Is Gibbs Getting His Mojo Back?

[12thMan]

I really wanted to title this thread, "I'm So Happy For Joe Gibbs". Sounded kind of cheesey though. I'm obviously happy for the entire team and the roll they're on right now, but on a more personal level I'm most happy for Joe Gibbs.

For most of this year Joe Gibbs has been under intense scrutiny by the media and Redskins fans alike. Going into the Minnesota game, I just had the impression that Joe Gibbs was going to outcoach Ray Childress and company. Not to harp on the 12 man challenge too much, but I think that's a call we miss, say, just three months ago. To me, it's an indicator of how much the entire staff are now of like mind and are seeing and speaking the same thing.

Just to be clear about what I'm getting at here, I don't think this is just another "late season run" by the Redskins. I think this run we're on right now and the one we had a couple of years ago are different; similiar but different. Here's why I say that. Two seasons ago we were a relatively healthy team. Guys were banged up here and there, but nothing like this. Now you have guys like H.B. Blades, Reed Doughty, and Anthony Montgomery stepping up, just to name a few. Did I mention a guy name Todd Collins, by the way?

That year it was more like starters playing like, well, starters. This year, in typical Gibbs fashion, he's using various parts that are at his disposal to win. This was always a trademark of a Gibbs coached team. The coaching across the board seems to have stepped up too. You can see Stephon Heyer grow from week to week. The kid is solid, but you know Buges has him putting in some work. We're also getting milage out of guys like Randall Godfrey, Leigh Torrence, and new comer Anthony Mix.

The Vikings second half surge was a bit worisome as I was wondering if the Redskins were going to have the all too familiar second half collapse, but I think, or at least I hope, this team has grown beyond that identity flaw.

I say "Bring Joe Back" for an extension. Hey, that sounds like a great t-shirt!

[Beemnseven]

What's different from the second half collapses we saw earlier, is that the offense continues to put points on the board to keep them in safe winning range. Even with the defense playing lights out in the first half, I knew it would be tough to shut out the Vikings.

And I can't help but wonder what our prospects would be if Campbell were still at the helm knowing what a turnover machine he's been. Todd Collins should get heaps of praise for staying in the pocket under consistent pressure without getting rattled while delivering pinpoint passes downfield.

Gibbs is a magnificent motivator of men, without question. He gets credit for keeping the team focused, and preparing them to play. In different, more subtle ways, he is gradually showing glimpses of the coach he was in the Glory Years.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

What's different from the second half collapses we saw earlier, is that the offense continues to put points on the board to keep them in safe winning range. Even with the defense playing lights out in the first half, I knew it would be tough to shut out the Vikings.

And I can't help but wonder what our prospects would be if Campbell were still at the helm knowing what a turnover machine he's been. Todd Collins should get heaps of praise for staying in the pocket under consistent pressure without getting rattled while delivering pinpoint passes downfield.

Gibbs is a magnificent motivator of men, without question. He gets credit for keeping the team focused, and preparing them to play. In different, more subtle ways, he is gradually showing glimpses of the coach he was in the Glory Years.

I too have wondered how well the team would be doing if Campbell were at the helm right now. This run by Collins definitely puts a little "pressure" on him to play within his game once he returns.

[GTripp0012]

A great coach will continue to produce improvement in injured players. I have to imagine that Gibbs has been working closely with Campbell on the mental side of the game and that should we make it into the playoffs, a healthy Campbell would play his best football of the season.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

A great coach will continue to produce improvement in injured players. I have to imagine that Gibbs has been working closely with Campbell on the mental side of the game and that should we make it into the playoffs, a healthy Campbell would play his best football of the season.

That brings up an interesting question - maybe thread worthy at some point - should Campbell take back the team if healthy?

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

That brings up an interesting question - maybe thread worthy at some point - should Campbell take back the team if healthy?

No. You play Collins till he starts to mess up and then replace him. You have to stick with what's working, plus Campbell will probably be rusty from not having played in a few weeks. And the answer to this thread, Joe Gibbs has never lost his mojo.

[MTK]

I think we're seeing what this offense is truly capable of with someone at the helm who understands the full play book and isn't limited. That's nothing against Campbell, he's still learning, but right now Collins is the guy we need to roll with.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think we're seeing what this offense is truly capable of with someone at the helm who understands the full play book and isn't limited. That's nothing against Campbell, he's still learning, but right now Collins is the guy we need to roll with.

Thank you!! This explains why Campbell and the offense was not scoring many points and playing conservative. Collins knows the 700+ playbook and that makes a huge difference of what this offense can do.

[birdz4gibbs]

hopefully joe gibbs is knocking the rust off his mojo..
and yes we keep collins in there for the long haul now until preseason starts up again.
so we are rolling with collins now so i would stick with him but i hope campbell is still learning this playbook from the sidelines and in the film room.

[CooleyFanOV]

This is my first post, Ive been hanging around and I love this team and everythting it represents. Ive been sitting on this thought for awhile and I mention it with caution but this seems to be the perfect thread to bring it up. It may be a misread, but since TC has been playing, this offense looks like a different team. Which brings me to my point. Has there been an internal power struggle between Joe and Al regarding the QB'S? If there was, we would never know with internal affairs being so private under Gibbs. Now that Al has his QB in there, it seems to me that there is alot more continuity between Gibbs and the folks upstairs i.e the 12th man call last night. TC is a good QB for this system ,but mysteriously the whole offense looks better. So is it play calling? Which is a two sided coin. If it is play calling, then great lets keep it up. But then again if it is play calling, someone needs to answer for not having Cambell ready to call this offense. To sum it all up, I feel that AL has been holding back with Cambell in a kind of "told you so" way......Just some food for thought, I would like to hear others opinions on this.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by CooleyFanOV

This is my first post, Ive been hanging around and I love this team and everythting it represents. Ive been sitting on this thought for awhile and I mention it with caution but this seems to be the perfect thread to bring it up. It may be a misread, but since TC has been playing, this offense looks like a different team. Which brings me to my point. Has there been an internal power struggle between Joe and Al regarding the QB'S? If there was, we would never know with internal affairs being so private under Gibbs. Now that Al has his QB in there, it seems to me that there is alot more continuity between Gibbs and the folks upstairs i.e the 12th man call last night. TC is a good QB for this system ,but mysteriously the whole offense looks better. So is it play calling? Which is a two sided coin. If it is play calling, then great lets keep it up. But then again if it is play calling, someone needs to answer for not having Cambell ready to call this offense. To sum it all up, I feel that AL has been holding back with Cambell in a kind of "told you so" way......Just some food for thought, I would like to hear others opinions on this.

They play more conservative with Campbell a young QB learning the system and play to his strengths. Collins knows the playbook inside out and is not as physically talented as Campbell but makes it up with his knowledge and smarts. When Campbell absorbs the whole playbook, I say watch out!!

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by CooleyFanOV

This is my first post, Ive been hanging around and I love this team and everythting it represents. Ive been sitting on this thought for awhile and I mention it with caution but this seems to be the perfect thread to bring it up. It may be a misread, but since TC has been playing, this offense looks like a different team. Which brings me to my point. Has there been an internal power struggle between Joe and Al regarding the QB'S? If there was, we would never know with internal affairs being so private under Gibbs. Now that Al has his QB in there, it seems to me that there is alot more continuity between Gibbs and the folks upstairs i.e the 12th man call last night. TC is a good QB for this system ,but mysteriously the whole offense looks better. So is it play calling? Which is a two sided coin. If it is play calling, then great lets keep it up. But then again if it is play calling, someone needs to answer for not having Cambell ready to call this offense. To sum it all up, I feel that AL has been holding back with Cambell in a kind of "told you so" way......Just some food for thought, I would like to hear others opinions on this.

Welcome to the board. And yes, the offense does look mysteriously better or smoother...or something. But it's working is all we know.

I think there has been some internal struggle between Gibbs and Saunders. I think it has more to do with releasing JC and less to do with their respective egos.

[CooleyFanOV]

Duplicate Post.... Moderator delete

[Rajmahal33]

Originally Posted by CooleyFanOV

This is my first post, Ive been hanging around and I love this team and everythting it represents. Ive been sitting on this thought for awhile and I mention it with caution but this seems to be the perfect thread to bring it up. It may be a misread, but since TC has been playing, this offense looks like a different team. Which brings me to my point. Has there been an internal power struggle between Joe and Al regarding the QB'S? If there was, we would never know with internal affairs being so private under Gibbs. Now that Al has his QB in there, it seems to me that there is alot more continuity between Gibbs and the folks upstairs i.e the 12th man call last night. TC is a good QB for this system ,but mysteriously the whole offense looks better. So is it play calling? Which is a two sided coin. If it is play calling, then great lets keep it up. But then again if it is play calling, someone needs to answer for not having Cambell ready to call this offense. To sum it all up, I feel that AL has been holding back with Cambell in a kind of "told you so" way......Just some food for thought, I would like to hear others opinions on this.

Bienvenidos, I think it's a fair point to bring up, but I don't agree that Saunders actively hindered Campbell's progress as if to prove a point or get his way. I think it was more of a side effect of Campbell's inexperience, lack of chemistry with the WR's (due to ongoing injuries), and the teams we played in the beginning of the season as opposed to recently. Also don't underestimate the power of Taylor's memory.

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

And I can't help but wonder what our prospects would be if Campbell were still at the helm knowing what a turnover machine he's been.

JC is not a turnover machine. He's played somewhat like a qb who's in his first full year of starting. This is not Patrick Ramsey we're talking about. That said, I think that the combination of him learning more and more of the playbook and seeing TC run the offense well will help him understand how to play.