(Merged Thread) Overreacting to a loss

[mooby]

I will say, the Redskins are gonna win their next five and magically make the playoffs. Realistically, the Cowboys and Giants are too good to make the mistakes we've been making the past few weeks. We can easily give up this game against the Rams, because we have a penchant for giving up big plays on defense, and Torry Holt is well known for making big plays, as is Isaac Bruce. I still have hope than in the next week, we will be able to fix our past mistakes and be a complete team. But i figured after our loss to Tampa Bay a couple weeks ago we'd light the fire under the team and get them cracking. It didn't happen last week against the Raiders. After that week i figured we would finally get the mistakes figured out and be the complete team in time for this week. Lo and behold, we didn't fix the mistakes in time for the Chargers. I guess what i'm trying to say is I'm tired of waiting for us to fix our mistakes in time for next week. Maybe the optimism is gone from me, I don't know. I do know that this team is good enough to win every game on their remaining schedule, but i don't know that we can fix the mistakes in time.

[Longtimefan]

It would be great to see some of these players begin taking these losses as hard, and as much to heart as we the fans do. It's difficult not to express your frustration when you continue to loose close games the same way week in and week out espically when you have every opportunity to win. I don't know if it's as much overreacting as it is frustrating, and we all know that we as fans have had enough of loosing these close games every week. Until the loosing stops, fans are always feel the need to vent following this lack of inspired play at too many critical times in games.

[heybigstar]

Im too lazy to quote this thread from the first one , but "Portis Sucks"

Good point. Well Portis doesn't suck, but he is only slightly above average. He dropped a TD pass, and is not durable enough to break for big plays if he doesnt have a good #2 back complimenting him. The second highest paid Rb in the league? He doesnt make amazing plays, he is solid and thats it. Someone show me stats from his time as a Redskin to prove me wrong.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by heybigstar

Im too lazy to quote this thread from the first one , but "Portis Sucks"

Good point. Well Portis doesn't suck, but he is only slightly above average. He dropped a TD pass, and is not durable enough to break for big plays if he doesnt have a good #2 back complimenting him. The second highest paid Rb in the league? He doesnt make amazing plays, he is solid and thats it. Someone show me stats from his time as a Redskin to prove me wrong.

You guys that think "Portis sucks" need to try watching NFL Matchup, or one of the other shows that actually run game film. Tomlinson, Alexander, and Tiki Barber all have lines that create holes that an 18 wheeler could drive though. How many times a game is Portis actually able to get to the second level untouched? Twice, maybe? Anytime he does get a decent hole, he gets 8-12 yards on the carry, so I have a hard time blaming his lack of success between the tackles completely on him.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by heybigstar

Im too lazy to quote this thread from the first one , but "Portis Sucks"

Good point. Well Portis doesn't suck, but he is only slightly above average. He dropped a TD pass, and is not durable enough to break for big plays if he doesnt have a good #2 back complimenting him. The second highest paid Rb in the league? He doesnt make amazing plays, he is solid and thats it. Someone show me stats from his time as a Redskin to prove me wrong.

He'll likely have 2,600 to 2,700 yards in his first two years as a Redskin. That is pretty damn impressive; regardless of what he racked up in Denver. While he's not the 2nd best running back in the league, he's probably the 2nd back I'd take in the league (Tomlinson being the 1st). People think of his contract in today's NFL dollars. That's the wrong approach.

First, Portis, unlike James or other great backs in the NFL today, is 24. 24 years old is damn young, in fact there are a lot of rookie running backs who are 24.

Second, there are a lot of great backs in the NFL who aren't as versatile as Portis. I bet you will be very hard pressed to find a running back that can pick up blocks, catch passes out of the backfield or from the line, or make plays like Portis can. Either they are great runners (i.e. Larry Johnson) or they are great receivers (i.e. Westbrook) or they are great blockers, but rarely do you find a back that can do all of the above.

Third, if you look at guys like Alexander, Johnson, or James, Portis isn't running behind the kind of offensive lines or offenses that they are. You'll be hard pressed to find a back that is posting the kind of numbers that Portis is in an offense that is as inconsistent as ours. The only ones who comes close are Willis McGahee and Reuben Droughns and I'd take Portis over either of those two in a heartbeat.

Fourth, Portis has a great attitude; he's a "team" guy despite his antics. Shaun Alexander threw a hissy fit because he was one yard behind Curtis Martin for the rushing title last year.

You find me a 24 year old back, who can catch, run, block, and even pass who can run behind a mediocre offense without griping and then I'll consider the trade to be a bad one. Until then, Portis is a stud in my book.

[MTK]

This team has gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the league this year. That point isn't even up for debate. We beat the Seahawks and Bears, and took teams like the Chiefs, Broncos, & Chargers down to the wire.

The team has made some nice progress over last year, there's a very thin line in this league between being 10-6 and 6-10, and I think this team is still trying to figure out how to cross over that line.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

This team has gone toe to toe with some of the best teams in the league this year. That point isn't even up for debate. We beat the Seahawks and Bears, and took teams like the Chiefs, Broncos, & Chargers down to the wire.

The team has made some nice progress over last year, there's a very thin line in this league between being 10-6 and 6-10, and I think this team is still trying to figure out how to cross over that line.

In responce to that, we have lost the the Raiders (3-6) at home. To a first year starter(simms) who put up huge numbers. Denver I'll give you. Chiefs were at a losing record when we lost, with one of the worst defenses in the league, as the Giants were when we played them and got shut out. Good teams win these games. we barely beat the Bears, lucky against seattle because there kicker missed a makeable FG, and the Cowboys game was a miracle. I acknowledge that good teams have luck, but good teams also beat up on teams they should beat and dont blow games at the end.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

In responce to that, we have lost the the Raiders (3-6) at home. To a first year starter(simms) who put up huge numbers. Denver I'll give you. Chiefs were at a losing record when we lost, with one of the worst defenses in the league, as the Giants were when we played them and got shut out. Good teams win these games. we barely beat the Bears, lucky against seattle because there kicker missed a makeable FG, and the Cowboys game was a miracle. I acknowledge that good teams have luck, but good teams also beat up on teams they should beat and dont blow games at the end.

In response to your response, "Good teams win these games". Your right, we are not a good team...........yet. It's a journey. It's on track. The teams we "barely" beat are the same type of loss's we have had.....squeakers. Were they lucky to have beat us?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Speaking of next week. If memory serves me correctly, though talented, Bruce and Holt are two of the biggest pansy asses in the league. I'm sure Rogers and Taylor will have something to say about that. (It's nice to say Rogers for once. He lays some wood on people)

[dblanch66]

People are overreacting because there are expectations. When we lost yesterday in the 4th quarter, I really wasn't surprised, therefore, not too upset. My expectations for this team are realistic. We will probably go 9-7 this year which is not bad and a significant improvement from last year. Let's be honest...how many of you expected the Redskins to go to the super bowl this year?? It is always a hope but the best this team can do is 5-6 so far. So next week, I'll be watching, just like I have EVERY GAME this year including preseason, and hoping for a win but not living and dying by a loss.

[#56fanatic]

I am not sure what people are looking at. This team does not fit the way our coaches like to play. Portis is not a grind it out back that can get 4 yard by falling forward after getting hit(like stephen davis, alexander ect) Moss needs a #2 receiver, Moss has been nothing short of Probowl material, but still needs a number two guy that can take double teams away from him. We routinely send 1 guy or maybe two, in routes and nobody can get open. Our offensive line is just not the smash mouth kind of line they thought it was going to be. Or, atleast they have yet to show it against a good defensive unit. As far as our defensive until, we dont have a true speed corner to cover one on one on the outside. We dont have a D-Line that can cause pressure, leaving LBs free to come at the QB, or safeties for that matter. Last year, we had smoot who could cover speed guys pretty good, and springs who could muscle up with the big guys. Our Blitz packages were "NEW" and no one could really figure them out, however teams are watching game film and have figured out the complicated blitzes and can block them. This is just not personel wise, the team that Joe and Co. want it to be. You need pressure guys upfront with GW schemes that make his blitz harder to pick up. When your dline man can be handled one on one that leaves someone to pick up the blitzer. When they have a guy that needs to be doubled, that leaves an opening to the QB, we just dont have the guy up front that creates double teams. Again, we are facing another offseason of free agent pick ups, because year after year we trade our picks away.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

Portis is not a grind it out back that can get 4 yard by falling forward after getting hit(like stephen davis, alexander ect)

Stephen Davis is averaging three yards a carry this year. And for the millionth time, Seattles' offensive line is vastly superior at run blocking than Washingtons' line. If Portis had the holes to run through that Alexander does(like he did in Denver) he'd have comparable numbers. Alexander doesn't run any better, when he's bottled up between the tackles, than Portis does. Just look that the Washington-Seattle game. Alexander didn't do anything between the tackles, and his only substantial gain came on an edge play where he was basically untouched.

When Portis can reach the second level untouched, 7-10 times a game, I'll be the first to bitch if he still can't get 4.5+ yards a carry. But until then, the blame cannot fall completely on his shoulders.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Stephen Davis is averaging three yards a carry this year. And for the millionth time, Seattles' offensive line is vastly superior at run blocking than Washingtons' line. If Portis had the holes to run through that Alexander does(like he did in Denver) he'd have comparable numbers. Alexander doesn't run any better, when he's bottled up between the tackles, than Portis does. Just look that the Washington-Seattle game. Alexander didn't do anything between the tackles, and his only substantial gain came on an edge play where he was basically untouched.

When Portis can reach the second level untouched, 7-10 times a game, I'll be the first to bitch if he still can't get 4.5+ yards a carry. But until then, the blame cannot fall completely on his shoulders.

I did not put the blame totally on Portis. I said he is one of the factors in Gibbs #2 not winning. Yes Davis is below his average. I used him as a previous example in the TYPE of back best fit for the Gibbs running. Alexander is another example. Maybe I should have said that, but thought I did. Portis is not the kind of back that can bounce off a hit and keep moving, I dont think anybody would dispute that. He is a good back in a system that puts in open spaces. He does not get that here. We are asking him to get inbetween the tackles and grind it out, especially at the end of games, which we are failling miserably at. People want to jump on my back when I state the obvious. Stop drinking the we are better than our record coolaid. We are what we are. I was simply stating a point that Gibbs needs a different kind of back in his offense. As well as other position upgrades to be succesful. Dont read one statement and jump on my ass. read the whole thing first.

[That Guy]

lots of new people stop by just to bitch about a loss and then move on... its stupid.

That said, after 3 losses like we've had, something's obviously missing, cause a truely good team would be capable of coming up with that one extra play per game to get the wins.

I think we're probably just an average team right now that got lucky early and unlucky recently... our QB is solid, but not great... same at RB (and looking at least a bit overpaid). Moss is great, but if he doesn't get the ball, he can't help.

Another thing is the is the hardest schedule i've seen in at least 4 years, playoff teams weekly... we only have 3 soft teams all year (teams like indy have 7-9 soft teams). 6-10 this year is MUCH better than 6-10 last year, but we could easily go 8 or 9 wins. Next year its not possible to get a harder schedule so we should be alright if we can find a couple pieces...

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

If we improve by two wins this year to go 8-8 (which I think is highly likely), I would call that a successful year. To be successful the following year, we will have to win at least 9 games and probably 10. I would be upset if we didn't make the playoffs next season.