Midseason Report Card
 

ESPN came out with their NFL midseason report cards. Lucky us - Pastabelly wrote ours:

"Kudos to Dan Snyder for hiring a former head coach to help turn things around. Uh, no, we're not talking about Joe Gibbs, but of Gregg Williams. The onetime Buffalo Bills coach has done a masterful job as defensive coordinator and Williams has the Redskins unit statistically at the top of the rankings. Playing without star linebacker Lavar Arrington, and with a lot of onetime spare parts like middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, tackle Joe Salave'a and end Ron Warner making big contributions, the defense has been terrific throughout the first half of the campaign. On the flip side, Gibbs' offense has been spasmodic at best, more often chaotic, with everyone but the head coach realizing that quarterback Mark Brunnell is used up. Gibbs' weekly effort to defend Brunell, and refusal to turn the job over to Patrick Ramsey, is inexplicable. The 'Skins have yet to score more than 18 points in a game. Grade: D - Len Pasquarelli"

Unfortunately, he's just about spot on.

Still, I hate Pasquarelli.

yeah I hate that fat fuck too, but he's correct right now.

Pastabelly has let his personal hatred of Dan Snyder get in the way of writing (I'm not just talking about this one in particular, as he's mostly correct) negative pieces on the Redskins, and Gibbs in general.

For anyone one of us to criticize or even judge Gibbs's QB decisions is utterly rediculous. We have about .01% of the knowledge about the position as Gibbs does. I'm not saying that I think Brunell has played well and that I don't want Ramsey in there, but Gibbs is the guy that, for the past 12 years, most of us have dreamt about again becoming the head coach of our beloved Redskins.

As much as I don't like the fat guy, I have to agree with him. Everyone, except Gibbs can see that rag-arm is done. The rest of the team has stepped up but is being held back by a tissue armed QB.

until we prove his fat a$$ wrong we gotta take his sh!t... shameful that he's 100% right though.

[QUOTE=cpayne5]
For anyone one of us to criticize or even judge Gibbs's QB decisions is utterly rediculous. We have about .01% of the knowledge about the position as Gibbs does. I'm not saying that I think Brunell has played well and that I don't want Ramsey in there, but Gibbs is the guy that, for the past 12 years, most of us have dreamt about again becoming the head coach of our beloved Redskins.[/QUOTE]

I'm not going to say I know more about quarterbacking than Gibbs, but 6 of 17 for 58 yards? It's not just on Brunell, the line and receivers have not done a lot to help him out, but 6 of 17?

I love Gibbs being back, but right now he gets an incomplete. The overall team is great, loved seeing the defense patting the field goal unit on that doink last week. The offense, Gibbs forte, is sputtering. And aside from 3 brilliant performances by Portis, nothing is going right offensively.

After all that, I still back Gibbs and whatever he decides to do. At 3-5 we're not completely out of the race, but we do need to string some wins together by any means necessary in order to stay in the hunt.

I agree with the common theme. He was dead on, as much as I hate him.

Cpayne. Even if you feel the warpath guys don't understand that. Why are ex-coaches turned commentators, commentators, ex-players, all agreeing with us? Could it just be that Gibbs is too stubborn to admit he's wrong. Honestly, I think the longer Brunell stays in Gibbs is just playing us out of the playoffs. We don't need a lot from our QB. Accurate throws are all. Watch Rothlesburger. Ramsey could run the same type of offense with success.

[QUOTE=Bozzy]yeah I hate that fat fuck too, but he's correct right now.[/QUOTE]
:iamwithst

[QUOTE=Daseal]I agree with the common theme. He was dead on, as much as I hate him.

Cpayne. Even if you feel the warpath guys don't understand that. Why are ex-coaches turned commentators, commentators, ex-players, all agreeing with us? Could it just be that Gibbs is too stubborn to admit he's wrong. Honestly, I think the longer Brunell stays in Gibbs is just playing us out of the playoffs. We don't need a lot from our QB. Accurate throws are all. Watch Rothlesburger. Ramsey could run the same type of offense with success.[/QUOTE]

I think Brunell should be gone too, but I'm just Chris Payne, not Joe Gibbs. I will defer to Gibbs on all Redskins-related decisions. Maybe you think I'm a fool, but because of what Gibbs did the first go around, I will gladly follow (blindly even:)) Gibbs where ever he leads.

If commentators agreed 100% with all coaching decisions, how many do you think would still have a job tomorrow? Some of those ex-coach/ex-player commentators are commentators for a reason...

Well, they're not even split. I'm the opposite. Joe Gibbs still has a lot to prove in this era. The team is playing GREAT, except for one area. Come on joe, see the light!

I think he'll turn it around. I prefer sooner than later.

does anyone remember an ex-skins player named fred stokes? i met and got his autograph today but i don't realy remember him. he said he played for 11 years and i saw his superbowl ring, in his picture he's wearing # 60 on his jersey. sorry to get off topic but i don't know how to start a new thread.

[QUOTE=Paintrain]As much as I don't like the fat guy, I have to agree with him. Everyone, except Gibbs can see that rag-arm is done. The rest of the team has stepped up but is being held back by a tissue armed QB.[/QUOTE]

I hope you don't really think that Coach Gibbs doesn't see the deminished skills of Brunell. He does. To question a man who has more knowledge of football and the approach to being a great QB, insults the integrity and position he holds. We have watched QB after QB play for twelve seasons with greater skills than Brunell and where has it gotten us? One playoff berth?

This man ( Gibbs) is trying to teach Ramsey from the sidelines how to avoid stupid turnovers by not throwing into double coverages and using his feet to avoid the sacks. That's why Coach Gibbs keeps mentioning this about Brunell in almost every conference. Ramsey will not be ready for what we are about to encounter in the next 5 weeks. Bengals,Eagles,Steelers,Giants and Eagles.
If you think Ramsey took a beating last year. Put him in any of those games and we won't have to ever hear about him being the future because mentally he'll be history.

[QUOTE=BrudLee]Unfortunately, he's just about spot on.

Still, I hate Pasquarelli.[/QUOTE]


Pasquarelli said Brunell was over the hill back when we first picked him up. He obviously knew what he was talking about. I heard him say one time he's actually a Skins fan. Just cause he's outspoken about Gibbs' obvious flaws doesn't make him a bad guy in my book.

[QUOTE=SUNRA]
If you think Ramsey took a beating last year. Put him in any of those games and we won't have to ever hear about him being the future because mentally he'll be history.[/QUOTE]

I disagree Sunra, and I don't get how people now talk about ramsey as if he's some rookie who has to be protected. he's a third year former starter, who has taken beatings and not flinched. Moreover, he has shown poise and confidence in numerous situations, and even had some courageous comebacks last year against atlanta, NY, and almost Philly. If he's not ready, its cos he's not getting the snaps in practice, not because his development is too inchoate. This guy is one year removed from being talked about as an emerging elite qb.

The only argument in Brunell's favor that has been succesfully made, as far as I can tell, is variations of "defer to Gibbs, he won 3 superbowls." While I would like to continue to do that, coach is quickly losing credibility in my mind. I'm no expert, just a fan, but it seems like its clear to everyone who is an expert, or has played a game of Madden before, that Brunell is singlehandedly hamstringing this team with his incompetence.

Did you guys see that article on the skins site today? Brunell says, "I am very confident in what I can do and how I play this game. I see the field better than I ever have and I feel like I'm making good decisions. We're just not getting it done--and that falls on the quarterback. But we have a lot of football left and we have talented players. We will get this thing going."

I don't consider that taking adequate blame. We aren't getting it done, and that falls on the qb? How about I plain suck and I need to do better, and I'm not gonna drag any we into it.

It was a huge tactical error to acquire Brunell, for reasons that have been convincingly dissected on this site, and Gibbs needs to come to terms with his mistake...quickly.

[QUOTE=Tahoe Skin]Pasquarelli said Brunell was over the hill back when we first picked him up. He obviously knew what he was talking about. I heard him say one time he's actually a Skins fan. Just cause he's outspoken about Gibbs' obvious flaws doesn't make him a bad guy in my book.[/QUOTE]

Is that true? I thought he was from Philly.

[QUOTE=wolfeskins]does anyone remember an ex-skins player named fred stokes? i met and got his autograph today but i don't realy remember him. he said he played for 11 years and i saw his superbowl ring, in his picture he's wearing # 60 on his jersey. sorry to get off topic but i don't know how to start a new thread.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I remember Stokes, solid player. If you go to the "locker room" forum, or any other one and click on "New Thread" you'll be good to go

thanks smootsmack

Djnemo, I won't argue that Ramsey is not a rookie or an inexperienced back-up. Ramsey's been through the wars and back. However, I think that Gibbs' offense is not the kind of thing that you can take in and understand in month or two. If anything, that would explain Gibbs' preference for veteran players because in most cases they have the insight of being in thousands of game situations and understanding why certain things are done. I think Brunell was brought in because Gibbs didn't feel that Ramsey could digest the offense, especially after being brought up in Spurrier's O strategies, which I think are very different from the "Gibbs way" of doing things. I think we will see Ramsey before the season is out possibly after Turkey day. Gibbs has said on numerous occasions that Ramsey is the team's future. Why would he want to jeopardize that future by throwing him out there without a full understanding of the offense?

Addressing the Brunell signing. I think the biggest mistake in that signing was the amount of money and tenure of the contract, but Brunell might not have settled for anything less. I don't know the particulars of the negotiations, but I know in general veteran players that have interest from more than one team always push for long multi-year contracts with lots of 0's because they want the $$$ and security of knowing they'll be working a couple years down the road. I think Gibbs was interested in the best veteran QB available and after consulting with the rest of the mgmt team, they came up with Brunell. It sucked they had to sign him long term and for ludicrous $$$, but there might not have been a better choice at the time.

Regarding the QB situation. I think Brunell is horrible. I read the article on the skins website this morning about Brunell having confidence and being a competitor, blah-blah-blah. The quote from him where he says "we're not getting the job done, and that falls on the QB" I thought was a riot. It would seem that confidence and a grasp of reality do not go hand in hand with this guy! When will Brunell accept the fact that HE is not getting the job done? Maybe never. I think the whole purpose of that article was an attempt to quell the majority outcry from fans for a change at the position. I think we need to get Ramsey in there too. But when he's ready. Considering what he went through under Spurrier's tenure, he needs to be able to take the snap knowing that he'll get the job done and have the time and opportunity to do it.

What I don't understand is the backlash at Brunell's quote, he says the offense isn't getting it done and it all falls on the QB.

Sounds like he's admitting that the offensive struggles start with him. What more does he need to say?

I think Brunell is the most hated Skins QB ever, even if he turns it around I don't think he'll ever win everyone over. There will always be someone calling for his head with every incompletion or blasting him for quotes. I know he's struggling, I just don't understand why people are going after him so strongly.

Matty, concerning the quote, I read it as him saying that the offense as a unit is not getting the job done and the blame is placed on the quarterback. It may be a semantic thing but it sounded like he was distributing the blame instead of accepting it fully. It could also be that I don't have enough coffee in me yet!:cheeky-sm I would think that the biggest reason that people are going after him so much is they expected more out of him than what they are seeing. People have come to equate big contracts with big performance and rightfully so. Everywhere we look in sports, the better players get the biggest salaries and I think overall, they perform to fans expectations. The ones that don't catch a ton of flak as a result.

[QUOTE=LongTimeSkinsFan]Matty, concerning the quote, I read it as him saying that the offense as a unit is not getting the job done and the blame is placed on the quarterback. It may be a semantic thing but it sounded like he was distributing the blame instead of accepting it fully. It could also be that I don't have enough coffee in me yet!:cheeky-sm I would think that the biggest reason that people are going after him so much is they expected more out of him than what they are seeing. People have come to equate big contracts with big performance and rightfully so. Everywhere we look in sports, the better players get the biggest salaries and I think overall, they perform to fans expectations. The ones that don't catch a ton of flak as a result.[/QUOTE]
Maybe it's just my perception but I don't think that's what he meant at all. I've seen other instances where he's taken the blame for the offense not playing well and people still rip him.

To me his quote says the offense is struggling and those struggles start with him. Brunell has been in the league for 11 years now, he knows his role as a QB and that role involves shouldering the blame. He's not a Jeff George type who has no understanding of what leadership means at the QB position.

He's always been a standup guy in this league, I don't see why that would change now.

OK, I can honestly say I haven't followed Brunell well enough to know his psychological make-up, but if you say he's not a Jeff George I'll defer to your knowledge of the guy. I DO remember Jeff George and what an immature prima donna he was and how he overvalued his ability. Hell, at least someone thought George was great, even if it was only himself

[QUOTE=LongTimeSkinsFan]OK, I can honestly say I haven't followed Brunell well enough to know his psychological make-up, but if you say he's not a Jeff George I'll defer to your knowledge of the guy. I DO remember Jeff George and what an immature prima donna he was and how he overvalued his ability. Hell, at least someone thought George was great, even if it was only himself[/QUOTE]


Don't forget Danny Boy Skins fan, haha. That makes two.

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]
I think Brunell is the most hated Skins QB ever, even if he turns it around I don't think he'll ever win everyone over. There will always be someone calling for his head with every incompletion or blasting him for quotes. I know he's struggling, I just don't understand why people are going after him so strongly.[/QUOTE]

Well I can't speak for everyone, I can promise you that the minute Brunell gets it together and starts looking like a legit winning NFL qb, i will shut up real quick. I am ready and willing to jump on the bandwagon. However, the fact remains that he's playing arguably as bad as any qb I've ever seen in my entire life. I mean, four games under a 100 at midpoint? I've never seen that from a rookie. Dilfer didn't do that. Not even Josh McCown or kyle Boller have been that bad. So I'm sure I speak for some people when I say, its nothing personal against the guy. He's just playing really really terrible right now.

Moreover, does anyone think he's gonna suddenly get good. I keep hoping he will, ready to bite my toungue and say Gibbs you were right, but its just tough for me, based on my humble observations, to imagine that happening.

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Maybe it's just my perception but I don't think that's what he meant at all. I've seen other instances where he's taken the blame for the offense not playing well and people still rip him.

To me his quote says the offense is struggling and those struggles start with him. Brunell has been in the league for 11 years now, he knows his role as a QB and that role involves shouldering the blame. He's not a Jeff George type who has no understanding of what leadership means at the QB position.

He's always been a standup guy in this league, I don't see why that would change now.[/QUOTE]

I took it as the QB gets the blame, but one thing I have noticed is that Brunell is a pro at always saying the right thing...being politically correct instead of just being honest....or maybe he's just in denial. Either way, what does everyone expect? Him to say "yeah, I suck"? No NFL player will do that. If he admitted to losing his confidence he would be giving opposing defenses that much more fuel to tee off on him, not to mention putting Gibbs in a very bad position.