QB or defense: what's the bigger problem?

[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.

[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.

[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...

[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?"

[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

[That Guy]

brunell's already said bringing in a new offense for a 36 year old QB makes no sense, and saunder's offense isn't suited for brunell. brunell has looked kinda disengaged, maybe he's just not happy with the whole situation (outside of the losing).

either way, we're not playing well enough on D to pull it out, even if the O gets better, so let's get rocky and campbell in there and see how they look.

[Stacks42]

It is definitley the QB, MB cant/won't throw the ball downfield. I think that is why the players are so frustrated, as well as Saunders. Its JGs call to keep brunell in there, when it seems that everyone besides him thinks its a good idea to change QBs and start building for the future. You could read it all over the WRs faces, they are disgusted, I saw quite a few time where WR's and cooley were wide open with thier hands in the air, but suck ass Brunell checks down for a 3 yard completion. We are the joke of the NFL right now.
The Skins are like a boxer (with a broken right hand) that continues to throw the left jab all fight long, never throwing the power shot. Yeah you may score a few points on the score card, but you end up bloodied and beaten and demoralized.

[redsk1]

Defense is the biggest problem. I don't know the #'s but i would guess our # plays per game is dramatically down from last year at this time. The reason is our defense can't stop anyone.

Qb is a problem but not the biggest. Once we get a good d then we'll need a better qb to get us to the next level.

[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 :/.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Stacks42

The Skins are like a boxer (with a broken right hand) that continues to throw the left jab all fight long, never throwing the power shot. Yeah you may score a few points on the score card, but you end up bloodied and beaten and demoralized.

good analogy Stacks

cept, this boxer is a southpaw and it's the left hand that's broken.

[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.