Run the damn football!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Well all I know is our current offensive approach is not working. It's time to try something different and get back to basics. What do we have to lose?

We definately need to get back to the running game. I was just saying that our defense is so bad right now that it might be taken away from us by our opponents.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I really don't believe that. We ran the ball down people's throats last year and they knew exactly what was coming. Teams like the Steelers have the same approach, they run the ball and they don't care if their opponent knows what's coming. It's all about commiting to that style of play and dominating your opponent at the line of scrimmage, which is something we've shown we can do. Right now we're not commited to anything.

i'm totally down for that romantic 80's era ideal Matty. but Al Saunders' oft mentioned 700 page playbook and wildly varied gameplans per game is the antithesis of that. he thinks he's clever and customizes the gameplan for each team. picks a chapter from his precious play-bible.

those days of dominating offensiveline may be over for us. our once solid o-line is getting older, more confused with the playbook, and less and less confident of their QB and the gameplan as the losses mount.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Well all I know is our current offensive approach is not working. It's time to try something different and get back to basics. What do we have to lose?

This is what happens when teams rebuild & retool every year. Nobody gets comfortable with whats going on because its always changing and the team never quite knows what players to draft (or in the skins case sign as FAs) because nobody knows what the system is going to be from one year to the next.

[firstdown]

Not just running the ball but running between the tackles would be nice. We try to run out side and its like every team knows what we are doing so stopping the runs is easier and harder for our line to block.

[Hog1]

That's nonsense, since Gibbs return, he has tried to build a team around some core guys, and add, change where necessary to reinforce a specific area of concern. It is hardly the wholesale change picture of the past, as in neon Deon, Bruce Smith, etc. There have been some changes over the past couple of years as you would expect. What successful team does not have some change?

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Not just running the ball but running between the tackles would be nice. We try to run out side and its like every team knows what we are doing so stopping the runs is easier and harder for our line to block.

you said it. you know what's worse? when you're obviously throwing alot of screens and making the defense play WIDE....then you go ahead and run WIDE as well! right where YOU put the defense. just brilliant.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Hog1

That's nonsense, since Gibbs return, he has tried to build a team around some core guys, and add, change where necessary to reinforce a specific area of concern. It is hardly the wholesale change picture of the past, as in neon Deon, Bruce Smith, etc. There have been some changes over the past couple of years as you would expect. What successful team does not have some change?

I'm not talking about changing players. Its changing systems. Even since Gibbs has been here they have changed systems and this is only his 3rd year back.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by irish

I'm not talking about changing players. Its changing systems. Even since Gibbs has been here they have changed systems and this is only his 3rd year back.

There have been system changes. I'm sure the coaching staff will remain in 2007. That should add stability if that is a problem

[Summo]

I agree with you guy's about just running the football. I was at the game yesterday in the upper level and that was the sentiment among all of us as well. We were screaming to stop with the friggin end arounds and just pound it stratight ahead!! It was frustrating to say the least, especially after I drove 6 hours to get there!!

[skinsfan69]

This isn't 1983 and we don't have the Hogs!!!!! Let's face it. For the most part the NFL is a passing league and you have to pass the ball and get chunks of yardage to score. Why bring in the 2nd coming of the posse if we are not going to pass the ball?????? Plus you can beat some of the average teams by running it but in order to be a Super Bowl contending team you have to throw the ball. Yesterday Seattle won w/out Alexander on the road by throwing it!

[Twilbert07]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Well all I know is our current offensive approach is not working. It's time to try something different and get back to basics. What do we have to lose?

I agree. I wish we had stuck with what worked during our 6-game winning streak (including playoff game last year). Of course, that would mean never bringing in Saunders, but I'm very much OK with that.

Portis clearly is our best, most-inspired player. Others such as Brunell never show any intensity in the 4th quarter or any other time.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

This isn't 1983 and we don't have the Hogs!!!!! Let's face it. For the most part the NFL is a passing league and you have to pass the ball and get chunks of yardage to score. Why bring in the 2nd coming of the posse if we are not going to pass the ball?????? Plus you can beat some of the average teams by running it but in order to be a Super Bowl contending team you have to throw the ball. Yesterday Seattle won w/out Alexander on the road by throwing it!

Tell me who won the Super Bowl last year.

[gibbs4life]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Why did Portis only have 14 carries yesterday?

Why did Betts only have 2 carries?

We have a 254 pound hammer on the bench in Duckett... where is he??

This article by Thomas Boswell sums things up perfectly on offense. We need to say the hell with these cutesy reverses and end arounds, and get back to playing smashmouth football. This is what this offense is built for and it plays right to our strength. I think Gibbs needs to tell Saunders to put together a back to basics game plan from here on out and let's scrap the majority of his infamous 700 page playbook.

If we want to win folks, we have to run. It's very simple. Control the clock, dominate the opponent, and keep our seriously hurting 'D' off the field as much as possible.

Let's get back to Redskins football!

amen my brother this is what i want to see,redskins football ..
and i don,t care much for this dink and dunk crap either.....
and being up 14-3 then losing 25.22 needless to say the ship sunk before it set sail..or better yet they never gave it a chance...stick with what works and what we had last year down the stretch worked and all it needed was a little adjustment and not an overhaul.....

just a bit fustrating to say the least...cause we know smashmouth football and great defense wins in this league and thus far i haven,t seen either thus far.i,m still waiting..

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Tell me who won the Super Bowl last year.

you like ignoring my posts Matty. while i totally agree with you on the direction we should take, do you really think Saunders would stick to one chapter in his playbook? the Gibbs chapter we already had?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by illdefined

you like ignoring my posts Matty. while i totally agree with you on the direction we should take, do you really think Saunders would stick to one chapter in his playbook? the Gibbs chapter we already had?

Ignoring your posts? I guess you're the only one posting on this issue, sorry for skipping over your post, next time I'll read yours and only yours.

To answer your question, YES, if all we do well right now is pages 1-8 of his playbook, then HELL YES junk the rest and get back to basics.

Where is this offense going as it is right now? Nowhere. It's time to realize what this team does best and just do it.

This team is at a crossroads. The road that has brought us to the brink of the season hasn't worked. It's time to re-evaluate and plot a new course. If that means going back to last year's philosophy I'm all for it. Blindly plowing forward as is isn't getting us anywhere.

Gibbs needs to sit down with Saunders and say look, this isn't working. We need to focus on what we do well and scrap this 700-page experiment for now. They can get back to it in the offseason, or pepper some of it in as we go, but for right now we really need a basic approach.