2007 Washington Redskins Season Thread

[ronnynat]

I don't wanna talk about this game too much more, but I just realized that that missed extra point DID end up coming back to bite us in the ass. Oh, the little things. 

[sportsfan882]

I don't wanna talk about this game too much more, but I just realized that that missed extra point DID end up coming back to bite us in the ass. Oh, the little things. 

Yep, Suisham is very much to blame for this loss. That missed XP was a killer. But it's hard to get too critical of him because he has been so clutch.  I blame the coaching/play calling and the pathetic play of the defense more than anything. 

[spidernat]

How long does Gibbs need to realize that his BS conservative play calling is holding this team back! He held this team back for 2 season with his stubbornness to take Brunell out of the lineup and now he refuses to see that his taking over the play calling in the red zone is killing our chances of moving forward. He is an idiot when it comes to clock management (he badly misses Wayne Sevier, who was responsible for advising him in that regard during Gibbs' first go around). He is indecisive and scared. Why, instead of burning a timeout, didn't they just take a 5 yard penalty to make the field goal attempt 27 yards instead of 22 (after delaying on the decision to kick the FG to begin with). Losing that timeout was huge. At what point does he realize that he needs to let Al Saunders handle the offensive play calling for the entire game! Maybe he just doesn't care whether we win or not. Maybe all he cares about is the fact that his association with the Redskins has afforded him extra NASCAR sponsorship through the FedEx company. Or maybe he just wanted to get the game over with so he could go catch the NASCAR race on television or to connect to his pit crew. 

Dallas should shred the Redskins defense next week. They can't generate a consistent pass rush and they can't cover. 

[nospinzone1]

the crowd is now realizing that I have been right for quite a while. but name calling is not called for. Gibbs is a hall of famer that has gotten the game gone by. Still he gave us years of joy. no point in throwing stones at him now.

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR WHEN SAUNDERS WILL BE THE HEAD COACH.

[GburgNatsFan]

I hope it's not Saunders.

But really, it doesn't matter. As long as Snyder is the owner, the team will never be run correctly.

the crowd is now realizing that I have been right for quite a while. but name calling is not called for. Gibbs is a hall of famer that has gotten the game gone by. Still he gave us years of joy. no point in throwing stones at him now.

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR WHEN SAUNDERS WILL BE THE HEAD COACH.

[DCPSR]

Yep, Suisham is very much to blame for this loss. That missed XP was a killer. But it's hard to get too critical of him because he has been so clutch.  I blame the coaching/play calling and the pathetic play of the defense more than anything. 

The blame lies with the Head Coach.  The play calling in the red zone is some of the worst play calling you will see int he NFL, just plain dumb.  Jason Campbell was putting together his best game as a Redskins, yet, they run all three times, including on 2rd down from the 7 yard line.  The time out and play clock management are horrific as well. Any given week, we can blame this individual player or that one, but all losses have similar components and that is very very very questionable play calling, mis managed time outs, and mis managed play clock.  It has been a plague of the Redskins since Gibbs return.  he has simply not made the adjustment to the newer NFL.  As a die hard, life long Redskin fan and an owner of one of the largest Redskins fan websites, believe me, it pains me to say this stuff about Gibbs, but facts are facts, and since Gibbs return, his winning percentage is nearly IDENTICAL to Norv Turner. 

[DCPSR]

I hope it's not Saunders.

But really, it doesn't matter. As long as Snyder is the owner, the team will never be run correctly.

Don't believe for one minute that Saunders control the offense.  Don't buy the stuff spewed out of Redskins Park.  Simply look at the coaching history of Al Saunders offense and you will not see many similairities to what is done here.   

[sportsfan882]

I saw this posted on Extremeskins and I thought it was quite funny:

Gibbs' Post Game Press Conference after Dallas game

Q: "Coach Gibbs, what happened out there today?"

Gibbs: "Obviously, we fought our guts out. As a matter of fact, on my way back towards the tunnel, I found some of Jimmy Farris' guts lying around the 10 yard line."

Q: "Coach, are you afraid you could lose the team following this 50 point loss?"

Gibbs: "The thing here is, we're all in this together. It's a great group of guys. They may be awful football players, but as people, man, they are awesome."

Q: "What happened at the end of the first half down there on the goal line?"

Gibbs: "Well, we had some communication problems. I wasn't sure what to do, so I told Jason to just take a knee on first down. Then, we decided to call a timeout. During the timeout, we got confused again, so we decided to call another one. I couldn't really hear Al over the headsets, so I told Jason to just throw it away on second down. On third down, we called a dive play for Mike Sellers-- might have to rethink that one seeing we were on the 9 yard line. Then, we totally forgot it was 4th down, but when we tried to call another timeout, the refs told me we were out-- forgot about the one in the first quarter. At that point, I just told Jason to spike the ball. Instead, he used his best judgement and ran that dive play to Sellers. Came up a bit short."

Q: "It seemed like the defensive backs were giving a really big cushion to the Dallas WR's today. Was this something you guys planned on?

Gibbs: "Yeah, well, we talked to Gregg in pregame and we decided that a 45 yard cushion might help us avoid giving up the deep ball against those guys. You know, we watched film, and they have a heck of a passing game. We wanted to make sure they didn't get behind us. Obviosuly, once Dallas got to our 40, we probably should have changed things up a bit. Seems a bit silly now to have Pierson standing out of the end zone before the snap-- but we thought it was best at the time."

Q: "Why the punt on third down early in the second half?"

Gibbs: "Got confised."

Q: "Any remarks on the play of Keenan McCardell?"

Gibbs: "He's a true Redskin. Keenan came in here and has been together with us since day one. He's a fighter. Did you see that three yard out he ran on 4th and 7? Thing of beauty. Just a shame he broke both hips late in the game there."

Q: "What do you say to the team, sitting at 5-5 following two losses?"

Gibbs: "They understand. We're all in this together. Gonna just keep fighting our guts out and see what happens."

Q: "Any early thoughts on Tampa?"

Gibbs: "They understand. We're all in this together. Gonna just keep fighting our guts out and see what happens."

Q: "Huh?"

Gibbs: "Oh, sorry, did I repeat myself?"

Q: "Yes, you did. Thoughts on Tamap?"

Gibbs: "Tough place to play down there. We're gonna have to be ready. Just have to stick together and fight our guts out."

[GburgNatsFan]

That wasn't quite my point, but I agree with you that no one coach is in charge - certainly not Saunders - and that the coaching-by-corporate-committee thing is a complete debacle.

I just don't think Al Saunders should be the head coach. I'm hoping for a certifiable tough guy, like Russ Grimm. We need discipline and cajones at the head coaching position.

Just my humble opinion, though.

Don't believe for one minute that Saunders control the offense.  Don't buy the stuff spewed out of Redskins Park.  Simply look at the coaching history of Al Saunders offense and you will not see many similairities to what is done here.   

[spidernat]

The only reason I would want Saunders as the head coach would be to eliminate the BS about having to adjust to another coach and another system to excuse away another failure of a season.

[GburgNatsFan]

I think that was used way too much as an excuse. I mean, all they are running is wide receiver screens, draws, and five yard outs. Can there be a 600 page playbook of variations on those plays?

The only reason I would want Saunders as the head coach would be to eliminate the BS about having to adjust to another coach and another system to excuse away another failure of a season.

[spidernat]

It's 700 pages

But they always say it takes over a year to get used to a system so I don't want any excuses. Of course getting rid of Gibbs and replacing him with Saunders would leave open the door to the offense actually looking professional and modern which would embarrass the divine Joe Gibbs and his legacy so I doubt they would take that chance.

[spidernat]

They just speculated that the Redskins may show interest in acquiring D'Angelo Hall from the Falcons for a high draft pick (read 1st) because of their histroy of giving up high draft picks for veterans and their defensive backfield situation. I doubt Gibbs would go for that and I personally think he's not worht a high draft pick. They have to learn their lesson at some point and start actually using their draft picks.

[ronnynat]

Aren't a lot of new coaches doing well this season, though? I think it all depends on the team they get. I don't blame Snyder for anything but hiring Gibbs back..I don't think, otherwise, that there would be this crazy coach military-styled ranking system we have in place now. Other than that, I'm fine w/ the whole thing.

[ronnynat]

They just speculated that the Redskins may show interest in acquiring D'Angelo Hall from the Falcons for a high draft pick (read 1st) because of their histroy of giving up high draft picks for veterans and their defensive backfield situation. I doubt Gibbs would go for that and I personally think he's not worht a high draft pick. They have to learn their lesson at some point and start actually using their draft picks.

I'd trade a 1st rounder for a badass DT. That's about it, though.

[GburgNatsFan]

You really don't blame Snyder for anything but hiring Gibbs back? Really? Not for refusing to have a GM? Not for meddling with player selection? Not for treating our team like his personal fantasy team?

Aren't a lot of new coaches doing well this season, though? I think it all depends on the team they get. I don't blame Snyder for anything but hiring Gibbs back..I don't think, otherwise, that there would be this crazy coach military-styled ranking system we have in place now. Other than that, I'm fine w/ the whole thing.

[ronnynat]

You really don't blame Snyder for anything but hiring Gibbs back? Really? Not for refusing to have a GM? Not for meddling with player selection? Not for treating our team like his personal fantasy team?

It was kind of a joke because he left all of that basically up to Gibbs. But no, I don't think the player selection (for the team we have now) was bad at all except for the lack of D-Line. Our coaches and players just aren't executing how they should, IMO. Our team, on paper, is far better than the Giants, but the records don't say that. Actually, I'd go as far as saying that the healthy version of our team, on paper, is better than the Cowboys.

[GburgNatsFan]

I don't think he left the hiring of  a GM up to Gibbs. With regard to player ability, you probably know more than I do, so I can't argue.

It was kind of a joke because he left all of that basically up to Gibbs. But no, I don't think the player selection (for the team we have now) was bad at all except for the lack of D-Line. Our coaches and players just aren't executing how they should, IMO. Our team, on paper, is far better than the Giants, but the records don't say that. Actually, I'd go as far as saying that the healthy version of our team, on paper, is better than the Cowboys.

[nats2playoffs]

My understanding was that Greg Williams was promised the head coach job if Gibbs left.

16NOV07 Afternoon Washington Times : Redskins WR Santana Moss, out since bruising his right heel late in the New York Jets game 12 days ago, returned to practice today at Redskin Park. Wearing a shoe that was altered to limit the discomfort, Moss said he will play Sunday in Dallas. The Redskins are already without receivers James Thrash (out with a high ankle sprain) and Brandon Lloyd  (placed on injured reserve with a broken collarbone) so Moss' return is good news for the 10.5-point underdogs. "It was cold out there but once I got warmed up, I ran around pretty good," Moss said outside the Redskins' weight room. "I know it's going to be bruised and it will take time and there will be soreness but it felt good enough to run on it. "From doing what I did today, I should play." Moss is listed as probable. Pete Kendall (ankle), Marcus Washington (hamstring) and Fred Smoot (hamstring) also practiced and are probable.

Moss' foot isn't going to matter much, since Gibbs won't authorize a pass beyond the line of scrimmage. 

Because Snyder views this as his fantasy team, he is obsessed with statistics and only pays attention to players generating them.  Examples: Jeff George's yards per attempt throwing to RANDY MOSS at Minnesota, and Brandon Lloyd's yards per reception catching desperation catch-up passes at San Francisco did not translate to success for the poorly coached Redskins.  Snyder is less likely to identify young talent that is not on anyone's fantasy team yet.  Exception: I thought that Chris Cooley was the best TE out of that year's class.  He had been the leading receiver on his college team for four years, and blocked well, which you couldn't say about the highly touted TE's in his class.  Nobody ranked him high at the time, but a good GM sees through the hype of bigger name teams.

[spidernat]

My understanding was that Greg Williams was promised the head coach job if Gibbs left.

He was guaranteed a 1 million dollar bonus in the event he isn't named Redskins head coach when Joe Gibbs is gone so they can get out of that if they choose to. Whether they do or not is up in the air.

Exception: I thought that Chris Cooley was the best TE out of that year's class.  He had been the leading receiver on his college team for four years, and blocked well, which you couldn't say about the highly touted TE's in his class.  Nobody ranked him high at the time, but a good GM sees through the hype of bigger name teams. [/i]

If my mind serves me right, Cooley led all TE's in receptions in his last year in college so he wasn't such an unknown. The number of good players they have been able to identify pale in comparison to the disastrous countless personnel moves Gibbs, Cerrato and Snyder have made.

[GburgNatsFan]

Are you ready for some football?

If so what game will you be watching today? 

[CALSGR8]

Are you ready for some football?

If so what game will you be watching today? 

GO REDSKINS BEAT COWBOYS!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I can't even watch today.

[sportsfan882]

I can't even watch today.

It's not going to be pretty.  A loss today would end the season.  I don't know what would be worse, a blowout or a heart breaking close loss. 

[ronnynat]

Are you ready for some football?

If so what game will you be watching today? 

The Lions/Giants game is just as big as ours. I'll be watching that one first.

A loss for the Skins wouldn't end the season, but it'd make it really tough.