Here's my take on the game - what do you guys think?

I can only imagine what this defensive scheme would do with the Giants. I will not downplay the coaching process. I am sure that the giants will practice all week to shut down Portis. We may need to see more from Brunell and Gardner. If the league is going to cover Coles as they did today, Gardner and Cooley will have great opportunities in weeks to come. Gardner will need to catch the ball, and now the secret is out on Cooley.

Coaching...coaching...coaching is the biggest difference for us compared to last year. Especially on defense. Defense led the win...not Portis. Defense did not give up a TD! Salavea and Pierce are major surprises. Barrow might be expendable.?.?
I have to give BIG props to M. Bowen, he played great. I have been bad mouthing him all preseason and he came to play today...FINALLY!

AnonEmouse- the only one of your observations I have to disagree with you is Rod Gardner. He played a little better than OK. I saw only one drop and it was on a very low/bad pass from Brunnell. He made some clutch 3rd down catches. His size allowed him to catch a few short passes and run over his DB and make the first down. If I can admit my bad about Bowen, you might be able to say Gardner played better than OK......maybe?

Mike Sellers had two great pancake blocks.
Andre Lott had a key third down play.

The only part of the game and team of concern is center. There were a couple of mis-snaps that looked like the centers fault. but I might be wrong.

they were somebody's fault, missed exchanges shouldn't happen.

1. The defense was very impressive.

2. Matt Bowen looked good today with 2 sacks, 1 FF, and 9 total tackles.

3. The defensive line held up great against the run.

4. Special teams kick and punt coverage needs to improve considerably.

5. I was really impressed with the pass protection.

6. I was not so impressed with the run-blocking. Tampa's got a great defense, but stopping the run isn't their forte.

7. Brunell was decent, although I think our offense left the field during the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

8. Coles needs to be more involved in our offense.

9. Chris Cooley is a very impressive H-back.

10. A good win, but not a smashing debut.

RF, I think you're underestimating what happened today. You say not a smashing debut, I really beg to differ.

The Bucs aren't a pushover, they're very well coached and they always come to play.

Considering how far this team has come from just a year ago, and I couldn't be happier with today's win. And they're only going to get better as the season goes on.

RF, I think you're underestimating what happened today. You say not a smashing debut, I really beg to differ.

The Bucs aren't a pushover, they're very well coached and they always come to play.

Considering how far this team has come from just a year ago, and I couldn't be happier with today's win. And they're only going to get better as the season goes on. We won and I agree with RF's assesment. We don't need to be great at the beginning of the year just at the end. Lets take a win and go now to the Giants. We should critque so we know what are faults are and RF pretty much hit them on the head :thumb:

[QUOTE=monk81]Good analysis.........

But wasn't that funny when Pam Oliver asked Joe Gibbs for some words at the half....and Gibbs said, "No Comment"........... CIA GIBBS :laughing-

Yeah, and Gibbs was asked about that during his press conference. He made a good point... with halftime now only 12 minutes, he has to go in quickly make any adjustments he wants... he can't waste time standing on the field answering these asine questions by the media.

Some quick thoughts I had....

1. What a pleasure seeing the Skins actually looking organize and playing with some sort of plan.

2. Portis is going to make Skins fans forget about Bailey real quick...

3. Big play nobody is talking about... Cooley's reception for a 1st down on 3rd down in 2nd half. Huge play that slowed the Bucs momentum.

4. STs have to get better. Would have allowed that other big runback if not called back by penalty.

5. Brunnell looked really good, even without the big numbers. That one early pass he threw on the rope had a lot of zip. He looks like he knows exactly what to do out there.

6. Now won't everybody shut up about Bowen!! He is a gamer and hustles 100%... he may get burned some but it's not for him not hustling. Great game.

7. Bucs only get 30 yards rushing in a close game! This defense will without doubt be one of the best in the league. Williams already has them playing as a unit.

8. Game was not nearly as close as the score. Without a few bad calls and that fumble, the score could have easily been something like 24-3.

9. Skins offense did pretty darn good against a very good Bucs defense. Offense couldn't do much in the 3rd qtr but when it counted in the 4th, everyone came thru.

I was impressed with our pass protection, excellent, the buc's will bring many look's, and for the most part we handled them all no prob. Defense, 1 word, outstanding! We handled the run better than anyone could have hoped, we do have to keep in mind that the Buc's are a horrible rushing team over the last couple of year's, this D will get better as player's become more comfortable with the new system, and teammates, as well. Offense, Portis after the big run had to tough it out, but the Buc's are tough against the run, Gibb's has never had a back who could turn the corner like Portis, [ not even J. Washington] I defiently think Portis was worn out heading into the forth quarter, he should be ready to go 4 quater's next week, he's still rounding into game shape.

Brunnell, was ok, he did what Gibb's wanted, manage the game, and don't do anything stupid, and he did, Gardner continues to irritate me, he makes a great play, and then drop's a simple one, he's a guy I don't want the ball thrown at when the game is on the line, to unreliable, cooley look's to be one of these guy's with fly paper for hand's, and he can block, Morton isn't impressing me with his return's, he can't power his way up the gut when the big play isn't there, to often he does nothing, great job with the penalties, it's been a while since we see a flag on the ground and it's not on us, it's a nice feeling, great job by the fan's, over 90,000 tremendous, although I don't feel that fed ex will ever intimidate like RFK, looking forward to next week!

Biggest plus was the disciplined play. Few penalties, and few mistakes. Brunell's underthrown pass to Cooley early on was an exception, as was the botched handoff that led to TB's only touchdown. Brunell should have fallen on the ball and taken the loss. Our defense has shown their ability to hold, so there is really no cause to force plays on offense.

Speaking of the defense, that has to be the second biggest bright spot of the game. They only allowed a single field goal, and even that should be blamed more on the poor special teams play leading to great field position for TB.

Portis also had a great game. It seemed to me that this was often in spite of the OL's play, not because of it. The bigger plays were the result of Portis' improvisation, cutting back against the grain instead of running into holes that should have been there, but were not. In the OL's defense, they did not give up any sacks. That has to be worth something. But I just can't get over the picture of Randy Thomas getting sat on his can, and the resulting penetration stopping Portis for a loss in the backfield. That kind of thing needs to be fixed, and I've no doubt that Bugel will be taking them to task.

In some respects, I'm glad the game wasn't the blowout that it could have (should have?) been. There are things that the team obviously still needs to learn and to work on, and squeaking one out this way gives Gibbs and co. a teaching opportunity without having to pay for it with a loss.

Go Skins!

--Phin