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

It may be just me but it looked like that the Redskins didn't think we had to win. Like it was a sure win and they didn't try in the first half. Gibbs did the right thing by giving Portis the ball in the second half.

We bearly pulled that one out. But hey a win is a win. Every single game this season except the niners and Giants was close.

The offense surely wasn't playing to win.

Our problems lie within:

Brunell & Gibbs

Brunell isn't looking at all of his WR's.
Gibbs has to fix the horrible play calling.

it aint pretty but it,s a win.
and if they play like that against dallass it won,t be pretty at all.

a win is a win.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:The offense surely wasn't playing to win.

Our problems lie within:

Brunell & Gibbs

Brunell isn't looking at all of his WR's.
Gibbs has to fix the horrible play calling.

Brunell really seems to be injured--he's definately not as mobile as he was in the first part of the season. When's the last time he scrambled for ten yards? Not in a while, I don't think. I can't believe that he's not even looking at the other receivers. It boggles my mind to think that players are getting open and he won't even give them a chance to catch the ball. Yes, against Oakland (I think), Brunell and Jacobs tried that go-route a bunch of times and didn't connect, but they haven't even tried anything else. He has to be hurt and compensating for his legs by checking down to receivers underneath.

As far as the playcalling, the only thing that really bothers me is -- Where is the play action? We're doing all this work to establish the run, and opponents are stacking the line, and then we either run or drop back to pass. I remember only ONE play action pass against Arizona. I haven't gone back to count, but there weren't many more than that. Why don't we do it more often? Does it take too long against the blitz? Is it more complicated to execute or something? I just don't understand why we aren't keeping people guessing more. Or how about just a regular screen pass? We've softened defenses up nicely, but we don't keep them off balance. Hopefully, we've just been saving the play-action passes for Dallas. We shall see.

wbbradb wrote:Brunell really seems to be injured--he's definately not as mobile as he was in the first part of the season. When's the last time he scrambled for ten yards? Not in a while, I don't think. I can't believe that he's not even looking at the other receivers. It boggles my mind to think that players are getting open and he won't even give them a chance to catch the ball. Yes, against Oakland (I think), Brunell and Jacobs tried that go-route a bunch of times and didn't connect, but they haven't even tried anything else. He has to be hurt and compensating for his legs by checking down to receivers underneath.

I'll admit this much: Brunell is not putting up the gaudy numbers he put up in the first half of the season. However, I don't think it's due to injury. We need to keep in mind that this team is literally trying to dif itself out of a 3-loss rut that nearly killed our playoff hopes. I think Joe is going pretty conservative the rest of the way, in terms of the passing game. A few reasons come to mind:

1) Weather: I may be wrong but, footballs tend to get harder, and slicker in the cold. Hence, the focus on the running game now that the leaves have fallen, and we're ready to usher in the winter months.

2) Injuries: We've had only two reliable recivers in the past three weeks (Moss/Cooley), though Royal has had two solid weeks. Still, if this team wants to be competitive, it;s got to play to its strengths, and receiving, right now, isn't it. I think with the addition of Thrash back into the fold, we MAY see more of a passing attack, or at least a different philosphy with the play calling.

3) Clock Management: This is an area where we've improved over last year's dismal attempts. With the season drawing to a close, teams are raising their intensity level, and it is important to have the upper hand in time of posession. Everything Joe has preached about re: momentum shifts will be important, as we enter the gauntlet against our NFC East rivals.

4) POunding the ball: The running game is getting it done. Though we've had our way with inferior rush defenses, it has to be a confidence builder to be on a 2-0 roll and having the running game starting to enter into a groove.

Once we get into the playoffs, the stakes will be even higher, and we may see Joe take more risks. However, his principles/concepts/methods, work at any time of the year, provided each individual takes care of his assignments.

It's exciting!!! Nerve wracking, but, still, exciting!!!!