Heartbreak City: Redskins-Saints Postgame Thread

Problem is if you fire Gruden who do they hire? You can not get an elite or upcoming coach to come here. Anyone associated w/ the Pats like Vrabel or McDaniels would never come here. Harbaugh would lol if Allen called him. It would have be someone who's crossed paths w/ Allen. Basically another Tampa reject or perhaps Callahan.

Yeah this makes absolutely no sense. Sorry.

Any offensive-minded head coach would jump at the opportunity to work with Cousins and an offensive line that features Scherff, Trent, and Morgan Moses.

They look at their chances of being successful before they consider the problems that their bosses would present.

Josh McDaniels had Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow in Denver. You don't think he'd love a shot to work with a proven quarterback? If Hue Jackson gets let go from Cleveland, you don't think he'd jump at a shot to work with Cousins after having to put up with dreck in Cleveland?

But the one part of your point I'll concede is that a major reason not to move on from Gruden is that Bruce will be in charge of the hire, which means he'll most likely focus too narrowly and consider only candidates with whom he's had previous experience.

But that's another reason (of many) to fire Allen, it's not a reason to throw up your hands and say well the average Jay Gruden is the best we're going to do.

If we were to fire Gruden, and we manage to get Cousins on a long term contract, I think we'll be the best available job in the NFL, by far.

Who says Cousins would want to stay here with another HC? I think this talk of canning Gruden is way too premature. I don’t see him going anywhere.

Maybe firing him isnt the best option but the guy, for me at least, needs to give up the play calling duties. Theres no way we should have lost that game on Sunday and no one way 9ers should have even had a chance as well.. He's crossed the line IMO.

People had very similar complaints about McVay the last few years as a play caller. To me it’s a seriously overrated complaint. If guys make their blocks we convert that 4th down. If the call was a QB sneak or an up the gut run that got stuffed people would be complaining about that call too. Players have to execute and they simply did not. I’d have to double check but I think it was Paul that blew his assignment on the play.

People had very similar complaints about McVay the last few years as a play caller. To me it’s a seriously overrated complaint. If guys make their blocks we convert that 4th down. If the call was a QB sneak or an up the gut run that got stuffed people would be complaining about that call too. Players have to execute and they simply did not. I’d have to double check but I think it was Paul that blew his assignment on the play.

I agree with the execution issue with this team. Too many damn plays left on the field. Vernon Davis multiple drops, mis-tackles by the defense in the last 6 mins of game, fuckin Crowder not getting the bubble screen audible, Cousins not seeing the blitzer last play in reg....just too many mistakes.

Way to early to fire Jay...


In regards to McVay, he did abandon the run too much. Now he has Gurley and runs it well. Probably more of a talent thing...but still

People had very similar complaints about McVay the last few years as a play caller. To me it’s a seriously overrated complaint. If guys make their blocks we convert that 4th down. If the call was a QB sneak or an up the gut run that got stuffed people would be complaining about that call too. Players have to execute and they simply did not. I’d have to double check but I think it was Paul that blew his assignment on the play.

Agreed. The penalty on the FG, KC's intentional grounding (even it wasn't), all those things are on the players. But at the same token, some coaches struggle more with game management than others, and Gruden will always be one who does. I don't understand wanting him to give up play calling, I mean we put up solid points against top defenses all year long. The question I have is why do the Skins go into brain freeze at the end of half's and games. I just don't understand that at all.

Actually playcalling is the one area where I think Gruden is quite a bit above average.

On Cousins, you're right, you have to get him under contract before you can make a move on the coach. Can't fire Gruden and expect Cousins to think signing long term is his best option.

Can't move on from Gruden until we know what our future is with Kirk. So from that perspective I agree it's premature to make a move now. You wait until the QB situation resolves.

But let's put it this way - I feel like I've seen all there is to see with Jay. I'd be extremely surprised if I feel differently in March. We're headed for 8-8 or 9-7, yet again, and it's just not good enough for me.

the lack of killer instinct in his play calling - though i loved the crazy fake punt - the 3 straight runs that didn;t work against SF and almost lossed us that game, didn;t work again and i feel like he has no balls when the shit is about to hit the fan..... it's just discouraging ... get kirk out of the pocket he is capable of picking up 1 yard or tossing a quick pass.... smh all ya needed was a first down man..... thats it.

Agreed. The penalty on the FG, KC's intentional grounding (even it wasn't), all those things are on the players. But at the same token, some coaches struggle more with game management than others, and Gruden will always be one who does. I don't understand wanting him to give up play calling, I mean we put up solid points against top defenses all year long. The question I have is why do the Skins go into brain freeze at the end of half's and games. I just don't understand that at all.

I think McVay was the one who brought an awful lot of organization and structure to the organization. That's not Jay's strength. So in those two minute situations, the contingency plans aren't clear.

The fact that Cousins had to look to the sideline to get a hand signal from Gruden to ditch the ball against 8 in the box is a sign that they haven't coached Cousins well enough. He's smart enough and experienced enough to handle something like Jay telling him at practice - hey in a two minute situation if you see 8 in the box against this play, find a way to check out of it or ditch the ball.

It didn't happen, and Kirk is getting hand signals from the sideline pre-snap telling him what to do. That's not a good sign, it shows the QB isn't prepared for those contingencies. Nevermind the fact that the grounding was the wrong call by the refs there, I'm just bothered by Cousins having to pick up a signal from the sideline at all. I don't think Jay sees two or three steps ahead, that's his limitation.

If I'm a boxer I want to have a counter move and a counter-counter move for everything my opponent throws at me. The chaos in the last two minutes tells me that both Gruden and Manusky have limitations with seeing a few steps ahead.