Post Game Thoughts

[MTK]

My random thoughts:

Ramsey played well for 99% of the game. One poor decision doesn't taint the entire night to me. He hit on 64% of his throws and made some nice plays under some heavy pressure. He reverted back to the Ramsey of old on that last play, I'm sure he wishes he could have that back. With more time and experience he's not going to make decisions like that. If I'm Gibbs I don't even think twice about looking at another QB's direction this offseason.

Coles was a warrior last night, the guy is all heart, seems like he's starting to find his role in this system.

What more can be said of Cooley? Get the ball in his area and he catches it. When we drafted him I thought he could be a decent receiver and maybe have 30 catches a year. Now I'm starting to think he could be a 60+ catch a year guy no problem.

I loved the intensity that we had on both sides of the ball. Guys were hitting and jawing at each other like it was a playoff game. For the past few seasons we've been pushovers when playing the Eagles, I think we got their attention last night.

The INT that ended the game, I liked the call to take a shot at the endzone, but Ramsey needed to check that play down and hit someone underneath. Ramsey knows he can't force a throw like that, once he saw the coverage he should have checked down. He got a little greedy and was probably frustrated by the lack of deep shots all game. Seemed like anytime he was setting up to go deep the Eagles pass rush was in his face.

Clock management was horrible once again. It seemed like we had started to clear up that problem in previous weeks only to have it rear it's ugly head once again. Was anyone else yelling at the TV right before the 2 minute warning like I was? They let a good 20 seconds run off without running a play. It's looking like it takes way too long to get the play call in, do they even practice a two minute drill?? It sure didn't look like it to me.

The big question after last week was, did the team hit a turning point or did they just get lucky against a very bad Giants team? After last night I think it's a combo of both, with more leaning towards the turning point option.

I really think guys are 'getting it' and buying in. You really have to wonder where we'd be if Ramsey was put in earlier in the year. Ramsey has been solid and has basically played the way Gibbs envisioned Brunell would.

I'm disappointed about the loss of course, but I took a lot of positives away from last night. We took the best team in the NFC down to the wire. We're still a step behind a great team like Philly, but the gap is narrowing.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

I'm disappointed about the loss of course, but I took a lot of positives away from last night. We took the best team in the NFC down to the wire. We're still a step behind a great team like Philly, but the gap is narrowing.

I agree in principle but I honestly don't think that we're a step behind Philly. I think we are now on a level playing field with them. The only other I can think of that played them this well (and I haven't really been following them) is Pittsburgh, and the Steelers manhandled them. As far as I'm concerned, either call us as good as Philly or consider them to be as bad, but I don't see them being any better than us based off last night's performance. I also think we've pretty much got our team for next year with the exception of maybe an upgrade on the OL and DL. I thought the playcalling was pretty solid but like you said, the clock management in the last 5 minutes was again problematic, and I think the coaching staff needs to look at that and how to improve it, unless they were simpling having technical glitches. I know from the past games there were a few times when Gibbs said there were issues with communication from the booth or going on to the field.

[Shane]

I think the team as a whole is making serious and heartening progress, no doubt about it. "Nervous Pat" Ramsey's mistakes notwithstanding, we did frighten the smug smiles off of the Eagles' mugs last night.

Gibbs did the right thing in keeping Ramsey out of the fire for as long as he did this season because the team wasn't able to support Ramsey for much of the year with the struggles with the line and the receivers and the adaptation of the offense.

The biggest problem Ramsey has is that he gets so tense out there that he doesn't see the field and misses obvious opportunities. He gets locked in mentally and forces it or holds on too long because he is waiting for the person he wants to throw to get open, and will take a sack like that inexcusable one he did late in the game. When you get that nervous, you make the stupid plays, and he made more than one last night.

I don't know whether he is ever going to relax out there enough, or whether it will happen in time.

He can make really good plays like that thread the needle to Cooley down to the goal line.

Ramsey fundamentalists want no competition for him. I say that that we open the competition next season and if Ramsey is the best play him. If Ramseyfanatics are so confident he will win any battle, what are you worried about? I guess you aren't really so confident.