Midseason Report Card

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by Tahoe Skin

Pasquarelli said Brunell was over the hill back when we first picked him up. He obviously knew what he was talking about. I heard him say one time he's actually a Skins fan. Just cause he's outspoken about Gibbs' obvious flaws doesn't make him a bad guy in my book.

Is that true? I thought he was from Philly.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by wolfeskins

does anyone remember an ex-skins player named fred stokes? i met and got his autograph today but i don't realy remember him. he said he played for 11 years and i saw his superbowl ring, in his picture he's wearing # 60 on his jersey. sorry to get off topic but i don't know how to start a new thread.

Yeah I remember Stokes, solid player. If you go to the "locker room" forum, or any other one and click on "New Thread" you'll be good to go

[wolfeskins]

thanks smootsmack

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

Djnemo, I won't argue that Ramsey is not a rookie or an inexperienced back-up. Ramsey's been through the wars and back. However, I think that Gibbs' offense is not the kind of thing that you can take in and understand in month or two. If anything, that would explain Gibbs' preference for veteran players because in most cases they have the insight of being in thousands of game situations and understanding why certain things are done. I think Brunell was brought in because Gibbs didn't feel that Ramsey could digest the offense, especially after being brought up in Spurrier's O strategies, which I think are very different from the "Gibbs way" of doing things. I think we will see Ramsey before the season is out possibly after Turkey day. Gibbs has said on numerous occasions that Ramsey is the team's future. Why would he want to jeopardize that future by throwing him out there without a full understanding of the offense?

Addressing the Brunell signing. I think the biggest mistake in that signing was the amount of money and tenure of the contract, but Brunell might not have settled for anything less. I don't know the particulars of the negotiations, but I know in general veteran players that have interest from more than one team always push for long multi-year contracts with lots of 0's because they want the $$$ and security of knowing they'll be working a couple years down the road. I think Gibbs was interested in the best veteran QB available and after consulting with the rest of the mgmt team, they came up with Brunell. It sucked they had to sign him long term and for ludicrous $$$, but there might not have been a better choice at the time.

Regarding the QB situation. I think Brunell is horrible. I read the article on the skins website this morning about Brunell having confidence and being a competitor, blah-blah-blah. The quote from him where he says "we're not getting the job done, and that falls on the QB" I thought was a riot. It would seem that confidence and a grasp of reality do not go hand in hand with this guy! When will Brunell accept the fact that HE is not getting the job done? Maybe never. I think the whole purpose of that article was an attempt to quell the majority outcry from fans for a change at the position. I think we need to get Ramsey in there too. But when he's ready. Considering what he went through under Spurrier's tenure, he needs to be able to take the snap knowing that he'll get the job done and have the time and opportunity to do it.

[MTK]

What I don't understand is the backlash at Brunell's quote, he says the offense isn't getting it done and it all falls on the QB.

Sounds like he's admitting that the offensive struggles start with him. What more does he need to say?

I think Brunell is the most hated Skins QB ever, even if he turns it around I don't think he'll ever win everyone over. There will always be someone calling for his head with every incompletion or blasting him for quotes. I know he's struggling, I just don't understand why people are going after him so strongly.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

Matty, concerning the quote, I read it as him saying that the offense as a unit is not getting the job done and the blame is placed on the quarterback. It may be a semantic thing but it sounded like he was distributing the blame instead of accepting it fully. It could also be that I don't have enough coffee in me yet!:cheeky-sm I would think that the biggest reason that people are going after him so much is they expected more out of him than what they are seeing. People have come to equate big contracts with big performance and rightfully so. Everywhere we look in sports, the better players get the biggest salaries and I think overall, they perform to fans expectations. The ones that don't catch a ton of flak as a result.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by LongTimeSkinsFan

Matty, concerning the quote, I read it as him saying that the offense as a unit is not getting the job done and the blame is placed on the quarterback. It may be a semantic thing but it sounded like he was distributing the blame instead of accepting it fully. It could also be that I don't have enough coffee in me yet!:cheeky-sm I would think that the biggest reason that people are going after him so much is they expected more out of him than what they are seeing. People have come to equate big contracts with big performance and rightfully so. Everywhere we look in sports, the better players get the biggest salaries and I think overall, they perform to fans expectations. The ones that don't catch a ton of flak as a result.

Maybe it's just my perception but I don't think that's what he meant at all. I've seen other instances where he's taken the blame for the offense not playing well and people still rip him.

To me his quote says the offense is struggling and those struggles start with him. Brunell has been in the league for 11 years now, he knows his role as a QB and that role involves shouldering the blame. He's not a Jeff George type who has no understanding of what leadership means at the QB position.

He's always been a standup guy in this league, I don't see why that would change now.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

OK, I can honestly say I haven't followed Brunell well enough to know his psychological make-up, but if you say he's not a Jeff George I'll defer to your knowledge of the guy. I DO remember Jeff George and what an immature prima donna he was and how he overvalued his ability. Hell, at least someone thought George was great, even if it was only himself

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by LongTimeSkinsFan

OK, I can honestly say I haven't followed Brunell well enough to know his psychological make-up, but if you say he's not a Jeff George I'll defer to your knowledge of the guy. I DO remember Jeff George and what an immature prima donna he was and how he overvalued his ability. Hell, at least someone thought George was great, even if it was only himself

Don't forget Danny Boy Skins fan, haha. That makes two.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think Brunell is the most hated Skins QB ever, even if he turns it around I don't think he'll ever win everyone over. There will always be someone calling for his head with every incompletion or blasting him for quotes. I know he's struggling, I just don't understand why people are going after him so strongly.

Well I can't speak for everyone, I can promise you that the minute Brunell gets it together and starts looking like a legit winning NFL qb, i will shut up real quick. I am ready and willing to jump on the bandwagon. However, the fact remains that he's playing arguably as bad as any qb I've ever seen in my entire life. I mean, four games under a 100 at midpoint? I've never seen that from a rookie. Dilfer didn't do that. Not even Josh McCown or kyle Boller have been that bad. So I'm sure I speak for some people when I say, its nothing personal against the guy. He's just playing really really terrible right now.

Moreover, does anyone think he's gonna suddenly get good. I keep hoping he will, ready to bite my toungue and say Gibbs you were right, but its just tough for me, based on my humble observations, to imagine that happening.

[SkinsRock]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Maybe it's just my perception but I don't think that's what he meant at all. I've seen other instances where he's taken the blame for the offense not playing well and people still rip him.

To me his quote says the offense is struggling and those struggles start with him. Brunell has been in the league for 11 years now, he knows his role as a QB and that role involves shouldering the blame. He's not a Jeff George type who has no understanding of what leadership means at the QB position.

He's always been a standup guy in this league, I don't see why that would change now.

I took it as the QB gets the blame, but one thing I have noticed is that Brunell is a pro at always saying the right thing...being politically correct instead of just being honest....or maybe he's just in denial. Either way, what does everyone expect? Him to say "yeah, I suck"? No NFL player will do that. If he admitted to losing his confidence he would be giving opposing defenses that much more fuel to tee off on him, not to mention putting Gibbs in a very bad position.