Skins need to further invest in the trenches next season

[SirClintonPortis]

Our loss today exposed our strengths and weaknesses very well. The most crucial element exposed are in our OL and DL. We do not have a nose tackle, which means that teams will run on us until we commit extra resources to stop the run. Once we do that, the D becomes vulnerable to play action, which happened last week with the Austin touchdown along with the multiple bootlegs today.

Our OL is much improved in pass pro, but we are still suffering from a combo of a scheme shift and general mediocrity in the depth and interior of the line. The lack of a running game killed us today, and almost did us in last week. We are not going to win the Super Bowl with the current status quo, although we are much closer than we were a year ago.

[SouperMeister]

I couldn't agree more. Gibbs won championships being able to play smashmouth football. This running game is downright anemic, and it's not because Portis isn't running hard. Allen can probably draft a stud guard or center with the 2nd round pick.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

I couldn't agree more. Gibbs won championships being able to play smashmouth football. This running game is downright anemic, and it's not because Portis isn't running hard. Allen can probably draft a stud guard or center with the 2nd round pick.

You do have to account that they are still learning the nuances of cut blocking in the zone scheme, but year, we need some athletic big guys develop. The OL isn't awful like Chicago's but we need better fits and better depth.

[Dirtbag59]

I think that if you want to invest anywhere look for someone special at Guard. Maybe get a slight upgrade at backup over Heyer. However I'm not to concerned with our running game. The situations haven't really worked in our favor. Last week we didn't have a whole lot of possession and this week, passing was way to easy. Once the ground game got going the Texans held on to the ball like their life depended on it.

The only really upgrades I can think of, that are worth pursuing next offseason, are a young talented back and a Trent Williams like Guard. That play though by Larry Johnson was flat out pathetic. I'd like to see more from Keiland Williams. The guy is physically a beast and has little wear and tear on him. The main thing is we don't need to give up draft picks for VJax todays game proved that. Instead we need to invest on defense and maybe on a special Running back prospect.

[Redskin Warrior]

I didn't see the game I was at work but I heard the DL did struggle a bit. I wonder if Shanny will change his stance on Big Al after this game if they actually played that bad?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Redskin Warrior

I didn't see the game I was at work but I heard the DL did struggle a bit. I wonder if Shanny will change his stance on Big Al after this game if they actually played that bad?

Leave, leave now. You r no tru fanz. u r disgraze. I haz disapoint in youz.

[TheSmurfs22]

Yes we do need to shore up the trenches. We are getting there, but it will take time.

[Redskin Warrior]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Leave, leave now. You r no tru fanz. u r disgraze. I haz disapoint in youz.

LOL!!! C'mon man my kids gotta eat Dirt plus it was either the Dallas or Texans game I picked to watch the Dallas game.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Redskin Warrior

I didn't see the game I was at work but I heard the DL did struggle a bit. I wonder if Shanny will change his stance on Big Al after this game if they actually played that bad?

It was more than D line play, it was a lot of little things that didn't salt this game away:

• Jammal's false start on 3rd and 1
• Fred Davis's weak block on the edge that allowed the blocked FG
• Donovan missing WIDE open Joey Galloway.

I'm more disappointed that the offense went dormant after dominating for 3 quarters. Perhaps better O-line play will allow us to win this type of game by running out the clock. This offense is even more dependent on the passing game that Philly was with Donovan.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Redskin Warrior

LOL!!! C'mon man my kids gotta eat Dirt plus it was either the Dallas or Texans game I picked to watch the Dallas game.

No no, it's all good. You really should look into weather or not your kids can live off passing yards. Quite the feast today.

[SFREDSKIN]

The problem I saw was that the Redskins tried blitzing all the time and every
time they did Houston adjusted by throwing a screen or a short pass or a nice TD to Andre johnson. Our D allowed a hell of lot of yards, unacceptable!! We need a running game badly.

[Chico23231]

NT is a major need...crucial in this scheme. We are getting nothing at it...

[skinsnut]

Guys...this game was lost because of Defense....you cant give up 17 points in as many minutes when you have a 3 score lead....the defense lost the game last week too...although we won on a technicality.
This new scheme aint working too well...something we all were concerned with...look at the numbers...as much as I hate to say it....at this point...Blache's defense is still better than this 3-4 with our stud DT sitting on the bench.

I will take 27 points all day long...offense was fine...sure our redzone ability to get passing TD's is still bad...but that could be play calling...and yeah, we can't run but with a passing attack with weak WR...I am not complaining.

It is the complete inability of our Defense to hold a lead that scares me....last week we could have been gashed on the ground...this week, we were torn apart in the air...
My greatest concern overall starting the season was ability to run and stop the run....add to that ability to stop the pass too...hopefully this new problem is just a one week issue.

C'mon Haslett...fix this now.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

The problem I saw was that the Redskins tried blitzing all the time and every
time they did Houston adjusted by throwing a screen or a short pass or a nice TD to Andre johnson. Our D allowed a hell of lot of yards, unacceptable!! We need a running game badly.

I must say that I love the way they use Landry on the blitz - hopefully his wrist isn't broken, because he is definitely one of the wild cards on this defense. As for the jump ball TD to Andre Johnson, I would have liked our chances a lot more with Kareem Moore back there. We need him to return ASAP because Doughty and Horton are serious liabilities in space.

[Redskin Warrior]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

No no, it's all good. You really should look into weather or not your kids can live off passing yards. Quite the feast today.

I see they went to overtime so I know they will be on NFLN Replay. I heard the secondary struggled again 497 yards in the air. Maybe I was in the minority but why didn't we go after FS O.J. Atogwe that was coached by Haslett? He was a pretty good player for the Rams.