Where do we go from here with Brunell?

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by SUNRA

I want to see Ramsey do well, because it was unfair for him to be thrown in a spot to come back like in the Giants and Bengals game. I also do not want to see the coaching abandon Portis who has proven he can't be contained if he's given the ball enough. I watched Portis wave off the coaching staff who wanted to pull him on third down. Instead he stayed in the game. I wouldn't recommend that in the future but I understood his point. Ramsey has to given the same plays that Brunell was given. Handoffs and short screens will get him into a rythm. Then open it up down field.

I totally agree with you on these points, SUNRA.

I was really disappointed that Gibbs seemed intent on calling for Brunell to pass so often early in the game (unless it was Brunell audibling out of running plays-- he was making adjusments at the line, maybe that's the case). Portis was getting some room to run, but for some reason they got away from the running game early on, which led to all those 3 & outs in the first half, giving the Bengals way too much time of possession, and putting the Redskins defense on the field way too much.

I was glad that Gibbs called for Ramsey to hand the ball off to Portis on his first two snaps, but after that, he really didn't give Portis much of a chance to get into a rhythm and, in turn, open up the passing game. Granted, the Skins were down by 17 points, but there was still a lot of time left in the game at that point (there was still 7 minutes left in the first half when Ramsey came in, I believe). Even in the second half, I felt like Gibbs should have been running a little more. Portis needs to get at least 20 carries a game-- preferably 25-- even if the Skins are playing from behind. Portis is the kind of back that can put you right back in the game with one long run.

I just felt like Gibbs needlessly put the pressure on Ramsey to generate the offense himself, when there was enough time in the game-- at least in the 2nd and 3rd quarters-- to put the game on Portis' shoulders a little more. In the 4th quarter, I can understand putting it on Ramsey's shoulders, but it just seemed like Gibbs panicked and abandoned the running game too early.

Hopefully, Gibbs will rely on Portis to get the Redskins wins against San Fran, New York, Minnesota, Dallas and Philly, who currently rank 17th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd and 27th against the run, respectively. He will have to do everything he can to take the pressure off of Ramsey. Pittsburgh's going to be tough, though. They've got the #1 defense (#2 against the run and #5 against the pass).