Its Gotta Be..

there's a formula to beating the Skins. stack and blitz. rinse, repeat. thats why we keep losing the same way. this only happens because no one respects our air game. and they don't because of bad accuracy from our hurried QBs, and our WRs not getting open. can't be more obvious to me.

quick solution: rollouts, and ACCURATE dumpoffs and screens like Garcia did to our blitzing defense to great effect.

right answer: have your receivers be able to shake coverage and be respected enough to doubleteam or at very least play the safeties back and (gasp) play cover instead or blitz/run stop.

McCants doesn't deserve anything, he needs to earn his playing time and he obviously hasn't done that yet. He was active for the first time this year so that's a good sign.

Alot of people were second guessing why Taylor wasn't starting from week one, and some said he deserved to be in there. I think it's obvious who was right about that one now. I trust this staff and I trust they'll play who should be playing. McCants isn't the answer to our offensive woes.

I agree. The Screen is is a high percentage play. The draw play and a chance for Ladell Betts to get 10 carries isn't a bad idea. Where the hell is Rock Cartwright?

Coles USED to be that guy secondaries feared. but his massive heart can't overcome some physical limitations like his loss of cutting ability this year and last. just as Portis's heart can't replace about 30lbs to his frame.

i think Coles needs to soul-search and consider going on IR and getting that surgery. he's just NOT the same player. but he's still young so he should do this now.

there's no reason we shouldnt be exploring McCants and Jacobs for at least some whole drives at this point. give them a chance to earn it. McCants to me has proven his way around the redzone, and hasnt dropped clutch TD passes. considering our problems in the red zone this year, i think that definitely earns him a shot.

who do you see not giving it their all? don't say Portis, the reason he's fumbling is cuz he's giving 120% against 8 men. cant even say the WRs cuz Coles is out there putting dislocated fingers back in w/o saying anything to anybody. can't say Brunell cuz its literally his ass on the line running for his life. and you can't even say its the OLine, cuz they are holding, they just cant hold FOREVER which it takes for our guys to get OPEN.

I'm saying their mind is not 100% in the game. If it was, they wouldn't fumble. I like both Portis and Coles, you won't find me saying many negative things about them on this site, but their fumbles are a direct result of mental lapses.

McCants doesn't deserve anything, he needs to earn his playing time and he obviously hasn't done that yet. He was active for the first time this year so that's a good sign.

Alot of people were second guessing why Taylor wasn't starting from week one, and some said he deserved to be in there. I think it's obvious who was right about that one now. I trust this staff and I trust they'll play who should be playing. McCants isn't the answer to our offensive woes.

McCants deserves more playing time than Jacobs and Thrash. Thrash should be handling more punt returns. When your'e not even on the active list for the first three games after leading with 6 TD's last year is a serious problem. He looked damn good in preseason. If fact, he was the only WR to take the ball the distance after catching it. Something we still haven't seen from our receivers yet.

there's a formula to beating the Skins. stack and blitz. rinse, repeat. thats why we keep losing the same way. this only happens because no one respects our air game. and they don't because of bad accuracy from our hurried QBs, and our WRs not getting open. can't be more obvious to me.

quick solution: rollouts, and ACCURATE dumpoffs and screens like Garcia did to our blitzing defense to great effect.

right answer: have your receivers be able to shake coverage and be respected enough to doubleteam or at very least play the safeties back and (gasp) play cover instead or blitz/run stop.

The problem with rollouts and throw to TEs is that they don't scare opposing teams enough...Brunell does this a lot - rolls out and throws to Cooley, Rasby & sometimes Portis for modest 7-12 yard gains - other teams have come to expect it now. You need the QB to throw the long bomb - Brunell is efficient, but hasn't yet showcased any big play ability since preseason. Ramsey isn't efficient, but has showcased plenty of big play ability. What a dilemma!

One strategy, admittedly laughably unorthodox, is for us to sub QBs when we're in the red zone - send in Ramsey, who is much better at finding a receiver in the endzone than Brunell is (except for his faux pas in the Giants game). Also, send in Mccants and Jacobs over Coles and Gardner when we're in the red zone. I think Taylor Jacobs is the best receiver we have on the team. Coming away with field goals when we're in the red zone is intolerable, especially against a team like Cleveland.

I think the WR play is tied up with the rest of the offense.

First, we have to get our formations and our shifts right. That's a big part of Gibbs offense, and we clearly are having trouble with it right now. The shifts disguise what we are doing, and put pkayers in favorable matchups.

Second, the QB and the WRs need to learn to READ together, especially on blitzes. I believe that Gibbs offense requires on the spot sycrhonized reads by the QB and the WRs. Right now, it's not flowing smoothly, and as a result Brunnel has to wait to throw until he's sure the WRs break properly. (I BELIEVE this is what's going on, but I could be wrong. Still, there are timing and reading elements in the offense that take time to develope.)

Third, Gibbs needs to open the playbook up and use more play action and other trickery. He's kept it simple to help folks learn the system, but that makes it simpler for the defenses too. Portis said that Bronw defenders knew the plays. That's due to simplifying. Gibbs runs a few basic plays out of multiple formations. Until we get the formations striaght, it's not so hard for the Ds we play.

Fourth, establishing the run. If we REALLY do this, you will see lots more WRs running open.

Fifth, good blitz pickups. That seeme to be coming, but it isn't perfect. SOmetime Brunnel is rolling out under pressure and that throws off plays.

Last, Brunnel has to hit WRs in stride. It looks to me like they are coming open quite a bit out of their first cuts, but the ball is late. That may be Brunnel learning the offense and getting used to the reads, and it may be his lack of arm strength. Let's pray it's the former and not the latter.

The WRs are good enough. Coles may be hurt, but he had over 100 yards. Gardner had over 100 last week. Thrash can play, Cooley can play, and I'd also like to see the other guys get involved. The talent is there.

I'm saying their mind is not 100% in the game. If it was, they wouldn't fumble. I like both Portis and Coles, you won't find me saying many negative things about them on this site, but their fumbles are a direct result of mental lapses.

i think they're 100% focused and dedicated, but they're trying to overcome some big things with shaky results. Coles his toe, and Portis 8 man fronts bigger than him and running right into them w/o even a fullback.

Coles USED to be that guy secondaries feared. but his massive heart can't overcome some physical limitations like his loss of cutting ability this year and last. just as Portis's heart can't replace about 30lbs to his frame.

i think Coles needs to soul-search and consider going on IR and getting that surgery. he's just NOT the same player. but he's still young so he should do this now.

there's no reason we shouldnt be exploring McCants and Jacobs for at least some whole drives at this point. give them a chance to earn it. McCants to me has proven his way around the redzone, and hasnt dropped clutch TD passes. considering our problems in the red zone this year, i think that definitely earns him a shot.
I don't understand all the Coles 'hate'.. He's topped 100 yds 2 of the past 3 games.. I know he dropped some passes and fumbled yesterday but he is putting forth a strong effort.