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Redskins' offence back to square one: 'We're starting a whole new year'

4 hours ago

ASHBURN, Va. - Joe Gibbs is starting over in the middle of the season - for the second year in a row.

Wednesday was shake-up day for the languid Washington Redskins offence, ranked 28th in the league and ineffective on all fronts. The personnel was the same, but the practice was more physical and the emphasis renewed on streamlining the attack back into the traditional Gibbs mold.

"We're starting a whole new year today offensively," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "We've put everything behind us in the past, and we're starting from scratch again."

The catalyst was Sunday's 52-7 beating by the New England Patriots. On Monday, a group of 10 or so team leaders known as "The Committee" met with Gibbs, then the entire offence had its own players-only gathering.

"We've all decided enough's enough," right tackle Todd Wade said. "The defence has done well this year. It's time for everybody to come together and focus on doing their job. ... We're going to back to the basics on everything."

Meanwhile, the coaches' meetings this week focused on an offence that is averaging three yards per carry over the past five games, that has yet to surpass 250 yards passing this season, that has scored more than 21 points only once. It's an attack that has looked like an awkward Gibbs-Saunders hybrid since Al Saunders, mammoth playbook in tow, was hired to run the offence last year.

"We have more volume than we've had in the past," longtime Gibbs assistant Joe Bugel said. "And now we're trying to break it now into what's best for us. That's the bottom line."

In other words, look for an even bigger Gibbs footprint: Run first, take shots upfield and count on the defense to lead.

If all this sounds familiar, it is. With six games to play last season, Gibbs ordered a team-wide rededication to "Redskins football" - emphasizing running the ball, stopping the run and holding more physical practices. The offence started to run the ball effectively, but the defence collapsed in the 2-4 finish to a 5-11 season.

This year's mid-season wake-up call is offence-only; the defence had been playing well until the loss to the Patriots. Receiver Antwaan Randle El was one of the leaders of the players' meeting, along with kick returner Rock Cartwright, left tackle Chris Samuels, Campbell and others.

"We told each other we've got to hold each other accountable," Cartwright said. "Regardless of what play's called, we've got to run that play to the best of our ability. And if you don't like the play call, so what? You've got 10 other guys depending on you."

The offence has problems all over. The line lost right tackle Jon Jansen and right guard Randy Thomas to early season injuries. There's no reliable No. 3 receiver behind Santana Moss and Randle El, and Moss hasn't been himself since hurting his groin a month ago. Clinton Portis is mired in the worst slump of his career, and the explanation that he's yet to get to full strength following an off-season knee injury is starting to wear thin. Campbell has promise but is still raw, as evidenced by his three lost fumbles at New England.

The weak running game is particularly embarrassing for Gibbs and his brain trust of experienced assistants.

"That's not us. We didn't come back to put up with that kind of stuff," Bugel said. "We'll solve the problem. We need co-operation from everybody, and the guys who don't want to co-operate won't play. It's real simple. We're going to do it this way or Trailway. Make up your mind."

Gibbs said there was no plan to replace Portis with Ladell Betts, who played so well in Portis' absence last season. Instead, the practices will reflect the run-first commitment.

"Generally over a period of time, if you work hard on the running game, it'll pay off," Gibbs said. "If you can run it, draw people to the line of scrimmage, you can pass it. They go hand in hand."

The Redskins were quick to point out that last year's change of attitude came after the season was already lost. This year's team is 4-3 going into this weekend's game against the New York Jets.

"It's not time to surrender," Wade said. "We have a lot of games left, and we can really make something great out of it."

Coincidentally, a load of black T-shirts arrived Wednesday with burgundy and gold lettering that read: "When you are winning, fight like you are losing." Cartwright ordered them back when the main concern was blown second-half leads, but the players were eagerly putting on the shirts and soaking up the message.

"That got here at the perfect time," Cartwright said.

Notes:In case anyone was wondering, Gibbs still lives in a cocoon during football season. When someone wished him a "Happy Halloween" on Wednesday, the coach wrinkled his forehead and said, "When is that? Tomorrow?" ... TE Todd Yoder (ankle) was the only player limited in practice.

Dmkskins86 wrote:didn't we have a run first commitment already?

Irn-Bru wrote:That's also what got us into the playoffs in 2005. It works when you execute it well.

PulpExposure wrote:

Irn-Bru wrote:That's also what got us into the playoffs in 2005. It works when you execute it well.

And you have a dominant line

roybus14 wrote:Well, they might as well fire Al Saunders. This is their way of saying Al Saunders' offense does not work.

langleyparkjoe wrote:thank god Saunders is now out of the loop? we never gave Saunders a chance to do anything!!!!! why? because Gibbs is there objecting. like i said before 2 offensive coordinators can't call plays. noticed many of times gibbs deferred saying al called the plays, other times al said gibbs called the plays. garbage. i say get them the both out of town and bring in a head coach with his own staff. simple.

Justice Hog wrote:I'm just happy to hear that the whole offensive unit is standing up and acknowledging that they suck right now...and they all know something needs to be done.

That's the first step, folks.

Let's see what they do with it!

Keeping my fingers crossed.....

I thought it was clear at the end of 2005 that it wasn't neccessarily Gibbs' offense that wasn't working it was injuries and the lack of talent at WR that hurt us. Everyone was hurt. Brunell, Portis, Moss, Thomas on IR, Patten, etc.

Am I the only person who thought that Gibbs' offense was fine but it just needed some help (more talent) in the passing game? After all, Portis broke the franchise yards record, Santana did the same and (I think) ey broke some TE record. So the year after that he hires Saunders?

The 05 offense was a smash your face in offense where the gimmick plays actually worked because they were rarely called. I remember so many plays where you'd see (insert OL name here) down the field blowing people up. Very much a Gibbs trademark.

Redskin in Canada wrote:I do not care about the negative attitudes of many. I am REALLY motiated to watch the game on SUNDAY.

The match between Saunders/Gibbs has not worked well at all. I am delighted with making things simpler. That's who we are. I am delighted with the player's attitude.

Joe Bugel, I love you man.

wbbradb wrote:

roybus14 wrote:Well, they might as well fire Al Saunders. This is their way of saying Al Saunders' offense does not work.

Exactly right. Saunders is now out of the loop it seems, thank God! Hopefully, this means Gibbs will take over the playcalling. I know a lot of people on this board don't feel that way, and a lot of people would rather have Saunders than Gibbs, but not me.

In fact, I think that this change will actually "open up" the offense a little. We'll see more deep bombs, *much* more play action, and generally more scoring. Gibbs wants BALANCE more than anything. Whatever Saunders created in KC, he couldn't do it here. It's done. Maybe that's because the players didn't fully buy into his system, maybe it's because he couldn't get the right kinds of players to fit the system, whatever. This is really the best news we've had all week. Injuries to the offensive line will make it difficult, but run blocking is easier (mentally) than pass blocking and having to pick up blitzes from all over the place. Play action will help slow up pressure to the QB. This is good news people!