Heartbreak City: Redskins-Saints Postgame Thread

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by MTK

People had very similar complaints about McVay the last few years as a play caller. To me it’s a seriously overrated complaint. If guys make their blocks we convert that 4th down. If the call was a QB sneak or an up the gut run that got stuffed people would be complaining about that call too. Players have to execute and they simply did not. I’d have to double check but I think it was Paul that blew his assignment on the play.

Paul missed the block. Which brings me to this question. Why is he playing fullback anyway and why isn't there a true fullback on the roster? Which would tell me trying to push guys off the line on a 3rd and short isn't what we do well. Especially when guys are playing hurt. It was just a dumb ass call, there's no defending it. It wasn't even full yard, it was half a yard.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Paul missed the block. Which brings me to this question. Why is he playing fullback anyway and why isn't there a true fullback on the roster? Which would tell me trying to push guys off the line on a 3rd and short isn't what we do well. Especially when guys are playing hurt. It was just a dumb ass call, there's no defending it. It wasn't even full yard, it was half a yard.

Callahan. He has the pedigree, the look, praise around the league but imo our run problems started when he came aboard. I like Callahan and want him vs not wanting him ... but I do put about half the blame for our run problems on him. And our run problems are our biggest holdback on offense these past 3-4 years. The problem is significant.

Gruden has repeatedly said Callahan has a say in game planning/play calling, especially on run plays. Gruden, speaking in broad terms and not to any one play, has said sometimes in a game he will ask Callahan for his best run play in that situation. I imagine on crucial 3rd and 1s, Callahan has a say or may even get to pick the type of run play. Gruden decides to run it, Callahan decides what run to call.

Good for Gruden to not say it (if true) but I wouldnt be surprised Callahan called the run play to the right on that 3rd and 1.

[Schneed10]

Actually playcalling is the one area where I think Gruden is quite a bit above average.

On Cousins, you're right, you have to get him under contract before you can make a move on the coach. Can't fire Gruden and expect Cousins to think signing long term is his best option.

Can't move on from Gruden until we know what our future is with Kirk. So from that perspective I agree it's premature to make a move now. You wait until the QB situation resolves.

But let's put it this way - I feel like I've seen all there is to see with Jay. I'd be extremely surprised if I feel differently in March. We're headed for 8-8 or 9-7, yet again, and it's just not good enough for me.

[Meks]

the lack of killer instinct in his play calling - though i loved the crazy fake punt - the 3 straight runs that didn;t work against SF and almost lossed us that game, didn;t work again and i feel like he has no balls when the shit is about to hit the fan..... it's just discouraging ... get kirk out of the pocket he is capable of picking up 1 yard or tossing a quick pass.... smh all ya needed was a first down man..... thats it.

[Meks]

yea i really would like cousins having much more freedom at the line pre snap in general, and that hand signal shit during a 2 minute is nothing but a hinderance.

[Schneed10]

Another sign of that limitation - Jay doesn't set teams up in the red zone as a playcaller. Some playcallers, if they have 1st and goal from the 5, will use a certain personnel group and formation for all three plays, and the first two plays if they don't work are intended to, on the third play, get the defense to bite on a fake.

Sean Payton did this on the game-tying two point conversion on Sunday, they had been running right quite a bit so they faked it having the line block to the right and then Kamara countered left as Brees pitched to him. It got one blocker against Preston Smith and all Kamara had to do was outrace D Hall to the corner.

They had been setting that up with tendencies. Gruden's play calling is much more well let's see if this works, OK now let's try this, now let's try this. He's done well with zone read fakes by running Cousins at the goalline but to me that's about the extent of his efforts to set a team up with a strategic sequence.

I think he reacts to what he sees, he doesn't anticipate what he's likely to see and devise a strategy to beat it. He's average.

[metalskins]

Why do people assume the status of the head coach has absolutely no barring on contract negotiations with the quarterback? I believe it absolutely does in this situation. If Cousins re-signs with Washington, what will make it attractive is the fact that he stays within the offense that he has excelled in, and sticks with the head coach who has put trust and faith in him to lead the team. Why is that so hard to understand? Before the season, Cousins was linked to either the LA Rams (McVay), or San Fran (Shanahan.) Why? Because he knows those coaches and knows the system. That would likely be the reason (other than the monetary reason) he stays in Washington. And I would not be surprised in the least that the status of the head coach for future seasons plays a role in contract negotiations with Kirk Cousins. If Cousins thinks Gruden might get canned, he's likely to jump ship.

Personally, I think all of this talk about canning Gruden is nuts. Back when this team was a 5 win team on a regular basis, we dreamed of having a team that could at least be over .500. Now, we want to fire a head coach who still has a chance to lead the team to a third straight winning season, albeit absent of a playoff berth, in spite of the fact that we've lost so many playmakers to IR and playmakers to free agency. To be OK with firing Gruden and not give any shade to Bruce Allen is just mind-boggling to me. Allen fires the best guy we've had at player personnel acquisition over a "personal" thing. Allen screwed up contract negotiations with Kirk Cousins. Allen lets two 1000 yard receivers walk in free agency. Allen doesn't know squat when it comes to player personnel, but wants final say in something he doesn't know. And yet, we all talk about firing the head coach and thinking we'll get the cream of the crop to come in next year and lead this team to the Super Bowl! Madness guys! Madness! Please pass what your puffing!

[MTK]

Paul is more than capable of making that block. Fullback in general has been phased out around the league not just here.

[mooby]

Nice wrap up of the game here lol.