Play Calling

[Daseal]

I suppose we could pass every down. They sure worked for us during the Spurrier years.

Yeah, because the outcome is so different in the Gibbs era, right skinsfan? At least Gibbs has a defense to prop him up.

The playcalling has GOT TO CHANGE. Gibbs normally calls a pretty solid half though I think we should push it a bit more. At the end of the game you have got to try to get enough yards to win the game. You don't want to go into overtime against the best scoring team and best pass rushing team. That smells disaster. These last two losses come from Gibbs inability to grow some balls and put a game away.

[firstdown]

I will start by saying I was surprised by how well we played but it was another game we should of won. The Skins have one big problem and I feel its combination of players and coaching. When we play a weak team we play weak. When we play a tough team we play tough. We paly hard to gain the lead then we play soft after the lead. What I'm trying to say is that we do not play at a constant level we go up and down and in the end we lose the game.

[bigm29]

Gibbs playcalling is still horrible. We have one running play. Goal line formation, then go left or right. They know we are running, we make it obvious we are running, it doesnt work, and we keep doing the same thing. come on. Our offense is way too conservative still. Also I think that Brunell is scared to throw the ball. Our two touchdown drives were great. Why dont we play like that every drive. We only score when we have to, which why we put 35 points on the leagues #1 Defense in Tampa, and only 6 on the horrible Raiders.

Oh and does anyone remember when we beat dallas with the 2 deep throws to santana. Why dont we do that again. He can run past any corner or safety in the league. We did not throw deep one time in that game.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by bigm29

Gibbs playcalling is still horrible. We have one running play. Goal line formation, then go left or right. They know we are running, we make it obvious we are running, it doesnt work, and we keep doing the same thing. come on. Our offense is way too conservative still. Also I think that Brunell is scared to throw the ball. Our two touchdown drives were great. Why dont we play like that every drive. We only score when we have to, which why we put 35 points on the leagues #1 Defense in Tampa, and only 6 on the horrible Raiders.

Oh and does anyone remember when we beat dallas with the 2 deep throws to santana. Why dont we do that again. He can run past any corner or safety in the league. We did not throw deep one time in that game.

Teams have started doubling Moss with a safety over the top. He has basically been taken out of the game. Until we can get a legit #2 guy to make teams pay for doing that we will continue to struggle. And until our line can create some running room the extra safety will stay back and take our deep ball away from us. We never use Portis to his strengths, we might as well get use to it as long as Gibbs and Co. are calling the plays. Hopefully when Gibbs does decide to hang it up, Portis will still be here and the next guy will open up the playbook. Portis is a very versatile player and can do a multiple of things and line up a WR or in motion out of the backfield. We have two playmakers on offense, we need to try and get the ball in their hands more than we do. Portis needs to be moved around more, if he continues to be forced to run between the tackles, we will continue to struggle running the ball when it counts. If a team knows you only run up the middle, they are going to stack the line when you are trying to run the clock. If a team has to guard against sweeps, zone blocking, stretch plays, they can not key on certain formations and send multiple people in those gaps. It may keep teams a little more honest so to speak.

[MTK]

I don't think the Skins are anywhere near rebuilding mode.

This offseason will be similar to last year, a few low key moves, maybe a splashy sign like a DE, and that's about it.

[Hog1]

Whats the deal? The team and organization are sound. YES, we need a few upgrades. As somebody posted earlier, the line in the NFL between 6-10, and 10-6 is a fine one. We are but a couple of keys moves away from that line. You can bank our staff is considering those moves. This team is being built to compete for years to come. It is not meant to be dismantled and reborn year after miserable year we have had in the past.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Whats the deal? The team and organization are sound. YES, we need a few upgrades. As somebody posted earlier, the line in the NFL between 6-10, and 10-6 is a fine one. We are but a couple of keys moves away from that line. You can bank our staff is considering those moves. This team is being built to compete for years to come. It is not meant to be dismantled and reborn year after miserable year we have had in the past.

Are we watching to same team. Every year they are trading away picks for people. Every year since 1999 we have signed a number of free agents and drafted horrible, with some of them being cut before the season starts. The first thing the "organization" needs to do is hire a general manager. Bring Ron Wolf out of retirement, he is a local guy that would not have to travel so much. What about Bobby Bethard? Joe needs to stick to coaching and stop making personel moves. Danny is in no way going to say no to what Joe is asking for, whether its a good move or bad move. Joe is a great coach, but very few great coaches can be both a coach and GM. and some have failed miserably. Once we get a front office in place the team will show some improvement, but as long as Danny, Vinney, and Pepper Rogers are making personel moves, we will continue to falter the way we have since Danny took over. GMs are highly underrated in todays NFL, but look at how well teams like New England, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Giants are doing. All those teams draft talent to build a team, then maybe add a key free agent here or there. Not 6 to 7 started on both sides of the ball every year. This year is the first year I can remember we didn't actually go out and sign every big name out there, but we did not draft too well. We needed a #2 receiver and Mike Williams was available, we could have drafter a corner with our 2nd round pick. Even if you wanted Campbell that bad, he was still going to be there in the 2nd round. Look at the two or three DE that were available when we picked. Look at what they are doing in Dallas. I rest my case, we need a GM.

[Twilbert07]

Good story in the WashPost today about how the Skins' play calling late in the fourth quarter has cost us games. It also points out that the offense has regressed recently to the point of being as ineffective as last year's squad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112801935.html

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Twilbert07

Good story in the WashPost today about how the Skins' play calling late in the fourth quarter has cost us games. It also points out that the offense has regressed recently to the point of being as ineffective as last year's squad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112801935.html

I don't value the opinions of Post columnists any more than I do my girlfriend's. To say that our offense is as bad as last year's is a MASSIVE overstatement.

[Twilbert07]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

I don't value the opinions of Post columnists any more than I do my girlfriend's. To say that our offense is as bad as last year's is a MASSIVE overstatement.

I guess we'll see who's right at season's end. I hope you're right and Wilbon is wrong, trust me.
The past three games, when the offense could not add even 3 points to a small lead, have been hard to stomach, though.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

Are we watching to same team. Every year they are trading away picks for people. Every year since 1999 we have signed a number of free agents and drafted horrible, with some of them being cut before the season starts. The first thing the "organization" needs to do is hire a general manager. Bring Ron Wolf out of retirement, he is a local guy that would not have to travel so much. What about Bobby Bethard? Joe needs to stick to coaching and stop making personel moves. Danny is in no way going to say no to what Joe is asking for, whether its a good move or bad move. Joe is a great coach, but very few great coaches can be both a coach and GM. and some have failed miserably. Once we get a front office in place the team will show some improvement, but as long as Danny, Vinney, and Pepper Rogers are making personel moves, we will continue to falter the way we have since Danny took over. GMs are highly underrated in todays NFL, but look at how well teams like New England, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Giants are doing. All those teams draft talent to build a team, then maybe add a key free agent here or there. Not 6 to 7 started on both sides of the ball every year. This year is the first year I can remember we didn't actually go out and sign every big name out there, but we did not draft too well. We needed a #2 receiver and Mike Williams was available, we could have drafter a corner with our 2nd round pick. Even if you wanted Campbell that bad, he was still going to be there in the 2nd round. Look at the two or three DE that were available when we picked. Look at what they are doing in Dallas. I rest my case, we need a GM.

I........I think I am watching the same team. However, Joe and the boys cannot held accountable for pre-2004 draft/FA associated atrocities. While I might agree that the "right" GM could be a good thing. To lay the total success of the teams you mention at the feet of their respective GM's is opinion. I could just as easily make the arguement that the ONLY thing their GM's did was to hire big time coach's with winning track records. Obviously, that may or may not be the case. The point of my original post is: this team ain't bad. They have had a TOUGH schedule. They have been in til' the end all but one game this year. They should have won some if not all. They were not able to do this because they suck or are mismanaged, poorly coached, etc. It is but a couple of steps in the road to recovery of a team in 10+ years of disarray. Why don't you take ANY business under similar circumstances and show more positive improvment. We have seen some kick ass things happen this year. Starting with breaking a 10ish year drought by beatin' Dallas. We have Defense that can shut down teams (albeit, not at the right time lately). We have an Offense that scored at will on the #1 D. It's not perfect and YES, still needs work. Much of what is needed will happen this off season. Yes, I am devastated by some of the loss's, but............ Danny is in check. The coaching staff will be in place for the third straight year. The salary sins of the past are being dealt with. We DON'T have to overhaul the team AGAIN this year I don't see anything but good stuff for this team!!!! To answer your original question, this is the team I am watching.

[Twilbert07]

This year's team definitely is an improvement over last year's.

However, this trend of losing close games (after winning the first three) is very disturbing and shows that something with the team is extremely flawed. We need to find out exactly what's wrong, or we're in for more a couple more seasons without going to the playoffs.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Twilbert07

This year's team definitely is an improvement over last year's.

However, this trend of losing close games (after winning the first three) is very disturbing and shows that something with the team is extremely flawed. We need to find out exactly what's wrong, or we're in for more a couple more seasons without going to the playoffs.

I agree with you in principle. I would split hairs with the word extreme and say it is still flawed. The difference is that we have Joe. He is not a magician. He has however got the team going the right direction. Just a note........I would much rather be losing close games than to be getting our ass kicked by everybody!!!!!! All the sins of the past cannot be corrected in a couple of seasons. It took 12 years to really F... it up

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Twilbert07

This year's team definitely is an improvement over last year's.

However, this trend of losing close games (after winning the first three) is very disturbing and shows that something with the team is extremely flawed. We need to find out exactly what's wrong, or we're in for more a couple more seasons without going to the playoffs.

I wouldn't say that losing those close games means that something is extremely flawed. If we lost those games by 14 points or more, then I would say something is extremely flawed. Losing games by 2 or 3 points, late in the fourth quarter is distressing, but I don't believe it means that something is way wrong. This team is still going through transition, like it or not. I believe we're expecting this team to be Super Bowl champions right from the start.

[skindogger47]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

Are we watching to same team. Every year they are trading away picks for people. Every year since 1999 we have signed a number of free agents and drafted horrible, with some of them being cut before the season starts. The first thing the "organization" needs to do is hire a general manager. Bring Ron Wolf out of retirement, he is a local guy that would not have to travel so much. What about Bobby Bethard? Joe needs to stick to coaching and stop making personel moves. Danny is in no way going to say no to what Joe is asking for, whether its a good move or bad move. Joe is a great coach, but very few great coaches can be both a coach and GM. and some have failed miserably. Once we get a front office in place the team will show some improvement, but as long as Danny, Vinney, and Pepper Rogers are making personel moves, we will continue to falter the way we have since Danny took over. GMs are highly underrated in todays NFL, but look at how well teams like New England, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Giants are doing. All those teams draft talent to build a team, then maybe add a key free agent here or there. Not 6 to 7 started on both sides of the ball every year. This year is the first year I can remember we didn't actually go out and sign every big name out there, but we did not draft too well. We needed a #2 receiver and Mike Williams was available, we could have drafter a corner with our 2nd round pick. Even if you wanted Campbell that bad, he was still going to be there in the 2nd round. Look at the two or three DE that were available when we picked. Look at what they are doing in Dallas. I rest my case, we need a GM.

Cincinnatti drafted Carson Palmer and now their GM is a genius? Those are the tough decisions that great front offices make, huh? Also, we didn't have a second round pick. I rest my case, you don't know what you're talking about.