Offensive Philosophy

I've been thinking about something Patrick Ramsey said on his NFL total access interview. I know that this was a "fluff" interview, but something he said stuck in my mind. When asked about changes in Washingtons offense he basically said that we had a lot of games that were lost by less than seven points and that we're looking for that extra touchdown. We have our minor problems with some players, but I think our main reason for concern should be this way of thinking. I don't want to question our coach and his philosophy, but I think it's been proven in today's NFL that having a lead and then playing conservatively to hold onto it does not work. I also know that Gibbs is going to be "opening the playbook" a little more and going vertical, but does anyone else see this as a problem? I think to be really successful we need to pour on the points even with a stellar defense.

"I don't want to question our coach and his philosophy, but I think it's been proven in today's NFL that having a lead and then playing conservatively to hold onto it does not work."

I don't remember many games last year where we ever had any sort of commanding lead and lost (except for the Ravens game and that goddam Dallas game, Jesus that sucked). I thought our probelm was scoring any points at all, period, and I don't think our inability to score was the result of Gibb's offensive philosphy. Vince Lombardie couldn't have got the skins more than ten points a game with Fart Brunell in the pocket and our banged up O-line last year. If the line is healhty next year, and Gibbs still can't put up more than fourteen points a game, then I'll start to question his thinking, but I can't blame him for last year's offense, given our lack of talent at QB and the state of last year's offensive line.

What Gibbs want's to do is not play conservative to the extent of playing scared but to grind down the clock, and what I mean by that is he want's to control the ball and keep it out of the opposing offenses hands while we drive the ball down field, and to do that you have to run, although you also have to be able to convert the 3rd and short passes as well to keep those drives alive, but it seem's he may have confused the 2.

My biggest concern is we were so painfully obvious concervative last season when just about all of us new we had to start taking chances downfield and open up the offense and Gibbs couldn't see it, it was like he was saying he would rather lose by 7 or less than to take the chances neccessary to win, Gibbs will say time and again that turnovers lose games, but if your scared to a point of a TO that you refuse to run anything that isn't high percentage you will grind the offense to a hault which is what happened last season.

It's the bird afraid of walking that never learn's to fly, we keep hearing Gibbs is going to open up the offense this season, can we believe it or is it just our wishful thinking? What was stopping him from doing it last season? We heard all through the pre-season that Gibbs wasen't showing anything and as soon as the regular season starts he will open it up? Well if anything we were more conservative in the regular season than the pre-season.

I just wonder how much of last year's offense can be contributed to Gibbs having to re-remember how he used to run his offense, perhaps his problem was he really couldn't teach something that he was having a hard enough time trying to get it straight in his own head first, hopefully this offseason will be a big help in getting his offensive mind going again, but remember this, Coles wanted out after talking to Gibbs about how he's being used and lack of downfield play's, apparently he didn't come away with the notion that Gibbs planned on opening up the passing game.

Look--I want to win games. I could give a rats ass about pretty, exciting, high-scoring football. We've got a good D a good running game. We need to use those in conjucntion with downfield passing to score about 21-22 points a game. We don't have to become Peyton Manning and the colts.

As for Gibbs not knowing how to open up the offense, I just don't buy it. He played it conservative last year becuase that gave us the best chance to win, given our team. I'm sure he'll open it up more, especially given the imporved O-line and a more confident and comfortable Ramsey. But Portis and the D is what's gonna win games. Portis will get his 1500, be an all-star, and be our team offensive MVP. And that's as it should be. When that's in place, the bombs will be there for the taking, and we'll get our 21-22 a game, probably much more.

I just wonder how much of last year's offense can be contributed to Gibbs having to re-remember how he used to run his offense...
The man played and coahced football for 40 years. He didn't forget how to run the offense. That's ridiculous to assert he had remember how he used to do it. I guarnatee he can recount entire game plans from 1984 if you asked him to. The Offense blew because we had less talent than anyone here wants to believe and no talent at the helm of it for 9 games. Our defense kept us in games and the best way to overcome a bad offesne is to keep them out of it as much as possible. Don't let them beat you. That's why we ran 9 plays all year. We'll have to see how much Gibbs is able to get guys to step up performances so he can use a more developed offensive strategy this coming season.

JW- I agree with you. I'm not saying we need the Peyton Manning-5-touchdown-per-game offense, but I think that we need to attack a lot more to avoid those heart breaking losses especially when we're on the business end of horrendous officiating. I definately think with our line coupled with Portis and the emergence of Ramsey that it will be night and day compared to last year. I guess I'm just hoping that we'll take those "shots" a little more often.

The man played and coahced football for 40 years. He didn't forget how to run the offense.

I guess he didn't forget how to manage the clock either.

Sorry - but playcalling killed us. Not talent. We have an improved Oline this year (praying there are no injuries between now and opening day) yet we've gotten worse at WR. Our offense is all about Portis, that's damn right. I like to watch Portis run, but we need to cater to Portis, and we need to spread the field a bit more. Maybe throw 5 more times a game, and establish in intermediate passing game. I'm not suggesting a west coast system, or a Spurrieresque system. When you have a back like Portis, work him like he should be worked, but you need to make the opposing defense RESPECT the passing game. With the next Montana under center, he has enough skill to make teams fear his arm.

Increase the difficulty of the routes, and run more than 3 plays out of certain formations. We do need to open up the offense, but not wide open. I want to see us throw it on first down from time to time, maybe even through it past the marker on 3rd and 7.

I think that last years goes on Gibbs for not changing the offense near enough. Didn't he used to be the master of halftime adjustments? What happened? Do the new defenses confuse him? Either way, I don't care. He's a smart man and will certainly work hard to try to figure out what causes him all these problems. If he stays this conservative during the next season, I think there should be serious concern and an overwhelming desire for a proven offensive coordinator.

As far as losing games from being conservative. Absolutely. He'd get one TD up in the 3rd and try to run out the clock. He lost any aggression he had built up. I hoped the skins would go into the 4th quarter by 3 down just so they wouldn't try to sit on the ball and make our tired defense defend a lead. Our defense was great, but if it's 3rd and something, THROW THE DAMN BALL! Sorry, but try to pick up that first down. You figure if you have a 50% completion rate you'll burn much more time off the clock trying to get that 3rd than running it for virtually no chance.

Either way -- I just want it to start!

I believe in Joe Gibbs ability to adapt to the players he has on hand.

He won 3 Superbowls with 3 different QB's and 3 different RB's. And I think that Art Monk was the only reciever on the team for all 3 Superbowls. Although he was hurt for the 1st one.

Last year was a learning year. Give him a good QB, a good RB, a good SET of WR's, and an outstanding Oline and I think the offense will have not problem.

No Daseal you're wrong on that one. The playcalling was weak and conservative FOR A REASON. Our WRs were terrible and couldn't be trusted. Coles showed no ability to burn people deep. It's not like Coles was getting wide open on deep fly-routes and Brunell & Ramsey just weren't throwing it to him. Gibbs didn't trust Coles on a deep route because of his toe problems. And don't even get me started on Gardner. When the going got tough, the last thing Gibbs wanted to do was to throw a key 3rd and 7 pass to that inconsistent dipsh*t. He felt like Gardner & Coles couldn't get it done.

Now I think Coles can be a very good receiver if his toe is healthy. But the bottom line is Gibbs feels like he has gotten some receivers he can trust a bit better and that's why the play calling will open up a bit. Whether you think the WRs are better or worse is irrelevant. The only way Gibbs will actually change his playcalling is if he feels like he can trust the receivers and the rest of the offense to connect on deep passes. Hopefully he feels comfortable with this crop that he just brought in, Patten & Moss. If he doesn't trust them to catch the deep balls, then we can all jump on his case for poor personnel choices. But until then, I'll trust his evaluation of what makes a good WR. Because it sure as hell isn't Rod Gardner. Coles is OK for shorter routes with his bum toe, but he's worthless on long stuff. Good riddance to them, the new crop will allow new dimensions to develop in the offense.

Because his conservative playcalling got him so many wins. Okay, so why didn't they put Jacobs in to go deep, he has burning speed and great hands. There were times Coles was wide open and Brunell throws it out of bounds. I think blaming receivers is a fanboy copout. Watching two games this season at the stadium: Pittsburgh at Heinz, and Minnesota at Washington I saw fairly good seperation for an NFL game by our receivers. The MN game was played with a nice mix of playcalling and we made some good plays (Thanks to a dismal MN defense.)

Our receivers were limited by routes, and even opposing defenses laughed when they saw we ran a total of three plays out of every formation. Go check what Wilbon said after the Browns game when he talked to their defense. They had Gibbs's system read like a book.