What's the Bigger Problem?

It seems like Gibbs' playcalling revolves around the QB not taking too many chances downfield (directly propotional to TOs and QB confidence), handing off to the RB to maximize TOP, and using shorter passes to put the ball in the playmakers' hands (Coles, Gardner, Cooley, Portis, etc) in the open field. Not a bad strategy (very conservative and safe), but we're being killed by penalties, bad calls, poor execution, and up until a few weeks ago, dropped passes. The approach with Ramsey may turn out to be an excellent decision. He may not post huge numbers this year, but this year may be the type of learning experience and confidence builder that he needs at this point in his career so that he may fluorish (and yes, allowed to take longer shots down the field) later on down the road in the current offense.

Gibbs' playcalling IS going to be a little more conservative when a new Quarterback is brought into the system. I believe his thinking was by bringing in a veteran QB, he could pick up the system faster than a QB that hasn't even started a full season yet. Also, with the vet, Gibbs probably figured that his system would develop faster and he would be able to stretch the field more than what we were able to do. Unfortunately, Brunell failed miserably and Patrick Ramsey was probably still rattled by losing his starting job at the beginning of the season. Some will say Ramsey should have started all long, some will say not, but hindsight is 20/20 and nobody will ever really truthfully know whether if starting Ramsey earlier would have brought us more wins...heck we could have had a worse record! In Gibbs first tenure, he wasn't exactly super conservative...because we had the Posse for the QBs to throw to..plus we had a monster of an offensive line which helped in run blocking and pass protection....and giving our running backs huge holes to run through.

I do believe that this system will be one that can really mold Ramsey into a great QB. If this system had already been in place for a few years, Ramsey would probably be further along. Why? Because more than not, a system that has already been put in place has the kinks ironed out and its easier to concentrate on building up a QB than having to build up the system from ground up...which is what Gibbs has had to do. GIBBS HAS MADE SOME MISTAKES during this rebuilding phase...as what MOST new coaches normally have. I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR! I won't blame those mistakes on Gibbs' lack of knowledge or lack of preperation......I seriously doubt Gibbs lacks either...and I'm never going to give into the cop out that the game has passed him by; nor will I blame playcalling for everything that was wrong this year....

As much as I hate to say it because of all the money we have spent on them our O-line is at the root of most of our problem's on offense, they really limit what Gibb's can do, case and point, they couldn't move the philli scrub's off the line of scrimmage, they have an entire D-line of backup's and we can't keep them off of Ramsey or open up some nice holes for Portis, my opinion is Samuels, Dockery, and Raymer are absolutly none existant out there, Thomas is a player and Brown gives everything he has but he is 40 something yrs old, I say if Jansen is healthy by training camp I move him to the left side put Wilson on the right and find a legitamate center in the off season, I have to say this and I know this will make Dasael happy, perhap's SS problem's didn't stem so much from his coaching as much as it did from a unbelievably overated O-line? let's face it Gibb's is having the same kind of problem's that SS had, and he throw's just as many hitches as SS and I didn't think that was possible, something tell's me that the lack of ability on the O-line is limiting what any coach could do on offense, we have alway's felt that picking Lavar, and Samuels, back to back was a no brainer, apparently it was, we are putting out major dollar's to a lineman who can't block, and a LB who has less instinct's at the position than and undrafted player like Pierce, if anyone think's Lavar is going to make a big difference when he finally get's back on the field their only kidding themselves, William's could fill his position in a heartbeat.

PENALITIES, or Phanton Calls

PLAYCALLING PLAYCALLING PLAYCALLING.

We run the screen pass to perfection, its a shame its the only play we run though.

I didnt see the 49ers game, but my guess is that we looked fine on teh opening drive them went back to conservative crap play calling.

The game boiled down to not being able to punch in in at the goal line. We moved the ball fairly well all day.

SkinsNCanes, it did regress to conservative crap playcalling. Punching it in happened on 3 runs up the middle 3 times which resulted in field goals. The 4th I think we tried a pass and missed. Infuriating.

As others have said, it really is a combination, but I went with execution. If there was better execution (especially earlier in the season when Brunell was starting) and less penalties, we would be almost assured a playoff spot right now. That said, Gibbs has had his ups and downs with the play-calling, but I think that was to be expected at least to an extent after his long absence from the sidelines.

Play calling..........especially in the red zone.....even in the 49er game...we shouldn't have had to settle for field goals.........