Hats off to Mark Brunell setting a NFL record!

[RiggoRules]

The Skins had a game plan and came in and did something they haven't this year: executed.

Mad props to #8 for doing so and doing so in a way that no one had ever done before.

That said, what does this particular game plan really say?

-Does it say that the coaching staff does not want MB throwing deep?
-Is this a game plan that will survive the Jags defense?
-How much of what happened against the Texans was due to #26 being on the field?

If you view a -3 to 5 yard pass (distance down the field before the catch) as merely an extension of the running game, then yesterday the Skins ran 95%+.

Another area of excellance was 3rd down. This is a 3rd down league. The first two games, 3rd down ratios on both sides of the ball were bottom 5. Yesterday, they were top 5.

Finally, for all the problems this year, at least we aren't the Giants. Giant fan has some serious problems to deal with.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by RiggoRules

-Does it say that the coaching staff does not want MB throwing deep?

I believe they said they felt Houston's overly aggressive D would be susceptible to this short stuff. I don't think that necessarily says anything about their confidence in MB's downfield throwing.

-Is this a game plan that will survive the Jags defense?

Personally I think a little more balance in terms of passing range is usually a better game plan. Aganist the Jags that would seem to be the appropriate course. I think we'll see a heavy dose of CP though. We will be run oriented against the Jags.

-How much of what happened against the Texans was due to #26 being on the field?

From what I could tell most of the underneathe stuff was available because of a lack of quality play at the LB position. Whether that was due to their attention being on CP or I don't know. They looked like crap even when CP was out of the game.

If you view a -3 to 5 yard pass (distance down the field before the catch) as merely an extension of the running game, then yesterday the Skins ran 95%+.

Yeah but on many of the passes the WRs had basically one guy to beat to break a big play. I'll take SM/ARE/BL with one guy to beat all the time rather than CP straight up the middle. CP will wear you down but the WRs will SCORE. It is why I love the WR screen. Best play in football. If you have an athletic WR. It is also why when we ran the play with Cooley that I screamed. That play won't be a big gainer with Cooley running it. Worst play call of the game for us I think. Take the play out of the book.

Another area of excellance was 3rd down. This is a 3rd down league. The first two games, 3rd down ratios on both sides of the ball were bottom 5. Yesterday, they were top 5.

Great stat from Fox yesterday.
Before the game we were first in the league on 1st down and 29th and 31st respectively on 2nd and 3rd down. To me that reflects bad play calling. Your players don't just turn into suckholes after first down. Clearly you are not putting them into position to suceed with that type of drop off in production.
Better play calling on second down gave us better opportunities on third down yesterday. Kudos to the coaches on that.

[DaveyFoSho]

I think the coaches realised we didnt have to throw deep to win the game! We did what we had to do to move the ball against the Houston D. The few balls we did throw deep were completions and pretty throws. Brunell looked poised and comfortable, this was just what he needed to raise his confidence. Although im sure these short routes will not slay the Jags D, with help from the running game again next week our offense will be just as effective. Im sure Brunell will be going deep more often and yielding excellent results!! (How great did Randel El look??)

[TheMalcolmConnection]

We really didn't "need" to go downfield against them. If Brunell can throw deep accurately like he did the short game, we'll be fine.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

im hoping i have to eat crow for the rest of the year nothing would please me more than see brunell light up the league. but i dont think that going to happen. yes manning didnt complete 22 in a row because he throw the ball more than 6 yds in the air.if you had him do what brunell did im sure he could have the same thing. dont forget the texan i think had the worst pass defense going into the game not trying to be negative just realistic. brunell test is the next four weeks in he should do well against the titans and maybe the giants, lets see what he does against the jags and the colts. if he does what at least a average qb does i'll be very happy but i dont think he will. yes the coaches had him throwing screens and shovel passes is because coach gibbs want to protect his boy brunell that why. hail to the skins and hoping brunell proves me wrong i hoping that happens.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

im hoping i have to eat crow for the rest of the year nothing would please me more than see brunell light up the league. but i dont think that going to happen. yes manning didnt complete 22 in a row because he throw the ball more than 6 yds in the air.if you had him do what brunell did im sure he could have the same thing. dont forget the texan i think had the worst pass defense going into the game not trying to be negative just realistic. brunell test is the next four weeks in he should do well against the titans and maybe the giants, lets see what he does against the jags and the colts. if he does what at least a average qb does i'll be very happy but i dont think he will. yes the coaches had him throwing screens and shovel passes is because coach gibbs want to protect his boy brunell that why. hail to the skins and hoping brunell proves me wrong i hoping that happens.

You SUCK as a Redskin fan! The man breaks a NFL record and you STILL criticize!! Go cheer for the cowboys.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

You SUCK as a Redskin fan! The man breaks a NFL record and you STILL criticize!! Go cheer for the cowboys.

Not that it's bad to have unrelenting optimism, but how has someone with your frame of mind reacted when, in spite of all the inflated predictions, Washington has fallen short for the last fifteen seasons? It seems to me that you're just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Not that it's bad to have unrelenting optimism, but how has someone with your frame of mind reacted when, in spite of all the inflated predictions, Washington has fallen short for the last fifteen seasons? It seems to me that you're just setting yourself up for heartbreak.

Southpaw - you should be eating crow right now. I'm not saying we are the best team in the NFL, but that man BRUNELL deserves a pat on the back, and we ARE Redskins fans, which means we should be the ones doing the patting. It's not unrelenting optimism; it is positive thinking and faith in Gibbs. It might take a while, but he WILL make this team a SB team. All this bashing is wasted energy. When they lose, it is not a good feeling, but when they WIN we should all be happy and give the boys the respect they deserve.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

Southpaw - you should be eating crow right now. I'm not saying we are the best team in the NFL, but that man BRUNELL deserves a pat on the back, and we ARE Redskins fans, which means we should be the ones doing the patting. It's not unrelenting optimism; it is positive thinking and faith in Gibbs. It might take a while, but he WILL make this team a SB team. All this bashing is wasted energy. When they lose, it is not a good feeling, but when they WIN we should all be happy and give the boys the respect they deserve.

As I've already said, I'll happily eat crow when Brunell proves that a good game against the 32nd ranked defense in the league was not a fluke. If he can look anywhere close to that level in the next two weeks, I'll be first in line. And I'm more than willing to pat him on the back for the record, because that is impressive, no matter who accomplished it.

And you use the word "bashing" a bit too freely. The majority of us are not bashing, but questioning. Most logical thinking people will look at all the facts in a given situation before jumping to a conclusion. The facts in the Brunell situation don't point to the conclusion that Brunell has been magically renewed, and has found the fountain of youth. All I'm looking for is a little more proof that yesterday wasn't a fluke. If we were all just here to circle jerk the Redskins, it'd be a pretty boring forum.

[RJ2kWJ]

Glad to see he set the record... Now I can only hope to go to Fed Ex on Sunday and witness him play well against what I think is the best D in the league.

[Twilbert07]

Even as one who criticized Brunell after the Cowboys game, I must applaud him for his performance yesterday. Maye the Houston game will help him regain the confidence to return to last year's mid-season form. I'll be cheering him on.

[MTK]

yes the coaches had him throwing screens and shovel passes is because coach gibbs want to protect his boy brunell that why

I think they were just trying to win the game.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

Go ahead and call me a cowboy fan if that make you feel better. The facts our i die hard redskins fan that see the good and mostly bad now since 91 maybe im frustrated by how our team being run into the ground with only two playoffs apperences since 92. maybe i expect more than just two apperences in 14 yrs maybe your satisfied by that success im not. i remember when this team was run by a great owner who let a football man like bethard run the team and not think that he could run the team better like little danny does. I was in 1967 i remember the over the hill gang in the early 70's watching the of sonny time and kilmer leading great win in 75 in ot against the cowboys, and the vikings that year too. in 76 win they went down to dallas and beat them to clinch a playoff bearth with a pass from kilmer to mike thomas and blocking a punt in that game i forget the player name who did that and in 77 win allen left for la rams. in 78 the thrill of going 6-0 then and beating dallas on monday night football with thiesman holding the ball over his head giving them a saftey. then the hearbreak of going 8-8 and in 79 with about 3 to 4 minutes left thing we won the divinsion then starrbach breaking our hearts with 2 td in the final mins to be out and knocking us out of the playoffs because of a tiebreaker beacause the bears killed the cards by more than 35 points earlier that day.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR

Go ahead and call me a cowboy fan if that make you feel better. The facts our i die hard redskins fan that see the good and mostly bad now since 91 maybe im frustrated by how our team being run into the ground with only two playoffs apperences since 92. maybe i expect more than just two apperences in 14 yrs maybe your satisfied by that success im not. i remember when this team was run by a great owner who let a football man like bethard run the team and not think that he could run the team better like little danny does. I was in 1967 i remember the over the hill gang in the early 70's watching the of sonny time and kilmer leading great win in 75 in ot against the cowboys, and the vikings that year too. in 76 win they went down to dallas and beat them to clinch a playoff bearth with a pass from kilmer to mike thomas and blocking a punt in that game i forget the player name who did that and in 77 win allen left for la rams. in 78 the thrill of going 6-0 then and beating dallas on monday night football with thiesman holding the ball over his head giving them a saftey. then the hearbreak of going 8-8 and in 79 with about 3 to 4 minutes left thing we won the divinsion then starrbach breaking our hearts with 2 td in the final mins to be out and knocking us out of the playoffs because of a tiebreaker beacause the bears killed the cards by more than 35 points earlier that day.

Take a deep breath and trust in Gibbs. All will be well.

[CHIEF CHUCKING MY SPEAR]

80 the year riggins held out and houston last year when he didnt even get into his final game against the nyg because pardee said he forgot. 81 win the glory years start losing the first 5 but finish strong to go 8-8 losing to dallas and buffalo late that year. 82 the first championship with gibbs mosely make great kicks all year staring in philly and touchdowns charlie brown,losing only to dallas at home. mosely record kick in the snow against the nyg and running the table in the playoff against det and riggo bowing against the vikes knock little miss white out in the championship game from dexter and chanting we want dallas and finally beating miami my dad and i jumping for joy crying and hugging wait so long to win on fianlly