Dan Steinberg Blogs From Redskins' Training Camp

Interesting read on Saunders' infamous 700 page playbook:

One of the enduring punch lines of last year's 5-11 Redskins (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Washington+Redskins?tid=informline) campaign centered on Al Saunders (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Al+Saunders?tid=informline) and his fabled 700-page playbook, the "War and Peace" of the NFL, minus the Russian winters. So after the coach's 40-minute media briefing ended yesterday afternoon, Saunders was asked just how many pages were in this year's book. Simple question, right?

Full article: washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072801308.html)

http://www.football.com/playbook/imgs/passtre.gif

if i connect the dots, what will i get?

I like Al's offense. But one thing that bothers me about Sanders is he's always talking about stupid ass stats. His offense stunk most of last year, yet he gets up there and talks about how we were the 3rd most productive offense in the NFL after the 3rd week of last year. How we completed 21 passes in a row. Who cares?? The bottom line is we didn't score enough points. Stats don't win games, points do.

I like Al's offense. But one thing that bothers me about Sanders is he's always talking about stupid ass stats. His offense stunk most of last year, yet he gets up there and talks about how we were the 3rd most productive offense in the NFL after the 3rd week of last year. How we completed 21 passes in a row. Who cares?? The bottom line is we didn't score enough points. Stats don't win games, points do.

I think his point was the offense showed flashes last year, and nobody can argue with the production that came from the running game.

I'm expecting a big jump this year. Al's offenses have typically blown up in year 2.

I like that AS uses stats to verify and modify his approach. At least there is real evidence to stay the course or make a change instead of just "feel".

Its similar to stolen bases & sacrifice bunting in baseball. On the surface they seem to work but data gathered over lots games proves otherwise. This is what AS is doing.

I think his point was the offense showed flashes last year, and nobody can argue with the production that came from the running game.

I'm expecting a big jump this year. Al's offenses have typically blown up in year 2.

Definitely. Our offense was not as bad as people want to remember. And I'd say it was hella better than two years previous and probably better than '05 ultimately. We lost last year because our D sucked wind. If we had that offense in '04 and '05 we'd have made the playoffs twice and gone farther in '05 I think. It wasn't Coltsesque but it got the job done on many occasions. Our line play was solid and Brunell didn't totally stink the joint up. Campbell was a revalation and our running game was good. We need more production from our WRs but a year of seasoning ought to bring that up. I am only worried about the dev of Campbell. If he doesn't choke we are fine on offense. I think that is Saunders' frame of mind. His offense clearly works.

if i connect the dots, what will i get?

The answer to Question 3, or pie. Your choice.

Definitely. Our offense was not as bad as people want to remember. And I'd say it was hella better than two years previous and probably better than '05 ultimately. We lost last year because our D sucked wind. If we had that offense in '04 and '05 we'd have made the playoffs twice and gone farther in '05 I think. It wasn't Coltsesque but it got the job done on many occasions. Our line play was solid and Brunell didn't totally stink the joint up. Campbell was a revalation and our running game was good. We need more production from our WRs but a year of seasoning ought to bring that up. I am only worried about the dev of Campbell. If he doesn't choke we are fine on offense. I think that is Saunders' frame of mind. His offense clearly works.

Exactly, when you go from 9th to 31st in defense you can expect to be watching the playoffs from home in January.

I like that AS uses stats to verify and modify his approach. At least there is real evidence to stay the course or make a change instead of just "feel".

Its similar to stolen bases & sacrifice bunting in baseball. On the surface they seem to work but data gathered over lots games proves otherwise. This is what AS is doing.

I think this is the first time I've seen an Irish post with the phrase "I like" in it. :)