On Blache

When GTripp goes on and on to try and prove this, then you respond, (out of nowhere) "Game, set, and match, GTripp" ... then, yeah, you are supporting his argument right??

... let me just say... and if that pisses you off, well you know how I felt when threw your two cents in, (trying to make it seem like I'm somehow inferior to the guy) when you weren't even in the debate... your comment put you in, supporting him

Our defense is good enough to take an above average offense DEEP into the playoffs, at a minimum. An AVERAGE offense (you know, one that can score over 20 per game) would be a playoff team with this defense.... period.

I just thought he had the stronger argument, it didn't mean I supported 100% of what he said.

I agree the O is more to blame overall, but it's naive to think the D hasn't had a role at times this year as well. Especially during the 4th quarter as of late, not including today of course.

Wrong. The defense played great, but they only blitzed once (that I saw). That was the point. Blache had been calling bad games, using ineffectual blitzes and unnecessarily putting pressure on the back end. Today he played coverage and, well you saw the results. You have to understand the argument to have a decent rebuttal. This game actually proved Tripp's point. Great defensive effort, great play calling by Blache.

1) You HONESTLY want to say we just blitzed once today?

2) So when we don't play run first, great play calling, but if we play run first, and don't get any pressure, terrible play calling & our pass defense is below average. (??)

you are right, it is hard to understand your argument.

Clear as day we are top 10 in run defense and pass defense...
ANY kind of "blitz percentage" or "yards per completion" argument is definitely not understood by me... I clearly am an idiot.

I just thought he had the stronger argument, it didn't mean I supported 100% of what he said.

I agree the O is more to blame overall, but it's naive to think the D hasn't had a role at times this year as well. Especially during the 4th quarter as of late, not including today of course.

Fair enough, but once again, everyone focuses on our D in the 4th quarter because our offense can't score 20 points in a game (hell, make that 17), so no matter WHO we play, they are in it late and our D has been on the field all day and the pressure is ALL ON THEM.

I'm still trying to figure how this is somehow an inferior argument... but ok.

I'm also still trying to figure out my true feelings on the whole "4th quarter is more important than the other 3" thing.

and let me finish with this... one guy just posted what it seems a lot of you think... "We NEED an elite defense, though"

It's CRAZY to me for people to demand we be the '85 Bears, '70s Steelers or early '90s Ravens. We have a GOOD defense. Let's talk about how our offense, out of all of the teams with new offenses and new QBs is FAAARRRR behind the rest, and drop the blaming the D.

I just thought he had the stronger argument, it didn't mean I supported 100% of what he said.

I agree the O is more to blame overall, but it's naive to think the D hasn't had a role at times this year as well. Especially during the 4th quarter as of late, not including today of course.

There were times that the defense got too much into a prevent defense, for example our win against the Cowboys. I was listening to the game on the radio and Sonny Jurgensen was complaining that the team was not blitzing and allowed the Cowboys to score on a late TD. And that was a good game played by the offense. However, I think the offense's slow start in a lot of the games and the missed opportunities to score points, especially those off turnovers, had a big impact in the defense's woes in the 4th quarter.

I do agree that there are a lot of things that need to change on the defensive side of the ball. We need to see more play out of Jason Taylor like we saw today, we need to figure out what's going to happen with our aging LB group, and we need some type of stability/consistency with our defensive backs. But to imply that the defense is the major problem in our loses, overlooking the huge deficiencies (sp?) in the offense is just being too narrow minded. This team's priority should be the offensive line, getting more production of out the offensive side of the ball, and then the defense.

Wrong. The defense played great, but they only blitzed once (that I saw). That was the point. Blache had been calling bad games, using ineffectual blitzes and unnecessarily putting pressure on the back end. Today he played coverage and, well you saw the results. You have to understand the argument to have a decent rebuttal. This game actually proved Tripp's point. Great defensive effort, great play calling by Blache.

They blitzed a few times. Overall, I'd say the individual effort was great, the playing calling decent. But they still went into the damn Prevent Winning D at the end of the game.

1) You HONESTLY want to say we just blitzed once today?

2) So when we don't play run first, great play calling, but if we play run first, and don't get any pressure, terrible play calling & our pass defense is below average. (??)

you are right, it is hard to understand your argument.

Clear as day we are top 10 in run defense and pass defense...
ANY kind of "blitz percentage" or "yards per completion" argument is definitely not understood by me... I clearly am an idiot.

Yes, I saw one blitz. Might have missed one or two, but they were not bringing all those blitzes that they used in previous weeks. Tripp might have been a larger argument (after reading back over the thread), he can speak for himself. My argument was more simple; Blache used too many blitzes that weren't working and putting unnecessary pressure on the DBs and giving the QBs easy reads. The numbers are there, 2nd (or so) in the league in blitz percentage going into this week. Today they brought four most of the time and only rushed three a bunch of the time. Good play calling since they have proven that they can't get pressure even by blitzing. McNabb struggled to find open receivers (and made some bad throws and had some key drops).

Yes, I saw one blitz. Might have missed one or two, but they were not bringing all those blitzes that they used in previous weeks. Tripp might have been a larger argument (after reading back over the thread), he can speak for himself. My argument was more simple; Blache used too many blitzes that weren't working and putting unnecessary pressure on the DBs and giving the QBs easy reads. The numbers are there, 2nd (or so) in the league in blitz percentage going into this week. Today they brought four most of the time and only rushed three a bunch of the time. Good play calling since they have proven that they can't get pressure even by blitzing. McNabb struggled to find open receivers (and made some bad throws and had some key drops).

The funny thing about you and discussing this is that I agree, I hate our blitz packages. We hardly ever are successful on blitzes. So we agree in your argument.

But... all I have been saying all along is that:
1) our offense is AWFUL
2) our defense is certainly not equally accountable for us not making the playoffs
3) Points allowed is more important than "blitz" stats or "yards per completion", etc.
4) our pass defense is NOT below average

That's all... those 4 things. Now, I used alot of statistics, etc. to try and show this, but obviously, I'm trippin on acid and seeing things that no one else sees when they watch the Redskins play or look at the stats I provide, cause my argument is inferior... I'll have to accept that to some of you feel that way.

Fair enough, but once again, everyone focuses on our D in the 4th quarter because our offense can't score 20 points in a game (hell, make that 17), so no matter WHO we play, they are in it late and our D has been on the field all day and the pressure is ALL ON THEM.

I'm still trying to figure how this is somehow an inferior argument... but ok.

I'm also still trying to figure out my true feelings on the whole "4th quarter is more important than the other 3" thing.

and let me finish with this... one guy just posted what it seems a lot of you think... "We NEED an elite defense, though"

It's CRAZY to me for people to demand we be the '85 Bears, '70s Steelers or early '90s Ravens. We have a GOOD defense. Let's talk about how our offense, out of all of the teams with new offenses and new QBs is FAAARRRR behind the rest, and drop the blaming the D.

Could you have imagined what people on here would've said if Philly scores on that last play and then we lose in OT? You know people would've been bitching about the defense. But from what I saw out there today was an offense that was simply unwatchable. Time and time again getting the ball around the 50 and not able to do a damn thing.

The funny thing about you and discussing this is that I agree, I hate our blitz packages. We hardly ever are successful on blitzes. So we agree in your argument.

But... all I have been saying all along is that:
1) our offense is AWFUL
2) our defense is certainly not equally accountable for us not making the playoffs
3) Points allowed is more important than "blitz" stats or "yards per completion", etc.
4) our pass defense is NOT below average

That's all... those 4 things. Now, I used alot of statistics, etc. to try and show this, but obviously, I'm trippin on acid and seeing things that no one else sees when they watch the Redskins play or look at the stats I provide, cause my argument is inferior... I'll have to accept that to some of you feel that way.

The Redskins actually blitzed 7 times (out of 50 pass attempts). They got pressure on one (but McNabb hit Smith for a first down). This is every Eagles pass play with the number of Redskins rushers. I think I probably agree with your point. I just thought Blache had done a poor job calling games and used too many blitzes in previous weeks.

1-10-PHI 35 (12:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 82-L.Smith to PHI 40 for 5 yards (22-C.Rogers). 3
3-2-PHI 43 (10:44) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 10-D.Jackson pushed ob at WAS 49 for 8 yards (23-D.Hall) [99-A.Carter]. 4
1-10-WAS 49 (9:59) (Shotgun) PENALTY on PHI-83-G.Lewis, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 49 - No Play. 4
2-16-PHI 45 (8:52) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 10-D.Jackson (59-L.Fletcher). 3
3-16-PHI 45 (8:47) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep middle to 81-J.Avant. 3

2-8-PHI 18 (5:02) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 87-B.Celek pushed ob at PHI 26 for 8 yards (52-R.McIntosh). 3
1-10-PHI 26 (4:28) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to 49-D.Klecko. 4
3-8-PHI 28 (3:38) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 18 for -10 yards (55-J.Taylor). 4

1-10-PHI 47 (14:05) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 28-C.Buckhalter to WAS 42 for 11 yards (30-L.Landry, 54-H.Blades). 4
1-10-WAS 42 (13:30) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 82-L.Smith. 5 Blitz (McIntosh)
3-6-WAS 38 (12:48) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 49-D.Klecko to WAS 36 for 2 yards (54-H.Blades, 27-F.Smoot). 3

2-8-PHI 22 (2:46) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 82-L.Smith. 3
Timeout #1 by PHI at 02:41.
3-8-PHI 22 (2:41) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 82-L.Smith to PHI 30 for 8 yards (27-F.Smoot, 92-D.Evans). Washington challenged the first down ruling, and the play was REVERSED. (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 82-L.Smith to PHI 29 for 7 yards (27-F.Smoot, 92-D.Evans). 3

2-7-PHI 20 (14:14) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep middle to 10-D.Jackson (30-L.Landry, 53-M.Washington). 3
Timeout #1 by PHI at 14:05.
3-7-PHI 20 (14:05) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 86-R.Brown to PHI 30 for 10 yards (27-F.Smoot). 3
1-13-PHI 27 (12:52) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb scrambles left end pushed ob at PHI 30 for 3 yards (24-S.Springs). 4
3-3-PHI 37 (11:37) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb sacked at PHI 30 for -7 yards (55-J.Taylor). FUMBLES (55-J.Taylor), RECOVERED by WAS-59-L.Fletcher at PHI 30. 59-L.Fletcher to PHI 18 for 12 yards (69-J.Runyan). 4

1-10-PHI 20 (8:43) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 83-G.Lewis to PHI 25 for 5 yards (24-S.Springs). 4
2-5-PHI 25 (8:07) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 36-B.Westbrook. 3
3-5-PHI 25 (8:02) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to PHI 42 for 17 yards (48-C.Horton). 3
2-11-PHI 41 (6:45) 5-D.McNabb pass deep left to 36-B.Westbrook to WAS 12 for 47 yards (23-D.Hall). WAS-79-L.Alexander was injured during the play. He is Out. 3
1-10-WAS 12 (5:50) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 82-L.Smith (30-L.Landry) [99-A.Carter]. 3
2-10-WAS 12 (5:44) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 81-J.Avant to WAS 5 for 7 yards (24-S.Springs). 5 (Blades)
3-3-WAS 5 (5:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 36-B.Westbrook to WAS 4 for 1 yard (48-C.Horton). 4

1-10-PHI 9 (15:00) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short left to 86-R.Brown. 5 (Washington)
2-10-PHI 9 (14:56) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 36-B.Westbrook to PHI 15 for 6 yards (59-L.Fletcher). 4
3-4-PHI 15 (14:13) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 81-J.Avant. 4

1-10-PHI 3 (11:18) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 10-D.Jackson to PHI 9 for 6 yards (23-D.Hall). 4
2-4-PHI 9 (10:35) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 87-B.Celek (23-D.Hall). 5 (Washington)
3-4-PHI 9 (10:30) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 82-L.Smith to PHI 11 for 2 yards (23-D.Hall). 3

1-10-PHI 10 (8:15) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 86-R.Brown (23-D.Hall). 6 (McIntosh and Fletcher)
2-10-PHI 10 (8:09) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 10-D.Jackson (24-S.Springs). 4
3-10-PHI 10 (8:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to 10-D.Jackson. 4

1-10-PHI 20 (6:09) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to 10-D.Jackson. 4
2-10-PHI 20 (6:03) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 82-L.Smith to PHI 21 for 1 yard (24-S.Springs, 48-C.Horton). 4
3-9-PHI 21 (5:24) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb left end pushed ob at PHI 26 for 5 yards (95-C.Wilson). 4

2-7-PHI 12 (3:11) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 86-R.Brown to PHI 22 for 10 yards (23-D.Hall). 4 (Springs and Rogers came, Monty and Taylor dropped)
1-10-PHI 22 (2:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 36-B.Westbrook to PHI 28 for 6 yards (59-L.Fletcher). 4
2-4-PHI 28 (2:15) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short right to 28-C.Buckhalter to PHI 35 for 7 yards (22-C.Rogers). 3
Two-Minute Warning
1-10-PHI 35 (2:00) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to PHI 41 for 6 yards (59-L.Fletcher). 3
2-4-PHI 41 (1:38) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 81-J.Avant to 50 for 9 yards (24-S.Springs). 3
1-10- (1:14) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 81-J.Avant. 3
2-10- (1:10) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 86-R.Brown pushed ob at WAS 40 for 10 yards (27-F.Smoot). 4
1-10-WAS 40 (1:05) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep right to 10-D.Jackson (23-D.Hall). 3
2-10-WAS 40 (:57) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 82-L.Smith to WAS 29 for 11 yards (23-D.Hall). 5 (Springs)
1-10-WAS 29 (:39) (No Huddle) 5-D.McNabb spiked the ball to stop the clock.
2-10-WAS 29 (:39) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete deep middle to 81-J.Avant (22-C.Rogers). 4
3-10-WAS 29 (:34) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short middle to 36-B.Westbrook to WAS 23 for 6 yards (59-L.Fletcher). 5 (Horton)
Timeout #3 by PHI at 00:27.
4-4-WAS 23 (:27) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass short left to 36-B.Westbrook to WAS 18 for 5 yards (55-J.Taylor). 3
1-10-WAS 18 (:27) (No Huddle) 5-D.McNabb spiked the ball to stop the clock.
2-10-WAS 18 (:12) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass deep middle to 86-R.Brown to WAS 1 for 17 yards (27-F.Smoot, 30-L.Landry). The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was Upheld. 3

Wow. Kudos for the effort. But yeah we did blitz more in other games... but again, we agree on this point and I feel like it's something that DEFINITELY needs to be addressed. But... the overall point of mine is to not point the finger at the D for our woes this year because these bad blitzes have not KILLED our defense this year as we are still are top 10 in my mind and in the important stats (yards allowed/points allowed)... regardless of blitz percentages... if you disagree, then so be it.