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

It seems like every time after a loss, I actully dread coming on to this site for fear of seeing so many people say such negative things about this Redskins team. Things like "When will Campbell be ready" or "I like Brunell, but he stunk" and "Walt Harris sucks (which he does) all translate into an attitude that we have a bad team. We have a very good team, that is getting better and better.

After a loss, too many people rush to the blame game, instead of analyzing how the team played and where were our weaknesses and strengths. What can we gain from it, and what can we improve on? The sky is NOT falling, and the coaches, while surely dissapointed, are not blaming people (unless blaming themselves) and not filled with bittnerness and anger. Their focus is on the next game.

This is a good team, mark my words. 35 points, on the road, against Tampa Bay, the #1 Defense in the NFL for a team who could barely score a point last year is good progress. This team is in the thick of things in the playoff race, like it or not. We're at week 9, and just as is the case every year, no one knows how it's going to look at week 16. The Redskins have every shot at not just the playoffs, but their own division. If not, then as you can see each Sunday, this team has character and fight, and they are continuing to improve in certain areas.

I think our performance yesterday was good, but not great. However, we came back and scored points, and almost won the game. This team is light years ahead of last years team, and to make any wholesale changes like the ones mentioned in so many Monday morning threads is just wrong. We may have our opinions about how Greg Williams is utilizing the Defense, but we have to accept it.

I think we may very well win the NFC East. I guarantee you we will beat the Giants at FedEx, and who knows what else will happen. In the mean time, let's enjoy what we're seeing. This is a good team, and it's getting better. The very fact that we played an exciting game that ended up 36-35 is testament to something, as last year most of the games we played were as much boring as they were low scoring.

Anyone that is familiar with Joe Gibbs, will know how much emphasis he puts on games in December and late November. Obviously, you don't have to be a genius to figure out that they're very important, but someone take a look at what Gibbs' lifetime record in the month of December is. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's unbelievable how high is winning percentage is for the month of December. What I'm saying is, that this team is getting better and we've yet to see it at its best. The best is yet to come, but it's coming soon. I guarantee it.

Just my Monday mornin vent!

Vent on...

I agree JP, yes we will (owe) the G-Men! I found it hilarious after they beat us that the media touted them as the best team in the NFC??

After a loss, too many people rush to the blame game, instead of analyzing how the team played and where were our weaknesses and strengths. What can we gain from it, and what can we improve on? The sky is NOT falling, and the coaches, while surely dissapointed, are not blaming people (unless blaming themselves) and not filled with bittnerness and anger.

A realted side note: My wife (also a Die Hard Skins fan) and I were watching the game. In the early minutes of the game, after the Bucs went up 14-0, she was going nuts, to the point where I was annoyed and on the verge of having to escort her off the premises. (:lol:) I turned to her and told her to stop being one of "those fans" that say the sky is falling and start talking about "next year" while the game is still in progress.

As the second half kicked off, the sideline reporter was asked, "what did Joe say to his team at half time?", and I quickly said to my wife: "the same thing I told you earlier."

This team is built to win, and, until the clock hits 00:00, we ALWAYS have a chance to win, unless, of course, we're playing in NYC with "Jerome from SE" in our backfield.

I look forward to wearing an "NFC EAST Champs" shirt at the end of the year.

I have to vent too - I agree that the offense overcame three turnovers, run blocked well, protected Brunell in the 2nd half.
BUT The Defense stank it up!
They allowed a Rookie QB to beat the hell out of them! How are they gonna beat a good team with a great QB on the road in a playoff situation?
They havent yet.... so, we know now the offense is working. Fix the D.

The offense was great in the 2nd half.

It came down to not being able to pick up the first down and close the game out. Portis ran for 6 yards on first down and we couldn't get more then 2 yards on the next two runs. Was frustrating.

Brunnell frustrates me, when he can't hold on to the ball. Whenever he is hit he instantly fumbles (Tony Banksesque). My biggest question to Brunnell, how can he take a sack on 4th and 10 with the game on the line. As a veteran he needs to know to just thrown the ball up for grabs.

This one is tough to recover from.

i agree with you JP.. it's just frustrating to lose a game like that... but there will be many more big losses for us to have to stomach and there will be many more big wins for us to celebrate... it was the Bucs day... let's beat nervous norville and get back on track!

It came down to not knowing when to stop blitzing.

hkiss444 wrote:It came down to not being able to pick up the first down and close the game out. Portis ran for 6 yards on first down and we couldn't get more then 2 yards on the next two runs. Was frustrating.

Brunnell frustrates me, when he can't hold on to the ball. Whenever he is hit he instantly fumbles (Tony Banksesque). My biggest question to Brunnell, how can he take a sack on 4th and 10 with the game on the line. As a veteran he needs to know to just thrown the ball up for grabs.

This one is tough to recover from.

amen! given how our defense had been ripped to shreds the whole 4th quarter, going conservative there at the end was rather moronic (sorry gibbs). we needed to try at least ONE pass there to get the 1st down, especially since the bucs were thinking run and totally crowding the line.

there is absolutely no excuse for brunell to run around with the ball dangling precariously like he does. he is a 13 year veteran! time to learn how to tuck it in, idiot!

and finally, yes, i couldn't BELIEVE it when i saw him get tackled on 4th and 10. WHAT ARE YOU DOING???? throw it up for grabs, hope for a miracle! or toss it backwards, it's a live ball. give us some kind of CHANCE, no matter how slim. and don't tell me you thought you had a CHANCE of breaking those tackles and running 7 more yards.

gregory smith wrote:It came down to not knowing when to stop blitzing.

all that being said, i agree the defense is without question to blame for this game (well, along with the refs, who clearly INTENTIONALLY threw the game). what kind of complete moron is GW if he couldn't see that the blitzing was backfiring? yo, idiot, i know that was probably your "game plan" since you were up against in inexperienced QB... but if it's not working, grow a brain and ditch it! YOU SUCK.

no matter what the defensive scheme is, at some point, the players have to make plays. whether you're out there alone, or have safety help, you can't get beat when you're up by 7 with a few minutes left. it just shouldn't happen.