AP Article: Redskins offense back to square one!

[MTK]

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

I would not be surprised if we look back at the 2007 Patriots as not only rare in this decade, but the history of the NFL.

It pains me to say that since I hate the Patriots, but they are something special this year, and it would not shock me at all if they go down in the NFL history books.

[memphisskin]

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

Very good post. I don't necessarily agree with everything you said, but it was said well.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

I'm not really convinced that that is what people are saying here. Nobody believes what the Patriots are doing can be duplicated.

What bothers me is that after nearly four years -- plenty of time in football terms -- the gap between the progress of the New England Patriots and the progress of our team is absurd. They are light years ahead of us. And before anyone says the same is true for every other team, just remember: The Pats haven't beaten anyone as bad as they beat the Redskins.

The fact remains that we should have been closer to New England than what we saw.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I'm not really convinced that that is what people are saying here. Nobody believes what the Patriots are doing can be duplicated.

What bothers me is that after nearly four years -- plenty of time in football terms -- the gap between the progress of the New England Patriots and the progress of our team is absurd. They are light years ahead of us. And before anyone says the same is true for every other team, just remember: The Pats haven't beaten anyone as bad as they beat the Redskins.

The fact remains that we should have been closer to New England than what we saw.

The Pats are light years ahead of the majority of the league, let's not kid ourselves.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The Pats are light years ahead of the majority of the league, let's not kid ourselves.

But don't you think we should be a little closer than what the score indicated? Or do you think we just had an off day?

[724Skinsfan]

By the same token, shouldn't the Lions be a little closer to us than what that score indicated?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

But don't you think we should be a little closer than what the score indicated? Or do you think we just had an off day?

Not with our bloody offense! They were totally exposed for the frauds they are. The defense was banged up (no Smoot, no Rogers, no McIntosh, and banged up Washington) and even if everyone on defense was healthy that shitty Skins offense couldn't sustain a drive (the Pats had the ball for 37:49).


No my friend, if we played them again I highly doubt the score would be any different.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by saden1

Not with our bloody offense! They were totally exposed for the frauds they are. The defense was banged up (no Smoot, no Rogers, no McIntosh, and banged up Washington) and even if everyone on defense was healthy that shitty Skins offense couldn't sustain a drive (the Pats had the ball for 37:49).


No my friend, if we played them again I highly doubt the score would be any different.

I have to disagree there Saden, if we played them again it would be worse, Belichik would be out to teach Gibbs a lesson for not shacking his hand!:smashfrea

[MTK]

Originally Posted by offiss

I have to disagree there Saden, if we played them again it would be worse, Belichik would be out to teach Gibbs a lesson for not shacking his hand!:smashfrea

Huh? Looks like a hand shake to me.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

But don't you think we should be a little closer than what the score indicated? Or do you think we just had an off day?

What difference would a little closer have made? Would you have felt better if it was 52-28?

Honestly I was surprised that our D wasn't able to do anything. I think that speaks volumes as to how far ahead of the pack the Patriots are right now when they can destroy a top 5 defense.

I knew the Skins would lose, I just didn't think the defense was going to be worthless.