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

I've been trying to figure out why our offense looked great and CP led the league in rushing halfway through the season then the second half everything just collapsed. I think the competition level definately had something to do with it but also...

Joe Gibbs not only left Jim Zorn a playoff team, but a playoff team built to run the football and so the first half of the year you really saw the culmination of all Joe's work contrast that with the second half where I believe the team was taking on more of it's head coaches vibe... passy passy. Our O-lineman just weren't used to playing on their heels soo much and in Kendall/Jansen's case on roller skates.

When Joe was here, there was no secret what kind of team we were and what you'd see on sunday. Now it's like we're trying to be the 2004 Seahawks and we're just not built for that. Luckily we still have Blache who is a poor man's Gregg Williams but still a pretty excellent defensive coach. The defense carried us and led us, Joe always said "defense leads you up here" and the D train is rolling nice with some new toys. But our offense is in the middle of an identity crisis.

The injuries we went thru the 2nd half of hte year had NOTHING to do with the lack of run game, along with game tape SHOWING that all we could do was run.

And game tape of Zorn's offense and tendencies were available in the second half.

It's not like they were a juggernaut under gibbs either. Although its difficult to play much worse than the O did the second half of last year. Without more reliable receiving threats and a right tackle, they won't do much. The reason the run suffered in the second half is that you can't run on teams like the ravens and steelers consistently. Gotta be able to pass the rock.

brad7686 wrote:It's not like they were a juggernaut under gibbs either. Although its difficult to play much worse than the O did the second half of last year. Without more reliable receiving threats and a right tackle, they won't do much. The reason the run suffered in the second half is that you can't run on teams like the ravens and steelers consistently. Gotta be able to pass the rock.

Two looming issues I saw last year which could continue to pose a problems this year iwht the offense.

1. JC's inablity for the quick read. I dont know if the system is too complex, or he's just not a quick reader. A slow looping delivery is of no benefit (which leads to problem 2).

2. West Coast type offense with a deep thrower!! Not a match made in heaven. I beleive this is why they attempted to bring in another QB; JC simply will not work in this (Zorns) offense... square peg, round hole analogy.

I hope it works this year, but I have my doubts.

HAIL.

the answer?
run.run.pass.punt. <-majority of the plays last season.
1st part of season, teams didn't know what would be run each time. after 6games of the same plays each down... well~~

and of course injuries didn't help the cause....
and then there's the inability to run a 'hurry up' offense and find someoone of Goal Keeper quality(who can catch while flinging his body in the opposite direction) totally agree w/above posters

It's been mentioned here and there that some of JC's best drives have been no huddle (the few that he's run).

COuld it be he's more of an instinctual player? Yeah, I understand that only the best offensive field generals call their own plays, but I would like to see him run a few more of his own drives this year. Second year in the system, second year with pretty much that whole offense (short of Double D so far), I think this could be good for his confidence. Who knows. I don't think the passing game could be much worse than it was last year with our cirrent core of offensive starters.

So Cal Skin Dude wrote:2. West Coast type offense with a deep thrower!!

He has a strong enough arm to go deep, but not very much touch or accuracy.

In my opinion, the following happened in the second half:

1. Level of competition wasn't it. We played (and beat) saints, cards, cowboys, eagles in the first half and lost to the seahawks, 49ers, bengles, and cowboys in the second. Our second part schedule was probably easier than our first.

2. Coaches had film on Zorn which they didn't have in the first half.

3. Coaches (probably after watching tape) started putting 8 in the box to stop CP, asking JC to start beating teams with his arm. We know how that turned out.

4, Injuries to the OL -- which I am not sure was as big an issue as people are making it out to be --- BUT OL a is huge deal for offenses.

5. CP was banged up from being relied on to win games in the first half of the year. He lead the league in carriers coming into the second half.

6. Our offense only scored more than 13 points twice in our final 8 games. That is dispicable.

Thats about it. We have SERIOUS issues on offense. Our defense is great. Until we figure out the issue with our offense we are destined for these types of results.

markshark84 wrote:In my opinion, the following happened in the second half:

1. Level of competition wasn't it. We played (and beat) saints, cards, cowboys, eagles in the first half and lost to the seahawks, 49ers, bengles, and cowboys in the second. Our second part schedule was probably easier than our first.

2. Coaches had film on Zorn which they didn't have in the first half.

3. Coaches (probably after watching tape) started putting 8 in the box to stop CP, asking JC to start beating teams with his arm. We know how that turned out.

4, Injuries to the OL -- which I am not sure was as big an issue as people are making it out to be --- BUT OL a is huge deal for offenses.

5. CP was banged up from being relied on to win games in the first half of the year. He lead the league in carriers coming into the second half.

6. Our offense only scored more than 13 points twice in our final 8 games. That is dispicable.

Thats about it. We have SERIOUS issues on offense. Our defense is great. Until we figure out the issue with our offense we are destined for these types of results.

Bingo on the 3rd one! Defenses not only stacked the box, they were bringing the heat after Campbell because he was a sitting duck and no one can dispute that. That offense went down hill after the Pitt. game. Any average Joe sitting at home could have seen that Campbell can't take the heat, so teams started exploiting that. For my sanity I hope he picks up the blitz and makes better adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

So Cal Skin Dude wrote:

brad7686 wrote:It's not like they were a juggernaut under gibbs either. Although its difficult to play much worse than the O did the second half of last year. Without more reliable receiving threats and a right tackle, they won't do much. The reason the run suffered in the second half is that you can't run on teams like the ravens and steelers consistently. Gotta be able to pass the rock.

Two looming issues I saw last year which could continue to pose a problems this year iwht the offense.

1. JC's inablity for the quick read. I dont know if the system is too complex, or he's just not a quick reader. A slow looping delivery is of no benefit (which leads to problem 2).

2. West Coast type offense with a deep thrower!! Not a match made in heaven. I beleive this is why they attempted to bring in another QB; JC simply will not work in this (Zorns) offense... square peg, round hole analogy.

I hope it works this year, but I have my doubts.

HAIL.

He has a big arm, he doesn't have to be a deep thrower. He was third in the nation in passing efficiency as a Senior in a WCO. He throws a good slant, crossing route, etc. Probably better than he throws a deep ball. He needs to work on the really short routes though. I agree that things need to go quicker, both in Campbell making his reads, and the receivers getting off press coverage sooner, which won't happen unless the bigger guys develop. I've seen Campbell throw a quick slant (New Orleans game), so I know it can be done. They just need to go consistently quicker. A lot of it is on Zorn too. I think he's figured out what he needs to call for the team to succeed. I saw him adjust to Moss being bracketed by throwing a lot of comeback routes later in the year. I think he can figure things out and call the right plays this time. And the team should execute better in the second year. Still, I don't expect a lot to improve if the possession receivers don't develop and we allow untouched pass rushers all year like last year. Like you said, we don't have a traditional WC qb. The receivers also don't fit the WC, Moss is good enough to make it work, but the others need to be replaced by bigger guys, especially ones that can catch.

There is no identity crisis. A crisis with the offense yes, an identity crisis no. For the past several years since Portis came here. Even when Stephen Davis was our running back, this team has been a run first team. Heck at least Brad Johnson could get first downs for us through the air.

This team knows darn well what it is. We are just hoping that we can add an element to the offense. Like consistent passing yardage and touch downs. There is no confusion whatsoever. I do not know where your identity crisis is coming from?

Remember Portis sounding off on the John Thompson show...he said something to the effect of...


" I don't know man half way through the season I'm leading the
league in rushing and all of a sudden we don't run the ball no more"


The west coast offense is geared to pass, you pass to run, i.e philly. The
roster we have is built for the run game. So within that conflict lies our
offense's identity crisis.

Zorn has said he wants balance, and that's fine, but you have to start doing something consistently well run or pass to get points on the board.
Personally I think Al Saunders offense looked alot more creative than JZ'a but it's still early so we'll see.