The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:The difference between Tampa Bay and Washington is that Tampa Bay isn't afraid to make a mistake while trying to make a play. Gruden acts like turning the ball over is a death knell to every game. It is to a team that can't put up points.

The difference between Washington and Tampa Bay is that Washington is 6-3 and Tampa is 3-6!!! Seriously though, I would argue that the team has proven Gruden is correct on being conservative. We've shown repeatedly that we're screwed if we get into a shootout, or we get behind and have to play catch up.

I still don't think you addressed the question of why Gruden's offense was more effective last year. (At least in terms of moving the ball, and I think they scored over 24 points in seven or eight games.) Doesn't that point more to personnel?

I don't know. I think most of us would agree that guy is coaching for his job this year and can't afford a losing season. So if boring clock control, game management offense is what it takes to win, so be it. I completely agree that this offense is painful to watch, and its ultimately going to limit how far they can go if they don't figure out a way to get at least a little better.

lol just saw this on Twitter:

Geoff Schwartz
‏Verified account @geoffschwartz
15h15 hours ago

I hope we are appreciating the offensive minds in the NFL. Just watch this Niners offense. Formation variation, motions and so much action. And they can dress up their favorite run play, outside zone, to where defenses know what's coming but they really don't where.

Niners of course lost.

riggofan wrote:I still don't think you addressed the question of why Gruden's offense was more effective last year. (At least in terms of moving the ball, and I think they scored over 24 points in seven or eight games.) Doesn't that point more to personnel?

I think it points to Kurt throwing the ball deeper than 12 yards a lot of the time.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:

riggofan wrote:I still don't think you addressed the question of why Gruden's offense was more effective last year. (At least in terms of moving the ball, and I think they scored over 24 points in seven or eight games.) Doesn't that point more to personnel?

I think it points to Kurt throwing the ball deeper than 12 yards a lot of the time.

Funny. Cousins ranked 10th in deep passer rating in 2017. Want to guess who was #1? Probably helped a lot getting to throw to Tyreek Hill.

I'm just not sure who the deep ball threat is for Smith right now. The deep pass they tried to throw Sunday was to the 35 year old TE. Who was catching those balls for Cousins last year? Crowder?

The 2018 Redskins started out with no WR's. Then the OL went out with injuries, except for Roullier (Moses seems to be playing hurt). Smith was never a razzle-dazzle QB.

Gruden seems to be calling a careful game, and that's about all the offense can manage.

welch wrote:The 2018 Redskins started out with no WR's. Then the OL went out with injuries, except for Roullier (Moses seems to be playing hurt). Smith was never a razzle-dazzle QB.

Gruden seems to be calling a careful game, and that's about all the offense can manage.

That's been my sense of it too, welch. This offense is painful to watch right now and downright unwatchable in those couple games where they were trailing. It will be interesting to see how far they can go with it.

2 things that bug me is the very conservative offense and the prevent defense

I know it's a bit of a cliche but we don't play well when we're behind - we play like we don't want to lose, too much

we are 6-3 and that's a good thing

I think we play to win.. And dont take enough chances.. None of us have confidence in AS or the wideouts- why should Jay?

cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:I think we play to win.. And dont take enough chances.. None of us have confidence in AS or the wideouts- why should Jay?

Didn't Alex Smith have like two good drives vs. Tampa where he kind of opened it up? There was a decent drive at the end of the first half and also the drive that ended with Docston's TD catch. Its hard to know what is going on exactly.

Is Alex Smith playing as well as expected - and why is it that he is not better or more confident with the deeper routes?

SkinsJock wrote:Is Alex Smith playing as well as expected - and why is it that he is not better or more confident with the deeper routes?

I would suggest that it's because he can't throw to deeper routes... his accuracy on anything longer than 15 yards has been abysmal.

SkinsJock wrote:I know it's a bit of a cliche but we don't play well when we're behind - we play like we don't want to lose, too much

We've never had a lead in the games we've lost, and never trailed in the games we've won.

Alex doesnt have thieland or digs to huck it up to. Not much chemistry due to camp injuries then losing his top 2 wideouts not to mention the patchwork oline... I dont envy his situation.
Is he playing to the level we expected? No the accuracy he displayed last year isnt there yet...
Not making excuses but it has to be factored whwn blasting him.. He also only has 2 picks?
We dont really have the roster to sling it like Breezy does- he also isnt that caliber of a qb- we knew this

Wow, Trent just upgraded himself to "questionable" for Sunday. Can't use his right thumb, but one handed TW is still better than 30 other LTs in the league.

riggofan wrote:Wow, Trent just upgraded himself to "questionable" for Sunday. Can't use his right thumb, but one handed TW is still better than 30 other LTs in the league.

Trent's right thumb can block better than Shaun Lauvao on a good day.

I don't think anyone's 'blasting' Smith but I agree with C'trey in that he's not at all comfortable in making the deep pass
btw - I'm V glad that we don't have that wimp Cousins here and I understand that he doesn't have the players around him that he played with last season - he still needs to do a better job of running this offense with whomever is on the field with him

SkinsJock wrote:I know it's a bit of a cliche but we don't play well when we're behind - mostly we play like we don't want to lose

Deadskins wrote:We've never had a lead in the games we've lost, and never trailed in the games we've won.

C'mon man ... thanks - that's really insightful and adds a lot to the discussion ...

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:

riggofan wrote:Wow, Trent just upgraded himself to "questionable" for Sunday. Can't use his right thumb, but one handed TW is still better than 30 other LTs in the league.

Trent's right thumb can block better than Shaun Lauvao on a good day.

+1 - PLUS - just his presence on the field is a huge lift to everyone

HIP HIP HOORAY! ... that's all I got to say ...

SkinsJock wrote:HIP HIP HOORAY! ... that's all I got to say ...

Classy.

I'm very sorry about what happened to Smith but I'm really looking forward to having McCoy play QB for the remainder of this season

this season was basically about getting ready for next season for a while now - we're very fortunate to be 6-4 ...

we can still beat up on the other teams in the NFC East and that would be a great lead in to next season

looking forward to Thursday's game

So we're basically looking for a 1st round QB in next years draft.

Colt can steady the ship and maybe squeeze us into a wildcard game.
After today, I can't see Alex playing another down in the NFL.

SkinsJock wrote:I'm very sorry about what happened to Smith but I'm really looking forward to having McCoy play QB for the remainder of this season

this season was basically about getting ready for next season for a while now - we're very fortunate to be 6-4 ...

we can still beat up on the other teams in the NFC East and that would be a great lead in to next season

looking forward to Thursday's game

You really think Colt McCoy has that ability?

I think we might win another 2 games, tops.

I'll say two things about Colt McCoy:
1) He stepped in admirably yesterday and gave us a legit shot to win. Maybe you see that happen a lot in games where the opponent hasn't prepared for the backup QB, but he looked ready to play.
2) He's been here for several years. We could be in a lot worse shape at QB right now.

That said, there are at least two major concerns with Colt:
1) He has always been a massive injury risk. We saw how much he took off and ran yesterday with the ball. That's why he's had concussion issues and didn't complete the season for us the last time he was starting.
2) He doesn't have a great arm. We definitely saw that on some of the deep throws yesterday. So everyone who likes to come on here and complain that we're not taking enough deep shots, better get a reality check.

I don't know. It would be a great story to see Colt McCoy come in and be this year's Nick Foles. Lord knows this team and its fans deserve some good luck after all the setbacks this year.

SkinsJock wrote:this season was basically about getting ready for next season for a while now - we're very fortunate to be 6-4 ...

Bulls--t. We're 6-3 in a weak ass NFC East. This season is about making the playoffs.