Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Now, before you blow this post out of proportion, I'm not saying our season is over or anything silly like that, but I simply can't stomach the "It's preseason" jibberish I hear every time someone mentions how awful we've looked at times. Yes, I realize it's preseason and the offense is vanilla, but guess what else is vanilla -- the opposing defense. The thing about the preseason is you can see how your teams can execute in one vs one situations. That means you can really see O/D Lines work, you can see WRs and CBs work, and you can see if QBs can make the simply throws without worrying about complex coverage schemes.

First problem: Our division. I've watched every team at least once, and these guys look good when their first team is on the field. Dallas, Philly, even the Giants look strong throughout with their starters. They just seem to have something we don't. Maybe it's another new offense we're adjusting too, maybe not. I don't really care "what" it is, Im just curious if between now and opening day if we can get our execution fixed. We just don't seem to execute. Our starting offense has scored 3 points in two preseason games. It's preseason, but a touchdown would be nice. Show us something from the starting offense.

Second Problem: Brunell -- I seriously question if he can lead us to wins. I've never been a big Brunell fan, that's no secret. He played very well for quite a few games last season. I'm curious how quickly Saunders might be willing to pull the trigger if (when) Brunell gets that nagging injury that turns his play into what we saw in the Tampa playoff game. I really think it's time for the Campbell era to begin. The guys from NFL radio talked about this in depth for a while the other day. They talked to Campbell, people around the skins, and watched him practice/play and say not only do they think the skins not lose anything making the switch, they think they gain something. I don't have the confidence that Brunell can take this team where we all want it to be.

Third Problem: Our defense let the Jets go all over us. Yes, they used two gadget plays. Big deal. Just shows that gadget plays kill an aggressive defense even in preseason. I love our defense, but we MUST watch the flea flickers and reverses, etc. Taylor especially is known to bite hard on that, and from what I've seen from Archelletta, so is he. I think that the Jets' running game looked much better when Griff went out. He's so crucial to our team it's ridiculous.

This team DOES NOT have time to adjust from preseason to season. We need to hit the ground running to make a play for the playoffs. We're in the toughest division in football, a slow start or weak finish could possibly send us from the penthouse to the basement within 4 weeks (I think it will be THAT close). This 3rd game is crucial that the starters show us... something. Anything. Maybe have a receiver make a catch that doesn't require an amazing dive to catch.

That said. I like how our pass protection along the line has been. Better than I thought. The run game is looking poor regardless of who's in there. Hopefully that will be fixed.

Our defense looks really great. I think our pass rush with the front 4 will be much better, hopefully that translates into more take aways if we can drop the safeties and LBs into coverage on occassion.

In closing, I just feel it's ignorant for us to say that we're the class of the division when we don't do ANYTHING in preseason and don't even keep the games close. Every other game I've watched, minus very few, I've seen better preseason performances from every other team, and I feel that says SOMETHING. This week is crucial.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Has the season started yet? Seriously, I can't wait.

I agree about one thing, this week is crucial. The 1st half of the 3rd preseason game is tune-up time.

But overall, I know you might not want to hear it, but it's the preseason. It's evaluation time, there's no gameplanning going on right now, very little in way of schemes on either side of the ball, and the only people that care about the scores are the fans.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I just find it odd that we don't play what we practice. I am sure that is why we look so bad in the preseason. I am still excited to see what we will be in this season--we haven't seen any of it yet.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I don't have a problem with these concerns because they are legitimate. However, keep in mind that two pre-season games do not a season make. We've all seen some good looking pre-season's turn into crap and thanks to TAFKAS we were reminded that Gibbs was 0-4 during the pre-season and went on to win the Super Bowl. You're right, we look terrible but I'm tempering my concerns until after the first two regular season games.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Really nice post Daseal. I think you make some very valid points. I know this may sound little " the glass is half full" but I think all of this will help our team and mainly our fan base. Aside from the injuries I think, we has fans needed to get a wake up call. I live and breath Redskins football and with all the additions I was thinking we would waltz to a 12-4 record or better. We need to remember all of what you stated in your post and be realistic.

I still have faith in Gibbs and the team he has built. We will do well this year but I also think this season will be a marathon not a sprint and we have to take are hard look at who we are as a team and fans and be real about our expectations.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Honestly, I wouldn't be the least bit concerned if all the other teams in our division, who also aren't game planning, just going out and tossin' around the ball are looking great. That's my real concern. If everyone else looked like us, I wouldn't think twice about it, but they haven't.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

matty, isnt this still preseason? some valid points made but like anything involved in change, our offense will take some time to adapt. i would be very surprised if in this weeks game the team as a whole doesnt look and play like a playoff team. in a couple of weeks we will be looking at threads like this one and having a good chuckle, thats how confident i am of coach gibbs and the entire staff

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Every team plays the preseason differently.

Some teams show more than others.

Some teams don't want to show anything.

It's tough to make any direct comparisons right now.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

i see how u can feel that way. we haven't seen, well really anything from the offense. the defense has shown flashes but the 2nd and 3rd string guys haven't shown anything. the special teams didn't even bother showing up saturday. they better get going already. i've watched the other teams in our division and they do look like there paying good. although they are not trying to learn a new offense. but u can't base how good they are in the pre-season b/c u don't know what the other teams are doing. u know. i need to see improvement this week or i will be worried alot more than i am now.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=Mattyk72;206788]Every team plays the preseason differently.

Some teams show more than others.

Some teams don't want to show anything.

It's tough to make any direct comparisons right now.[/quote]

I just can't help but have a gut feeling that the players know what is to come, and it is so far different from what is being seen on the field in pre-season that their momentum is gone in pre-season. It's a feeling like they know what they are doing out there (not showing the other teams their real stuff) doesn't even come close to what they are going to be doing in the real season, so their "fight for it" attitude is just sitting on the bench. That's my gut feeling. I'm going with it and hoping that on 9/11 our Skins prove me right!

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I would rather our team not show anything in preseason, and come out with some tricks up our sleeves in the regular season, than to give other teams a chance to gameplan on us even before the regular season starts. Gibbs' teams are normally not very strong in the preseason. There isn't anything to worry about until you see this team at 0-4 during the season.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=skinsguy;206794] There isn't anything to worry about until you see this team at 0-4 during the season.[/quote]

knock on wood:banghead: :drink :cheers

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

we looked awful last preaseason too.

our defensive depth is new andd the guys before they came sucked. brunell may not be great, but he's what we've got. campbell is accurate, but a bit too willing to test double coverage still.


I'd be much more concerned with our injuries (springs, portis, daniels, griffin, etc etc) then the games right now.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

you are right though in that the competition does look good, but beating up on the saints and chiefs doesn't really impress me. philly has always had the best depth in the league.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

it's too hard to judge a team in the pre season, it's like people playing paintball without the paintballs.:confused:

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

man..I could think real hard and be all in depth w/ my deep thoughts, but that damn guy always is in my head... get out... you called it man, so I do not need to say anything else.....

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

My thing is you don't come out in your first home preseason game playing like a bunch of turds. With all of this off season hype and everything, you would just expect more in the way of polished execution from our strarters. Also, I'm very disapointed in the play of our reserves and back-ups.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

We will be ok. When you don't gameplan, it's all luck whether or not your plays and everything is going to work. We're not showing anything. I'm worried about this year, but thats the same with every year. This is going to be a completely different team on September 11.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Wow! Daseal with a glass is half empty post??? This must be a first. ;)

Seriously though, I have to agree with most of what Daseal has to say. Color me a little concerned. I hear what some of you all are saying about gameplanning and not showing your hand and all that.....but I gotta say, the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys haven't looked good because they're trying all kinds of trick plays and showing us their whole gameplan. They are going out there and simply executing, and they are executing well. Simple, straightfoward football. That's all they're doing, and they're doing it very effectively.

Maybe we can just flip a swith on Sept. 11th and out of nowhere our offense will be explosive. I hope that's the case, but I just don't see any reason to not play better than we have. I don't see any reason for not running, passing and catching the football well. I'm not talking about showing everything we've got, but how about we just show that we can string a few first downs together? How about turning it on for a drive, just one, with the first team and then put in the second stingers.....but let's prove it to ourself that this team is going to be able to move the ball come regular season.

I don't think the sky is falling, but the team certainly hasn't given us much reason to talk about the glass being half full so far.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Some valid concerns. But at the same time we shouldn't be overly confident if we were 2-0 at this point. But let's look at some of the positives

--The Offensive Line--As you've said Daseal the pass protection has been very impressive. The starters are giving the QB plenty of time in the pocket. I understand that our depth isn't anything to write home about. But realistically, look around the league and how many teams have great depth on the O-Line? It's just not that realistic these days. Sure, if all five starters on the O-line go down we're screwed but that's not so realistic either.

--Mike Sellers--I had wondered if he was just a flash in the pan sensation last year. But he actually might be better now than he was when last season ended. He's been a pleasant surprise

--The Defense--I have no basis for this, but I think Shawn Springs will be back for the Texans game on Sept. 24 (at the latest). When he returns the defensive will be absolutely dominant, until then they'll just have to settle for spectacular. I have zero concerns about our defense. Sure they'll give up an occasional big play, but what defense won't? More often than not though, they'll be the ones making the big stop

--The Quarterbacks--I can't change how you feel about Brunell, Daseal. But you had concerns about him last year too and we did get to the playoffs with him at QB. I understand that his production went down toward the end, but a lot of that (beyond injury) was by choice (to go with Portis) and by need (WRs hurt). But what's really encouraging is that people are saying the Redskins would probably not miss a beat with Campbell in there. He has been very impressive and it's good to know that our season wouldn't end with him in at QB. At least I don't think it would.

I still say 12-4, 13-3 this year.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I believe in Gibbs- he was as pissed as I have seen him since his first stint. Gibbs is terrified of being embarassed and he transfers that to his team. He makes the team too proud to fold when the pressure is on- that is the character he looks for (not choir boys)- he has that on our team now. It will work out because he is here; that is why he is a hall of famer. And if he can do it again he will be the best bar none. Hell he even has me scared after seeing his interview after the game :)

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Found this on another board,

[quote]Per Chris Cooley on the Riggins show

said laughingly (paraphrase)

Panic? over PRESEASON?... no the team is not panicing about anything so far about preseason. We haven't been gameplanning, or showing anything...

talked about the offense is really moving along in Saunders offense, in practice, they are doing things dirfferent (Vanilla) in preseason games

just want to see how players can do, without showing anything we can do

because they "DON'T COUNT!!!!!!!"[/quote]

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I'm firmly in the "It's only preseason" camp.

Didn't the Colts just lose their 8th straight preseason game?

No big deal.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

as usual, matty being the voice of reason. or was that cooley?

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

I guess it is also important to remember that Gibbs has a way of getting the best out of everyone around him. He does it year after year after year. He did it here, in Nascar, and here again. He will do it with the players AND the coaches.

We all know that once the game planning is implemented that things should look better. I, for one, don't believe we have the very best talent in the NFL on our team. Very good, but not every guy is elite. Without game planning there are going to be one-on-one matchups that we are bound to lose just like there are some we are bound to win. The coaches need to establish who can win thier matchups. They need to know which rookies and free agents are going to step up. That is what this preseason is about.

It appears that the coaches are putting the team in very tough situations and forcing them to bump up thier level of play. Instead of typical game planning, it is like they are game planning to deflate a few egos.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

gibbs' teams never fare well in preseason,but finish strong. remember that we reported to camp later than everybody else too.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=davy;206845]I'm firmly in the "It's only preseason" camp.

Didn't the Colts just lose their 8th straight preseason game?

No big deal.[/quote]

yea but are they struggling to run there offense? i think not

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

for some strange reason i feel a lot better now that we have duckett

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=superskins;206877]yea but are they struggling to run there offense? i think not[/quote]

The Colts march up and down the field for a reason.

They've been in that system for how long now?

Plus they don't go basic, they come out guns blazing for a few series then shut it down.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=Mattyk72;206895]The Colts march up and down the field for a reason.

[SIZE=7]They've been in that system for how long now?[/SIZE]
quote]

my point exactly! we have a new offense which has me concerned

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=superskins;206915][quote=Mattyk72;206895]The Colts march up and down the field for a reason.

[SIZE=2]They've been in that system for how long now?[/SIZE]
quote]

my point exactly! we have a new offense which has me concerned[/quote]

A new offense we haven't even seen yet.

Relax, we're going to explode against the Vikings, trust me.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

There is no reason to fear. Duckett added as well. Hot damn.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=TAFKAS;206830]
--Mike Sellers--I had wondered if he was just a flash in the pan sensation last year. But he actually might be better now than he was when last season ended. He's been a pleasant surprise
[/quote]


He's been NFL-ready since he was about 19. personal circumstances then and again with the browns sent him to the CFL for two stints, but neither was for lack of talent. the guy has always been quality on the field.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Not too worried. I haven't seen any worried players yet, and I think they're a proud enough bunch to be pissed off if they weren't accomplishing what they were setting out to do. This tells me they're just trying stuff out and not worrying about ANYTHING. While I feel this is too lackadaisical (and I guess Gibbs does too), it's the only way I can reconcile their attitude to what's happening on the field.

And, surprisingly, (especially since nobody has mentioned it), Collins looked good except for when he had time to think. I felt he was under a lot of defensive pressure on many plays and was able to quickly and find the outlet receiver.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote]

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Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
Found this on another board,

Quote:
Per Chris Cooley on the Riggins show

said laughingly (paraphrase)

Panic? over PRESEASON?... no the team is not panicing about anything so far about preseason. We haven't been gameplanning, or showing anything...

talked about the offense is really moving along in Saunders offense, in practice, they are doing things dirfferent (Vanilla) in preseason games

just want to see how players can do, without showing anything we can do

because they "DON'T COUNT!!!!!!!"[/quote]

You really think Cooley would say anything else even if the team was terrified that they couldn't do anything right. Nope, not on ESPN Radio that's the home of the Redskins. Not saying anything huge, but you can take players comments for a grain of salt. It's like expecting to get the news from a coach and it not being totally slanted.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

Maybe this was mentioned already...

From 1994 to 2003, the Superbowl champions had a preseason winning percentage of .714 ... I hate to say it, but the preseason DOES matter (if you want to win the SB).

[url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7552424]NFL.com - NFL News[/url]

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[quote=Daseal;206991]You really think Cooley would say anything else even if the team was terrified that they couldn't do anything right. Nope, not on ESPN Radio that's the home of the Redskins. Not saying anything huge, but you can take players comments for a grain of salt. It's like expecting to get the news from a coach and it not being totally slanted.[/quote]

Do you really think this team is terrified or hitting the panic button at Redskins Park right now??

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[QUOTE=DrFaust;206993]Maybe this was mentioned already...

From 1994 to 2003, the Superbowl champions had a preseason winning percentage of .714 ... I hate to say it, but the preseason DOES matter (if you want to win the SB).

[url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7552424]NFL.com - NFL News[/url][/QUOTE]
Go back and look at Gibbs's winning percentage in the preseason compared to his regular season winning percentage and tell me if you still think so.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[QUOTE=cpayne5;207000]Go back and look at Gibbs's winning percentage in the preseason compared to his regular season winning percentage and tell me if you still think so.[/QUOTE]

It's not about winning in the regular season. Those stats are about winning the Superbowl.

Re: Why I feel there is reason for concern:
 

[QUOTE=DrFaust;207002]It's not about winning in the regular season. Those stats are about winning the Superbowl.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I know. Gibbs won 3 of them.