The Offense Was Too Conservative

[dgack]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

All I am saying is that while everything you sad is all well and good I think that's as good as it can be for us. That's the ceiling. Can't be any better. Not saying they didn't make vast improvements this year and have some real good moments but I can't see this becoming a standout offense on a consistent basis with MB as QB. Just can't. We need to take another equal size step next year with this offense as we did this year but, to me, it is clearly not going to happen unless somehow Brunell gets even better than he got this year. What the answer is don't know but I think Gibbs is the coach who'll figure it out.

The problem with Brunell is he just can't take the abuse of a 16 game NFL season to begin with, and when you add playoffs you're talking about 19-20 games to win the whole thing. He ain't getting any younger, either. Max protect schemes kept him fresh for a lot of the season but all it takes is one shot and a guy like that becomes questionable.

He can say he's 100%, but we all know he isn't. That said, I think Brunell is serviceable, and good enough to win it all with the right pieces in place elsewhere. There are a lot of worse QB situations to be in, for sure.

The problem as I see it is the lack of a legitimate WR2. We need a slippery, surehanded threat to keep the secondary honest because Moss can't do it all by himself, and Cooley's been drawing doubleteams lately and he's just not going to be able to be productive like that.

[FirstandTen]

Originally Posted by dgack

The problem with Brunell is he just can't take the abuse of a 16 game NFL season to begin with, and when you add playoffs you're talking about 19-20 games to win the whole thing. He ain't getting any younger, either. Max protect schemes kept him fresh for a lot of the season but all it takes is one shot and a guy like that becomes questionable.

He can say he's 100%, but we all know he isn't. That said, I think Brunell is serviceable, and good enough to win it all with the right pieces in place elsewhere. There are a lot of worse QB situations to be in, for sure.

The problem as I see it is the lack of a legitimate WR2. We need a slippery, surehanded threat to keep the secondary honest because Moss can't do it all by himself, and Cooley's been drawing doubleteams lately and he's just not going to be able to be productive like that.

I agree 100%

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by dgack

The problem with Brunell is he just can't take the abuse of a 16 game NFL season to begin with, and when you add playoffs you're talking about 19-20 games to win the whole thing. He ain't getting any younger, either. Max protect schemes kept him fresh for a lot of the season but all it takes is one shot and a guy like that becomes questionable.

He can say he's 100%, but we all know he isn't. That said, I think Brunell is serviceable, and good enough to win it all with the right pieces in place elsewhere. There are a lot of worse QB situations to be in, for sure.

The problem as I see it is the lack of a legitimate WR2. We need a slippery, surehanded threat to keep the secondary honest because Moss can't do it all by himself, and Cooley's been drawing doubleteams lately and he's just not going to be able to be productive like that.

To me you are almost right. The coment about his durability is spot on. But having a QB that REQUIRES max protect simply kills the offense too consistently. I am so tired of one god damn WR sets that it isn't funny(in these your theoretical quality WR2 isn't even in the game). You cannot consistently pass in this league with one WR good WR downfield. Hell it's hard enough with two You just can't.

I agree that given "great" protection we can win with Brunell consistently but I think by "great" I mean the best in the league by far simply using our 5 o-linemen. But I think getting to that level is going to be harder than upgrading the QB spot. Notice I didn't say fix. I don't think it is broke. I think we need to upgrade I think we have a working '98 Honda when we need a '03 BMW. You know a car you can rely on to get you relatively safely from one place to another with no frills versus a car that will get you safely one place to another with some style. I love Brunell for what he is. A good manager QB. I think he does a lot of the things QBs needs to do as good as anyone in the league. Decision making primarily. But there are some things he simply cannot be expected to do and it kills our offense in general because it shuts out part of the playbook I think. I sure would rather have this situation than a lot of others but I'd rather have no situation at all. That's what we need to work towards.

[RDSKNZ]

I just want to say I am extremely proud to be a REDSKIN fan!! Most were counting us out when we were 5-6. (I had my doubts too) The bottom line is we had a hell of a ride and we went farther than most thought. We didn't have to back our way in the playoffs we earned it by winning our last five games and showing everyone that the SKINS are for real and you must respect us. To go from being 6-10 one year to making it to the divisional playoff game the next is outstanding. I can't wait until next year, I believe Gibbs and company will evaluate things and make some key changes and we will be even better next year.

[Beemnseven]

Pass protection has been a problem too. Everybody, including Jansen, was getting beaten over the last two games. Someone broke through the line and was in Brunell's face on nearly every passing play. Add this to the fact that there are really only two legitimate receiving threats, and you've got the portrait of an offense that's running on fumes.

Samuels being nicked up and Thomas out of the lineup clearly had a huge impact on the offense as a whole.

I don't necessarily fault the playcalling as much as I think the gameplan could have been tweaked just a little to adapt to what was happening around them. For instance, Clinton Portis, though banged up himself, should have been included more in the passing aspects of the game. He and Betts might have been able to give us a new dimension that was lacking once the #2 and #3 receivers disappeared.

As far as Brunell goes, give him an offensive line and two more receiving threats and he'll be fine. He's smart, knows the system, and can avoid trouble with his feet. Maybe not like he used to, but clearly better than Patrick Ramsey has demonstrated. I think he'll be back in the starting spot for the '06 season.

[bedlamVR]

I dont want to stifle debate but this thread is not just ill timed it is ill concieved and borring.

People like Ramseyfan & Offiss are all to keen to come out of the woodwork and bitch and whine when we loose making them look like geniuses because they would have done things so much differently and we would never loose a freaking game . Its just attention seeking.

Can we not just enjoy the fact we got to the divisional round of the playoffs when so many were predicting doom and gloom last offseason (Dr Zs 4-12 prediction comes instantly to mind). There will be plenty of time to air your whiney ass oppinions between now and next season . Don't get me wrong I don't want to stifle debate and I don't think everything Gibbs and co do are flawless we can clearly do better there are still two games to play and we came up short but just for a moment can we not just stop and as many posters have done congratule the team for thier accomplishments this year .

Thats my thoughts I know they are going to offend but I dont meen offence I am just sick of this kind of posting and I am sure I am not alone

[davy]

I really don't understand all this talk of Brunell not being able to go a whole season. Unless I'm mistaken he played 18 games this year and the only problem he had was when he took a shot to the knee in the Giants game, that can happen to any QB. I wish people would get off his back, we're lucky to have him.

[Dirtbag]

Our offense faltered after we lost Randy Thomas and Portis and Brunnell got injured. 'Nuff said.

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag

Our offense faltered after we lost Randy Thomas and Portis and Brunnell got injured. 'Nuff said.

That seems correct to me--also, Samuels had a knee, Jansen had a thumb, etc. Plus, we were on the road for the last 3 games--that is VERY tough to do in the NFL.

Thomas goes down, the run game falters, that affects everything Gibbs wants to do on offense, and you saw the results. What's encouraging to me--and ignored by pundits like Sally I-love-NY Jenkins--is that we still won in philly and TB, and almost won in Seattle.

Lads, the glass is half full.

[redrock-skins]

We were pinned deep in our end most of the first quarter. I was sitting in that end and it was very loud. It's no joke how loud it is there. I'll admit it, it was the loudest stadium or crowd I have been in.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by dgack

I guess I don't understand why we're calling for heads to roll when we closed out the regular season with the #12-ranked offense in the league, a 3000 yard passer, a 1500 yard rusher, the #2-ranked WR in the league, and two H-Backs with 7 TD's each. Not to mention breaking several team offensive records.

Two underwhelming showings in the playoffs from a fatigued and gimpy team don't make me question the offense, they make me question our depth.

Totally agree on Hall and the kicking game though. Frost was pretty decent today but has not been terribly reliable this year.

Who's calling for heads to roll?

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by bedlamVR

I dont want to stifle debate but this thread is not just ill timed it is ill concieved and borring.

People like Ramseyfan & Offiss are all to keen to come out of the woodwork and bitch and whine when we loose making them look like geniuses because they would have done things so much differently and we would never loose a freaking game . Its just attention seeking.

Can we not just enjoy the fact we got to the divisional round of the playoffs when so many were predicting doom and gloom last offseason (Dr Zs 4-12 prediction comes instantly to mind). There will be plenty of time to air your whiney ass oppinions between now and next season . Don't get me wrong I don't want to stifle debate and I don't think everything Gibbs and co do are flawless we can clearly do better there are still two games to play and we came up short but just for a moment can we not just stop and as many posters have done congratule the team for thier accomplishments this year .

Thats my thoughts I know they are going to offend but I dont meen offence I am just sick of this kind of posting and I am sure I am not alone

Apparently, people forget that I was one of the sole people saying when we were 5-5 and 5-6 that we were a good team (when 99% of the people here said we were average or mediocre). Apparently, people forget that I have also praised Gibbs and Co. to nth degree. Apparently, people forget that I have said what a fantastic season this was. Apparently, some people know how to write, but not how to read. No offense.

[56FAN]

the offense went down right after randy thomas did. the line is the heart of the offense and they haven't been right sinse he went down.

[railcon56]

Originally Posted by offiss

You can talk about the team, just don't say something someone else doesn't want to hear, that's all.

Put on your cheerleader outfit and grab your pom pom's and tell everyone how great we were today. That should make a lot of people happy.

Damn right offiss you hit the nail right on the head!!!!!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by railcon56@comcast.net

Damn right offiss you hit the nail right on the head!!!!!

I'm glad to see that some people have the cojones to defend my post after I got the blasted the way I did.