Ramsey/Brunell: a closer look

Joe might also have done Patrick a favor with this. The fans have been booing him mercilessly. At the stadium, it got real bad real quick on Sunday. Once he threw the pick, the booing never really stopped. I want Ramsey to be a good QB in this league. I like his fearlessness. And why does he make such poor decisions at times? He is certainly one of the smartest QBs I've ever seen. He's lost his confidence (before THIS decision). If he stayed on the field, it might have gotten so bad he'd never recover--or never be given a chance to recover with another team.

Brunell, while not having the physical skills of Ramsey, is more confident and seasoned at QB. He was hurt last year and learning a new system. He DID look much sharper in pre-season with his delivery and his footwork. 2nd string or not, those skills were there. Let's give him a chance.

Dang it is TOUGH playing QB in this town...but we all seem to do it so well.

Has anyone else considered how the players might be responding to Gibbs' decision. My understanding is that virtually every player preferred Ramsey to Brunell. Doesn't that say something?

Who said they preferred Ramsey to Brunell?

Doesn't really sound like something players would say, yes they'll say they support the starter, but when was the last time you heard a player say I want player X over player Y? I haven't heard it.

Coles actually said on his way out last year that Brunell wasn't the problem with the offense.

This was in the WP today regarding the change

Before the move was made yesterday, teammates were diplomatic about the quarterback issue. Portis, perhaps the most outspoken player, declined comment. But almost all said that if Brunell became the quarterback, the transition wouldn't be difficult.

Matty,

I'm basing my assessment of Brunell based on last year. We can go last year (regular season) or this year (preseason games against backups and one game where he didn't exactly do great). How can anyone possibly say that I'm going to judge Brunell without looking at last year; those were the only regular season games he has ever started in a Redskins uniform.

Moreover, apparently Jacksonville thought that Brunell's days were numbered when they drafted Byron Leftwich. That was two years ago. Does anyone think Brunell is like a fine wine and will improve with age? (He's going to be 36 this Saturday.)

I'm not making excuses for Ramsey. I personally have said that the QB debate isn't cut and dry. People were supporting Ramsey (pretty much across the board) yesterday. Now, everyone has jumped ship with no new developments (except Ramsey's neck is apparently fine).

People will make tons of excuses for Brunell - which they wouldn't do for Ramsey. If you venture back to last season's threads, people were backing Brunell and blaming just about everyone else for the offensive failures. Then, lo and behold, by week 6 people were ready to run Brunell out of town. Brunell didn't sink last season by himself, but he did a lot of damage. Now, people are defending him and criticizing Ramsey. I don't understand the constant change in support. I, for once, would like to see us commit to a quarterback for the long-haul (longer than 15 game-minutes).

Who said they preferred Ramsey to Brunell?

Doesn't really sound like something players would say, yes they'll say they support the starter, but when was the last time you heard a player say I want player X over player Y? I haven't heard it.

Coles actually said on his way out last year that Brunell wasn't the problem with the offense.

This was in the WP today regarding the change

Of course no one is going on the record. I cannot cite, off the top of my head, the Post article that revealed that most players prefer Ramsey to Brunell, but I am certain that I read it. Of course, if you insist, I will search the Washington Post for old preseason articles about players disclosing their preference of Ramsey to Brunell.

RF,

Just answer this simple question, what has Ramsey done this preseason to earn the job?

Ok, I lied, answer two questions, who has looked better so far, Ramsey or Brunell?

The writing is on the wall. Ramsey is not the answer right now, he needs work. Meanwhile Brunell has shown that he can be efficient and he doesn't turn the ball over. It would be silly to keep forcing the issue with Ramsey right now. Gibbs probably should have pulled the plug in training camp.

dont know why this has to be spread over 3 threads but, what did Brunell's performance last preseason prove? when did preseason ever prove much of anything for us?

it takes more than a half with a handful of plays in preseason games to develop a rhythm. Brunell had most of an entire season to establish his, Ramsey made lots of points last year and this year oh, about 15 minutes. and they were the first 15 minutes of the season. sorry but that doesn't determine shit.

RF,

Just answer this simple question, what has Ramsey done this preseason to earn the job?

Ok, I lied, answer two questions, who has looked better so far, Ramsey or Brunell?

The writing is on the wall. Ramsey is not the answer right now, he needs work. Meanwhile Brunell has shown that he can be efficient and he doesn't turn the ball over. It would be silly to keep forcing the issue with Ramsey right now. Gibbs probably should have pulled the plug in training camp.

I agree that Ramsey didn't do anything to earn the job in the preseason. I also agree that Brunell looked better in the preseason (albeit against backups).

HOWEVER, according to Joe Gibbs himself, the preseason was not supposed to be a competition between Ramsey and Brunell. According to Joe Gibbs' statements from last season and this past offseason, Ramsey was going to be our starter; not possibly our starter, not probably our starter, but our starter. Basically, Gibbs went back on his word.

For all those "In Gibbs We Trust" folks...should we trust him like Patrick Ramsey did?

RF,

Just answer this simple question, what has Ramsey done this preseason to earn the job?

Ok, I lied, answer two questions, who has looked better so far, Ramsey or Brunell?

The writing is on the wall. Ramsey is not the answer right now, he needs work. Meanwhile Brunell has shown that he can be efficient and he doesn't turn the ball over. It would be silly to keep forcing the issue with Ramsey right now. Gibbs probably should have pulled the plug in training camp.

Brunell looked better in preseason, but Ramsey looked better in the Bears' game. Say what you will about him throwing the first pick and the fumble, he made things happen for us on offense. Brunell simply lacks the ability to make plays. The game on Sunday looked exactly like last season, except he had a little better arm strength. Still dink and dump, and still nothing dynamic whatsoever.

He can probably provide us with consistent mediocrity, but who wants that? Sure, Ramsey makes some bad plays, but I think his good plays outweigh that. We might even lose a game because of Ramsey, but I promise you we will never WIN a game because of Brunell. Why is everyone all of a sudden happy that we are putting in a QB who, basically by his own admission, is there to play "not to lose"? As much as I hate to say it, this team is not good enough to win 9 games with a QB who won't take chances. Our defense is amazing and our running game is solid. But the holes that have looked so big for Portis thus far will start closing up the instant teams realize Brunell is no threat to beat them deep.

I guess it's a question of whether you'd rather beat all the teams we ought to beat with Brunell, and none of the teams on our own plane, or maybe lose a game we could've won with Ramsey, and then come out and get hot and beat some good teams. Quite frankly, I'd MUCH rather see the latter, because it's the only way this team has a shot at making the playoffs, which SHOULD be the goal of every player, every coach, every executive, and every fan. Simply finishing 7-9 is not sufficient. Well, not sufficient for me anyway.

As an addendum, and I believe RamseyFan may have addressed this by now, it was not Ramsey's job to earn. It was Ramsey's job, period. It was Brunell's job to earn, and IMO the only way he could've done that (after last season, which still counts by the way, even if you converted Brunell fans don't want it to) is to play light-out. He hasn't done that. He's played good, safe, efficient ball, which is what you want from your BACKUP. He didn't set the world on fire, and, IMO, certainly didn't do enough to take the job from Ramsey one quarter into the season.

Brunell looked better in preseason, but Ramsey looked better in the Bears' game. Say what you will about him throwing the first pick and the fumble, he made things happen for us on offense. Brunell simply lacks the ability to make plays. The game on Sunday looked exactly like last season, except he had a little better arm strength. Still dink and dump, and still nothing dynamic whatsoever.

He can probably provide us with consistent mediocrity, but who wants that? Sure, Ramsey makes some bad plays, but I think his good plays outweigh that. We might even lose a game because of Ramsey, but I promise you we will never WIN a game because of Brunell. Why is everyone all of a sudden happy that we are putting in a QB who, basically by his own admission, is there to play "not to lose"? As much as I hate to say it, this team is not good enough to win 9 games with a QB who won't take chances. Our defense is amazing and our running game is solid. But the holes that have looked so big for Portis thus far will start closing up the instant teams realize Brunell is no threat to beat them deep.

I guess it's a question of whether you'd rather beat all the teams we ought to beat with Brunell, and none of the teams on our own plane, or maybe lose a game we could've won with Ramsey, and then come out and get hot and beat some good teams. Quite frankly, I'd MUCH rather see the latter, because it's the only way this team has a shot at making the playoffs, which SHOULD be the goal of every player, every coach, every executive, and every fan. Simply finishing 7-9 is not sufficient. Well, not sufficient for me anyway.

As an addendum, and I believe RamseyFan may have addressed this by now, it was not Ramsey's job to earn. It was Ramsey's job, period. It was Brunell's job to earn, and IMO the only way he could've done that (after last season, which still counts by the way, even if you converted Brunell fans don't want it to) is to play light-out. He hasn't done that. He's played good, safe, efficient ball, which is what you want from your BACKUP. He didn't set the world on fire, and, IMO, certainly didn't do enough to take the job from Ramsey one quarter into the season.

An excellent post. :biggthump