Problems, And Excuses!

[offiss]

I am beyond tired of the excuses about Brunell, injuries etc., the guy was over the hill before we traded for him and has done nothing to refute that, can he get the job done under optimum conditions? Yes, but how often does that happen? Bottom line he's a lowsey QB and Gibbs put all his faith in this guy and has refused to acknowledge his 43 mil dollar mistake, along with a second round draft pick [for a player who was about to be released before the Jag's heard Gibbs absolutly had to have him] by benching him. But this is not just another Brunell bashing thread no matter HOW MUCH I enjoy them.

I had time to breakdown the last 2 games in slow mo with my ti vo [Matty no wise cracks] and my real focus was on the O-line, in the minnesota game I noticed that it wasen't so much our O-line being overpowered but more of a blocking scheme problem, there were costant missed blocks and players double teaming 1 player and another standing around while defenders ran free to the QB. In the Cowboy game there was a little of that but a lot of guy's getting beat to the side, Jansen was costantly pushed back as well as Dockery, and the one thing you don't see from our line is defenders being pushed off the line of scrimmage. Now in the Cowboy game they constantly had 8 and 9 men in the box, I was really surprised at how little regard they had for the passing game, I also saw what I believe is part of defensive game plans for us, show Brunell a blitz and he immediatly starts running for his life regardless if they get to him or not, every throw he makes is off his back leg.

This got me to wondering watching blitz's and guy's missing blocks if maybe the game has passed Bugel by? Perhaps at this stage in his career he, as Gibbs admitted to this year cannot adjust to these new blitzkrieg type of defenses? I know the guy is a legend amoungst all skins fans but let's face it has our offensive line improved in 3 year's? I say no. Do we apparently have above average talent on the line? According to all the coaches we do, infact Gibbs said it's the strongest part of the team, so what's the problem? I really hate to say it because I really have alway's liked the guy but he may just be overwhelmed at this point in his career. Now if it's not Bugel and he's doing the best anyone could be expected with the talent that he has, then someone has to be shot for not identifying the incompetency of our linemen and making the proper changes, or at least trying to bring in better talent.

So what can we expect this week? We will crush an incompetent football team with no real pass rush other than Williams, and we will hear all about Brunell just got used to the new offense and so on, but it will be no different than last season, Brunell will play well when teams don't come near him and he has all day to throw and he knows it, as soon as we come up against a high pressure defense he will be right back where he is now. The line defiently has it's faults right now, but Brunell cannot drop back and step up into the pocket, make the quick read, and deliver the ball, and I believe that is part of the reason teams bring so many into the box, they know Brunell cannot respond to it. But in all fairness it is very difficult to get a real gauge on that from a TV you do not have a view of the entire field and what is happening to the WR's before the ball is thrown, guy's who go to the games should be able to give us a better idea of what Brunell see's downfield and who's really at fault, but I do have a tough time believing Moss, Randell, and LLoyd, along with Cooley with maybe the premier offensive genious in the game at coordinator can't get open.

Our defense on the other hand has it's problem's right now, and I do believe it's Spring's injury, with Springs in there we can free up player's to come on blitzes ala AA, who I don't believe can cover but I don't know for sure yet, I watched Carter and I have to say he can't make a routine tackle, I am starting to understand why the 9er's tried to make a LB out of him, he's overmatched by O-tackles. But probably the biggest problem standing before them right now is our offense is going to keep them on the field all day just like last season, and they also know they have to play perfect because Brunell is not going to put up many points especially if teams know we have to throw, so there is a ton of pressure on them which they shouldn't have to burden. But the least of our worries is the defense because Williams will conquer whatever problem they have right now that we can count on.

Specials? Well who'd a thunk it? Rock all the way, I would have laughed in your face if you told me Rock would return a kickoff for a TD in this lifetime or any other, he looked Mitchell esk on that return, but we still need a lot of work on our coverage team, but at least we are seeing improvement.