Problems with the Defense, IMHO

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

You're right. The defense made some big mistakes, particularly in terms of pass defense. I just feel the offense was even worse than the defense. Sorry about misinterpreting your posts. I thought you were ignoring the offense's poor performance.

I agree, outside of the Giants game, this was the offense's worst performance. What's disturbing is that this was at home, against a ho-hum Raider defense. The turnover factor is starting to sound like a broken record, but I'll keep playing it -- a minus 3 ratio every game will turn you into a bad team very quick, and it truly is a wonder how this team was ever 3-0 losing the turnover battle early on.

To me, Brunell appeared to have adequate time to throw the ball, but receivers, particularly Jacobs, were simply not getting open. And I don't know what happened to Santana Moss. Towards the end, Gibbs kept calling fly patterns to Jacobs when you'd think they'd be going to Moss who's been money since week one. So I don't know what the problem was there. Cooley was quiet too.

It also appeared that Gibbs gave up on running the ball. With a slim lead heading into the fourth quarter, the last person you'd think would give up on the run is Joe Gibbs, but he did. That took a crucial element of Gibbs' passing attack, the play-action, completely out of the game.

The way I see it, either one of two things happened today. Gibbs' playcalling, Brunell's passing, Portis' fumbles and receivers not getting open account for "just one of those days," or, and I hope this isn't the case -- someone has cracked what has so far been a troubling offensive puzzle: Contain Clinton Portis, do your best to shut down Santana Moss, wait for the fumbles, and you can beat the Washington Redskins.