Should Gibbs Flip The Script: Passing Team Now?

[12thMan]

Over the past two weeks, we've all seen Jason Campbell get more comfortable running the offense and particularly take to the no-huddle offense. I've noticed two things happening in the process.

1. The offense seems to be much more in synch and in rythm. Campbell also seems to be on top of his reads more and hitting the open receiver. Also, we know one of Campbell's strong suits is his poise. This hurried fashion seems to suit his demeanor quite well.

2. I've also noticed the defense seems to be more on their heels in response to this style of play by the Skins. We're less predicatable and they can't situational substitute. It looks like we're even throwing more on first and second downs.

What I'm getting at is, and maybe this just me, should we become more pass oriented going forward. Not suggesting we abandon the run or not give Clinton his opportunities, but I think we may have tapped into something over the past two weeks; we can actually move the ball without eating up a lot of the clock, which in turn helps us manage the clock more effectively.

Should Gibbs/Saunders flip the script some and become a pass first offense? Is smash mouth football overrated and just something we're "trying too hard" to hang our hat on?

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting we become Air Coryell and let Jason air it out 50 or even 40 times a game. But if this team is going to compete for the rest of the season and put up points, for that matter, the template from yesterday's game may be what the doctor ordered for the personnel we curently have.

[MTK]

I think Gibbs still wants to run, and always will. The difference now is we don't have to lean on the running game so hard. If it's not working like yesterday, Campbell is capable of taking over and the coaches have some confidence in him now.

[Chief X_Phackter]

I don't think they should flip the script. They just need to continue to put in the game plan that makes sense for that weeks opponent. Dallas and Philly are better against the run than the pass, which is why I suspect that we saw improvement in the passing game and a more aggressive game plan with regard to the passing game the previous two games. This week we play Tampa Bay which is much better against the pass than they are at stopping the run. I would think we'd pound the ball with Portis and Sellers and set up some play action passes, but not flip the script and become a passing team.

[SouperMeister]

I want to see Gibbs/Saunders game plan to attack the opponent's weakness. Against Dallas that is clearly the safeties in pass coverage. I would expect to see a balanced approach with Campbell taking more shots the rest of the year.

[SFREDSKIN]

I think a balanced attack is what's needed, other teams need to respect our running game and now our passing game. You need both to be successful and to able to open it up like you saw yesterday.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

I think a balanced attack is what's needed, other teams need to respect our running game and now our passing game. You need both to be successful and to able to open it up like you saw yesterday.

I think the balance attack approach is such a bunch of BS. You do what you have to do to score TD's. If the opponent is weak against the run then run it. If they are weak in coverage then pass it. All depends on the opponent and how they play defense.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I think the balance attack approach is such a bunch of BS. You do what you have to do to score TD's. If the opponent is weak against the run then run it. If they are weak in coverage then pass it. All depends on the opponent and how they play defense.

And that's why I said are we trying too hard to be a smash mouth team.

Yes, we can run the ball and pound people, but that doesn't have to be the game plan week in and week out.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I think the balance attack approach is such a bunch of BS. You do what you have to do to score TD's. If the opponent is weak against the run then run it. If they are weak in coverage then pass it. All depends on the opponent and how they play defense.

Go back to 1983 when the Redskins set an NFL scoring record, where we a passing team? A running team? No, we were a balanced team 50-50. You need both especially as winter approaches. You need running to eat up the clock and tire your opponents defense.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I think the balance attack approach is such a bunch of BS. You do what you have to do to score TD's. If the opponent is weak against the run then run it. If they are weak in coverage then pass it. All depends on the opponent and how they play defense.

I agree with you, although I wouldn't have in the past.

When we were driving late in the game against the cowboys yesterday, I was saying, "Keep throwing!" On the last scoring drive we had, we threw something like 6 or 7 consecutive times. I think only one was incomplete, and one other wasn't for a first down. I had this terrible feeling we would pass our way into the red-zone, and then get stuffed trying to run it. We didn't, and we ended up scoring a touchdown. Coincidence? I think not.

I believe that you don't stop doing something that works, just for the sake of balance. You wait until the defense stops you.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I think the balance attack approach is such a bunch of BS. You do what you have to do to score TD's. If the opponent is weak against the run then run it. If they are weak in coverage then pass it. All depends on the opponent and how they play defense.

It still remains that the championship teams can run the ball and run it very well. No matter if they open things up with the run, or open things up with the pass, being an unbalanced team will only get you so far. Case in point, the Colts. They were a heavy passing team but didn't win it all until they started relying more on a stronger running game than what they did in seasons past. So, to say that needing a balanced offensive attack is BS is completely wrong. I do agree with you that you attack the weakness of the defense, but eventually you're going to have to rely on both the passing and the running aspects of your offense to be most successful.

[squrrelco3]

As far as I'm concerned, J. Campbell's stats for yesterday, 33/54, 348 yds, 2 TD's, 1 INT indicates to me that the script has already been flipped...lol

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Over the past two weeks, we've all seen Jason Campbell get more comfortable running the offense and particularly take to the no-huddle offense. I've noticed two things happening in the process.

1. The offense seems to be much more in synch and in rythm. Campbell also seems to be on top of his reads more and hitting the open receiver. Also, we know one of Campbell's strong suits is his poise. This hurried fashion seems to suit his demeanor quite well.

2. I've also noticed the defense seems to be more on their heels in response to this style of play by the Skins. We're less predicatable and they can't situational substitute. It looks like we're even throwing more on first and second downs.

What I'm getting at is, and maybe this just me, should we become more pass oriented going forward. Not suggesting we abandon the run or not give Clinton his opportunities, but I think we may have tapped into something over the past two weeks; we can actually move the ball without eating up a lot of the clock, which in turn helps us manage the clock more effectively.

Should Gibbs/Saunders flip the script some and become a pass first offense? Is smash mouth football overrated and just something we're "trying too hard" to hang our hat on?

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting we become Air Coryell and let Jason air it out 50 or even 40 times a game. But if this team is going to compete for the rest of the season and put up points, for that matter, the template from yesterday's game may be what the doctor ordered for the personnel we curently have.

It's a passing league now. The rules beg you to pass it. All of the real good teams pass it to score. We need to adopt to this mindset. Sanders understands this, Gibbs and Bugel do not.

[2BIG2BSKINNY]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

It's a passing league now. The rules beg you to pass it. All of the real good teams pass it to score. We need to adopt to this mindset. Sanders understands this, Gibbs and Bugel do not.

you have your pulse on what's going on...now whether our philosophy and Gibbs will allow that to happen. Pound people when you get the chance but we need to still pass and not 2-5 yard dunk passes all the time.

[BleedBurgundy]

I was going to post that we have to stick to the run because historically that's how teams have their success in the playoffs. But the more I think about it, I don't think we can get to the playoffs in the first place if we try to run 75% of the time. I wouldn't say that we need to bring back the run and shoot or run no huddle, I just think we need to see more of a bias towards the pass until teams stop stacking the box against us.

[12thMan]

Who would have thought we'd see JC put the ball in the air 50 times!