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

Is it the 700 page playbook (i.e., new offensive system)? Lack of team chemistry? Poor coaching? Over-coaching? Lack of team effort? Lack of (particular) player effort?

If you could try to identify the top 3 reasons the Redskins team of this year is doing so poorly, what would it be?

I, for one, can't think of it. I really don't think the new offensive system is to blame. Chemistry? In training camp, it appeared as though we had tons of chemistry. Poor coaching? Doubtful. Over-coaching? Perhaps.

I think I'm gonna go with "over coaching" for my main answer, with a minor emphasis on the new offensive system.

If the players can someone find a way to internalize what they are doing (on both offense and defense) instead of having to "think" so much, I think we'll see a much better team on the field.

What do y'all think?

Can you point anything out?

1. Personnel decisions -- letting good "homegrown" players that had chemistry and knew what we were doing just walk only to go out and pay someone's bum more money. (Pierce and Ryan Clark)


2. Coaching -- Too many asking our guys to do to much stuff. Joe Salaa'va was on the radio the other night talking about how much information the defense has to absorb every week. And not holding these player's accountable for making mistakes.


3. Joe Gibbs -- His "ol skool" stubbornness of sticking with Brunell is out of touch with the fast moving NFL of today. If Jason Campbell is not the guy, then tell us and move on. Yes, we the fans will still get mad that we gave up some much to get him and now he's a bust but this is the NFL which stands for "Not For Long" if you can't cut it. If that is the case that Campbell is crap, then admit it and move on, we'll get ove it.

1. Offense
2. Defense
3. Special Teams




but seriously...

1. i agree about the personnel moves- specifically, blowing up the secondary when there was clearly NO plan on who would replace them. if the defense were the same as last year, we'd still be woefully underperforming on offense, but would almost certainly still be at least at .500.

2. without the strong defense to carry MB04 on its shoulders, "he" is being totally exposed as incompetent and incapable of "winning" games instead of just "not losing" them.

3. coaching- specifically, game management. if you look back at gibbs over the past 3 seasons, he has established a history of "coaching scared", because he's afraid, "you don't want something bad to happen there" (direct quotation, said NUMEROUS times). he has done a lot for the team, no doubt! but he has also continually held them back in this regard and continues to do so. (the most recent mind-boggling example being the FG attempt on 4th and 1 in the giants game... a FG gave us NO chance of winning and everyone on earth knew it but gibbs, apparently).

Injuries on d
Depth on d
Brunell....In that order

#1 Mark Brunell~Yes He Got Us 2 Playoffs Last Yr! But Only CP Was Runin Like Crazy, He Cant Win A Game Himself & I Think He Lacks Confidence 2 Throw Downfield Or 2 Ne1 Else Rather Than Santana. Its Like He has Sumthin Againts LLoyd and Are. He Dont Hav No Chemestry Wit These 2!
#2 Defense!!~Man I Luv Sean Taylor! But He Is Playin Reckless & Nt In A Gud Way...Missin Tackles, Takin Wrong Angles & Those Bone Chillin Hits Jus Not There Anymore
#3Play Callin~R We A Runnin Team Or Passin Team? I Dont Think Our Coaches Could Decide, Which Is A Big Reason We Be Losin. We Tryin 2 Do To Much & Its Not Workin. If We Goin 2 Air It Out, Then Air It Out I Mean Really Air It Out! No More 5 Yard Dumboffs I Wanna C 50 40 30 20 Yrd Passes! If We Gonna Run Lets Run Lets Run Till We Break Every Single Game Record & Can We Please Use Duckett!! I'm A Falcon Fan & Seen Him Play Closely, He Is A Stud, IF We Give Him A Chance. I Truly Believe He Could Replace Betts Easily!!

There's nothing wrong with this team that a few wins wouldn't cure.
I really believe it. I don't think the Colts can beat us this week.

1. When the redskins don't run Clinton Portis 25 times a game they lose (look up the numbers, it's not pretty). And Brunnel is too inconsistant. One week he hits all the targets, the next, He can't hit the broad side of a barn.

2. Joe Gibbs was able to coach the offense to the 2nd round of the playoffs last year, WHY DID WE HIRE A NEW OC with a 700 page play book, that everyone says takes a few years to master(in a few years our QB will be a grandfather)

3. The defense is suffering because our DB's SUCK. The return of shawn spring this week should help some, But We have two saftey's that can't cover a receiver to save thier lives. Taylor may be the worst cover safety in the league (all he ever does is try to knock the ball out with a big hit)


The Remedy:

1.Run Portis Run

2.Simplify the Offense

3.Hope and Pray Springs return means the return of the agressive blitzing defense!!!

1) Defensive Backs
2) Quarterback
3) Defensive line

1- Inability to install a game-plan that is tailored for the talents of all Offensive players instead of just the QB, as well as the tendency for the QB to not look to any receiver other than Moss.

2- Defensive chemistry, with a particular emphasis on the Kenny Wright/Mike Rumph combo. The new defensive players have yet to mesh with the defensive system of GW. Carter and Archuleta have yet to make an impact, and I wonder if Carter ever will. I think he's just in it for a paycheck.

3- 3rd down conversions and the Offensive line being blown off the line of scrimmage, forcing the QB to hurry his throws. With the O-line allowing major penetration at the line of scrimmage on 3rd downs, the QB has little time to find an open receiver deep enough to make the first down that our penalties have left to be more than 10 yards.

I will explain the whole team too you, starting with the offense. Up front the only person playing up too there expecation is Randy Thomas, John Janson is having the wort season i have never seen him play that bad. Chris Sammuels is getting paid too much but only blocks on running plays. Dockery and Rabach are average at best. Then we come too Brunell for all the people that defend him, i ask you too tape the game, and then go back and look at all the open recivers that he misses. I go back and look at the game, and I can see Brunell only look for Moss every time. Lloyd is in single coverage every time, Brunell never looks his way, and Randel el is beating the nickle guy everytime but they dont hook up. Brunell is not able to step into his throws on a consistent basis.

Justice Hog wrote:Is it the 700 page playbook (i.e., new offensive system)? Lack of team chemistry? Poor coaching? Over-coaching? Lack of team effort? Lack of (particular) player effort?

If you could try to identify the top 3 reasons the Redskins team of this year is doing so poorly, what would it be?

I, for one, can't think of it. I really don't think the new offensive system is to blame. Chemistry? In training camp, it appeared as though we had tons of chemistry. Poor coaching? Doubtful. Over-coaching? Perhaps.

I think I'm gonna go with "over coaching" for my main answer, with a minor emphasis on the new offensive system.

If the players can someone find a way to internalize what they are doing (on both offense and defense) instead of having to "think" so much, I think we'll see a much better team on the field.

What do y'all think?

Can you point anything out?

Right now this theam has no heart. They don't seem to be able to reach down at critical moments and make a play.

Clinton Portis and Sean Taylor seem to be the only one's who consistantly play with a since of urgency.

Until the individual players decide that they don't want to let the man beside him down. The team will continue to struggle.

I sorry, but I really think the current offensive players may be frustrated and unmotivated by Gibbs sticking with Brunell. With all that talent at the skilled positions, we need someone to get them the ball. Regardless of what ultimately happens, a QB change could spark a whole new attitude for the entire team, as well as the entire fan base. (Remember, NFL teams and the players salaries are paid by the fans!) Folks are down right now, Gibbs could change that with one move. I think the whole team would rally behind Campbell.

In the current NFL, I think older veteran QB's are over-rated. Brunell, Favre, Warner...etc.

Lack of quality DB's doesn't help much either. Need depth and young talent on defense. I hope we target some good defensive players in the upcoming draft, not over-priced free agents.

I know all of this has been mentioned before... but you asked.

redskindave wrote:1) Defensive Backs
2) Quarterback
3) Defensive line

This is the correct answer. If you want to add one more, it would be 4) Offensive line. The problems clearly are with the players and with the execution, not the coaching.

Top three you said:
1 Mark Brunell
2 Age on Defense. Griff, Big Joe, and Springs have not been healthy all season.
3. No depth on defense - this is a result of poor decision making with over paying for free agents and trading away draft picks! This team needs a real GM big time! The Skins have and Campbell, McIntosh, and Duckett all sitting on the bench and how many picks did they cost the Skins: Campbell - 05 3rd, 06 1st & 4th; Rocky - 06 2nd & 07 2nd; Duckett - the equivalant of a high 3rd round pick in 07. I won't even talk about all of the 1st round picks that are no longer on the team; Bailey, Arrington (two 1st rounders), Coles, Ramsey, Gardner. (Moss was taken one pick after Gardner and Steve Hutchinson was taken two picks).

Justice Hog wrote:Is it the 700 page playbook (i.e., new offensive system)? Lack of team chemistry? Poor coaching? Over-coaching? Lack of team effort? Lack of (particular) player effort?

If you could try to identify the top 3 reasons the Redskins team of this year is doing so poorly, what would it be?

I think it is a combination of things:
- we need better defense against the run - we have seen a lot of players miss tackles
- having Springs out and the secondary not being as effective has mean't that the pressure on the QB we need is not there.
- the offensive line has played well at times but not been as dominating as we thought it would be - I think this will start to happen soon
- we have not played well together - we seem to have moments of good play by various players but we need all 11 to be playing together to be good
- the offensive play calling has been too predictable and we have not seemed to have the correct game plan - running the ball under 20 times against the worst run D in the league and especially after we were up 14-3

I do not think the offensive playbook has anything to do with this. That system was explained here at THN prior to the season and it is essentially simple in terminology and what each player recognizes as his resposibility from each call. The players have not done what they they know how to do well enough to make successful plays. This applies to all of the players not just the QB or receiver - that is not the fault of the playbook.

Snyder
Cerrato
Gibbs

saunders choices:

i can see him looking at the talent we have on the offense and thinks, "i can pass like i did in KC! Look at my wide outs!"
He doesnt see why we were and still are a running team. PORTIS. He makes our O go.

also our D has lost its secondary.


so in summation. we arnt running the ball to set up the pass we are forcing brunell to make crazy decisions.

and our D has no secondary.



If we get back to basics and run the ball 25 times a game we will give brunell the opportunity to hit our wide outs.

saunders is at fault for not running the ball.

For some reason we lack the spark of inspired, smart, emotional play. In my opinion this is our biggest problem, and once this is fixed it will help smooth over most of our other issues.

I think the problem with this team is 4 fold.

1) Poor personnel management by letting defensive players leave that had stepped up and made the defense enviable the first 2 years of Williams tenure. Taking on Rumpf, Holdman, Wright, Carter, Archuleta as replacements, all are subpar to those that left and received bigger or as big as contracts than the others were asking for.

2) If you look at statements being made by the players, there are internal problems on this team. Players have made statements about only doing what they are told, the team handles their problems behind closed doors, to much information being shoved at them, you see players riping off their chin straps at the end of plays, apparently in frustration. There are many, many more indications of internal problems if you watch and listen. There is nothing said outright but the indications are there. The internal problems are the responsibility of Joe Gibbs.

3) Joe Gibbs love affair with Mark Brunell and his play Brunell regardless of all else mantra. Is it possible that this item is the cause of #2?

4) injuries

Many, many posters are calling for Brunell to be replaced, myself included. Who do we have that can replace him? Collins is a journeyman backup and Campbell is untried. Collins knows Saunders offense better than anyone on the team but only had one good outing in the preseason. There is no evidence in the form of NFL playing time, outside of preseason, that Campbell can solve the problem either. Maybe he can, maybe he is the next Phil Rivers but he may also be the next Ryan Leaf. No one will know until he is put under fire. We know what is available in Brunell and it is wanting!

If Gibbs has the win now attitude, it is failing. If he is building for the future than Brunell is wasted effort. If he does not have a clue as to what the problems are then he needs to resign. If he can fix it, do it fast - the season is slipping away.

Irn-Bru wrote:For some reason we lack the spark of inspired, smart, emotional play. In my opinion this is our biggest problem, and once this is fixed it will help smooth over most of our other issues.

Leadership?

I agree RiC - in that there are a number of sub headings that the word "leadership" can be applied to also.

I just think we are not executing to the best of our abilities but even then I'm not sure we have the talent in the personnel on the defense to be able to pressure the QB (as some better lines do) and in the secondary to be able to effectively cover more than 1 receiver.

This defense is maybe as good as last year if they were all healthy and they all played together better but I do not think it is as good as we need it to be and that obviously cannot be resolved this year.

SkinsJock wrote:I agree RiC - in that there are a number of sub headings that the word "leadership" can be applied to also.

I just think we are not executing to the best of our abilities but even then I'm not sure we have the talent in the personnel on the defense to be able to pressure the QB (as some better lines do) and in the secondary to be able to effectively cover more than 1 receiver.

This defense is maybe as good as last year if they were all healthy and they all played together better but I do not think it is as good as we need it to be and that obviously cannot be resolved this year.

If the problem is leadership, I can't say that I would have seen that coming after the Redskins team that we saw at the end of last year.

Irn-Bru wrote:

SkinsJock wrote:I agree RiC - in that there are a number of sub headings that the word "leadership" can be applied to also.

I just think we are not executing to the best of our abilities but even then I'm not sure we have the talent in the personnel on the defense to be able to pressure the QB (as some better lines do) and in the secondary to be able to effectively cover more than 1 receiver.

This defense is maybe as good as last year if they were all healthy and they all played together better but I do not think it is as good as we need it to be and that obviously cannot be resolved this year.

If the problem is leadership, I can't say that I would have seen that coming after the Redskins team that we saw at the end of last year.

Momentum is a funny thing . . .
Look at Philly - from 13-3 in '04 to 6-10 last year to 4-2 so far this year.

Redskin in Canada wrote:

Irn-Bru wrote:For some reason we lack the spark of inspired, smart, emotional play. In my opinion this is our biggest problem, and once this is fixed it will help smooth over most of our other issues.

Leadership?

I think CP is a leader but his ability to do so is limited by his position. The QB is the leader of the offense and Brunells inability to be comfy in the system bogs the rest of the cogs down imo. Im not saying he's weak, old and feeble but that he's not comfy in the system. He WONT be this year.

It takes 2-3 years to get a new offense in stride, thats a fact. We all ignored it and hoped for the best. Reality is here, its going to take a while to gell.

Mursilis wrote:

Irn-Bru wrote:

SkinsJock wrote:I agree RiC - in that there are a number of sub headings that the word "leadership" can be applied to also.

I just think we are not executing to the best of our abilities but even then I'm not sure we have the talent in the personnel on the defense to be able to pressure the QB (as some better lines do) and in the secondary to be able to effectively cover more than 1 receiver.

This defense is maybe as good as last year if they were all healthy and they all played together better but I do not think it is as good as we need it to be and that obviously cannot be resolved this year.

If the problem is leadership, I can't say that I would have seen that coming after the Redskins team that we saw at the end of last year.

Momentum is a funny thing . . .
Look at Philly - from 13-3 in '04 to 6-10 last year to 4-2 so far this year.

Half of the Eagles' team was injured last year and they still played very competative until McNabb went down for good! One guy can make the team. Look at the Panthers with S.Smith (superbowl contender) and without (garbage) or the Bears with or without Grossman. Sometimes losing one person cause everyone else to play outside of themselve AND SUCK! I think if Brunell had never come to this team we would have been way better off. Getting rid of him won't give us back all of the draft choices he cost us, or the three wasted years, but it will be a step in the right direction. Unlike a lot of other peole I think that we could have made the playoffs and maybe even went further last year with Ramsey. Or just about any QB not named Mark!