Why Brunell is Struggling

Not that we need more Mark Brunell threads, but I wanted to post this as a piece of information that not a lot of us, if any, have picked up on. We've all noticed Brunell's suckiness but it's been tough to pinpoint the exact problems.

From today's Washington Post:

The coaches want to work more closely with Brunell, especially on his dropbacks on passing plays and his reading of defenses. While Brunell is a more accurate passer this year than a year ago, the coaching staff wants to emphasize to him that, in associate head coach Al Saunders's offense, decision-making must be immediate. Brunell's habit of dropping into the pocket, scanning the field and then patting the football has disrupted the timing of the offense, coaches say, and forced him to throw to a safety-valve receiver, most often a running back.


This is a good explanation for why Brunell is always checking down to underneath stuff. We know he's been checking down, but we didn't really know why. He doesn't have the timing part down yet, and he's missing his window of opportunity to throw to the WRs. He should have it down by now, IMO.

Good reporting by the Post.

Redskins Assess the Damage - washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501844.html)

I wonder how much of that is due to adjusting to the new offense.

Whatever it is, they need to get him straightened out and quick.

I wonder how much of that is due to adjusting to the new offense.

Whatever it is, they need to get him straightened out and quick.

When I think about it, Brunell has never run a timing offense like this one before. In Jacksonville and in his first two years here, he was able to survey the field for a while. Now Saunders is asking him to get the ball out quickly, it's got to be an adjustment.

But I mean jeez, he's had all offseason and now seven games, and it's still not there.

I agree. And it's nice to finally get some kind of explanation.

I hate to keep going back to the same thing, but Todd Collins said it would take a full season for the QBs to get up to speed in this offense. When I first heard that I was like yeah right, but maybe now it seems he was indeed telling the truth.

Getting back to your point Schneed, I agree Brunell has never been the prototypical dropback, pocket QB. Right now he's struggling with adjusting to this new style of offense, and he doesn't seem to trust what he's seeing.

This is my first post, but I have been viewing the site for a few years now. It's good to be able to rejoice together and spew together. With that said, everyone knows Brunell is on his way out as starter whether it be this season or (MY God) hopefully next. Spending time trying to get him to learn this season (2-5) will result in Campbell taking all of next season trying to get acclimated to the system. When does the madness stop????????? WE MUST SEE IF CAMPBELL IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB OR NOT!!!

This is my first post, but I have been viewing the site for a few years now. It's good to be able to rejoice together and spew together. With that said, everyone knows Brunell is on his way out as starter whether it be this season or (MY God) hopefully next. Spending time trying to get him to learn this season (2-5) will result in Campbell taking all of next season trying to get acclimated to the system. When does the madness stop????????? WE MUST SEE IF CAMPBELL IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB OR NOT!!!

Welcome. I agree.

At some point, practice time and game time must be invested in Jason Campbell to get him acclimated. 2-5 seems like a good time to do it, since winning and losing doesn't matter so much at this point.

Gibbs won't see it that way, though. Until the 'Skins have 7 losses or are otherwise mathematically eliminated, he's going to stick with what gives us the best chance to win. Once completely dead in the water, then maybe he'll hand the reins to Campbell to learn from. I just hope that doesn't result in Campbell being forced to learn on the job next season.

Yup, because you KNOW once the team is eliminated, there's going to be a lot less trying from the guys.

I hate to keep going back to the same thing, but Todd Collins said it would take a full season for the QBs to get up to speed in this offense. When I first heard that I was like yeah right, but maybe now it seems he was indeed telling the truth.

Getting back to your point Schneed, I agree Brunell has never been the prototypical dropback, pocket QB. Right now he's struggling with adjusting to this new style of offense, and he doesn't seem to trust what he's seeing.

That's a very good point. Given that the playbook is supposedly 700 pages, it's no surprise that Brunell has struggled a bit to get plays downfield. Perhaps because Mark is relatively unfamiliar with the playbook, he is not comfortable with throwing to a spot and anticipating that a receiver will be there.

Something perhaps worth noting from today's WP:

Redskins Assess the Damage (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501844.html)
October 26
Washington Post: "In Brunell's absence, another curious and possibly important event took place: For the first time in his young career, quarterback Jason Campbell took all the snaps with the first team on consecutive days. The move could be significant, a sign that the Redskins acknowledge that the disastrous events of the first seven games have accelerated their timetable for getting Campbell prepared to play"