sportscurmudgeon
07-25-2007, 01:41 AM
Someone said we should get the FACTS. OK, here are some to go and check out:
Where did the Skins rank in terms of yardage allowed last year?
Where did the Skins rank in terms of points allowed last year?
If I counted right, they ranked 24th in yardage allowed and 31st in points allowed.
Allowing yardage like that puts real presure on the offense to score quickly with big plays because the other team will be moving the ball once it goes back. Allowing points like that is what gives a team a pick as high as #6 in the draft in the following spring.
The FACTS are that the Skins were 5-11 last year and the defense was bad. They need to have the defense improve by 100% this year if they want to make the playoffs (even with an 8-8 record).
Now for subjective analysis:
If the problem is that Griffen tends to get hurt too much, the solution is not to limit his # of plays. When he is on the sidelines standing there and healthy, he's of no more value to the team than he is when he's hurt and not playing. If he is the guy that has to be in there to make things better, then don't take him out unless it is absolutely necessary. Griffen's history is that he's had two above average years in his career for whatever reasons.
Philip Daniels is a team leader. Five years ago, Philip Daniels was also a very solid player. Last year, he was a shadow of his former self as a player. Expecting him to put a move on Father Time and get back to where he was several years ago is unrealistic.
The reason the rookies got playing time last year is because the starters were ineffective. Notice that when those rookies got in the games, the defense did not become a ferocious unit. Rookies can improve; the Skins have to hope at least one or two of them improve a whole lot.
Whoever plays linebacker behind Andre Carter had better be ready to do a lot of tackling. If the Skins want a pass rush from the DL, Carter will have to provide much of it and he is most effective using speed to run around the OT. That leaves a gaping hole inside for teams to run into with draw plays. If that linebacker over there isn't a solid tackler, there will be no pass rush from the DL this season; Carter will have to "stay home".
If the Skins lose defensive linemen in training camp or if several of them have to play the season out with nagging injuries that won't go away, the defensive unit will be in big trouble because teams will run on them a lot.
I hope I separated the FACTS from the subjective analyses sufficiently...
Where did the Skins rank in terms of yardage allowed last year?
Where did the Skins rank in terms of points allowed last year?
If I counted right, they ranked 24th in yardage allowed and 31st in points allowed.
Allowing yardage like that puts real presure on the offense to score quickly with big plays because the other team will be moving the ball once it goes back. Allowing points like that is what gives a team a pick as high as #6 in the draft in the following spring.
The FACTS are that the Skins were 5-11 last year and the defense was bad. They need to have the defense improve by 100% this year if they want to make the playoffs (even with an 8-8 record).
Now for subjective analysis:
If the problem is that Griffen tends to get hurt too much, the solution is not to limit his # of plays. When he is on the sidelines standing there and healthy, he's of no more value to the team than he is when he's hurt and not playing. If he is the guy that has to be in there to make things better, then don't take him out unless it is absolutely necessary. Griffen's history is that he's had two above average years in his career for whatever reasons.
Philip Daniels is a team leader. Five years ago, Philip Daniels was also a very solid player. Last year, he was a shadow of his former self as a player. Expecting him to put a move on Father Time and get back to where he was several years ago is unrealistic.
The reason the rookies got playing time last year is because the starters were ineffective. Notice that when those rookies got in the games, the defense did not become a ferocious unit. Rookies can improve; the Skins have to hope at least one or two of them improve a whole lot.
Whoever plays linebacker behind Andre Carter had better be ready to do a lot of tackling. If the Skins want a pass rush from the DL, Carter will have to provide much of it and he is most effective using speed to run around the OT. That leaves a gaping hole inside for teams to run into with draw plays. If that linebacker over there isn't a solid tackler, there will be no pass rush from the DL this season; Carter will have to "stay home".
If the Skins lose defensive linemen in training camp or if several of them have to play the season out with nagging injuries that won't go away, the defensive unit will be in big trouble because teams will run on them a lot.
I hope I separated the FACTS from the subjective analyses sufficiently...