On the bright side

[Irn-Bru]

We lack talent in the backfield, so it shouldn't be surprising that we are the worst there.

We knew it going into the season, too. Our would-be starting safeties would have been marginally better, but when you have no depth it makes you vulnerable to thinks like a knee injury and someone else getting suspended for using drugs.

How much does anyone want to bet that the most critical voices in this thread were calling for Kyle Shanahan's resignation two years ago? Anyone interested to know if they are still calling for it?

I think it's too early to say with Haslett. The defense played pretty well last year, and he oversaw a successful transition to the 3-4, which is no small task. There has been more good than bad.

[riggofan]

I think it's too early to say with Haslett. The defense played pretty well last year, and he oversaw a successful transition to the 3-4, which is no small task. There has been more good than bad.

Its a really good point, man. Like people have pointed out, we KNEW the secondary was in terrible shape going into the season. How much of that can Haslett overcome? I don't really know the answer.

Personally what I would like to see is just SOME improvement. I think its fair to expect over the next couple games that a good DC come up with plans to help out the secondary. Maybe we can't be the defense we were last year, but surely we can be better than what we've shown so far this year. True?

[riggofan]

btw since this thread title is "on the bright side" I just wanted to point out these stats so far:

Robert Griffin III - first three games
67% completion passing
747 yds 4 TDs passing
209 yds 3 TDs rushing
1 INT 1 FUMBLE LOST

Don't lose sight of the big picture!

1 INT in three games?? Maybe he needs to be mentoring Sexy Rexy on their off days.

[DarthMonk]

(sex pistols)

New formation?

[UK Skins Fan]

btw since this thread title is "on the bright side" I just wanted to point out these stats so far:

Robert Griffin III - first three games
67% completion passing
747 yds 4 TDs passing
209 yds 3 TDs rushing
1 INT 1 FUMBLE LOST

Don't lose sight of the big picture!

That is indeed the undeniable bright side. Let's hope he lasts the season - I want to see this guy playing in DC for 15 years. It should be a lot of fun.

[UK Skins Fan]

(sex pistols)

New formation?

Indeed it is. And our secondary is also using a Sex Pistols based formation: Pretty Vacant.

[markshark84]

I think it's too early to say with Haslett. The defense played pretty well last year, and he oversaw a successful transition to the 3-4, which is no small task. There has been more good than bad.

Its a really good point, man. Like people have pointed out, we KNEW the secondary was in terrible shape going into the season. How much of that can Haslett overcome? I don't really know the answer.

Personally what I would like to see is just SOME improvement. I think its fair to expect over the next couple games that a good DC come up with plans to help out the secondary. Maybe we can't be the defense we were last year, but surely we can be better than what we've shown so far this year. True?

We can't be the defense we were last year. No question. We no longer have 2 of our best players and a worse secondary.

As far as Haslett coming up with schemes to help the secondary --- that is no easy task. Teams now know our DBs are horrendous and will most likely open games up guns blazing.
- The only sure fire way to help the secondary is by applying consistent pressure on the QB -- and Haslett tried to do this against STL and CINCY (and NOLA). We have a decent DL, but not one that will get to the QB in consitently under 3 seconds.
- Can bring in more LBs (in a 3-4) to get pressure, but that will open up routes (if plays are similar to zone blitch schemes) and if they don't get to the QB, actually hurt the DBs even more.
- Throwing out more nickel and dime packages typically doesn't work and is fairly easy to adjust to offensively (if you have a smart QB, they will quickly audible in none obvious passing situations).
- You could even implement a type of cover 2 - man to man; but again that will use players and result in less pressure on the QB and our DBs (other than Hall) aren't physical enough to play a pure cover 2.

Having such a horrendous DB situation is going to creat two major issues.
- First, we are going to see 3-5 receiver sets consistently. This will force us to either insert more DBs, have our LBs cover WRs, or switch to a cover 2 or 3.
- Also, in situations such as 3rd and 1, 2, or 3 -- teams will have the confidence to throw and not design a run play. This will make it more difficult to predict offensive plays when reaction time is paramount.

Defensively, you are only as good as your worst group (DL, DB, LB). If you have a clear weakness, it will be constantly exposed. The DB weakness is as clear as day. Unless our DBs start playing better, our defense will make OCs consistently look good.

[welch]

I was with you up to number 10...
You lost me when you say the secondary needs a makeover.

Help me out here... when did they get a secondary?

I'd say that the Redskins' secondary got unmade when the organization dropped Carlos Rogers and Laron Landry. Right: Rogers was not D Green, and Landry was meant to play beside Number 21, not to replace him. Still, this bunch is pathetic.

[riggofan]

I was with you up to number 10...
You lost me when you say the secondary needs a makeover.

Help me out here... when did they get a secondary?

I'd say that the Redskins' secondary got unmade when the organization dropped Carlos Rogers and Laron Landry. Right: Rogers was not D Green, and Landry was meant to play beside Number 21, not to replace him. Still, this bunch is pathetic.

Good players, no doubt you're right. But Rogers wasn't coming back, and I can't really fault the org. on not resigning a huge injury question mark like Landry considering how badly they've been burned by Jammal Brown.

How about the cap penalty?

[crazyhorse1]

we're making progress ... we used to be a franchise that really sucked, BIG time ... now we're just bad

things are getting better

a lot of fans here just look at how bad we are and not at the FACT that we actually are getting better




on a slightly different note ... Mike had better take Kyle to the woodshed for a serious wake-up conversation ... we need RGIII for the future

We are not getting better and have not been getting better under Shanny. Sure, there have been positives, but there have been matching negatives. I am really tired of the fantastic notion that our front office and coaching is now "professional," as if they are somehow better than past administrations.
They're not a bit better. Even with RG111, an unbelievable talent, we're not better. We're likely to get him killed. Think how bad we'd be if we hadn't gotten him....Wow!

I guess you aren't a "big picture" guy then........

I'm not sure you truly understand how big of a hole this team was in 2 years ago.

While I don't 100% agree with everything the FO is doing -- to say that Bruce Allen/MS is every REMOTELY similar to dumb and dumber is literally insane.

This team still has a TON of work to do, but this team at least has some foundational pieces. 2 years ago it was just a group of random guys slapped together and called a team. It takes a couple years to clear out the trash and replace with better personell -- and to have them play as a real TEAM.

There is now structure, a vision, a plan -- when in the past there really wasn't. If you can't see that; I can't help you.

Yes, we still are a straight up bad team, but you need to look at the direction the team is going --- and if you can see it, you'll understand that correct changes are being made.

What direction is the team going? We finish last every year. You see new names and call it progress. RG111 is a great bright spot, but otherwise the team is not a bit better than it was before Shanny and Allen arrived. For every step forward, we take a step back. The progress you see is simply not back up by facts

[DaSkinz Baby]

I think the team is headed in a better direction. The God awful truth is Vinnie really really F'd this organization and Danny needs to be kicked for even allowing that clown to do what he did, but it makes it a lot easier when you are still raking in the cash. I think our inability to truly have a "true" nose tackle is still a big issue. The lineman we have now I think are better suited as defensive tackles in a 4-3 or a defensive ends in a 3-4. I think you need a athletic 360 pound nose tackle for 3-4 defenses to work. I think that is why Baltimore's works and Pittsburgh's. Until we can get that resolved this will be an issue, along with Haslett's play calling. If you are smart enough and know enough about a defense there are ways to mask your weaknesses and alter things, however it would seem our DC isn't that smart or knowlegeable to accomplish that task. Barry Cofield and Steve Bowen would be great Defensive Ends with a 360 or 370 pound Nose Tackle.........

[KazooSkinsFan]

- The only sure fire way to help the secondary is by applying consistent pressure on the QB -- and Haslett tried to do this against STL and CINCY (and NOLA). We have a decent DL, but not one that will get to the QB in consitently under 3 seconds

I agree with your focusing on the pass rush and the secondary, but I see the problem more as the other way around. I don't think the dbs are terrible. But they are not shut down. We aren't getting enough pressure on the QB. A lot of the catches were on actually pretty good coverage. If you let an NFL QB throw without pressure, most of them will do that to you. Rypien was a very mediocre QB behind an exceptional line and look what he did.

I think we have to bring the LBs and put more pressure on. And make the QB make faster decisions.

[SkinsJock]

"on the bright side ..."

many are tired or irritated by 'we're getting better ...' but the reality is we are

we have some issues but we also have people in charge now that have a plan and the plan is working. IT MUST BE

we now have certain things we can point to or identify and say that if we can get better in these few areas, we'll be fine

we do have a future great QB and we will see both coaches and players looking to be a part of our success

not long ago there were so many areas of concern that this franchise was in such bad shape and so badly managed that nobody wanted to be a part of it

WE ARE GETTING BETTER - it takes time - GET OVER IT