Tony McGee's Thoughts on the Philly Game

[SmootSmack]

Former NFL great Tony McGee sat down with TheWarpath.net front office Tuesday morning and answered some TheWarpath.net questions about the Redskins 36-0 loss to the New York Giants. Please be sure to visit http://www.tonymcgeeplus.com and watch Tony McGee's Pro Football Plus Saturdays at 11:30 am on Comcast SportsNet and DirecTV to see Tony and his panel of guests answer "TheWarpath.net Question of the Week". Ok, let's get started here:

That was a good game Sunday night, and a nice win for the Redskins to wrap up the first half of the season. I still have some concerns about the team moving forward. Let me address Offiss' question first. Offiss has some questions about the running game. The running game needs to step it up in the second half if they're going to have legitimate playoff aspirations. The first problem I see is that maybe it wasn't such a good idea for Portis to put on that extra weight in the offseason. It looks like he's not so quick this season. I don't think the problem is that they're running him too much between the tackles. Problem is that he doesn't look like has that same burst he's had in previous years to rip through those tackles. On the other hand, you can argue that bulking up has made Portis a better blocker and thus a more complete player. But I'd like to see him shed that weight in the offseason and get back to being his quick former self. And I like the idea of giving the ball to Sellers as well. He's the prototype H-back. I think he could do some serious damage.

Dmek25, you're asking what a lot of people want to know-Why does Brunell look so different this year? There's no one answer to that question. It's a combination of several things. The primary reasons I see are better protection, a better grasp of the offense and let's be honest here, better receivers. While the QB may be the most glamorous position, it's important to remember it's a team game and individual performance is often dependant upon total team performance. That Guy, your question is about David Patten. I don't think it's that Brunell doesn't see him. But basically he's the third option. After Moss and Cooley (remember there's no rule that says your number 2 option has to be a WR, it can be a TE or HB). And no matter how open you are, if you're the third option you're just not going to get a lot of looks. I'd like to see the team get him more involved though. Maybe line him up on the left side of the field, essentially making him the first option on several plays.

Hog1, let's talk about the most important weaknesses moving forward. Two things. They need to develop a pass rush and improve the running game. That's it right there. Work on those two things and you have a playoff team.

So we have the second half of the season upon us now. But here's what you don't do. You don't look at it like it's the second half of the season. This week you worry about game #9, next week it's game #10. It's a cliche, but if you look too far ahead you start worrying about too many obstacles. The team only has to think about Tampa this week.

Let me address the TO situation before I go. Good move on the part of the Eagles to suspend him. It takes them out of contention in my opinion but he was causing too many internal problems that are damaging to the locker room. And let me tell you something else, a player like that would never be allowed in Joe Gibbs' locker room. We had some characters back in the day, but we were a team, a family. Terrell Owens is all about Terrell Owens and Joe Gibbs wouldn't bother with a person like that on his team.

*Warpath.net Front Office Note* The following is a brief clip from last week's show. There were some production issues which didn't allow it to come as crisply as it did week one, namely Tony was not able to participate in the question and answer, but here you'll get to see some free publicity for us on televison! Special thanks to Cpayne5 for providing the clip.
http://www.skinsfan.us/Redskins/warp...10505.0007.wmv

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Tony McGee's NFL career started in 1971 where he was a starting defensive end for the Chicago Bears. In 1974, Tony began a 7 year stint with the New England Patriots and earned the nickname, "Mac the Sack." His unique ability to swarm opposing quarterbacks helped coin the phrase, "designated pass rusher." Tony's career as a Washington Redskin began in 1982, and included a Super Bowl championship. Tony ended his spectacular career in 1985 with 106 career sacks and played in over 200 games -- a feat achieved only by a select group of NFL defensive linemen.
For more information visit http://www.tonymcgeeplus.com

[BrudLee]

Thanks, Tony!

[That Guy]

thanks, I appreciate the insight

[offiss]

That was a very good observation about Portis, he's tried to bulk up into more of a power back to fit in with Gibbs style running game, but I have been thinking the same thing, I just wasen't sure if he only seemed a little slower because he looks bigger this year.

No matter how much weight he puts on he's just not ever going to be a power back, I agree w/Tony he should shed the weight, his speed and quickness are his best attributes, I don't believe Portis has really adjusted to the weight as well, we all have seen him stumbling or falling with no one around, his agility is not there. I commend him on the hard work he put in to try to fit in with Gibbs running style, but it seems it may be a failed experiement.


Thank for your keen insight Tony!

[MTK]

He didn't gain the weight to be a power back, he gained weight to hold up better over the course of the season.

I think his injuries are more of a factor right now in limiting his quickness and burst.

Gibbs has used many different types of backs over his coaching career, yet people seem to think a power back is the only back for his system. Smaller backs like Ricky Ervins and Joe Washington had success in his system, even Earnest Byner wasn't what you would call a true power back.

Failed experiment? After one 1300+ yard season and this season where he's on a similar pace we're calling that a failure?

[offiss]

You confuse size with power, there are backs who don't carry a lot of weight yet are powerful runners, ricky ervins was built like a fire plug, Byner was bigger and ran with much more power than Portis, Portis has fast legs not powerful.

Portis put on the weight to survive in a Gibbs system, and why do you think that is? Because he couldn't handle the beating he took last season and figured the extra weight would help him endure the punishment that he was so unaccustomed to recieving playing in denver.

The failed experiment is his added weight, but perhaps you can take that up with Tony, an X football player who may know a little about talent evaluation.

As I said before 1300 yds is absolutly meaningless as far as I am concerned, Portis was incapable of getting 1 and 2 yards when we were 1st and goal, or 3rd and 4th downs, meaningful yards, Gibbs pounded 2 years off his carreer trying to get this guy 1500 yds, bottom line he went from the highest yards per carry in denver, to one of the lowest yards per carry for us.

Your point about little Joe W. is a great point, for what I have said all along, just like Joe, Portis is a third down change of pace type back, if you do some research on this you will find a RB named Riggins took the bulk of the handoffs and ran for the tough yards, and yes he was a big dude.

[MTK]

Portis had problems staying healthy in Denver as well, so it's not exclusive to playing under Gibbs.

I misread your initial post, I thought you were calling Portis a failed experiment, now I see you're saying his extra weight may be a failed experiment. That just may be true, but I still think his injuries right now might be playing a factor. He doesn't seem to have the same burst he did back in camp and early in the season before he got banged up.

As for JW I'll gladly do some research:

In 1981 JW had 210 carries for 916 yards and also added 70 catches. Meanwhile Riggo had 195 for 714.

I wouldn't exactly call that Riggo taking the bulk of the work and it seems that JW was a bit more than a 3rd down back that year wouldn't you say?

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Portis had problems staying healthy in Denver as well, so it's not exclusive to playing under Gibbs.

I misread your initial post, I thought you were calling Portis a failed experiment, now I see you're saying his extra weight may be a failed experiment. That just may be true, but I still think his injuries right now might be playing a factor. He doesn't seem to have the same burst he did back in camp and early in the season before he got banged up.

As for JW I'll gladly do some research:

In 1981 JW had 210 carries for 916 yards and also added 70 catches. Meanwhile Riggo had 195 for 714.

I wouldn't exactly call that Riggo taking the bulk of the work and it seems that JW was a bit more than a 3rd down back that year wouldn't you say?

That was 81 before Gibbs established his signature running game, it was also a year in which Riggins was coming off a 1 year lay off and everyone was still feeling their way.

Take a good look at what happened the next 3 years, 82-Riggins 177, JW 44,[strike shortened season] the hogs are born, 83-Riggins 375, JW-145, 84-Riggins 327, JW-56, as you can see once Gibbs established his running game it was lopsided in Riggins favor.

[jermus22]

Great work Tony. I completely agree with your comments about the running game and pass rush. I'm still a little worried about the run defense, even though we did well against Philly. Philly isn't exactly a running team anyway.
Thanks again for the good article.