Problems, And Excuses!

I shall suspend all activities until these results are in, Matty.

I'll then chart those results in a pie chart and divide everything by pi.

Mmmm. Pie. Question 3.

Safety tip:
Super Duper Slow mode is oft referred to as "Mississippi mode" or in Mississippi as Arkansas mode, or Clinton mode. Check manufacturers listing for other loser data.
Residents of Mississippi, Arkansas notwithstanding. Sorry Hillary

I'd like to chime in for a second on the throwing off the back foot thing....I've watched McNabb complete countless amazing throws off his back foot. As well as...hate to say it, Eli Manning. I'm just not sure how much merit that really has in the NFL.

I know it's a mechanical no-no, but I think it really boils down to the savvy and athletism of the quarterback.

I think the problem with our O line is simple. It is not a finess line, that likes to do zone blocking and stretch plays, draws. They are a smash mouth, attack the d-line and LB's, run it down your throat line. Look at how bad they did when spurrier was here with that offense. Look at how they improved last year when we ran the ball right at the defense. They knew we were going to run, but we still piled up 150 again in that stretch. I think we need to nix this finess crap and line up and smack houston in the mouth. Go back to Redskin football. Joe Gibbs and Co. know where their bread and butter is and its those big guys up front. Jansen told the coaches last year, let us take you to playoffs, allow us to run the ball at the defense, no around the defense. We have big strong guys that are best at run blocking. Dockery is a good LG. He is big, strong and move for a guy his size. It would be a mistake to put someone else in the game and take him out. When we attack the line of scrimmage with Thomas and Dock pulling, no one can stop that!! Lets get back to REDSKIN FOOTBALL

I thought this was another Brunell bashing thread, and I was going to jump on the bandwagon and state emphatically that I never wanted him, wasn't thrilled with the trade for him, and I too think he throws off his back foot too much, and throws it away in order to avoid sacks. But since he saved HOF Coach Gibbs life, and is now married to Coach Gibbs, I don't see any change at QB very soon. This in spite of the huge investment that we have in JC.

thats some funny shit,especially this line, "But since he saved HOF Coach Gibbs life, and is now married to Coach Gibbs, I don't see any change at QB very soon"
it does seem that way,gibbs wont bench him till its too late

I'd like to chime in for a second on the throwing off the back foot thing....I've watched McNabb complete countless amazing throws off his back foot. As well as...hate to say it, Eli Manning. I'm just not sure how much merit that really has in the NFL.

I know it's a mechanical no-no, but I think it really boils down to the savvy and athletism of the quarterback.

Agreed. Among the guys you named, Bret Favre also made a career from throwing off his back foot. An extremely talented quarterback can make nice throws off of their back foot. The problem is, most of Brunell's natural talent left him four years ago.

The change to Saunders system also required a change in the way the o-line blocks, I think. This is causing troubles. I too have seen lots of missed blocks and free defenders, though not on super duper slo mo, and I think that's a result of missed assignments and lack of comfort in the new scheme. I think they'll get it, and I think Buges is stilla good coach. Don't forget that Portis ran for 1500 last year behind that line, and it took us to the playoffs. Some of that credit has to go to Buges, if we want to dump on him now.

Overall, I think that the problems on both sides of the ball have more to do with chemistry and confidence than with talent or schemes. It shouldn't surprise us that a new and complex offensive system takes time to implement. As for the D, injuries and new faces have hurt, but GW and Blache will get it going.

As for MB (and this is not, of course, an MB thread!), I don't care how he throws it, so long as he gets it to the recievers!

Matty,

Can you separate that down by drives? Here's what I saw by looking at the play-by-play.

Rushes:
Drive Yds
1 0
2 6,3, and 0
3 none
4 2 (by now Dallas knows we have no rushing game)
5 19(Moss), 15
6 3
7 6,5,12 (ending at the half)(I think the last was a pass play)
Passes
Drive Down YdsToGo YdsOnPlay (- is incomplete, sack(#) is sack with yards lost)
1 1 10 6
1 3 4 -
2 none
3 1 10 15
3 1 10 7
3 2 8 -
3 1 10 6
3 1 10 -
3 2 10 sack(8)
3 3 18 14 (got the FG)
4 2 8 -
4 3 8 -
5 1 10 sack(11)
5 3 11 -
6 1 10 -
6 3 7 -
7 2 4 -

By the end of the 4th drive we have a total of 11 yards, only 1 rush longer than 3 yards. See if they starting blitzing about then. After all, they didn't have to worry about our running game, and they could just tee off.

I broke down the first half of the game last night with my DVR on SUPER SLO MO and I even broke out my armchair clipboard and charted the plays. I even put on my PS2 headset just so I could feel even more like a wannabe loser. Afterwards I put all the info into a spreadsheet and this is what I found.

In the first half alone I noted 7 instances where one defender or more was running free to the QB without being blocked at all. I don't care what QB you're talking about, that kind of pressure is going to disrupt an offense.

I need to finish breaking down the 2nd half tonight, but I'm trying to find the SUPER DUPER SLO MO button so I can break it down frame by frame. I'll then chart those results in a pie chart and divide everything by pi.

Sorry, that formatting came out like S**T, but hopefully the idea is still intelligible.