Is Gibbs Getting His Mojo Back?

[12thMan]

I really wanted to title this thread, "I'm So Happy For Joe Gibbs". Sounded kind of cheesey though. I'm obviously happy for the entire team and the roll they're on right now, but on a more personal level I'm most happy for Joe Gibbs.

For most of this year Joe Gibbs has been under intense scrutiny by the media and Redskins fans alike. Going into the Minnesota game, I just had the impression that Joe Gibbs was going to outcoach Ray Childress and company. Not to harp on the 12 man challenge too much, but I think that's a call we miss, say, just three months ago. To me, it's an indicator of how much the entire staff are now of like mind and are seeing and speaking the same thing.

Just to be clear about what I'm getting at here, I don't think this is just another "late season run" by the Redskins. I think this run we're on right now and the one we had a couple of years ago are different; similiar but different. Here's why I say that. Two seasons ago we were a relatively healthy team. Guys were banged up here and there, but nothing like this. Now you have guys like H.B. Blades, Reed Doughty, and Anthony Montgomery stepping up, just to name a few. Did I mention a guy name Todd Collins, by the way?

That year it was more like starters playing like, well, starters. This year, in typical Gibbs fashion, he's using various parts that are at his disposal to win. This was always a trademark of a Gibbs coached team. The coaching across the board seems to have stepped up too. You can see Stephon Heyer grow from week to week. The kid is solid, but you know Buges has him putting in some work. We're also getting milage out of guys like Randall Godfrey, Leigh Torrence, and new comer Anthony Mix.

The Vikings second half surge was a bit worisome as I was wondering if the Redskins were going to have the all too familiar second half collapse, but I think, or at least I hope, this team has grown beyond that identity flaw.

I say "Bring Joe Back" for an extension. Hey, that sounds like a great t-shirt!