Don't worry, Gibbs was just holding back (fingers crossed)

[oafusp]

I wonder how long this excuse is going to last? Hopefully only 1 more week. Gibbs does have an advantage by not using all of his plays...same goes for the defense...but we are just taking their word, or assumption that they are holding back.

The WashPost said Doug Williams (former Skins Super Bowl QB) was at the game taking note to pass on to Tampa Bay for the season opener. I am sure Gibbs met with Williams and was aware he was there, but what advantage would Williams have? It is 2004, they can record the game live.

Anyway, I just dont know if the Skins are playing "vanilla" offense and defense or we are really rusty and may have a long road ahead of us. We did ok against Denver, not too good against the Panters, good against the cursed Dolphins, and horrible against the Rams (who got beat down on Monday against the Chiefs).

I hope these "hidden plays" get practiced a lot in the coming days...cause we have not seen them in the games...if they even exsist.

I did like the play where Thrash went in motion from the backfield...totally confused the defense (I have never seen a play like that either) and almost scored a TD if Ramsey had thrown it better. Hope to see more of those executed properly.

[Redskin in Canada]

This is not an excuse. It is reality. It is the nature of preseason games.

You evaluate individual talent. This has been achieved. Sean Taylor is a fantastic player who can be humbled by the likes of Torry Holt. Marcus Washington was a great acquisition. Brunell will be our starter. The receivers and running backs are competing heavily for a spot.

I understand your frustration. I am as eager as you are to see the "real" Redskins on the field. I can not wait to watch the game against Tampa.

But even then, I remind you about the first five games of the first tenure of Joe Gibbs. They were not a pretty sight.

We will play a great game against Tampa. I guarantee you that.

Joe Gibbs will make the necessary adjustments in play and personnel needed to have a competitive team on the field this season. I guarantee you that.

[johnjack]

For all out there with a short memory, just remember that one of those Super Bowl years, the team went 0-4 in the preseason. Take it for what it is worth. There are a few things that are pretty certain at this point.

1. Ramsey will not be the starting quarterback opening day.

2. Gibbs always shows as little as possible in the preseason. For oafus who hasn't seen a WR come out of the backfield from the H-Back position, just wait. Gibbs always has plenty of motion and formations for the sets that he runs. You don't see entire shifts of the formations thus far in preseason, just a player in motion.

3. Many of those who were burned during the game are nothing more than cannon fodder. They won't be here opening day.

[1niksder]

For oafus who hasn't seen a WR come out of the backfield from the H-Back position, just wait. Gibbs always has plenty of motion and formations for the sets that he runs. You don't see entire shifts of the formations thus far in preseason, just a player in motion.

Thrash went into motion from the backfield on the audible that Ramsey missed him on

[Redskin in Canada]

1niksder is right about that play. But for the most part, I agree with JohnJack.

You could see in Joe's face that he was not happy at all. I would have stayed as far away from him as possible in the plane back home. Breaux and GW were also frustrated.

How would one read that?

Geee! We got our behinds spanked with this -test-. The plan did not work and the players did not execute well.

Is this the way the Skins are expected to play?

or beter yet

Are several of those players expected to be Redskins.

The answer is NO to both questions. Let us watch for the game against Tampa. It will be broadcast on national coverage on Fox.

[tcwest10]

Yeah, you know...it's not like all of the archives have been burned or anything. Teams that don't know what a Joe Gibbs offense looks like are simply not doing their homework. Still, it's been written here and elsewhere that the stopping isn't in the viewing...it's in the doing. This time three days ago, that was my credo. Now ? The Rams did the "stopping" so well they made it look easy.