Should Gibbs Flip The Script: Passing Team Now?

It's just funny how this time last week, everyone was screaming to put the load on Clinton Portis and ride the workhorse. Now that Campbell had a big day, necessitated by passing to catch up, everyone wants to see us pass all the time.

How about this, we put together a complete offensive performance where we're both running and passing effectively?

Yep, I was the main culprit in fact. But my thing is, if we're going to declare we're a smashmouth team, then let's ride CP for a good number of carries in doing so. (We don't have to re-hash that argument, by the way)

But I've always, and still do, believe that our offense is more geared and suited toward a spread offense implementing the no-huddle offense; faster pace. In other words, while I think we are very capable of playing smash mouth football, I think persononal wise, we're actually more finesse than we'd probably like to admit.

I'm not jumping ship, but I'd prefer to see more of what we've seen the past two games.

When we pass early, and take say a 17 point lead at halftime and then start running to maintian possession, it's called "lack of a killer instinct."

It's very rare that you can fully succeed without being able to run and stop the run effectively. Ask Elway (Terrell Davis) or Manning (Addai/Rhodes).

People can mock balance all they want, but ultimately it's the best formula for the personnel we have.

That's because a 17 point lead is not sufficient to start running to maintain possession in the third quarter.. Killer instinct (see Belichek, Bill or Martz, Mike) is to keep attacking until the 4th quarter and the game is well in hand.. I'm not advocating giving up on the running game.. I'd just like to see us be more pass focused.

It's very rare that you can fully succeed without being able to run and stop the run effectively. Ask Elway (Terrell Davis) or Manning (Addai/Rhodes).

People can mock balance all they want, but ultimately it's the best formula for the personnel we have.

Agreed, and personally, I could even see the "mighty" Patriots running into a bit of trouble in late December and January, when the weather gets crappy and they have no running game to lean on.

Go back to 1983 when the Redskins set an NFL scoring record, where we a passing team? A running team? No, we were a balanced team 50-50. You need both especially as winter approaches. You need running to eat up the clock and tire your opponents defense.

That's living in the past. The Rams set a new scoring record running this offense. The Pats are going to break that scoring record by passing. Eating up the clock instead trying to score more points has lost us too many games around here lately.

It's just funny how this time last week, everyone was screaming to put the load on Clinton Portis and ride the workhorse. Now that Campbell had a big day, necessitated by passing to catch up, everyone wants to see us pass all the time.

How about this, we put together a complete offensive performance where we're both running and passing effectively?

I think everyone would like to see us put together an offensive performance where we are running and passing effectively. I wouldn't mind, however, seeing us go with a run-heavy approach with teams like the Jets and a pass-heavy approach with teams like Dallas.

I agree with you, although I wouldn't have in the past.

When we were driving late in the game against the cowboys yesterday, I was saying, "Keep throwing!" On the last scoring drive we had, we threw something like 6 or 7 consecutive times. I think only one was incomplete, and one other wasn't for a first down. I had this terrible feeling we would pass our way into the red-zone, and then get stuffed trying to run it. We didn't, and we ended up scoring a touchdown. Coincidence? I think not.

I believe that you don't stop doing something that works, just for the sake of balance. You wait until the defense stops you.

Thank you. Balance is for losers. Scoring TD's is what it's all about.

It's just funny how this time last week, everyone was screaming to put the load on Clinton Portis and ride the workhorse. Now that Campbell had a big day, necessitated by passing to catch up, everyone wants to see us pass all the time.

How about this, we put together a complete offensive performance where we're both running and passing effectively?

You will never ever hear me say put the load on Portis cause it doesn't work when we get down inside the 20.

That's living in the past. The Rams set a new scoring record running this offense. The Pats are going to break that scoring record by passing. Eating up the clock instead trying to score more points has lost us too many games around here lately.

Ok, forward into the future. Let's look at the lions offense, Awesome WR's, pretty good RB's, OL, etc. and a "genius" OC (Martz) that you would probably like as the next coach (NOT!!!) All they do is pass the ball even though they have a pretty good offense. What happened to them against a tough D? If you don't balance your game you become predictable and if you go against a half decent DC, they will shut you down.

And that's why I said are we trying too hard to be a smash mouth team.

Yes, we can run the ball and pound people, but that doesn't have to be the game plan week in and week out.

One of the major criticisms I have had of Gibbs this second go round has been his over-adherence to the run first philosophy. Running the ball is fine if that's what works, but you adjust the philosophy to best suit the personnel that you have, not vice versa. There have been times when we have looked dominant pounding the power running game, but not this year, not with this line.

The strengths of the personnel should be the first consideration. Can anyone really question that our offense looks most effective this year when we are going three wide and looking to pass first? Spurrier had the same problem. Different principles obviously, but the philosophy came before the personnel. When it became clear we didn't have the talent to execute his offense he just kept with it and the results became worse and worse.

Gibbs is in a different league than Spurrier, so I have to think when reviewing the tape from these past two weeks with Saunders they will continue to stick with what has worked recently.

I would say it is way more exiciting to watch the games when we throw!