The Offense Was Too Conservative

[Beemnseven]

Pass protection has been a problem too. Everybody, including Jansen, was getting beaten over the last two games. Someone broke through the line and was in Brunell's face on nearly every passing play. Add this to the fact that there are really only two legitimate receiving threats, and you've got the portrait of an offense that's running on fumes.

Samuels being nicked up and Thomas out of the lineup clearly had a huge impact on the offense as a whole.

I don't necessarily fault the playcalling as much as I think the gameplan could have been tweaked just a little to adapt to what was happening around them. For instance, Clinton Portis, though banged up himself, should have been included more in the passing aspects of the game. He and Betts might have been able to give us a new dimension that was lacking once the #2 and #3 receivers disappeared.

As far as Brunell goes, give him an offensive line and two more receiving threats and he'll be fine. He's smart, knows the system, and can avoid trouble with his feet. Maybe not like he used to, but clearly better than Patrick Ramsey has demonstrated. I think he'll be back in the starting spot for the '06 season.