Why Doesn't "Gibbs' Football" Work for the Redskins?

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

NFL routes have guys going deep on every play. The Quarterback has to decide when he's got a matchup that makes the throw worth the risk.

Last year we didn't throw downfield as much as the average team did, and we blamed the Quarterback. This year we are throwing downfield often, having some success, and people still have a problem with it. We just can't handle the fact that it's a low percentage throw. 28% leaguewide. That means if you throw one deep ball in every quarter, you are only likely to complete one deep ball. In general, throwing the ball down the field is a negative value offensive strategy. There are times where an NFL defense will give you a great matchup downfield that you should take advatage of, teams do this all the time. But chew on this: if a deep completion is such a great thing (and it is), and sometimes you get good matchups to throw it (which you do), and it STILL hurts your team more times than not, why would you ever want to do it MORE?!?!?! If you force the deep ball into tight coverage, you are more likely to be intercepted than to have a completion.

We have taken advantage of some good matchups in the deep game this year. We've probably been a bit too aggressive with it, but we've done pretty well. Our offense has been really balanced so far. Our running game has not been efficient. So to agree with those who have said this before, I WOULD take some pressure off this running game and throw the ball more. But that doesn't mean we need Campbell to throw the ball all over the place. Some screens, short passes, bootlegs would do a lot to take pressure off the running game. We don't have to do any 4 wide crap or the sort. I would try the running game, and if its not getting 4 yards an attempt, I'd run it less. If it is, I'd run it more.

Of course, thats what the coaches did Sunday, and people are still all up ons.

I'm not advocating airing it out and throwing bombs every play or each drive.. What's missing in our offense is the a mid range passing game.. Where are the 10 yd slants, the 15 yard ins, the skinny post, the post corner routes, the out n ups from our offense? These move the chains by reception or penalty (we seldom get illegal contact penalties to our benefit, why is that?) Those loosen up the LB which open up running lanes.. Those invite blitzes which opens up the screen game..

Taking shots down the field (20+ yards) probably eqaute to less than 15% of successful plays in the most prolific offenses but they (Cincy, Indy, Dallas, Detroit) have the mid range game as a core component of their offense.. 1 big problem I've noticed in our passing game is other than the go route, most of our routes (hooks & curls) have the receivers catching the ball with their feet set or heading to or running up the sideline which limits RAC.

It's not as bad as with Brunell, but let's not be afraid of the middle of the field.. As other teams have shown on our defense, the middle of the field is a first down haven but we tend to ignore it exists..

[Monksdown]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I'm not advocating airing it out and throwing bombs every play or each drive.. What's missing in our offense is the a mid range passing game.. Where are the 10 yd slants, the 15 yard ins, the skinny post, the post corner routes, the out n ups from our offense? These move the chains by reception or penalty (we seldom get illegal contact penalties to our benefit, why is that?) Those loosen up the LB which open up running lanes.. Those invite blitzes which opens up the screen game..

Taking shots down the field (20+ yards) probably eqaute to less than 15% of successful plays in the most prolific offenses but they (Cincy, Indy, Dallas, Detroit) have the mid range game as a core component of their offense.. 1 big problem I've noticed in our passing game is other than the go route, most of our routes (hooks & curls) have the receivers catching the ball with their feet set or heading to or running up the sideline which limits RAC.

It's not as bad as with Brunell, but let's not be afraid of the middle of the field.. As other teams have shown on our defense, the middle of the field is a first down haven but we tend to ignore it exists..

I agree with you that we ignore the middle of the field it seems. Over the last 3 years, we've relied on Cooley for that yardage I think. But getting a more experienced "possession" receiver would help us in that regard. That's one of the strengths for Thrash. He grabs the ball with his hands, and then knows when to get his head down and avoid the "kill."

[MTRedskinsFan]

I realize I'm gonna catch a lot of shit for saying this (especially being new to the Warpath), but I can't help pointing out the mistake in the title. It should read "Why Doesn't 'Gibbs' Football' Work for the NFL." I do not think Gibbs would do much better coaching the Colts or Pats at this stage in his career. Great man, HOF coach, but too conservative, predictable in today's NFL and stuck with what he seems to regard as a QB too young and green to let loose. Also, I don't think Gibbs commands as much respect among his boys as Belachick or Dungy do among theirs. Our offense rarely plays w/ passion as a unit (we see it in Portis, Cooley, Moss and now ARL quite a bit though). On the other hand Williams' defense plays with passion at least 50% of the time (discounting the '06 nightmare). Just my opinion.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by MTRedskinsFan

I realize I'm gonna catch a lot of shit for saying this (especially being new to the Warpath), but I can't help pointing out the mistake in the title. It should read "Why Doesn't 'Gibbs' Football' Work for the NFL." I do not think Gibbs would do much better coaching the Colts or Pats at this stage in his career. Great man, HOF coach, but too conservative, predictable in today's NFL and stuck with what he seems to regard as a QB too young and green to let loose. Also, I don't think Gibbs commands as much respect among his boys as Belachick or Dungy do among theirs. Our offense rarely plays w/ passion as a unit (we see it in Portis, Cooley, Moss and now ARL quite a bit though). On the other hand Williams' defense plays with passion at least 50% of the time (discounting the '06 nightmare). Just my opinion.

I'm guessing you didn't read the first post, it would (should) explain why I chose this thread title.