Play Calling

[Hog1]

Whats the deal? The team and organization are sound. YES, we need a few upgrades. As somebody posted earlier, the line in the NFL between 6-10, and 10-6 is a fine one. We are but a couple of keys moves away from that line. You can bank our staff is considering those moves. This team is being built to compete for years to come. It is not meant to be dismantled and reborn year after miserable year we have had in the past.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Whats the deal? The team and organization are sound. YES, we need a few upgrades. As somebody posted earlier, the line in the NFL between 6-10, and 10-6 is a fine one. We are but a couple of keys moves away from that line. You can bank our staff is considering those moves. This team is being built to compete for years to come. It is not meant to be dismantled and reborn year after miserable year we have had in the past.

Are we watching to same team. Every year they are trading away picks for people. Every year since 1999 we have signed a number of free agents and drafted horrible, with some of them being cut before the season starts. The first thing the "organization" needs to do is hire a general manager. Bring Ron Wolf out of retirement, he is a local guy that would not have to travel so much. What about Bobby Bethard? Joe needs to stick to coaching and stop making personel moves. Danny is in no way going to say no to what Joe is asking for, whether its a good move or bad move. Joe is a great coach, but very few great coaches can be both a coach and GM. and some have failed miserably. Once we get a front office in place the team will show some improvement, but as long as Danny, Vinney, and Pepper Rogers are making personel moves, we will continue to falter the way we have since Danny took over. GMs are highly underrated in todays NFL, but look at how well teams like New England, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Giants are doing. All those teams draft talent to build a team, then maybe add a key free agent here or there. Not 6 to 7 started on both sides of the ball every year. This year is the first year I can remember we didn't actually go out and sign every big name out there, but we did not draft too well. We needed a #2 receiver and Mike Williams was available, we could have drafter a corner with our 2nd round pick. Even if you wanted Campbell that bad, he was still going to be there in the 2nd round. Look at the two or three DE that were available when we picked. Look at what they are doing in Dallas. I rest my case, we need a GM.

[Twilbert07]

Good story in the WashPost today about how the Skins' play calling late in the fourth quarter has cost us games. It also points out that the offense has regressed recently to the point of being as ineffective as last year's squad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112801935.html

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

Are we watching to same team. Every year they are trading away picks for people. Every year since 1999 we have signed a number of free agents and drafted horrible, with some of them being cut before the season starts. The first thing the "organization" needs to do is hire a general manager. Bring Ron Wolf out of retirement, he is a local guy that would not have to travel so much. What about Bobby Bethard? Joe needs to stick to coaching and stop making personel moves. Danny is in no way going to say no to what Joe is asking for, whether its a good move or bad move. Joe is a great coach, but very few great coaches can be both a coach and GM. and some have failed miserably. Once we get a front office in place the team will show some improvement, but as long as Danny, Vinney, and Pepper Rogers are making personel moves, we will continue to falter the way we have since Danny took over. GMs are highly underrated in todays NFL, but look at how well teams like New England, Philly, Dallas, Chicago, Cincinnati, Giants are doing. All those teams draft talent to build a team, then maybe add a key free agent here or there. Not 6 to 7 started on both sides of the ball every year. This year is the first year I can remember we didn't actually go out and sign every big name out there, but we did not draft too well. We needed a #2 receiver and Mike Williams was available, we could have drafter a corner with our 2nd round pick. Even if you wanted Campbell that bad, he was still going to be there in the 2nd round. Look at the two or three DE that were available when we picked. Look at what they are doing in Dallas. I rest my case, we need a GM.

I........I think I am watching the same team. However, Joe and the boys cannot held accountable for pre-2004 draft/FA associated atrocities. While I might agree that the "right" GM could be a good thing. To lay the total success of the teams you mention at the feet of their respective GM's is opinion. I could just as easily make the arguement that the ONLY thing their GM's did was to hire big time coach's with winning track records. Obviously, that may or may not be the case. The point of my original post is: this team ain't bad. They have had a TOUGH schedule. They have been in til' the end all but one game this year. They should have won some if not all. They were not able to do this because they suck or are mismanaged, poorly coached, etc. It is but a couple of steps in the road to recovery of a team in 10+ years of disarray. Why don't you take ANY business under similar circumstances and show more positive improvment. We have seen some kick ass things happen this year. Starting with breaking a 10ish year drought by beatin' Dallas. We have Defense that can shut down teams (albeit, not at the right time lately). We have an Offense that scored at will on the #1 D. It's not perfect and YES, still needs work. Much of what is needed will happen this off season. Yes, I am devastated by some of the loss's, but............ Danny is in check. The coaching staff will be in place for the third straight year. The salary sins of the past are being dealt with. We DON'T have to overhaul the team AGAIN this year I don't see anything but good stuff for this team!!!! To answer your original question, this is the team I am watching.

[Twilbert07]

This year's team definitely is an improvement over last year's.

However, this trend of losing close games (after winning the first three) is very disturbing and shows that something with the team is extremely flawed. We need to find out exactly what's wrong, or we're in for more a couple more seasons without going to the playoffs.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Twilbert07

This year's team definitely is an improvement over last year's.

However, this trend of losing close games (after winning the first three) is very disturbing and shows that something with the team is extremely flawed. We need to find out exactly what's wrong, or we're in for more a couple more seasons without going to the playoffs.

I agree with you in principle. I would split hairs with the word extreme and say it is still flawed. The difference is that we have Joe. He is not a magician. He has however got the team going the right direction. Just a note........I would much rather be losing close games than to be getting our ass kicked by everybody!!!!!! All the sins of the past cannot be corrected in a couple of seasons. It took 12 years to really F... it up

[mason4415]

As far as I'm concerned, everyone on here who is hating on Clinton Portis knows absolutely nothing about football. Other than LT, I wouldn't want any other back in the league right now. Honestly. Do you think Alexander, James, or any other back in the league would be able to have success in our offense? Our quarterback is MARK BRUNELL! I guarantee you that if Clinton was on the Colts right now, that he would be having a better season than Edge. And if Edge was on our team, he would have a helluva time out-producing Portis at this point. On top of that, look at the Run Defenses we have gone against!!!

In fact, if we would've won 2 or 3 of the past 3 games, there wouldn't be a problem at all. The problem with this team has been COACHING! I love Gibbs, and I think he'll turn it around, but it's the coaching. Against the Raiders, a better pass defense than run defense, we try to pass when up 10 points! Against the Chargers, the NFL's number 1 rushing defense, and weak pass D, we try to run!!! It's not about being conservative or not running the clock, it's about playing to your opponents weaknesses and getting first downs!!!!!!

[Twilbert07]

Originally Posted by Hog1

I agree with you in principle. I would split hairs with the word extreme and say it is still flawed. The difference is that we have Joe. He is not a magician. He has however got the team going the right direction. Just a note........I would much rather be losing close games than to be getting our ass kicked by everybody!!!!!! All the sins of the past cannot be corrected in a couple of seasons. It took 12 years to really F... it up

That's a good point about how long it took to screw up the Skins. It will take a couple more years to work all that out of the system. I hope Gibbs sticks around to see it through because I do believe he can get us a fourth Super Bowl trophy.

[Hog1]

I hope you are correct T-07

[FirstandTen]

Originally Posted by mason4415

As far as I'm concerned, everyone on here who is hating on Clinton Portis knows absolutely nothing about football. Other than LT, I wouldn't want any other back in the league right now. Honestly. Do you think Alexander, James, or any other back in the league would be able to have success in our offense? Our quarterback is MARK BRUNELL! I guarantee you that if Clinton was on the Colts right now, that he would be having a better season than Edge. And if Edge was on our team, he would have a helluva time out-producing Portis at this point. On top of that, look at the Run Defenses we have gone against!!!

In fact, if we would've won 2 or 3 of the past 3 games, there wouldn't be a problem at all. The problem with this team has been COACHING! I love Gibbs, and I think he'll turn it around, but it's the coaching. Against the Raiders, a better pass defense than run defense, we try to pass when up 10 points! Against the Chargers, the NFL's number 1 rushing defense, and weak pass D, we try to run!!! It's not about being conservative or not running the clock, it's about playing to your opponents weaknesses and getting first downs!!!!!!

I agree Portis is a good RB but to say hes better thank S Alex it taking it a bit far.. S Alex would be a much better fit in our off becasue he can move the pile in short yardage situations. I also take Edge over portis cause Edge is a much bigger threat catching the ball.

[MTK]

What does Brunell have to do with anything?

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Twilbert07

Good story in the WashPost today about how the Skins' play calling late in the fourth quarter has cost us games. It also points out that the offense has regressed recently to the point of being as ineffective as last year's squad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...112801935.html

I don't value the opinions of Post columnists any more than I do my girlfriend's. To say that our offense is as bad as last year's is a MASSIVE overstatement.

[hail_2_da_skins]

I disagree. Portis is paid like a top five back and I don't see the production. He has turned the ball over too much and its affecting his running style. He seems to be concentrating on "not fumbling" and not instinctively hitting the holes at full speed and using his vision and allusiveness to run to daylight. With the same personnel, same blocking, Betts and Cartwright seem to run harder at hit the hole at full speed and have better success. Neither Betts or Cartwright are breakaway runners so these runs very rarely go the distance. Portis is a breakaway runner. He is not hitting the holes hard. I see him avoiding contact, falling prematurely and running into the back of his blockers. In the fourth quarter, Gibbs called his number repeatedly. He didn't deliver. I saw Marty do the same with LT and he delivered.

[Twilbert07]

Originally Posted by Ramseyfan

I don't value the opinions of Post columnists any more than I do my girlfriend's. To say that our offense is as bad as last year's is a MASSIVE overstatement.

I guess we'll see who's right at season's end. I hope you're right and Wilbon is wrong, trust me.
The past three games, when the offense could not add even 3 points to a small lead, have been hard to stomach, though.

[skindogger47]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

Are you kidding? You dont pass the ball when you are in the range they were in. that would be totally stupid. You do exactly what they did. Run the ball, set up your kicker where he kicks the best. Good teams dont commit penalties in those situations. GOOD TEAMS, which we are far from it.

How are we so far from being a "good" team? The Seahawks did that against us, are they any good? What about the Bears, who managed one TD against us off of an Antonio Brown fumble? Or the Bucs, who squandered a lead against us? Hell the Broncos couldn't hold a lead against us. They must suck. How are we so far from being good? I feel like it is a play or two every game, which could easily go either way. We are not great, but I'll be damned if we're not good.