Beat the Eagles, and we win the NFC East

[riggofan]

and ...yes, I did think the players did play pretty well but were let down by some very conservative and predictable play calling offensively

Players seem to disagree with you a little bit. But what do they know?

“I laid an egg; I messed up,” Jackson said in the locker room afterward, a horde of reporters and TV cameras circled around him. “I’m a veteran in this league. I know I need to protect the ball. It just got away from me.”

On the opposite side of the locker room, Hopkins berated himself.

“All the blame should fall on me,” Hopkins told a far smaller group of reporters. “I get paid to make kicks, and I didn’t do that tonight. It makes me sick to my stomach — to let the team down, to let Washington down, to let the ownership down.”

Credit the Cowboys’ defensive front, which confounded Bill Callahan’s offensive line from the start. Cousins was sacked on the opening play and again two plays later, with the ball squirting out. Cousins dove on it to save a turnover.

Washington’s offense couldn’t capitalize. Cousins took a deep shot in the end zone but the throw was beyond Jackson’s reach.

A nice gain on a slant to Pierre Garcon went for naught, negated by an illegal block called on fellow wide receiver Ryan Grant.

Two plays later, Cousins found him for a 17-yard completion that carried the Redskins into Dallas territory for a third time. The drive stalled on a dubious pass interference call on Pierre Garcon.

With a gift-wrapped chance to extend the 9-6 lead, Hopkins missed a 43-yard attempt.

Redskins fumble away the game in frantic final minutes of 19-16 loss to Cowboys
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/r ... story.html

Believe whatever you want, man.

[SkinsJock]

I ask you again - what did you think of the offensive play calling early in this game? YOU LIKE THAT was not given a chance

when the team got down the play calling changed - why wait that long

[SkinsJock]

I could care less - you think Jay Gruden's a good offensive play caller and I disagree - it does not matter

all that matters is this game this week - I'm looking forward to it

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

I could care less

How much less? Enough less to have no opinion? Enough less to be consistent? Enough less to feel strongly one way and admit when you're wrong rather than being defensive?

Gruden could call a scoring play on every down but he isn't the one executing the plays, is he?

If Gruden was calling plays to lose the game Cousins could audible out of those to plays to win the game. Guess who executes those plays?

Do you see a developing trend here?

[oj]

Where gruden comes up short is the halftime adjustments. In the Cowboys game the 2nd half was a repeat of the first half. I have no problem with his first half play calls, lets learn from them and make adjustments for the 2nd half. That is what needs to happen in the next few games, I think we have the players to execute, it's the finding the right play to execute.

[riggofan]

I could care less - you think Jay Gruden's a good offensive play caller and I disagree

I never said he was a good play caller. I personally have no idea if he's a good play caller or not. Neither do you. We're a bunch of dummies on the Internet who've never called a football play in our lives.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

I could care less - you think Jay Gruden's a good offensive play caller and I disagree

I never said he was a good play caller. I personally have no idea if he's a good play caller or not. Neither do you. We're a bunch of dummies on the Internet who've never called a football play in our lives.

The results always determine whether or not it was a good play call. We don't need to know anything technical to know that much.

Can we maybe wait until we're not winning games and leading the division before we start criticizing Gruden's offensive play calling for the defense allowing teams back into games in the second half.

[Deadskins]

Besides, Sean McVay is the one calling the plays, not Gruden.

[StorminMormon86]

Besides, Sean McVay is the one calling the plays, not Gruden.

McVay/Gruden on the passing plays. Callahan calls the runs.

[riggofan]

The results always determine whether or not it was a good play call. We don't need to know anything technical to know that much.

Really? So you're saying if Gruden calls a run play and LeRib gets off his block too early and Morris only gains 1 yard instead of 4, our reaction should be: that was a bad play call? Or Rashad Ross stumbles untouched to the ground and picks up 4 yards instead of the six we needed for a first down and the issue is that was a bad play call?

I don't think you actually believe that.

I'm sure you're right that most fans judge play calls on whether they worked or not. Just seems lazy to me. You can tune in to Chris C00ley two or three days after every game where he's breaking the plays down. He's usually talking about things players did wrong, not "That was a bad play call."

[SkinsJock]

Jay Gruden is the HC - he's responsible for what happens on the field - whether it's a player continuing to make the same mistake or plays being called over and over that do not work or whatever happens during the week and on the field - he's the man

I do agree that this is not the right time with all the euphoria going on and I'll wait till after the season

the rest of you can have at it ....



GO SKINS - we're the better team, the players know it and we know it ...... even better, the eagles know it too

[SkinsJock]

btw - we can still win the East ... but I can't stand hoping the giants will win a game against the eagles ....

[DEHog]

Up here in Philly country this has been a bigger story…nice to see it on another team instead of the circus that has been the Redskins in recent years!!

Murray carried just twice in an embarrassing 40-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night.
According to Philadelphia Eagles radio sideline reporter Howard Eskin, Murray blew a gasket following the game.

I'm told RB Demarco Murray blew up after game vs Arizona. Obviously unhappy. When walking in #Eagles locker room threw helmet screaming F—
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) December 22, 2015

While Murray’s raised ire might stem from not being used on a 4th and 1 play deep in Arizona territory during the first half, it’s evident his lack of usage was problematic too.
Murray received just two of the team’s 20 carries and wasn’t used on a critical short yardage play despite being 12 of 12 this season on short yardage situations.
While the Eagles didn’t remind anyone of the 1972 Dolphins with their rushing attack on Sunday night, Murray signed a five-year deal with $21 million in guaranteed money.
He signed such a contract to not sit around. Obviously, the Eagles have different plans right now.

[Countertrey]

Up here in Philly country this has been a bigger story…nice to see it on another team instead of the circus that has been the Redskins in recent years!!

Murray carried just twice in an embarrassing 40-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night.
According to Philadelphia Eagles radio sideline reporter Howard Eskin, Murray blew a gasket following the game.

I'm told RB Demarco Murray blew up after game vs Arizona. Obviously unhappy. When walking in #Eagles locker room threw helmet screaming F—
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) December 22, 2015

While Murray’s raised ire might stem from not being used on a 4th and 1 play deep in Arizona territory during the first half, it’s evident his lack of usage was problematic too.
Murray received just two of the team’s 20 carries and wasn’t used on a critical short yardage play despite being 12 of 12 this season on short yardage situations.
While the Eagles didn’t remind anyone of the 1972 Dolphins with their rushing attack on Sunday night, Murray signed a five-year deal with $21 million in guaranteed money.
He signed such a contract to not sit around. Obviously, the Eagles have different plans right now.

This is what you get when you have a HC who's first priority is showing people who is boss...

Having said that... does anyone know who the boss is in Philly these days? Perhaps someone could remind the team of that this weekend... There are rumors it is Demarco Murray...

[Deadskins]

Besides, Sean McVay is the one calling the plays, not Gruden.

McVay/Gruden on the passing plays. Callahan calls the runs.

That was early on in the season. I'm pretty sure that McVay calls all the plays now.

[SkinsJock]

whomever is making the calls, hopefully they are not as predictable as they have been in some of our games ...

being able to run the ball when you want to and effectively stopping the other team's run game leads to success in the NFC East


having a fired up DeSean Jackson will mean a lot of bad things for the eagles secondary and especially Chip Kelly

IT's ALL GOOD

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

The play calling has switched to less conservative, more petal to the metal in the last two weeks... Sean admittedly has said "I'm learning too..."
https://youtu.be/GLG4snKTDis

[riggofan]

I think the improvement with the play calling has been more that Cousins knows the offense better and is more comfortable finding the right play at the line of scrimmage. I heard C00ley point this out in the broadcast last week. We saw this play v. the Bills where they lined up for a running play. Cousins looks out and sees DJax 1v1 with a CB giving him a 12 yard cushion and changes the play from run to pass. Totally the correct adjustment.

I think this is an area we can expect to see more improvement in the future. Just think about how play calling actually works. When Gruden sends in the play, he doesn't know how the defense is going to line up. Its just his best guess based on what he's seen so far.

Having a QB with the confidence (and the staff having confidence in him to do the right thing) to set the right protections, maybe change the play at the line, could make a huge difference to improving the offense. Not something we've been likely to see in Cousins' first 16 games, but its definitely something you see with the more experienced QBs who have been in their offenses for longer.

[SkinsJock]

there's always more to the issue than we really know ... a lot more, mostly - this is true of many things to do with this franchise and includes the offense in general and the QB situation in particular - ANYWAY, what bothered me about the pukes game was not the play calling in general but a series of play calls over a short period that were all the same and totally going nowhere & the puke D looked like they knew EXACTLY what we were going to run & the play calling made their D look a lot better than they were (they are not very good) PLUS gave them a lot of confidence

there was something going on for a short period of time that was not good and basically changed the momentum for no reason - BUMMER

anyway - that is what pissed me off

IMO Kirk Cousins play has improved a lot - in fact, dramatically improved ... recently, when we've "opened up" the offense, we've moved the ball
the trust by the play callers and the play calling has slowly (VERY slowly) improved



I'm not near as concerned about our QB play or the effort we will get from the players - they all know that we should win this game

[Smithian]

As I've said in other threads, I think the Redskins coaching staff is pretty average. And that isn't bad. I think the scheme is pretty similar to last season but more consistency at QB and the play calling is more refined. Callahan helps. I think who is actually calling the plays is a bit overrated. The coaching staff as a whole scripts everything out by situation. McVay may be the play caller, but Gruden is going to have a very heavy hand. As much as I applaud commitment to the run even when it isn't working, at times it feels like they're afraid to lean on Cousins. The Cowboys game was tough.

Side note, I wouldn't mind this offseason if the Eagles let Murray go and we swooped in D-Jax style and signed him to a reduced but fair deal. Reunite him with Callahan and let him just punish the Eagles.

[SkinsJock]

As I've said in other threads, I think the Redskins coaching staff is pretty average. And that isn't bad. I think the scheme is pretty similar to last season but more consistency at QB and the play calling is more refined. Callahan helps. I think who is actually calling the plays is a bit overrated. The coaching staff as a whole scripts everything out by situation. McVay may be the play caller, but Gruden is going to have a very heavy hand. As much as I applaud commitment to the run even when it isn't working, at times it feels like they're afraid to lean on Cousins. The Cowboys game was tough.

Side note, I wouldn't mind this offseason if the Eagles let Murray go and we swooped in D-Jax style and signed him to a reduced but fair deal. Reunite him with Callahan and let him just punish the Eagles.

+1 - it's not a really good staff but they have made the players aware that they are accountable and practicing well and playing well will be rewarded - we have had some issues (actually, we still have a lot of holes) but this season we are playing in a division that you can play like we did last night and still win - in the past we would not have responded like we saw these guys do last night - winning is a great tonic

We are NFC East Champions - not only does that make it a REALLY successful season but the future with this GM is looking pretty good as well

[riggofan]

Jay Gruden is the HC - he's responsible for what happens on the field

Three in a row including two road games. Not to mention a division title. Way to go, Jay Gruden!

[riggofan]

+1 - it's not a really good staff but they have made the players aware that they are accountable and practicing well and playing well will be rewarded

We have Bill Callahan and Perry Fewell working as POSITIONAL COACHES and its not a good staff. lol. You guys are ridiculous.

[StorminMormon86]

#HTTR

Fire Jay Gruden!

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

+1 - it's not a really good staff but they have made the players aware that they are accountable and practicing well and playing well will be rewarded

We have Bill Callahan and Perry Fewell working as POSITIONAL COACHES and its not a good staff. lol. You guys are ridiculous.

Well, yea, but if we had a good staff they would be working as ball boys!