Tony McGee: Redskins vs. Chargers

[SmootSmack]

Former NFL great Tony McGee sat down with TheWarpath.net front office Tuesday morning and answered some TheWarpath.net questions about the Redskins 23-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Please be sure to visit http://www.tonymcgeeplus.com and watch Tony McGee's Pro Football Plus Saturdays at 11:30 am on Comcast SportsNet and DirecTV to see Tony and his panel of guests answer "TheWarpath.net Question of the Week". This week's question is "Are we unlucky or not as good as we think we are?" Ok, let's get started with Tony's thoughts here:

First off, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. My holiday week was nice and fattening. Would have been nice to wrap it up with a Redskins win. Let's get to your questions. First of all, before you even ask, fans need to stop pointing the finger at Gibbs, Williams, or any of the other coaches. It's time for the players to look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves why they're not making plays when it counts. 4th quarter and they're dropping passes, committing dumb penalties (four crucial penalties in that last quarter). Meanwhile, on the other side of the field LT, who had just 66 yards in the first three quarters, finished with 184 for the day.

Let's talk about that last drive in regulation for the Redskins. First of all, Skinsguy, I don't believe that Gibbs is being too conservative. What he's doing is putting the trust in his defense because that's the strength of this team. I liked the idea to run on 2nd and 4, but I think they should have run north-south and stay between the hash marks instead of running off right end. Either way, the Rabach holding penalty (and really it was more like a tackle) was deadly. He makes a mistake like that and you're going to tell me it's not execution? Stop feeding me this crap that that's anyone's fault but the players. On 2nd and 14, Gibbs played the percentages and lost. The Chargers should have expected a pass on that play so the Redskins ran it. But I don't think it was the wrong call.

Ok, let me try to answer some of your questions here. Let's start with backrow with the million dollar question-How can our 4th quarter D problems be fixed? I don't think there's a clear cut answer. But I think a problem has been that we have a lot of backups playing that just aren't used to playing at crunch time, and may not be in as good of shape as they should be. Injuries are going to happen, and these players have to step it up but you don't learn unless you get beat up a few times. And that's what's happening to this team. But I don't think the problems lie with the defense in the 4th quarter. It's the offense that's not coming through in my opinion. And Matty, again it's execution (or the lack of it) not playcalling. Skinsguy, you ask if the NFL has changed too much for Gibbs. The answer is an emphatic no. Look how close they've come in several games. They could just as easily be 8-3. This team has been put in a position to win every week for the last three weeks but the players aren't making the plays. This team is headed in the right direction but as professionals they need to own up and eliminate these amateurish mistakes.

Does that mean this team as is is all we need? No. I think there are some pieces to the puzzle missing. Ramseyfan, let me answer your question. I think we are two receivers away. We need a flat-out burner. Maybe that's Antonio Brown. And we need a big receiver. Like I've said before, I think McCants could be contributing to this team right now. Now back when I was playing, we had essentially three TEs-you had Donnie Warren, Doc Walker (who was basically your HB), and you had Clint Didier. The team is missing a Didier. Didier was essentially the equivalent of a 3rd down running back. I thought maybe Royal could have been that guy. But right now mentally he's just not there. I think it's smart of Gibbs to put him back out there and try to give him confidence back, but right now I don't think that Royal even believes he can catch the ball. That's the problem with dropping a pass, you drop one and then you think you can't catch any after that. As teammates you have to encourage him and support him. When I was playing and I missed a tackle or blew an assignment I had my teammates trying to pick me up on the sidelines. And that helps.

Look, crazy as it may sound this team isn't out of it. But if they fall out of contention, and I'm pressed to make a QB change, I say go with Ramsey and try to up his trade value.

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Tony McGee's NFL career started in 1971 where he was a starting defensive end for the Chicago Bears. In 1974, Tony began a 7 year stint with the New England Patriots and earned the nickname, "Mac the Sack." His unique ability to swarm opposing quarterbacks helped coin the phrase, "designated pass rusher." Tony's career as a Washington Redskin began in 1982, and included a Super Bowl championship. Tony ended his spectacular career in 1985 with 106 career sacks and played in over 200 games -- a feat achieved only by a select group of NFL defensive linemen.
For more information visit http://www.tonymcgeeplus.com

[BigSKINBauer]

Thanks Guys!'!!!

[Redskins_P]

Thanks for keeping it real Tony!!!

[skinsguy]

Thanks Tony!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Yeah, most definitely. I love Tony's honest answers. Thanks Tony!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Thanks Tony!

[MTK]

Tony keepin' it real, nice job!

Stop feeding me this crap that that's anyone's fault but the players.

Big props to him for this comment, it's time to start pointing the finger at the players and not the coaches. The players have to make the plays, I totally agree.

[firstdown]

Thanks Tony, intresting concept if we fall out of contention to play Ramsey to try and increase his trade value and not to play Campbell to get him some playing time.

[Cooley 350Z]

I like this guy, he seems like a straight-shooter with upper management written all over him. On a serious note, I agree with firstdown, Tony's remarks about playing Ramsey to up his trade-value are very interesting & you would hope help us in the long run.

[That Guy]

one of his better columns. thanks.

[SmootSmack]

He was definitely more animated during our phone conversation than he usually is. You can sense the loyalty he has for Gibbs. What he basically told me was that Gibbs is the kind of coach that you wanted to give an extra effort for. That when the players thought they had nothing left to give, they would dig deep and pull out that hidden talent or motivation or whatever. Because they knew that Gibbs would always do the same for them. If he spent 15 hours watching film and they lost, the next week he would watch 20.

He doesn't see that extra effort and desire in today's player. Not every player, but many of them. And that frustrates him, because he feels like they need to understand that at some point there's only so much the coaches can do.

[rickmmrr]

Thanks Tony.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by TAFKAS

He was definitely more animated during our phone conversation than he usually is. You can sense the loyalty he has for Gibbs. What he basically told me was that Gibbs is the kind of coach that you wanted to give an extra effort for. That when the players thought they had nothing left to give, they would dig deep and pull out that hidden talent or motivation or whatever. Because they knew that Gibbs would always do the same for them. If he spent 15 hours watching film and they lost, the next week he would watch 20.

He doesn't see that extra effort and desire in today's player. Not every player, but many of them. And that frustrates him, because he feels like they need to understand that at some point there's only so much the coaches can do.

Yep, I think I struck a nerve with Tony. I hope he understands those questions weren't coming from me per se, but just what I have witnessed with other fans. I think the current players need to have that same fire lit under them to do what they can for this team and their coach.

[backrow]

Top notch analysis Tony! Great having your "insider" insight! As posters, we are three times worse than our Professional FB team.

We may type like the wind, but we blow every other word. And we are not even under the same pressure in order to "perform" at a physically high speed!

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Yep, I think I struck a nerve with Tony. I hope he understands those questions weren't coming from me per se, but just what I have witnessed with other fans. I think the current players need to have that same fire lit under them to do what they can for this team and their coach.

He said he was coming to Bassett, VA to hunt you down.