AP Article: Redskins offense back to square one!

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

I would not be surprised if we look back at the 2007 Patriots as not only rare in this decade, but the history of the NFL.

It pains me to say that since I hate the Patriots, but they are something special this year, and it would not shock me at all if they go down in the NFL history books.

[memphisskin]

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

Very good post. I don't necessarily agree with everything you said, but it was said well.