Midseason Report Card

[Paintrain]

As much as I don't like the fat guy, I have to agree with him. Everyone, except Gibbs can see that rag-arm is done. The rest of the team has stepped up but is being held back by a tissue armed QB.

[SUNRA]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

As much as I don't like the fat guy, I have to agree with him. Everyone, except Gibbs can see that rag-arm is done. The rest of the team has stepped up but is being held back by a tissue armed QB.

I hope you don't really think that Coach Gibbs doesn't see the deminished skills of Brunell. He does. To question a man who has more knowledge of football and the approach to being a great QB, insults the integrity and position he holds. We have watched QB after QB play for twelve seasons with greater skills than Brunell and where has it gotten us? One playoff berth?

This man ( Gibbs) is trying to teach Ramsey from the sidelines how to avoid stupid turnovers by not throwing into double coverages and using his feet to avoid the sacks. That's why Coach Gibbs keeps mentioning this about Brunell in almost every conference. Ramsey will not be ready for what we are about to encounter in the next 5 weeks. Bengals,Eagles,Steelers,Giants and Eagles.
If you think Ramsey took a beating last year. Put him in any of those games and we won't have to ever hear about him being the future because mentally he'll be history.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by SUNRA

If you think Ramsey took a beating last year. Put him in any of those games and we won't have to ever hear about him being the future because mentally he'll be history.

I disagree Sunra, and I don't get how people now talk about ramsey as if he's some rookie who has to be protected. he's a third year former starter, who has taken beatings and not flinched. Moreover, he has shown poise and confidence in numerous situations, and even had some courageous comebacks last year against atlanta, NY, and almost Philly. If he's not ready, its cos he's not getting the snaps in practice, not because his development is too inchoate. This guy is one year removed from being talked about as an emerging elite qb.

The only argument in Brunell's favor that has been succesfully made, as far as I can tell, is variations of "defer to Gibbs, he won 3 superbowls." While I would like to continue to do that, coach is quickly losing credibility in my mind. I'm no expert, just a fan, but it seems like its clear to everyone who is an expert, or has played a game of Madden before, that Brunell is singlehandedly hamstringing this team with his incompetence.

Did you guys see that article on the skins site today? Brunell says, "I am very confident in what I can do and how I play this game. I see the field better than I ever have and I feel like I'm making good decisions. We're just not getting it done--and that falls on the quarterback. But we have a lot of football left and we have talented players. We will get this thing going."

I don't consider that taking adequate blame. We aren't getting it done, and that falls on the qb? How about I plain suck and I need to do better, and I'm not gonna drag any we into it.

It was a huge tactical error to acquire Brunell, for reasons that have been convincingly dissected on this site, and Gibbs needs to come to terms with his mistake...quickly.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

Djnemo, I won't argue that Ramsey is not a rookie or an inexperienced back-up. Ramsey's been through the wars and back. However, I think that Gibbs' offense is not the kind of thing that you can take in and understand in month or two. If anything, that would explain Gibbs' preference for veteran players because in most cases they have the insight of being in thousands of game situations and understanding why certain things are done. I think Brunell was brought in because Gibbs didn't feel that Ramsey could digest the offense, especially after being brought up in Spurrier's O strategies, which I think are very different from the "Gibbs way" of doing things. I think we will see Ramsey before the season is out possibly after Turkey day. Gibbs has said on numerous occasions that Ramsey is the team's future. Why would he want to jeopardize that future by throwing him out there without a full understanding of the offense?

Addressing the Brunell signing. I think the biggest mistake in that signing was the amount of money and tenure of the contract, but Brunell might not have settled for anything less. I don't know the particulars of the negotiations, but I know in general veteran players that have interest from more than one team always push for long multi-year contracts with lots of 0's because they want the $$$ and security of knowing they'll be working a couple years down the road. I think Gibbs was interested in the best veteran QB available and after consulting with the rest of the mgmt team, they came up with Brunell. It sucked they had to sign him long term and for ludicrous $$$, but there might not have been a better choice at the time.

Regarding the QB situation. I think Brunell is horrible. I read the article on the skins website this morning about Brunell having confidence and being a competitor, blah-blah-blah. The quote from him where he says "we're not getting the job done, and that falls on the QB" I thought was a riot. It would seem that confidence and a grasp of reality do not go hand in hand with this guy! When will Brunell accept the fact that HE is not getting the job done? Maybe never. I think the whole purpose of that article was an attempt to quell the majority outcry from fans for a change at the position. I think we need to get Ramsey in there too. But when he's ready. Considering what he went through under Spurrier's tenure, he needs to be able to take the snap knowing that he'll get the job done and have the time and opportunity to do it.