QB or defense: what's the bigger problem?

[CrazyCanuck]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Defense is the bigger problem. Brunell is playing the way he played last year, ultra conservative, high completion percentage, low turnover rate, low yards per attempt.

He continues to throw the ball away rather than force things. This strategy works OK when you have a great defense (10-6 last year). It works terribly when you hand the ball to the other team and allow them to march downfield for a TD.

With a better defense we would have beaten both Minnesota and Tennessee, both games were lost on the last drive. Stop Travis Henry, contain Troy Williamson, and all of a sudden we're 4-3.

Brunell is still the same QB. Won't turn it over but is conservative to a fault. Give him last year's defense and we probably win 9 or 10 games. But you can't count on a defense to dominate every year, you need a QB who can not only avoid turnovers, but also make plays.

Defense is the bigger problem, but Brunell isn't far behind.

Agreed.

[mooby]

Definitely the defense. Mark Brunell is playing decent enough to win a football game if the defense doesn't allow more than say, 15 points. But the defense puts us in this hole everytime.

[Monkeydad]

Defense, by FAR is our main problem right now.

2nd is offensive playcalling,then penalties and injuries.

QB is far from our biggest problem, he's doing what is being asked of him. The problem is...he's not being asked to do what we need to do to win.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Buster

2nd is offensive playcalling,then penalties and injuries.

QB is far from our biggest problem, he's doing what is being asked of him. The problem is...he's not being asked to do what we need to do to win.

sorry Buster, but those aren't 700 pages of underneath passes to Betts. that's just where Brunell feels comfortable throwing to. even if it means chewing up the clock in the 4th quarter and insuring a loss. his limitations are the main cause of our problems on offense.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Buster

QB is far from our biggest problem, he's doing what is being asked of him. The problem is...he's not being asked to do what we need to do to win.

You definitely hit on a question I'd like to pose to the group, because I'm just not sure of the answer. Is it that

A) Saunders is calling plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field, and Brunell is checking down to be conservative?

or

B) Saunders isn't calling any plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field?

If it's A, is Brunell checking down because our WRs and Cooley can't get open? Or is he checking down because he doesn't have time to throw? Or is he checking down because he has no confidence in going deep?

And if it's B, is Saunders keeping the routes short because he lacks confidence in the line's ability to protect Brunell?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You definitely hit on a question I'd like to pose to the group, because I'm just not sure of the answer. Is it that

A) Saunders is calling plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field, and Brunell is checking down to be conservative?

or

B) Saunders isn't calling any plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field?

If it's A, is Brunell checking down because our WRs and Cooley can't get open? Or is he checking down because he doesn't have time to throw? Or is he checking down because he has no confidence in going deep?

And if it's B, is Saunders keeping the routes short because he lacks confidence in the line's ability to protect Brunell?

I asked a similar question in another thread. Seems the consensus answer is it's Brunell's fault. Fear, lack of confidence, misalignment of the planets-whatever the case may be it falls on Brunell

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

If it's A, is Brunell checking down because our WRs and Cooley can't get open? Or is he checking down because he doesn't have time to throw? Or is he checking down because he has no confidence in going deep?

And if it's B, is Saunders keeping the routes short because he lacks confidence in the line's ability to protect Brunell?

sure. and Pro-Bowler Santana Moss (w/ same o-line as last year btw), Chris Cooley, and much hyped newcomers Lloyd and Randle El are just the most expensive decoys in NFL history.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You definitely hit on a question I'd like to pose to the group, because I'm just not sure of the answer. Is it that

A) Saunders is calling plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field, and Brunell is checking down to be conservative?

or

B) Saunders isn't calling any plays to attack the deep and middle parts of the field?

If it's A, is Brunell checking down because our WRs and Cooley can't get open? Or is he checking down because he doesn't have time to throw? Or is he checking down because he has no confidence in going deep?

And if it's B, is Saunders keeping the routes short because he lacks confidence in the line's ability to protect Brunell?

It's probably a combo of all of the above.

Brunell isn't a gunslinger, and Saunders has dialed things back accordingly.

Bad fit on both ends.

Time for Campbell.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's probably a combo of all of the above.

Brunell isn't a gunslinger, and Saunders has dialed things back accordingly.

Bad fit on both ends.

Time for Campbell.

It's like the question that Bill Simmons posed at the beginning of the season in regards to the decision to keep Brunell here. He said something along the lines of, "is this how Gibbs would handle his NASCAR team? Go out and buy the best car, with the best parts and the best crew but then trust some random slob off the streets to drive it?"

[MTK]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

It's like the question that Bill Simmons posed at the beginning of the season in regards to the decision to keep Brunell here. He said something along the lines of, "is this how Gibbs would handle his NASCAR team? Go out and buy the best car, with the best parts and the best crew but then trust some random slob off the streets to drive it?"

It's a bad fit compounded by a D that can't stop anyone.

Like I said, if the D was it's usual self, I think we could get by right now with the dink and dunk offense.

With a piss poor D, everything we do on offense right now is under a microscope. The only way we can win games right now is to win 36-30 shootouts and that's just not gonna happen on a regular basis.

[EEich]

We have to fix both.
Brunell is keeping the defense on the field too long. I'd compare him with Bledsoe in his ability to handle pressure. They need to make the move to see what Campbell can do to prepare for next season.
Aside from the lack of skill players at LB, the Skins issues on D are the result of injuries, especially at DT and CB. They would be solid otherwise. I believe that as our injured players return, for the most part, the D will fix itself.

[Longtimefan]

I'm of the opinion the Defense is the biggst problem at this time and the unit that needs the most fixing. Let's face it guys our D line is not very good, plus the guys we count on the most are older, or always injured. Regardless of how good a player, if he can't be counted on to be there for you, he's not a lot of help. Would really like to see us start rebuilding both lines, offense and defense because that's where it all starts. If we could pressure other teams the way Brunell is pressured all the time maybe our secondary wouldn't look quite so bad.

[jdlea]

The defense is the bigger problem. However, QB is the problem you can do something about. You're not going to replace the defense. You can replace the QB, the guy not putting up points.

Jaws says it every week, "points come from the passing game." Plenty of guys on Sirius believe that this is now a throw to set up the run league. However, I'm sure they'll get slammed as guys who know nothing cause some of them used to be Cowboys or cause they thought the Skins would be last in the division...

I don't know what's wrong with the D. I think they relied on and the other guy at safety to make too many plays over the last few years anyway. The D is banged up, otherwise, I have no idea what their problem is. Sam Huff says he thinks they miss LaVar. I'm not sure about that, but they're not the same as last year, that's for sure.

I think this team is in a lot of trouble and just trotting the same guys out there every week to get the sh!t kicked out of them isn't working. Gibbs says flat out "the problem is we're inconsistent and I don't know how to fix it." I don't know what to say about that...

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by jdlea

I don't know what's wrong with the D. I think they relied on and the other guy at safety to make too many plays over the last few years anyway. The D is banged up, otherwise, I have no idea what their problem is. Sam Huff says he thinks they miss LaVar. I'm not sure about that, but they're not the same as last year, that's for sure.

when we went 5-0 last year, guess who started every game? lavar. he was liked in the locker room too, even though he was whiny to the media.

but that was a move that had to be made, since it got us out of a terrible contract. that said, holdman isn't a starting NFL linebacker on a good defense.

the chemistry of so many new parts (on defense, most of which were slight downgrades) has got too be a bit of an issue though. It's harder to go out and fight for a bunch of guys you don't care about. Injuries have really hurt too, but it can't JUST be injuries alone that caused that kind of decline. It seems like the new guys are just a bad fit :/.

[dmek25]

if you, as a coach, understand the injuries we have on defense, and that other teams can score on us. then why not try the big plays and gadgets to try and outscore the opponent? this 5 yard dink and dunk even baffles aikman as an announcer