Lets keep things into perspective and not panic people!

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Jim Haslett is a defensive coordinator who has had some good defenses and some bad defenses - - depending on the talent he had to coach on those defenses. This year, he has middling talent; it is not the worst in the league by a longshot; it surely is not near the best either.

I agree with what you had to say, however this is the part that really gets to me (about this whole situation, and not what you had to say). I feel that the team put themselves in a situation where the defense has no talent, because of the change of defensive scheme.

Right now it seems that the only player that has benefited from the 3-4 switch has been Orakpo (and you can add Lorezo Alexander).

In our 4-3 defense we had a really good DE in Carter, and I'm sure Orakpo would be just as (if not more) dominant if they played him at DE. You throw in Haynesworth in shape and playing his natural position (and Golston as the other DT) you have a monster D-Line in our 4-3.

Among LBs, Fletcher was a tackling machine and played the MLB position (in the 4-3) better than many in the league. I just don't feel he is having the same impact. Rocky has been better in the 3-4, but was a pretty good LB in the 4-3. We needed an SLB in the 4-3, and honestly that probably would have been our only major need in defense.

Laron Landry played out of position in our 4-3, and his play now has improved mainly due to that move to SS.

I'm not saying that I want Blache back, but I just feel that the team really shot itself in the foot by moving to the 3-4 when it really wasn't needed. If we had gotten a new DC (Jerry Gray or lure Mike Zimmer from Cincy as it was rumored). Our defense could have picked up where they left off and along the way try to improve on those issues they had, instead we are now learning a brand new scheme.

This reminds me a lot of the team that went 10-6 under Gibbs 2.0 and then for the next season he decided to bring in a brand new offensive system (Saunders) and we went 5-11 or 4-12 the next season. If it ain't broke (or that broke) don't fix it.

[over the mountain]

Was carter really good as a 4-3 end? yeah i know he got 11 sacks last year but his total tenure here IMO has been quiet and servicable.

I remember for years he would do the same outside rush move on every play becoming a run defense liability but getting his 5-8 sacks a year on a sack starved defense.

i dont think carter is as good as his 11 sacks last year indicate. I think he is a solid player but nothing great.

[Ruhskins]

Well let's look at Carter's numbers:

YEAR---TOT---SOLO---SACK----FF
2006----56-----47-----6.0------0
2007----55-----43-----10.5-----4
2008----37-----23-----4.0------0
2009----62-----48-----11.0-----3

Other than 2008, he had very solid years in '06, '07, and '09. His best years were clearly '07 and '09. I just don't think you'll see this time of production out of him in this scheme.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

Was carter really good as a 4-3 end? yeah i know he got 11 sacks last year but his total tenure here IMO has been quiet and servicable.

I remember for years he would do the same outside rush move on every play becoming a run defense liability but getting his 5-8 sacks a year on a sack starved defense.

i dont think carter is as good as his 11 sacks last year indicate. I think he is a solid player but nothing great.

Playing opposite Orakpo on a line that includes Haynesworth, Carter would have been good for consistent double digit sacks. In this scheme, he looks lost, but we knew that from his year as a 3-4 linebacker in San Fran.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

we simply do not have the players. We're a 4-12 team that has a better qb, better offensive scheme but a defense that doesn't fit and a tough schedule. 4-6 wins is probably keeping things in perspective.

^^^yup^^^

[skinster]

lost to the rams. I'd say panic mode untill we show otherwise.

[Dlyne8r]

It never ceases to amaze me how fast so many of you are ready to pack it in, fire the coaches, fire the players, sell your tickets, etc., etc. when things don't go well early in a season. I've seen this reaction for years now no matter who is on the field or who is on the sideline. I share your frustration, I sincerely do. But this season...what the hell did you expect? Instant gratification? New coaches, new schemes, new players. It's a work in progress folks and it isn't going to happen overnight (or this season). Let's just hope that Snyder and Co. show a little more patience and restraint, which I think they will, and allow this whole thing time to gel.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

Was carter really good as a 4-3 end? yeah i know he got 11 sacks last year but his total tenure here IMO has been quiet and servicable.

I remember for years he would do the same outside rush move on every play becoming a run defense liability but getting his 5-8 sacks a year on a sack starved defense.

i dont think carter is as good as his 11 sacks last year indicate. I think he is a solid player but nothing great.

Carter is just average in a 4-3. But he's terrible in a 3-4.

[skinsfan69]

This can't all be put on the defense. Fred Davis got in the end zone for us last year and was one of the few bright spots on a 4-12 team. Where is he? How come KS isn't getting him more involved? As much as I like the how much more aggressive the offense is, they're blowing it by not getting Davis on the field more.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Dlyne8r

It never ceases to amaze me how fast so many of you are ready to pack it in, fire the coaches, fire the players, sell your tickets, etc., etc. when things don't go well early in a season. I've seen this reaction for years now no matter who is on the field or who is on the sideline. I share your frustration, I sincerely do. But this season...what the hell did you expect? Instant gratification? New coaches, new schemes, new players. It's a work in progress folks and it isn't going to happen overnight (or this season). Let's just hope that Snyder and Co. show a little more patience and restraint, which I think they will, and allow this whole thing time to gel.

The Rams have a rookie QB and have won like 2 games in two years. Plus their best player got hurt. It's not too much to ask to win that game. I guess that's asking too much.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

This can't all be put on the defense. Fred Davis got in the end zone for us last year and was one of the few bright spots on a 4-12 team. Where is he? How come KS isn't getting him more involved? As much as I like the how much more aggressive the offense is, they're blowing it by not getting Davis on the field more.

Kyle Shanahan was part of the problem yesterday. Davis is probably our 3rd best receiver after Moss and Cooley, and he's probably more dynamic than Cooley after the catch. How is he not used in the gameplan down the field?

[Dlyne8r]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

The Rams have a rookie QB and have won like 2 games in two years. Plus their best player got hurt. It's not too much to ask to win that game. I guess that's asking too much.

As I said before, I share everyone's frustration and I agree with you in that we damn well should have won a game against a sorry group such as the Rams. My point was that we may have too high of expectations for this team this season and should give it some more time...even when we blow a game that should have been easily won.

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

The Bleeping Rams beat the Skins by 2 TDs and dominated the second half of the game and the way that all of this will be turned around is to re-sign Brandon Banks? It took me at least 10 seconds to be able to get my jaw back up off the floor after that...

Folks, the reason everyone seems to be so outraged today is that the expecations for this team were unrealisticly high to begin with.

Mike Shanahan is a good football coach - - but he does not have a magic wand.

Jim Haslett is a defensive coordinator who has had some good defenses and some bad defenses - - depending on the talent he had to coach on those defenses. This year, he has middling talent; it is not the worst in the league by a longshot; it surely is not near the best either.

Remember when Bill Clinton ran for Pres in 1992? His advisors kept reminding everyone in the campaign, "It's the economy, stupid."

Let me remind: "It's the talent, stupid."

The Redskins are not "talent-rich". Nonwetheless, they have more talent than the Rams and they should beat teams like the Rams on the basis of superior talent; so there is something else going on there. My personal hypothesis - - which I cannot prove - - is that the veteran Redskins players have lived in a pampered environment long enough to believe that all they have to do is show up against an "inferior" opponent and the "inferior" opponent will quiver in fear. Sadly, that usually does not happen...

This team will be in the upper echelons only after they purge the players who play inferior teams by mailing it in and replacing them with solid draftees and free agent signings of football players - - not guys with stats who want to be paid. The Redskins have signed a ton of the latter and rarely do they ever work out here in the pampered envrioment that leads them to believe they really are as great as they think they are.

Yup. Well put. It takes a while to change the culture of a place. I do think Shanny is a tough enough SOB to clean house, and my hope is Allen keeps Danny in his place. But until this happens, we're just not going to be that good.

[theJBexperience]

Here's some new perspective. I still say "Panic! We stink." But here's some new perspective to consider. Last year, McNabb's Iggles went into Oakland and laid an egg, losing 9-13, and they still made it to the playoffs. Judging from that game, you'd think they stunk. Maybe, the same can be said for what happened yesterday.

[TheSmurfs22]

Just chill everyone.