RELAAAAAXXXXXXXXXX, Guys!!!

[Hail to the Redskins]

I think the REAL reason everyone was a little frustrated with the game tonight is simple... we DID suck on offense BIG TIME for the first 3 quarters... and the Broncos DIDN'T... although both teams have been in camp the same amount of time.

I think at one point in the 3rd quarter we had 68 total yards compared 228 by Denver... or something like that... then Hasselbeck and the 3rd stringers stepped in and everything changed. The fact that the 1st AND 2nd string were BAD tonight IS a LITTLE disconcerting. I am pretty sure that while Brunell and Ramsey were in for almost 3 quarters combined, we only had like 4 or 5 FIRST DOWNS.

We all know it was just the first preseason game and we've only been in camp for a week or so... I just think people were disappointed because they had no offensive plays to cheer for with the first 2 units in... no one is jumping ship... but of course anyone who loves their team gets frustrated when they don't even get first downs to cheer for, much less TDs. Not the end of the world... just frustrating to watch.

With all that said... everyone SHOULD DEFINITELY be freaking out about Jansen being gone. I don't know if I am the only person to point this out on this site... but we now have a left-handed starting QB (for all intensive puposes) and right tackle blocks his BLIND SIDE!! To say losing him won't be THAT big of a deal and saying Bugel with throw Kenyatta Jones or whoever else in there and get them ready is the ULTIMATE optimist... and I hope their faith is on point.

[SmootSmack]

HTTR. I hear what you're saying about us losing Brunell's blindside protection with Jansen going down.

But here's what I'm wondering. Is that whole notion of blindside protection overrated? I mean everybody remembers perennial Pro-Bowler Tony Boselli during Brunell's best years in Jacksonville playing left tackle, but how many people remember that Leon Searcy (who I don't think ever made the Pro Bowl) protected Brunell's blindside at right tackle.

[Shane]

I'm not panicking myself - though the loss of Jon Jansen is a very sad development. We still have a chance to make the playoffs and I am hopeful we can do that, one way or another.

The blindside protection is not an issue of extreme importance perhaps, but it is a factor. The bigger factor is that our offensive line is very likely going to be less efficient. We will run and pass block less well. Clinton Portis' impact will be diminished. We are going to need a quarterback to be mobile more so than before Jansen's injury. And I am concerned that Brunell may not be able to run around as much as he may be forced to.

That is part of the reason why I think Tim Hasselbeck may be our best bet for this season.

Would Joe Gibbs have gone to Jacksonville to sign Mark Brunell if he knew that Jansen would be gone this year with no time to replace him through the draft, trades, or free agency?

Is Brunell built at this point to be running around all the time, or did Gibbs envision a comfortable situation with Jansen taking away the left defensive end?

It's not panicking to say that Hasselbeck may be our best bet. As I said, I think he has excellent skills and provides an intangible spark and fire that seems to energize our team.

[Riggo44]

After only 9 day's to work I think we did OK!! Go get'em Joe!!

[SUNRA]

One thing I can certainly distinguish from last season's debacle is penalties. It was refreshing to see the other team penalized from our goal back to the 30 yard line. That's the difference between Greg Williams and that other guy we had at Defensive Coordinator.

[Dana87]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

I think the REAL reason everyone was a little frustrated with the game tonight is simple... we DID suck on offense BIG TIME for the first 3 quarters... and the Broncos DIDN'T... although both teams have been in camp the same amount of time.

The thing your forgeting is that the Broncos are running the same system they have run for years. All of our guys are trying to learn a nes system to them. Things will get a lot crisper as we go, but don't be surprised if we struggle some throughout preseason. Like the man said Reeeeeeeeeeeeelax.