Looking on the bright side

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:27 pm

After calming down a bit, I have a few observations that I thought I'd share with you.

The Skins, Pukes and Giants are now 1 - 1 in the NFC East. With any luck, the Vikings will whip up on the Eagles and set them at 1 - 1 also.

So, if that happens, the Skins will still be tied for the lead in the NFC East after week #2. A week #2 that saw a dismal performance on offense and 7 turnovers.

I am encouraged by the fact that our defense kept us in this game, only losing by 6 points. I can't imagine a team ever giving up 7 turnovers and losing by only 6 points, can you? This is a credit to our defense.

Now....where do we go from here?

The first drive of this game was fairly impressive. That illustrates to us what our offense is actually capable of, doesn't it? Now...if we can keep that performance going for an entire game...watch out.

This week, Gibbs & Co. will surely find ways to improve from this dismal peformance. Portis will once again find his hands of glue...and, hopefully, even Gardner will learn how to catch again.

Yes...I am disgusted that we once again lost to an NFC East team; however, with the defense we have (and the glimpses of a quality offense we see now and then), I believe there is still hope for this team.

woohit56 · Post by **woohit56** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:37 pm

Good post. I had to calm down too (who didn't?).

I remember Portis fumbled 3 times (I think) in his Denver debut. Then he practically went the rest of his career without one.

So the positive I will take out of this is the worst is hopefully behind him, and its good that the team has to dig deep and taste adversity this early in the season. We need that.

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:42 pm

We were snake bit today. We were going to find a way to lose that game. I'm just glad it happened early in the season, and not against Dallas. Too bad it had to be a NFC East opponent, but at least it was the G-Spots who will be nowhere to be found come Thanksgiving. We will build from this loss, and come out fighting next week.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 7:43 pm

JSPB22 wrote:We were snake bit today. We were going to find a way to lose that game. I'm just glad it happened early in the season, and not against Dallas. Too bad it had to be a NFC East opponent, but at least it was the G-Spots who will be nowhere to be found come Thanksgiving. We will build from this loss, and come out fighting next week.

i hope so. and i also hope we try to fight and beat someone other than ourselves.....

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 8:27 pm

I believe the main thing is that this offensive system is still new to everyone.... It takes more than 2 complete games to get it down pat and for the offense to gel.... It will take time for Brunell to know his WR's timing, Portis needs time to know his O-line and vise-versa.... and they all need time, and repitition of running this offense...

You can't learn all this in a couple of quarters of preseason, and 2 games... I don't expect our offense to be at it's full potential until atleast week 7 or 8..... but the one thing different this year from the past 10.... is I know that the head coach can get this team on the right track.... we've never felt that of late...

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 9:45 pm

BringThePain! wrote:I believe the main thing is that this offensive system is still new to everyone.... It takes more than 2 complete games to get it down pat and for the offense to gel.... It will take time for Brunell to know his WR's timing, Portis needs time to know his O-line and vise-versa.... and they all need time, and repitition of running this offense...

You can't learn all this in a couple of quarters of preseason, and 2 games... I don't expect our offense to be at it's full potential until atleast week 7 or 8..... but the one thing different this year from the past 10.... is I know that the head coach can get this team on the right track.... we've never felt that of late...

You are so very right! I wish that attitude was contagious! Can you sneeze on a few people around here and see if they catch it?? LOL

MtSherwood7 · Post by **MtSherwood7** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:11 pm

I believe we will find out what this team is made of next Monday night at home against Dallas. That game is as close as you can get to a "must win" only 3 weeks into the season. You can't afford to start 0-2 against the division. If the Skin's can't pull out a win next week, I believe we might be in for a long season...

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:36 pm

BringThePain! wrote:I believe the main thing is that this offensive system is still new to everyone.... It takes more than 2 complete games to get it down pat and for the offense to gel.... It will take time for Brunell to know his WR's timing, Portis needs time to know his O-line and vise-versa.... and they all need time, and repitition of running this offense...

You can't learn all this in a couple of quarters of preseason, and 2 games... I don't expect our offense to be at it's full potential until atleast week 7 or 8..... but the one thing different this year from the past 10.... is I know that the head coach can get this team on the right track.... we've never felt that of late...

I agree, the offense needs a little time and the coach of this team will get us on the right track.

However, I think that the coach needs and deserves a little time himself. Imagine how hard it must be to come back after twelve years and draw up a game plan. I am not blasting Joe, far from it, I think he is amazing. However, it will take time until he really gets going. He has done a great job putting together a coaching staff and a team that is vastly more able and prepared than any we have had around in a while. I thought the game plan wasn't quite right though. The Giants seemed to know what was coming every play other than on the first drive and you could see how frustrated he was at times. He is an extremely quick learner and has done a tremendous amount already but his immersion back into the game hasn't completed quite yet. Watch out because this offense will become more and more dangerous as Gibbs learns more how to use his weapons. This guy and this offense are going to get better and better every week. The guy's a genius!

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:42 pm

I agree with just about everything I'm reading here.

Last year, things like this would happen--a game where it just seemed that we were destined to lose, no matter how close we were at any one point. Then Spurrier would play the humility card, hire refs for practice, and go back to another 35-hour week.

I didn't really get to live in the first Gibbs era, but I'm expecting that this week is where the big difference between last year and this year will be.

It'll be a tough week, but luckily my housemates and I haven't had any kind of TV cable installed yet, so I won't have to see anything on Sportscenter about the loss.

DESkins · Post by **DESkins** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:59 pm

I was very hopeful of coming out of New York with a win, but that's just the way it is. I was only able to watch the second quarter, and I was amazed at how the team just seemed to fall apart, giving up 20 points. The good thing about this is that the defense seems to have managed to get it together during the second half, keeping the Giants from getting any more points. I was extremely frustrated after hearing the final score, I can't help but think that "if" the 'Skins had given up one fewer turnovers in that quarter, they could have won the game. But, this is a Joe Gibbs-coached team, and I'm sure that the mental mistakes will be addressed this week. I do have some concerns now about the Monday night game, but I still have confidence that no matter what, Gibbs will have the team ready to play, and they won't be embarassed on national television, even "if" they lose. (Not a prediction of any kind of final score, btw.)

ANT7088 · Post by **ANT7088** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:06 pm

I hope nobody forgot that Gibbs started 0-5 last time he coached here! Calm down guys, it's a long season! It takes more than 2 games to get adjust to this new system. It sucks, but stay positive!

Justice, I actually watched the 2000 Ravens yearbook last night, they won a game that they had 6 or 7 turnovers. I remember Marvin Lewis talking after the game saying "What team can give up 7 TOs and still win the game", that's impressive! Now if you think about it, they won the SB that year! We may not win the SB this year, but our D is going to be something special!

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:10 pm

Ant, I surely remember how Gibbs started out 0-5 and finished the season 8-3; however, there's a big difference now.

Then, Gibbs was an "unknown" offensive coordinator coming out of San Diego. No one really knew him or knew of him. His players, therefore, took a while to "buy into" his system.

Now, everyone knows and respects Gibbs coming out of the gate. The players, therefore, are buying into his system very early on.

Because of that, this team should not start out with a losing record like "Gibbs Part I". Yes, it may take a little time fot the offense to start clicking on all cylinders. I just hope that it will come sooner rather than later.

ANT7088 · Post by **ANT7088** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:16 pm

Justice Hog wrote:Ant, I surely remember how Gibbs started out 0-5 and finished the season 8-3; however, there's a big difference now.

Then, Gibbs was an "unknown" offensive coordinator coming out of San Diego. No one really knew him or knew of him. His players, therefore, took a while to "buy into" his system.

Now, everyone knows and respects Gibbs coming out of the gate. The players, therefore, are buying into his system very early on.

Because of that, this team should not start out with a losing record like "Gibbs Part I". Yes, it may take a little time fot the offense to start clicking on all cylinders. I just hope that it will come sooner rather than later.

LOL, what about the 10 seasons after that????? Was he sill unknown????

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:19 pm

Uh. No. That's my point.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:32 am

yep after all the throwing of the remote and the four letter words ......WE ARE 1-1 hopefully we can get our offense to put some drives together ..... and we have to have running game ..... we turned into a one dimentional offense and that is NEVER good. so that game is over .... thank god ..... and now the game with the boys is BIGTIME to see how we bounce back.

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:43 am

all this positive energy is making me sick to my stomach. i still need a few days to get over sunday before i can look on the bright side. ramsey's third pick is still playing over and over in my head. i don't know how you guys turn your attitudes around so quickly.

NC43Hog · Post by **NC43Hog** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:46 am

After 6 turnovers with 2:00 minutes to go, we were still in the game. Shows how "not good" the Giants really are. I just hope we have gotten turnovers out of our system - 7 in total is enough for a season.

ANT7088 · Post by **ANT7088** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:28 am

joebagadonuts wrote:all this positive energy is making me sick to my stomach. i still need a few days to get over sunday before i can look on the bright side. ramsey's third pick is still playing over and over in my head. i don't know how you guys turn your attitudes around so quickly.

We're used to it!

Redskin Stouff · Post by **Redskin Stouff** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:33 am

I hope the players take this performace to heart. Gibbs is back to sleeping in his office and is working his tail off.

They better come out flying against the Pies next Monday Night or heads will roll. Gibbs won't tolerate these mistakes like Spurrier did.

dnpmakkah · Post by **dnpmakkah** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:27 am

Even if we are all 1 and 1 after week 2, the Skins are at the bottom of the NFC East right? Since the skins and the Giants are the only teams that have lost division games. And then the Giants beat us.

Is this true?