. If it's not contained, then we don't do well. The runblocking has sucked so far in preseason. Even if we run to the right, the run game has sucked bigtime. Tell me it's preseason, but unless things change, it's going to be a long year. I don't believe we can win on passing alone.

[Mursilis]

The offense will depend on that blindside for the passing game. If it's not contained, then we don't do well. The runblocking has sucked so far in preseason. Even if we run to the right, the run game has sucked bigtime. Tell me it's preseason, but unless things change, it's going to be a long year. I don't believe we can win on passing alone.

For one, Samuals should be back come the regular season, and the coaches should've figured out by then who wins the battle to replace Dockery - Wade or Pucillo. Portis will also be playing. I think the rushing game will be better come Sept.

[VetSkinsFan]

The lack of production, even from the right side, doesn't bother you? Betts did pretty well finishing out the season with the same right side last year, but nothing noteworthy this year. After last year's dismal start that carried over to the regular season, I'm wary of non-production in pre-season carrying over..... I hope you're right, though!!

[Chris Luva Luva]

The universe will realign itself and the offense will go back to it's mediocre ways and the defense will shine.

Seriously, I think the offense has tons of potential... But the loss of DD is going to hurt more than most would like to believe. The #2 WR will have a huge impact on the season.

[VetSkinsFan]

Agreed.

[Fios]

But the loss of DD is going to hurt more than most would like to believe.

Who doesn't believe losing a starting guard will hurt? That kinda goes without saying, no? What I do believe is that Bugel is more than capable of plugging in a suitable replacement for Dockery. There will be an adjustment, no question, but it won't be catastrophic.

[BnGhog]

What I do believe is that Bugel is more than capable of plugging in a suitable replacement for Dockery.

Oh,oh Plug me in there..I need the money..
Sounds like Greg Williams syndrome from last year is catching...


I really, do think our like will be OK though. The question right now, is it going to be Wade or Pucillo...

I think the line this week was much improved from last week.

[Chris Luva Luva]

But the loss of DD is going to hurt more than most would like to believe.

Who doesn't believe losing a starting guard will hurt? That kinda goes without saying, no? What I do believe is that Bugel is more than capable of plugging in a suitable replacement for Dockery. There will be an adjustment, no question, but it won't be catastrophic.

Who mentioned a catastrophe? I'm just stating that it's an area of concern that could possibly swift in either direction.

[Fios]

But the loss of DD is going to hurt more than most would like to believe.

Who doesn't believe losing a starting guard will hurt? That kinda goes without saying, no? What I do believe is that Bugel is more than capable of plugging in a suitable replacement for Dockery. There will be an adjustment, no question, but it won't be catastrophic.

Who mentioned a catastrophe? I'm just stating that it's an area of concern that could possibly swift in either direction.

No one did ... well, I sort of did ... you were saying people have underestimated what losing Dockery means, I'm saying that 1) I've not seen that and 2) I believe/hope it will be an issue that can be addressed.

[Redskin in Canada]

Defense without a doubt (as the Poll shows).

On the PLUS side, defense is back. The DL performance is vulnerable due to injuries but we knew that. If Marcus is ready, he should help with a better pass rush. and the QB and safeties should be phenomenal. Secondary is not consistent but better with Smoot this year.

ON the DOWN side, I still do not see a consistent offense. We used to be a one-dimensional offense. Right now, we are a non-dimensional offense. WE cannot win without holes for even the best of RBs to run. We cannot win with a GROUP of good receivers. Right now, only ey and Moss are really proven.

I started a thread elsewhere about the POTENTIAL of this group of receivers. Somehow, that thread seems to be an overly optimistic dream rather than reality on the ground. I do not know what it is but this offense is definitely not a threat to anybody.

What a pity if we go back to our old ways: great defense wasted on a mediocre offense. And this time, it falls squarely on Joe's shoulders.

Can anybody for God's sake explain to me what is it that makes anybody feel that Brunell can do anything for us? Why are we wasting time wih him on preseason games? Why are we not giving a try to the green, unproven, non-mature Palmer??? Is this NOT THE TIME to give him a TRY???

Joe please, say it ain't so again this season ...

[Fios]

I do not know what it is but this offense is definitely not a threat to anybody.

Did you not watch the same unit I did? I thought they moved the ball pretty effectively with the first team in, especially given 1) how good the Steelers D is, especially against the run and 2) who was not playing for the 'Skins. I'm not saying I expect a world-class offense but "not a threat to anybody" is a bit much.

[Mursilis]

RiC, I too have not very happy watching the offense so far. They've seemed anemic, and haven't exactly been a scoring machine. Still, I'm optimistic, and here's why:

1) Not all the starters are playing - both Samuels and Portis are out, and Bugel is still sorting out the line (and it shows). I expect all this to be settled by the time the regular season starts, and I expect we'll see that soon enough.

2) Last year's offense wasn't awful - they finished 13th overall, despite a QB change, and injuries to Portis, our best RB. Our best WR, Moss, also had some injury issues, and our two newest WRs had some growing-pain-type issues which hopefully will have gone away this year. Yet the offense was still in the top half of the league, and of that unit, the only starter lost was Dockery. Assuming Wade or Pucillo does a half-way decent job taking DD's place this year, our offense should be at least as good as last year, if not better.