Redskins Insider: Make do or makeover

[MTK]

With a healthy OL last year we were 6-2, Portis was being mentioned as the league MVP, and JC had zero INTs.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

With a healthy OL last year we were 6-2, Portis was being mentioned as the league MVP, and JC had zero INTs.

And it was a brand new system for JC, which kind of debunks the consistency thoery I just hope the 2-6 finish can be pinned entirely on the O-line break-down and not on Zorn being "figured out".

[Rajmahal33]

While it was a good stretch for us and a stat that people often refer to, if u really look at our 6-2 start last year you realize a couple of things:

1) We won a lot of close games (ALL one possession differences)

2) We played a lot of poor teams including three of the worst: DET(0-16), CLE (4-12), and STL (2-14)...and actually lost to St. Louis largely because of poor offensive line play.

3) We only beat two playoff teams, eeking out victories against Philly and Arizona (at home). Also it was pretty apparent that neither of those teams were in their playoff form at that point in the season.

4) The only team we beat with a formidable pass rush/D-line during that stretch was Dallas (by 2 points)...basically our 6-2 record wasn't necessarily indicative of superior offensive line play. In fact whenever we played teams with good D-lines we consistently failed: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, first time against Philly (the 2nd time we beat them in an ugly 10-3 defensive struggle), both times to the Giants, and the 2nd time Dallas.

I forgot who said it (maybe Randle El), at the bye week, it was pretty apparent that our 6-3 record was deceptive and we were lucky to be in the position we were. I think it was pretty clear by the way we finished that we were a mediocre team (including the offensive line) in 2008.

Certainly, our offensive line has turned out many great, clutch performances over the years but i guess my main point is that they have lacked consistency and reliability over the past few years. This has hurt us down the stretch in becoming a perennial playoff contender. I think as a group they are aging and their play will begin to drop off quickly. Their best days are definitely behind them...

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

While it was a good stretch for us and a stat that people often refer to, if u really look at our 6-2 start last year you realize a couple of thing:

1) We won a lot of close games (ALL one possession differences)

2) We played a lot of poor teams including three of the worst: DET(0-16), CLE (4-12), and STL (2-14)...and actually lost to St. Louis largely because of poor offensive line play.

3) We only beat two playoff teams, eeking out victories against Philly and Arizona (at home). Also it was pretty apparent that neither of the latter teams was in their playoff form when they played us

4) The only team we beat with a formidable pass rush/D-line during that stretch was Dallas (by 2 points)...basically our 6-2 record wasn't necessarily indicative of superior offensive line play. In fact whenever we played teams with good D-lines we consistently failed: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, first time against Philly (the 2nd time we beat them in an ugly 10-3 defensive struggle), both times to the Giants, and the 2nd time Dallas.

I forgot who said it (maybe Randle El), at the bye week, it was pretty apparent that our 6-3 record was deceptive and we were lucky to be in the position we were. I think it was pretty clear by the way we finished that we were a mediocre team (including the offensive line) in 2008.

Certainly, our offensive line has turned out many great, clutch performances over the years but i guess my main point is that they have lacked consistency and reliability during the past few years. This has hurt us down the stretch in becoming a perennial playoff contender. I think as a group they are aging and their play will begin to drop off quickly. Their best days are definitely behind them...

The health of the line was the main reason for the 2nd half collapse. Just looking at the bottom line, 6-2 when healthy, 2-6 when banged up.

I'm not going to bother getting into all the particulars, because the 2-6 finish could be nitpicked apart just the same to show they were just a few plays away from finishing 10-6.

[Rajmahal33]

Absolutely you could nitpick for the positive or the negative...so you would agree that over the course of the season, you are as good as your record (everything tends to even out, law of averages and so on) and can only be judgedt hat way.

If so...we were 8-8. We allowed 38 sacks (10th in the league). We were in the middle of the pack offensively over the whole season. We were on the fringe of making the playoffs and we didn't. Those are the facts.

I think with all of that considered and through avidly watching all of the games, our offensive line was a mediocre unit. Good at times, but unreliable at others...basically inconsistent

[huntz]

Tells it like it is. Good article.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

While it was a good stretch for us and a stat that people often refer to, if u really look at our 6-2 start last year you realize a couple of things....

Yes, you do. I don't care who you play, an average of 155 YPG rushing over 8 games is impressive. Also consider against the Eagles - 203, Cowboys - 161. Campbell's average per game QB rating was 99.58.

Not sure how the STL game was the OL's fault. JC was 18-26 for 208 and the Skins racked up 181 on the ground. Is it the OL's fault that Cooley fumbled? How do you blame the "OL" for a freak bone-head play by Kendall? You don't win too many games when you put the ball on the ground 4 times and lose 3 of them.

Certainly, our offensive line has turned out many great, clutch performances over the years but i guess my main point is that they have lacked consistency and reliability over the past few years. This has hurt us down the stretch in becoming a perennial playoff contender. I think as a group they are aging and their play will begin to drop off quickly. Their best days are definitely behind them...

I agree age/injury is catching up to the OL as a whole. Hopefully Dock, Bridges, Williams, Heyer, Rinehart turn out to be healthy & productive this year. We need a new C ASAP. R. Thomas probably has one good full year left in the tank. Samuels hopefully 2-3. Unfortunately the draft hasn't been kind for us on the OL front, but we have restocked our WR corp and Orakpo was a must at # 13 this year. Let's have a bit of optimism, at least until our first regular season game.

[44Deezel]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Not sure how the STL game was the OL's fault. JC was 18-26 for 208 and the Skins racked up 181 on the ground. Is it the OL's fault that Cooley fumbled? How do you blame the "OL" for a freak bone-head play by Kendall? You don't win too many games when you put the ball on the ground 4 times and lose 3 of them.

Let's not forget that the defense, maybe worn out from being on the field all day due to the 4 turnovers, couldn't hang onto the lead. Bulger had all day to throw and hit Avery in single coverage to set-up the winning field goal. Also not the offensive line's fault.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

Let's not forget that the defense, maybe worn out from being on the field all day due to the 4 turnovers, couldn't hang onto the lead. Bulger had all day to throw and hit Avery in single coverage to set-up the winning field goal. Also not the offensive line's fault.

This single play, the shock of it, and amount of time Bulger had, probably single handedly ensured AH was coming here this year. It was unbelievable to watch such a devastating loss after JC and the offense had gotten it together and put a good 4th qtr in the books.