Smoot Lays the Smack Down: WAS @ SF

You are correct. We have multiple problems, but they have to be fixed on a worst first basis..............and the O-line is our worst problem. Additionally, it is such a limiting factor, it is not possible to fairly evaluate JC, Zorn, etc until that is fixed.
Look at Mark Rypien's performance when the Hog's were in their prime and.......not. That may be the kind of protection required for JC to have success.

I agree. I would also add that better O-line play could have saved a few games for Washington (St. Louis, Cincy, SF, Dallas). Dominant O-line play garnered wins at Dallas and Philly early on. Conversely, it lost games in which Campbell was running for his life and wasn't able to find the open man. Some of that is Campbells fault but again, with solid O-line play, he did beat Dallas and Philly on the road. It's been said a thousand times on this site, the game is won and lost in the trenches! Look at our Super Bowl teams of the past. They all had dominant offensive and defensive lines. That's part of the reason Gibbs won 3 Superbowls with 3 different QBs.

HAIL!!

extremely basic schemes offense and defense

we're not enough of a powerhouse that you can do what you want, no matter what

it hasn't been that type of NFL in years

I think it's just a product of the games being on the line all the time.

But ultimately, I agree with you. If we're going to struggle in the first quarter of every game anyway, might as well go three and out with Betts carrying the ball, and gradually move to Portis as the plays become more and more decisive.
this, and Betts consistantly putting the ball down. cant have it in close games( i.e. the 49er game)

I believe Sproles is a FA after this year... and he's a sick return man too. I'd be surprised if SD let him get away, but I would love to have him. Dude is the flash.

Thanks for bringing up Sproles. I was afraid of getting blasted by everyone on the site. I've wanted Darren for a couple of years now. He's the best screen pass runner in the NFL. Which is perfect for the west coast offense.

Thanks for bringing up Sproles. I was afraid of getting blasted by everyone on the site. I've wanted Darren for a couple of years now. He's the best screen pass runner in the NFL. Which is perfect for the west coast offense.

Don't ever worry about that. If you feel like you have a legitimate idea that you can convey intelligently (especially about addressing a need with a legit player in this case), don't be a afraid. This site wouldn't exist without opinions and speculation. Someone is always going to disagree. If they didn't this place would be pretty boring.

Agreed. We need a lightning quick guy like Sproles or Norwood to contrast Portis. Someone like Joe Washington! Betts needs 20 carries a game to be effective.

I think you mean the Jets' Leon Washington. And you're right. He is an explosive back. We've got 3 backs with prett similar running styles. Portis USED to be the explosive back who could break one at any time.

I really wanted to replace Betts last year with Steve Slaton or any of the many talented RBs in last year's draft. There were lots of good backs available in the middle rounds. This year's draft, not so much. Several of you have brought it up, but Portis isn't getting any younger, and he's got a lot of mileage, not to mention he normally misses some games due to injury. He needs an heir apparent.

I think Darren Sproles would be the ideal guy for the Skins, but I don't think the Chargers will let him get away. They've already lost one great back to free agency, and they have a smart front office who understands LT can't shoulder the load himself and won't always be carrying the rock for them as effectively as he has.

Steven Jackson, Brandon Jacobs, and Marion Barber are going to be garnering all the attention and high dollar contracts. Maybe, the Skins can pry away Sproles. If not, I wonder if the Giants' Derrick Ward would fit in nicely. He's the speedy alternative to BJ in NY. And he's been very productive at times.

The Skins do definitely need to bolster the RB corp somehow though.

It's kinda funny, on one hand you say the offense is boring and predictable and let's not blame the execution, and then with your 2nd rant you blast the OL for not being able to open running lanes and pass protect.

I don't lay all of the blame for struggles on offense at the feet of a single person or a single unit. The offensive line is awful but the coaches deserve some blame for failing to get them to perform and failing to do things to mask those deficiencies. How about moving the pocket once in a while? How about instructing Jason to play out of the shotgun more? How about more keeping more guys in to block instead of running 4 guys out into routes?

Moreover, I'm not the only person saying that the offense is predictable. JLC "reported" that defenders for other teams (e.g., Ed Reed) think the offense is predictable.

Thanks for covering while I was away SGG

I don't think any Skins' fan should get too hyped about Sproles. First, no way does SD let him go. LT seems to be breaking down and SD probably should have traded him and kept Turner: they won't make a similar mistake w/ another dynamite backfield threat.

Secondly, I'd venture to say Sproles wouldn't have much success here. I say that because our run-blocking, even at it's best, is nothing compared to SD. Our old fogies can push off the line a few yards when they're very fresh but rarely make blocks down field, which is why CP doesn't break the big ones anymore. Sure he can grit 7 or 8 yards w/ defenders battering him but there is a certain number of yards from the LOS where it's just CP facing several defenders and our lineman are nowhere in sight. At no time was this more evident than in SF, when I repeatedly saw the o-line give up on blocks/plays while CP was still on his feet. Heyer especially has a knack for giving up on plays, while Rabach/Thomas just don't seem to have what it takes to block DTs or really aggressive LBs. Not to get completely off subject but our line regressed so much this season to the point of looking lazy, slow and very incompetent IMHO. This is a very sad group at this point. Anyway, the whole point is Sproles would struggle mightily to break anything big w/ our line.

To the bigger debate of how to get more dynamic in our backfield, i just see that another/different RB is the answer. Again, speedsters and scat-backs just won't have success until we almost completely gut the line. Have we forgotten that CP was the premier scat-back when we traded for him? To his extreme credit he's become a GD bruiser, but really it's what he had to do (to have success as a Skin). If anything, we should go the opposite direction of Sproles (until the line is completely recycled) and grab a great big bruiser. Honestly I'd hoped Betts would become this guy more each year, adding more bulk and strength to pound defenses whenever CP is out of the game. Betts is not that player. He's a Portis lite as someone said.

RB may be something we draft this year, especially if we can trade Betts somehow and grab another draft pick. Anyway, if the FO is smart it will look for a Brandon Jacobs type, not a Sproles type... unless of course we make massive changes to the o-line (like replace Kendell, Rabach and obviously Jansen/Heyer at RT). As i said in another thread i just don't see o-line getting the focus it needs this year so... i'm hoping for a new bruiser in the backfield that "replaces" Ladell.