AP Article: Redskins offense back to square one!

Not sure what you're getting at here. Are the Skins somehow telegraphing their plays??

It's true, they are - it's been the reason we've lost all along. In the Patriots game I saw Portis break the huddle, run over to Mike Vrabel and hand him several pages from Al Saunder's playbook.

In related news, Al Saunders' playbook is now down to 698 pages.

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

Personally I'm just getting tired of people pointing to the Patriots and saying, why can't we do what they do, or why can't we be like them?

The answer is there are 31 teams in the league that are NOT the Patriots. If it were that easy everyone would be doing what the Patriots do. The fact is the Patriots are a perfect blend of talent, drive, coaching, and execution. What they've done not only this year but in this decade is rare.

I would not be surprised if we look back at the 2007 Patriots as not only rare in this decade, but the history of the NFL.

It pains me to say that since I hate the Patriots, but they are something special this year, and it would not shock me at all if they go down in the NFL history books.

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

Reading the article it is clear that the problem begins at the top, Gibbs hasn't been doing his homework in version 2.0.

1. Clinton Portis has been miscast as a smashmouth running back. I love Portis, but clearly he has broken down due to how he has been used here. It just doesn't fit, would you use your Porsche to haul firewood? And last year we effectively borrowed the neighbor's truck (TJ Duckett) and kept it in the garage while we found our own truck (Ladell Betts) could carry the load.

2. We have no offensive identity. I personally hate it when we reference 2005 like it was an offensive renaissance. The only thing we really did better then was sustain drives (42% 3rd down conversion in '05 compared to 37% in '06 and 36% this year). We started the season off really sustaining offense, but subtract the right side of the line and we're stuck. But we have nothing to hang our hat on, no bread and butter play that will get us the conversion on 4th and short.

3. Our defensive identity is totally different than in '05. In '05 we were punishing people, GW's aggressive blitz schemes were forcing turnovers and we hit people. Now we hit people, but because of the fear of the long ball we no longer blitz. That's just crazy, because we don't have the d-line to consistently pressure the qb. Maybe GW will open it up once the offense turns around, but right now we're playing "First team to 21 points wins" kind of football and it sucks to watch.

Very good post. I don't necessarily agree with everything you said, but it was said well.

Rock bottom is a cold, hard place. Once you hit it, you begin to look over where you came from and start to do things differently. It's much easier for us fans to look and see problems because we're not a part of it. We're proud to be on the outside looking in, but sometimes a reality check is best served after a good ass-whipping.

Glad to hear some of the veterans have stepped up in Jansen's absence and start to take leadership roles. Usually a team looks to its QB, but when the QB is still wet behind the ears, others have to step up.

The problem is Al Saunders and Campbell. Al Saunders is calling the plays and they suck.
Campbell is not as accurate as he show be. So you guys tell who is the bigger problem Al or JC? Two years ago people were saying the offense was bad; however, ask the 49ers about the 50 points we put up.

Whatever they have been doing it doesn't work. Back to basic sounds like a fantastic idea to me...that's how good teams operate. They line up, no shifts no trickery, and just play.


Also, I not sure what these changes mean for Saunders but I can't imagine them being a good thing for his career. Could he be on his way out after the season?

Also, I not sure what these changes mean for Saunders but I can't imagine them being a good thing for his career. Could he be on his way out after the season?

I don't think we should evaluate things until the season's end. But, if I had to guess right now, I'd say that Al is gone come January. It's pretty evident that Al and Joe don't mix. In theory, they might espouse the same offensive philosophy, but, in reality, it seems like they want this offense to go in two different directions.

The shame is that bringing in a new offensive coordinator will likely stunt JC's growth. Worse still, bringing in a new OC will likely mean that we will have to wait until 2009 to field a potent offense.

Whatever they have been doing it doesn't work. Back to basic sounds like a fantastic idea to me...that's how good teams operate. They line up, no shifts no trickery, and just play.


Also, I not sure what these changes mean for Saunders but I can't imagine them being a good thing for his career. Could he be on his way out after the season?

That's certainly a good question.

I really don't know at this point. I guess it depends on how the rest of the season goes and if Gibbs returns next year. There's too many things up in the air to say either way I think.