Can Brunell lead this team to a super bowl?

[Schneed10]

I think Gibbs was able to win with Rypien and Doug Williams running the show, Brunell is good enough too. We need some upgrades to the supporting cast.

[Gmanc711]

I think he can when healthy. Honestly if I could tell Brunell any single thing right now it would be that ....if he gets hurt in a game, its ok to take a week off and make sure everything is good before going back out onto the feild. I think the guy pushes himself too hard when hurt and this is where alot of the problems down the stretch came from.

[mooby]

Of course i believe Mark Brunell can lead us to a Super Bowl. He almost led us to one this year, but when he got hurt, everything went downhill.

[hurrykaine]

Originally Posted by mooby

Of course i believe Mark Brunell can lead us to a Super Bowl. He almost led us to one this year, but when he got hurt, everything went downhill.

Therein lies the dilemma, Mooby. If he gets nicked up, it clearly affects his ability to make all the throws, even if the injury is not relatively serious. For e.g., a healthy Brunell can throw very well on the run, but a nicked up Brunell throws a feeble, floating ball on the run. However, there is no way Gibbs will send in J. Campbell (or Ramsey if we have him next year) to start a game in place of a nicked up Brunell - especially if the game is near the end of the season or in the playoffs. Knowing that, do you still think Brunell can lead us to the SB?

[wilsowilso]

I don't think Brunell can take us all the way, but if Gibbs keeps him in there then that's all I need to know. If Gibbs thinks he can well then he probably has it in him, but I just don't see it. If Ramsey leaves then it's still Brunell's team obviously.

[Dana87]

Yes, Brunell absolutly can lead the Redskins to the Super Bowl. Brunell Clearly will need some help, as does any QB in the NFL. note look what happened to the best QB in the league yesterday...no blocking means no offense. If the Redskins go out and get a real #2 WR and possibly a #3 WR for depth. Get some depth on the O-Line so that if we lose a guy we are not starting a center at the guard possition, he clearly had little idea about his blocking assignments. We are set a RB, and we could use another TE. Then you've built a team that Brunell can and will lead to and win the Super Bowl.

[JWsleep]

I don't think so--he really drops off when injured, and he's not getting younger. I think he'll be a great backup/mentor to Campbell, though I suppose he'll need to restructure...

[redsk1]

No one is happier about the success this team has had this year w/ Brunell as Qb. However, I would have to say that i don't believe Brunell can lead us to and win the SB. One thing i noticed watching some of the other games this weekend was the Qb play. Lots of teams in the playoffs have great defenses, but its the teams with the qb's that make the special throws and plays that win the game. It became apparent to me watching Jake Delhomme, who is not the fastest guy in the world, drop back to pass. It seems like he takes his 5-6 step drop a hell of a lot faster than Brunell and is able to read the defense quicker b/c of it. Brunell seems to take a split second longer and therefore needs to be protected longer in order to make the great throw.

Brunell in his prime was one of the best qb's in the nfl, no question. But, he has slowed. Can he take us to the playoffs? I think he can next year, but i don't think in my opinion he can lead us further than that. I hope i am wrong, b/c i really would like to see it.

[hurrykaine]

Originally Posted by redsk1

It became apparent to me watching Jake Delhomme, who is not the fastest guy in the world, drop back to pass. It seems like he takes his 5-6 step drop a hell of a lot faster than Brunell and is able to read the defense quicker b/c of it. Brunell seems to take a split second longer and therefore needs to be protected longer in order to make the great throw.

Great point about the comparison with Delhomme. Delhomme is by no means a great QB, but he is far above serviceable and almost a very good QB.

Look at the similarities between the skins and the panthers offense:
1. Both run to set up the pass
2. Both have one stellar receiver (Moss/Smith): Slight advantage to Carolina.
3. Both have a good running game (Foster/Portis) Advantage Skins.
4. Both have decent offensive lines

So why are the panthers able to score so easily in the playoffs while we $hit the bed? Sure Steve Smith is an incredible receiver, but the answer has got to be superior QB play by Delhomme.

[ST21]

I'm be the Bad Guy and say NO, I like Mark Brunnel....but I want a gunslinger who's not afraid to throw the ball...Mark make good plays, but not great ones, Santana Moss makes great plays, so do Cooley, most of there big plays are off short yardage plays...I think its time to Start the Kid......Campbell came in the league on most cards as a top QB.....I like to see what he can do...

[Pocket$ $traight]

If Campbell starts next season then throw out 2006. He would get abused in the East next year. The only way they could consider it is if they add a pro-bowl quality possesion guy who would bail him out. T.O. comes to mind but the negatives are too high (plus Moss would get pissed).

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Grim21Reaper

If Campbell starts next season then throw out 2006. He would get abused in the East next year. The only way they could consider it is if they add a pro-bowl quality possesion guy who would bail him out. T.O. comes to mind but the negatives are too high (plus Moss would get pissed).

I don't disagree with this point, but it - along with this thread generally - does raise an interesting question: if you can't win a Super Bowl with Brunell then how long can you keep Jason Campbell on the bench. This post will go against some of the things I wrote earlier, but I have been thinking about this topic and my conclusions - at least I look at things in January - are kind of troubling...maybe some of you can shoot a hole in my logic and I welcome any such thoughts.

I think if Jason Campbell starts next season the Redskins will not make the playoffs, they might, but would probably be more likely to finish 7-9 or 8-8. If you go with Brunell then you might be more likely to win a few more games and even to make the playoffs - though that certainly is not guarenteed - but you also retard the maturation process of Campbell by another full year. His development would be stifled even further if Pat Ramsey is still on the team next season (whatever you think of Ramsey it is hard to argue that he SHOULD be with the team next year, it does not serve the interests of either party...that is unless the Skins think they have a legitimate chance at the Super Bowl and that Brunell can lead them there).

In essence who starts at quarterback is a big statement about the direction of the organization and the future of Joe Gibbs. Starting Campbell would say that the team is willing to suffer through the growing pains of a young NFL QB but do so with an eye towards making a legitimate run at the Super Bowl in 2-3 years. It might also indicate that Gibbs is committed to the team beyond 2006. If Brunell starts it says that the team is looking to win now and Gibbs is eyeing a return to retirement in the very near future. Both strategies have draw backs. The former is predicated on the notion that the Skins can keep the nucleus of this team - particularly the defense - intact long enough for Campbell to develop into a legitimate starting quarterback. The latter takes into account the fact that the future in the modern NFL is uncertain and you should try to win while you can, but it also sets back the development of a young quarterback and might prevent him from ever being successful with the franchise.

Ironically the Redskins success this season actually complicates the situation. Had they missed out on the playoffs the transition to the Jason Campbell era would have been much smoother and Brunell could have settled in as a back-up and mentor. As it stands it is unlikely that anyone other than Brunell heads into 2006 as the starter and might even mean that Ramsey hangs around to play caddy for another season while Campbell languishes on the sidelines.

All that is not to say that I wish the Skins did not make the playoffs, there are few things I would trade for the excitement of watching/listening to them this season and the satisfaction I took in their success. The quarterback situation is tricky, however, and I am concerned that the Redskins might sacrifice long term success in an attempt to make one final run for Coach Gibbs. What do you guys think? Is it worth struggling through Campbell's growing pains in order to develop a quarterback who could hopefully turn into a successful NFL leader? Would we, as fans both on the internet and in the stands, be patient enough to allow him to develop without destroying his psyche by getting down on him when he struggled, especially given the teams' success this season? If Brunell is not the one to lead the team to the Super Bowl is there any point in spinning their wheels by starting him again next year, even if it means a greater chance for short term success as measured by a few wins and maybe a playoff appearence (and I ask that even though I have come to respect Mark a great deal this season)?

I just don't think there are too many easy answers and that gives me pause. Maybe it is the natural pessimist in me to start worry about the future only a day after the Skins got eliminated from the playoffs...I don't know...

[itvnetop]

SC you make some really valid points... you take the Bengals as an example of what you just said... a few seasons ago, Kitna took them to .500 (the first time in very long time for cincy). Management didn't draft carson first for nothing, so they dictated that he start his second season. The Bengals lost four out of their first five, but ended up .500 with Palmer. And look how he did this season, after a full year of playing.

Then again, we are a legitimate Super Bowl threat next season if we're able to keep our corp in tact and with a few more FAs, it could put us over the top. And like you stated, you're not sure when the next time comes around to win it all. I think the Bengals couldn't justify sitting Palmer more than a year, while the Skins can afford to ease Jason in slowly.

[skinsguy]

I certainly think Brunell can! It depends on what talent he has around him. Two homerun receivers and a third possession type receiver, and of course a great running game, there is no reason why Brunell couldn't lead this team to a Super Bowl.

[That Guy]

the question was can brunell lead us to the superbowl, in which case, the answer in definately not. He can be a part of a superbowl team possibly, but he's not a star or exceptional QB, he's just another piece of the offense. He does what he's told, plays super conservative no risks until the end of the fourth quarter when trailing by 14 and he doesn't even have the authority or want to call ANY audibles at all. If a running play is called and 11 men are in the box, he's going to go ahead and hand it off anyways (which is why we had such a terrible time beating arizona). He's not leading, he's following orders in the strictest sense.