Time to bench Brunell? (Mega Man Merge)

10-6 proved enough to me, but oh well.

C'mon - this is the NFL. It's not about what you have done, it's about what you can do. MB did exactly what was asked of him against Houston, and he did an incredible job for the most part. However, you can't seriously suggest that Saunders asked a lot of MB's arm. That's still the unknown, and that's what has been missing for the past 5 games (plus pre-season, which I know you don't count for some reason).

C'mon - this is the NFL. It's not about what you have done, it's about what you can do. MB did exactly what was asked of him against Houston, and he did an incredible job for the most part. However, you can't seriously suggest that Saunders asked a lot of MB's arm. That's still the unknown, and that's what has been missing for the past 5 games (plus pre-season, which I know you don't count for some reason).

History plays a valid part in evaluating a player. The haters sure do love to throw 2004 in our faces, that's for sure.

You thought that was a "punch in the face" to the haters? His performance was well suited to the game plan, but that game plan isn't going to fly against any other team on our schedule. He still has a long way to go to prove that he can lead this team.

The short passes to Moss and Cooley worked GREAT last year for us. Having 4 WRs rather than 1 will help open up the field for us, even if we DO forget the low % bombs for more short passes.

If we're moving the ball, I don't care what "strategy" we use.

Besides, we have guys who can turn screen and shovel passes into the BIG plays you're craving.

Brunell "threw" a 74-yard shovel pass to Portis. I'll take that.

Randel El and Moss will break plenty of big plays this year too.

The short passes to Moss and Cooley worked GREAT last year for us. Having 4 WRs rather than 1 will help open up the field for us, even if we DO forget the low % bombs for more short passes.

Did you watch the last few games of last season? We surprised a lot of teams, but they quickly caught on. Our defense kept us in a lot of games, and, thus far, that isn't happening.

If we're moving the ball, I don't care what "strategy" we use.

This strategy won't work against anyone else we play this year (maybe the Titans).

Besides, we have guys who can turn screen and shovel passes into the BIG plays you're craving.

lol - I "crave" wins, not big plays.

Wins come from a pounding running game, which open up the passing game. If all of the passes are 5 yard screens, teams are going to catch on.


Brunell "threw" a 74-yard shovel pass to Portis. I'll take that.

No, Brunell "threw" a 2-yard shovel pass to Portis. Portis ran through the swiss cheese defense of the Texans for another 72 yards.


Randel El and Moss will break plenty of big plays this year too.

Why do you want to put all of the pressure on our WRs and RBs to "make big plays"? Doesn't anyone think part of the responsibility is on Brunell to be able to complete the big pass?

did the Texan game say more about them or us? have we grown, or have they regressed?

really can't say anything till next week. let's put this thread on hold until then.

did the Texan game say more about them or us? have we grown, or have they regressed?

really can't say anything till next week. let's put this thread on hold until then.
Well said.

I was praying that he broke the record when it was getting close. All I could think about this thread, and the Ironic punch the the face Brunell gave all the haters.

Punch in the face is an understatement...I call that performance A BITCH SLAP!

This strategy won't work against anyone else we play this year (maybe the Titans).

Which is why Al Saunders has stated that he doesn't run the same plays in every game.





Wins come from a pounding running game, which open up the passing game. If all of the passes are 5 yard screens, teams are going to catch on.


Yes, wins come from time of possession and pounding the ball, but not all the passes were 5 yard passes in this game. Again, whatever works, you keep doing it until the defense stops it.






Why do you want to put all of the pressure on our WRs and RBs to "make big plays"? Doesn't anyone think part of the responsibility is on Brunell to be able to complete the big pass?

Well of course, but if the QB doesn't have to throw it deep to pick up a win, why do it? For thrills? If the team you're playing can't stop the high percentage passes, why stop throwing them? We know that there are going to be other teams who will defend much more effectively, but again, you keep with what works until someone shuts it down. Just be patient....

You thought that was a "punch in the face" to the haters? His performance was well suited to the game plan, but that game plan isn't going to fly against any other team on our schedule. He still has a long way to go to prove that he can lead this team.

Isn't that what makes a team win?

If I'm correct you're saying that Brunell isn't suited for a gameplan that involves downfield passing. Heres the thing.

1) You can't use the first two games to gauge Mark Brunells downfield pass ability.

2) You can use last year, to see that Mark Brunell can throw the ball downfield. The second he didn't have any receivers, or the receivers that he had were in double coverage, he flopped.

3) Brunell has proven that when he the rest of the team is solid, so is he. He has collapsed when given an inconsistent team, and that makes sense. His job is to get the ball to the playmakers... and when they dont make plays... the blame comes crashing down.

Brunell is the best choice we have.

Isn't that what makes a team win?

uh...no. Please read my entire post. I have reposted the most important point (which you didn't address) below.

If I'm correct you're saying that Brunell isn't suited for a gameplan that involves downfield passing. Heres the thing.

1) You can't use the first two games to gauge Mark Brunells downfield pass ability.
um...ok, why not?

2) You can use last year, to see that Mark Brunell can throw the ball downfield. The second he didn't have any receivers, or the receivers that he had were in double coverage, he flopped.
If he were 29 and healthy, then I would agree. He's not. He struggled at the end of last season, and for all of this season, with anything over 10-15 yards. (I'm not even bringing up the preseason since whether or not it "counts" in evaluating players' abilites is a debate unto itself)

3) Brunell has proven that when he the rest of the team is solid, so is he. He has collapsed when given an inconsistent team, and that makes sense. His job is to get the ball to the playmakers... and when they dont make plays... the blame comes crashing down.
Why should the entire pressure be on Moss and Randle El and Lloyd to turn a screen pass into a 30 yard gain? It's on Brunell to make the play sometimes. Yesterday, Brunell did not make any big plays with his arm. He had one pass to Patton over the middle, and he strung Patton out (who made a fantastic catch). I think that goes straight to your point - Patton made the play, not Brunell. Why shouldn't Brunell be on the hook?

Brunell is the best choice we have.
We'll see - if he can't get the ball to receivers because they are more than five yards away, then perhaps there are better options. I think he proved himself enough in this game to have support for the next game, but it's really hard to credibly argue that he showed off his accuracy and decision making yesterday. It was an incredibly safe gameplan that relied on the receivers, RBs, and O-line to make plays. He did exactly what was asked of him, and that's fantastic (hey, it's a win after all!).

However, and this is the part that everyone who quotes my posts on this subject seems to conveniently ignore, this gameplan will not beat anyone else on our schedule, with the possible exception of the Titans. So, yes, Brunell executed this gameplan very well. Great, but who cares? This gameplan probably isn't going to work against anyone else.