Does Campbell end the 'Cover 2' excuse?

The only games that the defense is directly responsible for losing was the opener against the Vikings, and the Titans game. We'll throw in the Colts game too, but Peyton Manning and the best offensive team in the league are going to score points no matter what. Let's look at the three divisional losses.

Week 2 @ Dallas 10-27 - Three offensive points. Seven special teams points. Brunell's rating 61.6. Yeah. the sure offense did it's part that day...

Week 5 @ New York 3-19 - Three offensive points. Defense only gave up 19. Brunell's rating 68.2. See above.

Week 10 @ Philly 3-27 - Defense gave up a couple big plays, but again... three offensive points(notice a pattern?). Brunell's rating 49.4.

So by you're logic, the defense should have given up less than 10 points to the Cowboys, and less than THREE points to the Giants and Eagles. Those losses have nothing to do with the fact that Brunell played like shit, right? But please, keep arguing how "above average" Brunell's season has been.If you watched the Giants game, you would know that our offense didn't ever have the football because the Giants did nothing but convert third downs, control the clock and get field goals. 3 points yeah, in something like 6 possessions. The Giants would have scored much more than 19 but ran out of time. Anyone who watched would tell you that was our worst defensive game so far.

The other two games were total team losses. The offense played bad, and the D played even worse. Your logic that the D would have to give less then three points in those games for us to win is an incredibly jaded view because if they did they would be UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY WINNING THE GAME FOR US. They do have to keep us competitive, which they haven't done, evidenced by our 30th ranking in the league.

Notice that all three divisional losses are on the road. Theres a school of thought in NFL circle that says regardless of record and talent, when it comes to division games, the home team should always be favored. This is because the teams know each other so well that most of it comes down to who can gameplan the best, and the home team has the one advantage. This is completely ignoring the fact that the Giants and Eagles are two of the league's three best teams (by DVOA).

Your carefully selected three game sample size (out of 9 I might add), is stirring but really paints the picture that you want to see. Doesn't look on the season as a whole.

The factor that everyone ignores when comparing defense to offense is morale. When the defense forces a three and out....which is rare this season i will admit, followed by a three and out by our offense, what do you think happens.................the defense is not only tired, but loses morale and motivation knowing the offense isnt producing. You cannot look at rankings, because with all the rankings taken into account the skins D ranks dead last in the league, 30th yards given up and last in forced turnovers and sacks (pretty bad). There is no way that you could truly think that the skins actually have the worst defense in the league. The offense is the main reason the defense is ranked so low, with that many possessoins for the other team, the yards are gonna add up, however, we have been getting some crucial stops at the end of games, with our offense following it up with a three and out. I believe we have a slightly below average defense, they just need the morale boost. Hopefully campbell is that.Oww. Owwwww. Owwwww.

So you are saying that all the evidence points to us having the leagues worst D, but that couldn't be...because we're the Washington Redskins. Therefore is has to be the offense by process of elimination? Is that so? Damn...I was way off.

The Defense is the main reason they are ranked so low. Offenses against us have horrible average starting field position. But we give up so many points against. First of all, is that not the mark of a terrible defense? Second of all, would that not be more demoralizing to the offense than the offense is to the defense?

Why would Campbell boost the morale of the team any more than the loss of Portis would lower it? Portis is the lifeblood of the offense.

Our D lost his season for us, period.

Our D lost his season for us, period.

SUCH a fruedian slip.

The factor that everyone ignores when comparing defense to offense is morale. When the defense forces a three and out....which is rare this season i will admit, followed by a three and out by our offense, what do you think happens.................the defense is not only tired, but loses morale and motivation knowing the offense isnt producing. You cannot look at rankings, because with all the rankings taken into account the skins D ranks dead last in the league, 30th yards given up and last in forced turnovers and sacks (pretty bad). There is no way that you could truly think that the skins actually have the worst defense in the league. The offense is the main reason the defense is ranked so low, with that many possessoins for the other team, the yards are gonna add up, however, we have been getting some crucial stops at the end of games, with our offense following it up with a three and out. I believe we have a slightly below average defense, they just need the morale boost. Hopefully campbell is that.

That's some flawed reasoning there my friend.

I don't know what games you've been watching... but teams are able to score early, sustain drives, control the clock, and get the big plays they need.

You prove this yourself, "the skins D ranks dead last in the league, 30th yards given up and last in forced turnovers and sacks (pretty bad)". The Defense IS really that bad. That has nothing to do with our offense.

Brunell may not have been the best QB, but he, and his offense, can by no means can be used for an excuse as to our lack of Defensive play.

Lets put that argument to rest.....please!

Our D lost his season for us, period.It's not ONLY the defense, but its very mainly the defense.

To build on hess' point though, the offense has YET to put the D in a bad situation. They don't score a lot of points, but look at the field position against. Why oh why can't we stop anyone. Either its a big play or a methodical drive. We never force punts, we never get turnovers. Every once in a while, the opponent misses a FG, giving us good field position. Otherwise, we get pinned inside our 20.

Statistically when starting from the 20, you are going to average 0 "pythageorean points". Meaning a league average offense has just as good of a chance of creating points for the defense (through a turnover or giving godly field position at the 40 or better), as they do of scoring them. Inside the 20, you would be negative, and if you started on the opposing 1, it would be very close to 6. But yeah, field position usually determines what you are going to do points wise.

And our D is killing us.

Why would Campbell boost the morale of the team any more than the loss of Portis would lower it? Portis is the lifeblood of the offense.

yet Portis was in the midst of a career low season, with the same starters as last year, all healthy, but with upgrades at the WR position...so why would that be? what's different? the key player struggling with the new offense. why keep no.8 trying to master it this late in the season?

yet Portis was in the midst of a career low season, with the same starters as last year, all healthy, but with upgrades at the WR position...so why would that be? what's different? the key player struggling with the new offense. why keep no.8 trying to master it this late in the season?

Damn that new Saunders Offense!!!!!!! Fire him and let Gibbs have it all back - SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL!

Your carefully selected three game sample size (out of 9 I might add), is stirring but really paints the picture that you want to see. Doesn't look on the season as a whole.

I picked the three divisional games because they were the most important. If you want to get technical, I blamed the defense for the Titans loss, even though Brunell's rating for that game was around 69. And how is it that when the defense performs exceptionally bad, it's entirely the defense's fault that Washington lost, but when Brunell looks like a frail old man and puts up three points in a game, it's a team loss?

That's some flawed reasoning there my friend.

I don't know what games you've been watching... but teams are able to score early, sustain drives, control the clock, and get the big plays they need.

You prove this yourself, "the skins D ranks dead last in the league, 30th yards given up and last in forced turnovers and sacks (pretty bad)". The Defense IS really that bad. That has nothing to do with our offense.

Brunell may not have been the best QB, but he, and his offense, can by no means can be used for an excuse as to our lack of Defensive play.

Lets put that argument to rest.....please!Well, there needs to be two sides for there to be an arguement and I at least feel like I have defended mine well. So if people who think we have really made a step towards improving our football team continue to push the issue, I feel obligated to defend. I think I owe to the community, because without the opposing viewpoint on the Brunell issue, then we aren't going to understand why we were beaten by the Bucs.

A loss to Tampa Bay erases any hope of a WC birth, and I feel as a fan like the team has given up.