Its Gotta Be..

[SUNRA]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

McCants doesn't deserve anything, he needs to earn his playing time and he obviously hasn't done that yet. He was active for the first time this year so that's a good sign.

Alot of people were second guessing why Taylor wasn't starting from week one, and some said he deserved to be in there. I think it's obvious who was right about that one now. I trust this staff and I trust they'll play who should be playing. McCants isn't the answer to our offensive woes.

McCants deserves more playing time than Jacobs and Thrash. Thrash should be handling more punt returns. When your'e not even on the active list for the first three games after leading with 6 TD's last year is a serious problem. He looked damn good in preseason. If fact, he was the only WR to take the ball the distance after catching it. Something we still haven't seen from our receivers yet.

[hurrykaine]

Originally Posted by illdefined

there's a formula to beating the Skins. stack and blitz. rinse, repeat. thats why we keep losing the same way. this only happens because no one respects our air game. and they don't because of bad accuracy from our hurried QBs, and our WRs not getting open. can't be more obvious to me.

quick solution: rollouts, and ACCURATE dumpoffs and screens like Garcia did to our blitzing defense to great effect.

right answer: have your receivers be able to shake coverage and be respected enough to doubleteam or at very least play the safeties back and (gasp) play cover instead or blitz/run stop.

The problem with rollouts and throw to TEs is that they don't scare opposing teams enough...Brunell does this a lot - rolls out and throws to Cooley, Rasby & sometimes Portis for modest 7-12 yard gains - other teams have come to expect it now. You need the QB to throw the long bomb - Brunell is efficient, but hasn't yet showcased any big play ability since preseason. Ramsey isn't efficient, but has showcased plenty of big play ability. What a dilemma!

One strategy, admittedly laughably unorthodox, is for us to sub QBs when we're in the red zone - send in Ramsey, who is much better at finding a receiver in the endzone than Brunell is (except for his faux pas in the Giants game). Also, send in Mccants and Jacobs over Coles and Gardner when we're in the red zone. I think Taylor Jacobs is the best receiver we have on the team. Coming away with field goals when we're in the red zone is intolerable, especially against a team like Cleveland.

[JWsleep]

I think the WR play is tied up with the rest of the offense.

First, we have to get our formations and our shifts right. That's a big part of Gibbs offense, and we clearly are having trouble with it right now. The shifts disguise what we are doing, and put pkayers in favorable matchups.

Second, the QB and the WRs need to learn to READ together, especially on blitzes. I believe that Gibbs offense requires on the spot sycrhonized reads by the QB and the WRs. Right now, it's not flowing smoothly, and as a result Brunnel has to wait to throw until he's sure the WRs break properly. (I BELIEVE this is what's going on, but I could be wrong. Still, there are timing and reading elements in the offense that take time to develope.)

Third, Gibbs needs to open the playbook up and use more play action and other trickery. He's kept it simple to help folks learn the system, but that makes it simpler for the defenses too. Portis said that Bronw defenders knew the plays. That's due to simplifying. Gibbs runs a few basic plays out of multiple formations. Until we get the formations striaght, it's not so hard for the Ds we play.

Fourth, establishing the run. If we REALLY do this, you will see lots more WRs running open.

Fifth, good blitz pickups. That seeme to be coming, but it isn't perfect. SOmetime Brunnel is rolling out under pressure and that throws off plays.

Last, Brunnel has to hit WRs in stride. It looks to me like they are coming open quite a bit out of their first cuts, but the ball is late. That may be Brunnel learning the offense and getting used to the reads, and it may be his lack of arm strength. Let's pray it's the former and not the latter.

The WRs are good enough. Coles may be hurt, but he had over 100 yards. Gardner had over 100 last week. Thrash can play, Cooley can play, and I'd also like to see the other guys get involved. The talent is there.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by cpayne5

I'm saying their mind is not 100% in the game. If it was, they wouldn't fumble. I like both Portis and Coles, you won't find me saying many negative things about them on this site, but their fumbles are a direct result of mental lapses.

i think they're 100% focused and dedicated, but they're trying to overcome some big things with shaky results. Coles his toe, and Portis 8 man fronts bigger than him and running right into them w/o even a fullback.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by illdefined

Coles USED to be that guy secondaries feared. but his massive heart can't overcome some physical limitations like his loss of cutting ability this year and last. just as Portis's heart can't replace about 30lbs to his frame.

i think Coles needs to soul-search and consider going on IR and getting that surgery. he's just NOT the same player. but he's still young so he should do this now.

there's no reason we shouldnt be exploring McCants and Jacobs for at least some whole drives at this point. give them a chance to earn it. McCants to me has proven his way around the redzone, and hasnt dropped clutch TD passes. considering our problems in the red zone this year, i think that definitely earns him a shot.

I don't understand all the Coles 'hate'.. He's topped 100 yds 2 of the past 3 games.. I know he dropped some passes and fumbled yesterday but he is putting forth a strong effort.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by hurrykaine

The problem with rollouts and throw to TEs is that they don't scare opposing teams enough...Brunell does this a lot - rolls out and throws to Cooley, Rasby & sometimes Portis for modest 7-12 yard gains - other teams have come to expect it now. You need the QB to throw the long bomb - Brunell is efficient, but hasn't yet showcased any big play ability since preseason. Ramsey isn't efficient, but has showcased plenty of big play ability. What a dilemma!

thats exactly why that cant be the final answer. its a stopgap solution.
what we need is some over the top threat like every Gibbs team has had in the past. we havent hit a big one in stride all season, being able to cover our WRs one on one like this leaves safeties and LBs to focus on Portis and Brunell, thats the formula and it sucks.

[illdefined]

NO ONE hates Coles. i'm just saying he's not the same player he was on the Jets or at the beginning of his Skins tour. the separation hasnt been there, how can anyone deny this? Gardner is supposed to get the grabs in the middle and get hit, our Monk. Coles was supposed to be our TD threat. our G.Clark. i dont think i'm over-simplifying things, whenever Coles gets a pass he's got a guy right on him and its been costing us.

[That Guy]

maybe a fullback/lead blocker to help portis and some 3/4 WR sets... why the WRs don't look open is because its 2 on 5 sometimes...

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by That Guy

maybe a fullback/lead blocker to help portis and some 3/4 WR sets... why the WRs don't look open is because its 2 on 5 sometimes...

i don't think anyone is playing nickel on us. and if they are, those DBs arent doubleteaming our guys, at least one is coming in to blitz or coming up to stop anything underneath, Portis or Cooley.

Gibbs wont use a fullback, but i think a 3WR, 1TE and Portis is the right amount of air threat/protection IF at least one of those WRs is up against a mismatch or can get open consistently. we have depth at that position i dunno why we dont try em. especially at this point. plus we stretch the defense and give Portis what he feasts on, holes.

i'm NOT saying go Spurrier (shudder), but even max protect can stop the coverage sacks we're getting.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by illdefined

NO ONE hates Coles. i'm just saying he's not the same player he was on the Jets or at the beginning of his Skins tour. the separation hasnt been there, how can anyone deny this? Gardner is supposed to get the grabs in the middle and get hit, our Monk. Coles was supposed to be our TD threat. our G.Clark. i dont think i'm over-simplifying things, whenever Coles gets a pass he's got a guy right on him and its been costing us.

I think there are a lot of reasons for that.. First is the routes he is running.. He's not getting down the field routes as often, he's running comebacks and outs and he's open.. We need to send him on more go routes or post/corner routes to get the separation.

Second is the QB arm strength.. On the few go routes I've seen, he's been open but having to wait on the ball allows the DB to catch up. When was he most effective last year? When Ramsey was throwing it to him, up the field, leading him away from the defender. Brunell seems to lead him into the sideline or into the defender. Even the big 4th down catch he made yesterday was behind him.

Third and most importantly is the pass protection.. If the QB can't step up into the pocket and throw the ball or doesn't have time for the routes to develop down the field it doesn't matter how open he is, he can't get the ball..

[JWsleep]

No sacks yesterday. No INTs. That's a positive step. Next week is the Ravens. We better max protect, or someone is going to get hurt.

Gibbs used the max portect in the past and WRs got open then. It can work. We just need to execute better. And no killer penalites! The penaltes put you in long yardage. Then you can't run. But worse, you can't PLAY ACTION. That's where Gibbs used to get a lot of his big plays. Second and short, play action, WHAMO. All this requires an efficient running game to put you in short yardage to set it up. And we haven't done that. YET.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by illdefined

i'm NOT saying go Spurrier (shudder), but even max protect can stop the coverage sacks we're getting.

sorry meant CAN'T stop...too late to edit.

thing is, whenever Gibbs calls those Bunch formations there are 3WRs out there and we still can't hit a receiver open in stride. maybe it IS our QBs not being able to go down their progressions fast enough, but you'd think that of Ramsey, not Brunell. and you'd think it'd happen at least once by now, but it hasn't.

we've GOTTA get that secondary on their heels somehow, cuz Portis is getting yards but getting knocked around and dropping it. on 3rd downs, its Brunell getting knocked around.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I think there are a lot of reasons for that.. First is the routes he is running.. He's not getting down the field routes as often, he's running comebacks and outs and he's open.. We need to send him on more go routes or post/corner routes to get the separation.

Second is the QB arm strength.. On the few go routes I've seen, he's been open but having to wait on the ball allows the DB to catch up. When was he most effective last year? When Ramsey was throwing it to him, up the field, leading him away from the defender. Brunell seems to lead him into the sideline or into the defender. Even the big 4th down catch he made yesterday was behind him.

Third and most importantly is the pass protection.. If the QB can't step up into the pocket and throw the ball or doesn't have time for the routes to develop down the field it doesn't matter how open he is, he can't get the ball..

definite truth to ALL these. i dunno why we aren't putting Coles in more track meets. he even says that straight ahead his toe doesn't bother him.

you're completely right about Brunell not leading them well enough, could very well be his arm strength.

seems like our OLine has been doing well in their one on one matchups, its just that teams are blitzing, so its never one on one! and our safety valve plays aren't crisp at all. at the very least, Brunell has been getting rid of the ball when nothings open and not turning it over. the problem: nothings open TOO DAMN OFTEN. (or not open ENOUGH)

[diehardskin2982]

I'm gona lay a strategy out there as if I were the coach. First offensive line the good pass protection butt horrible run blocking. It looks like folks are out of shape, not finishing, going until the whistle stops. We need that drive especially with a guy like portis who only needs a seam to wrip a big one. only 6 players used on dffense thats horrible

Running backs where are the rest of them? I'd like to see some change of pace Betts power game, Rock Cartright goal line comeon we got the talent lets use all of it not just the stars.

Same message on the WR position we have great wr not being utilized McCants case on point. Other not being used the right way. Lets look at some film why was coles so successful in New York. The thing with Gardner is that he is a possession wr use have to use him often similar to a TO, or a Keyshawn. let him strect the field often not just in last resort, ie the browns game (3 rep, 19 yrds) Were McCants in the middle, Jacobs on the fade. thrash getting smashed :smashfrea (but making the catch )

TE/ HBacks:
Good use of them on 3rd down but lets mixed it up how bout a cut back were the blocking and portis goes one way, Cooley and the ball go the other lets jazz it up it looks way too simple.

Defense: good overall especially with no Lavar. But let get some more film study we're getting caught on the okie doke plays. I'd like to see more blitzing from Taylor every now expects Bowen to come in let him drop back. The rookie also needs to work open field tackling (ouch!!) he looked real bad. Sorry Jimoh fan but ur boy had no business out there getting burned with Taylor on a fade route, with springs blitzing on a key drive. ( thats if he's #23). Blitz Jimoh not springs he needs to cover in that situation.

Special teams: Can we rip one back please!! Good effort Hall he's always in on the tackle on or near it on kickoff others need to show heart like that. Now I'm ranting please feel free to comment on what i've feel the same or different.

[BossHog]

Maybe the team is not sold on the plays called. We haven't done a good job exploiting mismatches. Down after down, we line the WRs up in bunch, send the TE or halfback in motion, and run the counter. Where's the imagination?