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this year besides brunell, the FO has done well... griffin and marcus are looking good... and williams has played bowen to his strengths so he looked 100x better than last year.

we got a lot of players making above standard wage, but thats nothing new...

Here is Mike Wilbon and his weekly chat on the WPost.com talking about who we should be playing at QB.

Washington D.C.: Is it just me, or does it seem like Mark Brunell cannot throw an entire game? I think he tries a couple deep throws in the first half just to keep the defense honest, but as the game progresses his arm is thrown out. Gibbs should get Ramsey ready these two weeks so we can have a decent passing attack. That is the strenght of the offense, our receivers.

Michael Wilbon: Okay, as I look at the question que, I realize about 30 percent of these questions concern 1)Brunell 2)the offense 3)playing the third-string guy.
So, we'll do One Big Quarterback answer right here.
For starters, Brunell ain't what he used to be when he was a strong-armed, mobile machine of a quarterback who was leading Jacksonville to two AFC Championship games. At that time he was sort of a poor man's Steve Young, and I don't mean a real poor man. The guy was a stud. But injuries have taken away most of his physical attributes.
Now, I watch a lot of football and I know some stuff independently. But largely, I rely on listening to smart players and ex-players, coaches and ex-coaches...and I've had defensive players from the Giants, Browns and Bears tell me that this Brunell ain't the guy they played against six and seven years ago. They say they prepare, during the week, to stuff Clinton Portis because they see on film that Brunell cannot get the ball downfield with any accuracy or consistency.
Again, these are defensive players I trust telling me this, and in one case a coach.
Now, do I think Ramsey is the Big Answer?
I don't. The kid's got a huge arm and a huge amount of courage, the way he stands in there. But, opposing players don't think he has any feel for the game and they think he holds onto the ball way, way, way too long.
Why do you think Gibbs was intent on getting a quarterback when he came in. What, Gibbs didn't see the same stuff on film these defensive coaches saw?
Yes, I'd be getting Hasselbeck ready. I would. He's shown himself to be fairly mobile, like his brother. And while he doesn't have a cannon, he appears to be fairly accurate.
Having said all that, I wouldn't do anything going into the bye-week and coming off a victory but put Brunell back in there...I'd see what a week off and a week to prepare for another ordinary team--Green Bay--will do for Brunell. He's not that old, at 34. But maybe the injuries took more a toll than many folks (including me) expected.
By the way, Riggins says that Ramsey would be more certain of himself if he wasn't looking over his shoulder at Brunell or anybody else. Perhaps we'll see. Until then, it's defense, defense, defense and Clinton Portis...

However, I do not agree with Wilbon's assessment of Hasselbeck! At all! The man is not an NFL caliber QB!

My concern about Brunell going into the season was that I wasn't sure he wanted to win enough to be the guy we could hang our hat on for at least this season. I do believe however that he is "fighting his guts out" and that he is potentially still an excellent quarterback. I really doubt that injuries have permanently disabled his capacity to play with real effectiveness.

There is also a lot of talk about his arm strength, and I really think that it's baloney. Troy Aikman and Rod Gardner agree and I am sure Joe Gibbs as well that Mark can throw the hose. I am not impressed with these unnamed sources of Wilbon.

The offense has been struggling for a host of reasons, yet people seem to want to boil it down to one variable, the chosen scapegoat of the moment, Mark Brunell. All the other factors - the line, the running game, the receivers and the strategy - all of that is generally ignored. Right now Brunell is in there at an unfortunate time and it taking the criticism.

With the Chicago game, the Gibbs and the staff demonstrated, as I knew they would, a new strategy that has dramatically opened up the running game. With Brunell having more time to get healthy with the bye week, and other teams now unable to put so many players in the box, our passing game will likely begin to open up.

We will see, however. If it does come down to it, Joe Gibbs will make a change at quarterback if it appears that Brunell is no longer our best option.

If Gibbs had gone with Ramsey from the beginning this year he would have been traumatized. He is not developmentally ready to be the starter in my opinion and his career would have been badly damaged.

I do agree with Wilbon on one thing however, and that is that Ramsey is not the person I would turn to if I were to change quarterbacks. Hasselbeck has a lot of life, leadership and spark, and one day he will get his chance. I don't know how he will do, but he does deserve a very serious opportunity at some point to show whether he can realize his potential.

Wilbon was on the right track until he suggested Hasselbeck.

hasslebeck is the only of the three QBs to throw more ints than TDs, and he has a short arm too :(

he'll never be a starter, though right now he'd beat brunell...

shane, i seriously doubt ramsey would be traumatized, how can you say that and then suggest hasslebeck? ramsey's had way more experience and has done better across the board in comparision.

Wilbon was on the right track until he suggested Hasselbeck.

Exactly! I dont understnad how everyone has these knocks against Ramsey already. And really, who gives a sh*t if the other teams dont think he has a feel for the game, maybe he does. Then when he torches their a$$ for 400 yards they will know why. Heres the bottom line, we have a guy on the bench in Ramsey who has a TON of potential, A TON. Now potential is nothing more than potential, but lets find out what hes made of right now, so we know if hes the awnser or not. I do know that Brunells not our awnser, so lets see if your awnser is on our team right now or not.

Exactly! I dont understnad how everyone has these knocks against Ramsey already. And really, who gives a sh*t if the other teams dont think he has a feel for the game, maybe he does. Then when he torches their a$$ for 400 yards they will know why. Heres the bottom line, we have a guy on the bench in Ramsey who has a TON of potential, A TON. Now potential is nothing more than potential, but lets find out what hes made of right now, so we know if hes the awnser or not. I do know that Brunells not our awnser, so lets see if your awnser is on our team right now or not.
I agree with you Ramsey has a TON of potential. I don't agree with Wilbon n his sources that Ramsey holds on to the ball too long and is not a good QB. In Spurrier's system he had to hold on to the football for the deep routes to open and now he is learning a new system. Give him some time.
When he got in the game against Giants we were down by 14 and he brought us close and created drives for us. Yes he threw 3 INT, but then he had'nt practised all week. He has'nt had that many starts. Brunell will have his last chance against Green Bay and most likely will have a similiar performance, which will bring PR in the picture. The defenses don't respect brunell's arm, he is not accurate at all!! There have been times the WR's have been open, yet he has not been able to connect with the WR's.
He was brought in for his consistency. He CAN'T EVEN COMPLETE 35% OF HIS PASSES FORGET 50%!! This is pathetic. Last time I checked the Bears had one of the worst passing defenses in the league. He even had protection in that game n he still goes 8/22!!!!!!!! THAT'S PATHETIC!!! I don't know how Gibbs can sit there and say that brunell is gonna be the starter if u look at those stats and see the film.

hasslebeck is the only of the three QBs to throw more ints than TDs, and he has a short arm too :(

he'll never be a starter, though right now he'd beat brunell...

shane, i seriously doubt ramsey would be traumatized, how can you say that and then suggest hasslebeck? ramsey's had way more experience and has done better across the board in comparision.

You are correct that Ramsey has had more NFL experience. His overall history as a quarterback is not likely as long however. There was a Thomas Boswell article on Ramsey in August that explained Ramsey's limited experience with the position.

Ramsey was thrown into the fire with Spurrier in a system that was not an NFL system and as a result his growth as a quarterback has been stunted. He is having to learn an entirely new system and there isn't evidence that he is comfortable with it yet based on preseason play and what we have seen in the regular season.

Ramsey may develop into a fine quarterback and I realize he has a passionate following. I do think that if you were to put him into the fire right now, he would be unlikely to play very well and this may well damage his confidence and the faith the organization has in him. Brunell is Ramsey's best friend right now because Brunell is having to play when everyone is learning the new system, the fan expectations are stratospherically high, and the system being employed is going through major modifications. Far better for Ramsey to play at a time when there is stability and he will have protection when he wants to throw the long ball so many fans long to see him throw.

Hasselbeck is a quick learner who has a natural feel for the position and has a lot of good qualities and leadership ability. I think he has a lot of potential and I think he may prove that good quarterbacking runs in the family.

It seems that people find it impossible to have good thoughts about more than one quarterback at a time. Folks seem to hate and dismiss one quarterback and champion another. Why not see the good qualities in all of them and consider that your crystal ball for the future isn't so crystal clear?

You are correct that Ramsey has had more NFL experience. His overall history as a quarterback is not likely as long however. There was a Thomas Boswell article on Ramsey in August that explained Ramsey's limited experience with the position.

Ramsey was thrown into the fire with Spurrier in a system that was not an NFL system and as a result his growth as a quarterback has been stunted. He is having to learn an entirely new system and there isn't evidence that he is comfortable with it yet based on preseason play and what we have seen in the regular season.

Ramsey may develop into a fine quarterback and I realize he has a passionate following. I do think that if you were to put him into the fire right now, he would be unlikely to play very well and this may well damage his confidence and the faith the organization has in him. Brunell is Ramsey's best friend right now because Brunell is having to play when everyone is learning the new system, the fan expectations are stratospherically high, and the system being employed is going through major modifications. Far better for Ramsey to play at a time when there is stability and he will have protection when he wants to throw the long ball so many fans long to see him throw.

Hasselbeck is a quick learner who has a natural feel for the position and has a lot of good qualities and leadership ability. I think he has a lot of potential and I think he may prove that good quarterbacking runs in the family.

It seems that people find it impossible to have good thoughts about more than one quarterback at a time. Folks seem to hate and dismiss one quarterback and champion another. Why not see the good qualities in all of them and consider that your crystal ball for the future isn't so crystal clear?


I think you're right about Hasslebeck. I don't feel so negatively about him as others do. I know he had a 0.00 rating against Dallas last year, but so did Jeff Garcia this year right? I mean it happens. It's not like Hasselbeck is constantly laying goose eggs.

I'm just not sold on his arm, which is what I think this offense really needs. Someone with a strong arm. I think I need to go back and look at some old tapes of Timmy in action

It was Joe Gibbs, ALL JOE GIBBS, who wanted Mark Brunnell. Please believe that. Im so sick of some of you Redskin fans blaming D. Snyder for all our faults. Granted we should have been had a GM but I would much rather have a owner who will Spend than one who will not. Alot of you people listen to these commentators on TV and you must realize these people dont even watch all the games before commenting. Alot of them go by what others say. In other words they no Crap. Realize this, Danny loves his team like a fan, like me and you, and he is just trying to do whatever he can do to Win......


Well said!