New Poster Making People Mad

That being said, Brunnell is not the kind of QB to win you games on his own (though he did it gainst Dallas last year). And that's not his role here. The coaches know what they have, and I think they schemed very well for Brunnell against Jax. You coach to your players--that how it's done. I think Campbell will ultimately give them lots more options in the passing game (and I'm sure Gibbs thinks so too--that's why he traded up for him). But right now everything is geared towards making it work with MB. Changing now would be a big deal, and most likely unhelpful in the short-term. If we see a game where everyone else is kicking butt and MB is woeful (and we did in 2004), then things change. But that's not what happened on Sunday in NY, IMO.

er, i think Moss's unique gifts as a receiver were just as responsible for the Dallas game as Brunell. i think the combination of the two can be VERY powerful, but its way underused.

it's also impossible for 'everyone' to kick ass if they don't get the ball. maybe Randle El could physically throw to himself, but the others sure couldn't.

Tinkering with our QB situation right now would be pointless, because Jason Campbell does not represent an upgrade over Brunell at the current time.

So there's no use banging our heads against the wall about Brunell. He is what he is. Accurate when given time, gets shut down when pressured.

Since you can't do much about your QB right now, you've got no choice but to plan to play with him. To make Brunell successful, the line HAS to block very well. Our offense depends upon the line, not on Mark Brunell. If the line gives him time, Brunell's going to do what all average NFL QBs can do: deliver the ball.

If there's one thing we've learned over the last few years it is that Brunell is consistent within situations. When he's hurt, he's horrible. When he's healthy and has time, he operates the offense very well (just like most QBs can do). And when he's pressured he dumps the ball off avoiding turnovers, and punting over and over.

The throw-away and punt strategy usually works better when you have a defense that can get the ball back and get off the field. But when you have a defense playing like swiss cheese, Brunell's throw-aways become a bigger issue.

Tinkering with our QB situation right now would be pointless, because Jason Campbell does not represent an upgrade over Brunell at the current time.

So there's no use banging our heads against the wall about Brunell. He is what he is. Accurate when given time, gets shut down when pressured.

Since you can't do much about your QB right now, you've got no choice but to plan to play with him. To make Brunell successful, the line HAS to block very well. Our offense depends upon the line, not on Mark Brunell. If the line gives him time, Brunell's going to do what all average NFL QBs can do: deliver the ball.

If there's one thing we've learned over the last few years it is that Brunell is consistent within situations. When he's hurt, he's horrible. When he's healthy and has time, he operates the offense very well (just like most QBs can do). And when he's pressured he dumps the ball off avoiding turnovers, and punting over and over.

The throw-away and punt strategy usually works better when you have a defense that can get the ball back and get off the field. But when you have a defense playing like swiss cheese, Brunell's throw-aways become a bigger issue.

Well said.

Brunell is what he is. He's not a QB that's going to win games for you all by himself. I've said it before and I'll say it again, his play mirrors that of the players around him. When the offense is playing well as a unit, chances are he also plays well. When the unit stinks like last week, he's going to stink.

If you're waiting for Brunell to magically become Peyton Manning overnight, keep dreaming because it isn't going to happen.

Apparently, those five minutes of football solidified him as the starter for the rest of his career, no matter how inconsistent he plays. How many sub par performances does he get for one miracle comeback in two and a half seasons?

I guess you are right, after all he is still the starter and there are no plans to replace him this year anyway.

Really he is not the problem here. Everybody wanted Brunell's head after the first two games, then after the next two games it was all about breaking Gannon's record for consecutive completions in a game, then putting up 36 points on a number three defense. Then all of a sudden we get into another divisional game against the team that, by the way won our division last year, a team that has a pretty good defense themselves, in their house, after a bye week, with their backs against the wall, and we lose...Aaaah it's Brunell, and he sucks, blah, blah, blah.

It was not Brunell's fault we lost. It was the offensive line's inconsistencies, the secondary's poor coverage at times, the defensive line's lack of pressure on Eli, the missed field goals, suspect play calling at times. As a TEAM they need to get better, and as the team gets better so does Brunell.

The throw-away and punt strategy usually works better when you have a defense that can get the ball back and get off the field. But when you have a defense playing like swiss cheese, Brunell's throw-aways become a bigger issue.

That is a very good point, Schneed! In fact, in may be one of the best posts I've read since the season started. The offense can't rely on the defense to keep them in the game as it stands now. Saunders is going to have to open it up a little bit and take some chances. We have extremely talented playmakers and it needs to be a case of "you versus me, let's see who's better."

yeah the O-Line obviously struggled. but we were up against a rested Umenyiora and Strahan, we also knew that coming in. when a part of the team is struggling, another has to come up and make some PLAYS, even if they are risky. Brunell clearly can't do that anymore, and honestly didn't even try.

if Brunell doesn't try, that means Moss, Lloyd, Randle El, and Cooley can't either. result: LOSS

- EDIT: ok, he TRIED to escape the sacks (like he used to be able to do) but he didn't try enough passes downfield regardless of risk towards the end of the game.

Do you really want him throwing the ball up for grabs? Because that's what it sounds like you're suggesting. If only beating a D was that easy and only required the QB to 'try' throwing deep.

If it's not there he rarely will force the issue, that's just how he plays the game. If the game comes down to needing Brunell to force throws, then it's really not the kind of game we're likely to win, and it's asking him to be something he's not.

I guess you are right, after all he is still the starter and there are no plans to replace him this year anyway.

Really he is not the problem here. Everybody wanted Brunell's head after the first two games, then after the next two games it was all about breaking Gannon's record for consecutive completions in a game, then putting up 36 points on a number three defense. Then all of a sudden we get into another divisional game against the team that, by the way won our division last year, a team that has a pretty good defense themselves, in their house, after a bye week, with their backs against the wall, and we lose...Aaaah it's Brunell, and he sucks, blah, blah, blah.

It was not Brunell's fault we lost. It was the offensive line's inconsistencies, the secondary's poor coverage at times, the defensive line's lack of pressure on Eli, the missed field goals, suspect play calling at times. As a TEAM they need to get better, and as the team gets better so does Brunell.

It's too easy to play the QB blame game and unfortunately alot of people fall for it.

Matty, a common misconception when people ask for a QB to be pulled is that it's because of the previous game. Brunell has been suspect going on 3 seasons now. He plays well in stretches (last season he played solid for a decent part of the season.) The first year was abysmal, and this year is heading that way without the abiration known as the Jags game.

That is a very good point, Schneed! In fact, in may be one of the best posts I've read since the season started. The offense can't rely on the defense to keep them in the game as it stands now. Saunders is going to have to open it up a little bit and take some chances. We have extremely talented playmakers and it needs to be a case of "you versus me, let's see who's better."

Thank you for the compliment.

But I slightly disagree with your conclusions. Brunell always has been very good at avoiding costly mistakes. He had only 10 INTs last year as evidence.

Brunell loves to throw the ball away rather than force bad passes. He'd rather play the field position game and punt than take a chance and maybe get intercepted. If your defense plays like swiss cheese, then throwing the ball away and punting can get you into trouble because the opposing offense can just march the field and put up points. Then again, if you throw an INT, the opposing offense has a short field and has an even greater chance of putting up points.

How Brunell plays needs to depend upon the situation. If we're behind by 10 points with 7 minutes to play, I don't want to see him dumping the ball off, ever. But if we're up by 3 points, the last thing I want him doing is forcing a ball into tight coverage, risking an INT.

All this talk about swiss cheese defense should not be an indictment of Brunell's conservative style of play. It should be an indictment of our swiss cheese defense. We shouldn't expect Brunell to be any more than he is. He is a game manager, a QB with average talents and way-above-average decision making. You want to win a Super Bowl with him, don't expect him to play like Peyton Manning. Expect him to play like Trent Dilfer, and expect your defense to play like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.

I don't expect Brunell to suddenly get younger legs, or become Peyton Manning. all i can ask of Brunell right now is too look over the MIDDLE somemore, especially when a game is on the line. don't you all agree?

even the most grizzled veterans have bad habits: Beldsoe, waits too long. Favre, forces it. etc. etc. Brunell is no different, and was clearly illustrated to be his penchant for throwing to the sidelines (in the valid attempt to avoid INTs). and this is throughout his career, not just since becoming a Skin.

well, it's made him easy to gameplan against, especially since the commonplace Cover-2 is tailormade for limiting outside passes to a tiny intermediate window (see Jax).

i know we don't have a possession receiver, and while Cooley kind of fits that role, its also only for intermediate throws. Brunell DOESN'T LIKE to throw deep except near the sidelines. Moss blowing past the MIDDLE of the Quarter defense of Dallas was SO unexpected, that they didn't CHANGE THE COVERAGE and allowed a 2nd TD!

is it wrong to ask for Brunell try more risky throws (incl. over the middle)when the game is on the line?