Gibbs' Offseason Thoughts

good read. and I'm not sold on A.A. sucking as bad as last season. I'm the guy who keeps saying great coaches don't forget how to coach. i think the same goes for players. not that A.A. is great, but he is alot better then he showed last season



I concur in your thought process. Many of the comments made about AA reminds me so much of all the derogatory things that were said about Brunell after his first season here, words came a little more kindly after his second year here, and I'm hoping the same will hold true for AA.

Three circumstances that could have affected his play will not be prevelant this season: Changing teams, pressure of a huge contract in a different City, and learning a new defense. I'm hoping he too is out to demonstrate that he's a better player than he showed last year. I'll be satisfied with him at least having that opportunity.

I concur in your thought process. Many of the comments made about AA reminds me so much of all the derogatory things that were said about Brunell after his first season here, words came a little more kindly after his second year here, and I'm hoping the same will hold true for AA.

Three circumstances that could have affected his play will not be prevelant this season: Changing teams, pressure of a huge contract in a different City, and learning a new defense. I'm hoping he too is out to demonstrate that he's a better player than he showed last year. I'll be satisfied with him at least having that opportunity.

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE A.A. to live up to expectations, but did anyone other than me notice how SLOW he always looked on the field?? I hope he spends the entire offseason with parachutes tied to his back and weight vests on. He needs to be faster. Period.

And Brunell was injured most of his first season here. A.A. was healthy and just flat out stunk.

do you think the effect of having a seperate coach for safeties and corners had an effect on his play namely steve jackson

do you think the effect of having a seperate coach for safeties and corners had an effect on his play namely steve jackson

I don't think so. It shouldn't. Unless they were telling him conflicting things, which at this level I doubt would happen. When A.A. played in St. Louis, the team played a pretty conservative style of D. Now he comes to GW's blitz heavy schemes. When we send all those LB's, it leaves the secondary exposed. That's when A.A. would get exploited speed-wise. And he took bad angles of pursuit in run support... I just don't think the guy is that good.

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE A.A. to live up to expectations, but did anyone other than me notice how SLOW he always looked on the field?? I hope he spends the entire offseason with parachutes tied to his back and weight vests on. He needs to be faster. Period.

And Brunell was injured most of his first season here. A.A. was healthy and just flat out stunk.



While AA has been highly critisized for his lack of speed, it should be noted that speed is not a major prerequisite for playing the position. We had two safeties play here who were two of the slowest players in the NFL when they played; In the names of Paul Krause & Mark Murphy, they both enjoyed great careers and were no faster than AA. As a matter of fact Krause went on to become an all-pro with Minnesota. Toughtness and recognition are more required from the safety position than is speed.

When Brunell was being rediculed no one was saying it was because he was hurt, word was he just plain sucked, along with many other adjectives. What followed after his first season goes to show opinions can change.

I don't think so. It shouldn't. Unless they were telling him conflicting things, which at this level I doubt would happen.

According to the Tom Friend article, that is exactly what was happening.

According to the Tom Friend article, that is exactly what was happening.

Which still baffles me. I mean all three (including Williams) coached together in Buffalo

Which still baffles me. I mean all three (including Williams) coached together in Buffalo

Agreed. How on earth can that go on in the NFL, especially with coaches who have worked together for multiple seasons? Could this be a microcosm of what's wrong with the defense? We've got so many coaches/coordinators, maybe signals are being crossed? Maybe that's why we just hired a new defense quality control coach? I'm pretty bothered by this. You make a guy the richest to ever play his position and he isn't even being coached consistently?? Anyone have the link to that Tom Friend article?

(I still think Archuletta isn't fast enough. Today's game is much more about speed than it was back in Mark Murphy's day)

Agreed. How on earth can that go on in the NFL, especially with coaches who have worked together for multiple seasons? Could this be a microcosm of what's wrong with the defense? We've got so many coaches/coordinators, maybe signals are being crossed? Maybe that's why we just hired a new defense quality control coach? I'm pretty bothered by this. You make a guy the richest to ever play his position and he isn't even being coached consistently?? Anyone have the link to that Tom Friend article?

(I still think Archuletta isn't fast enough. Today's game is much more about speed than it was back in Mark Murphy's day)


Aint no thinkin about it. AA is a slow piece. Mark Brunell could probably outrun his goofy looking ass. Now, get me a Gatorade Arch.....

according to redskins.com joe gibbs said the redskins are seriously considering trading down to acquire a couple more picks