Five Things I Want to See the Redskins Do

[SmootSmack]

Ripped from the 12thMan Guide to Thread Starting:

Aside from the obvious wins-and no major injuries, here are the five on-the-field changes (or non-changes) I want to see for the rest of the season, in no particular order:

Play Ladell Betts...but Don't Forget Portis
I always thought Betts would get the early workload this season and Portis the backend of the season. It hasn't worked out that way obviously, but I think it's time (past time) to start working Betts into the offense. Give him more carries, get him in involved in the passing game. Put Betts and Portis out there together. We have two very talented backs, let's not waste that. Between the two of them I'd like to see them touching the ball 25-30 times a game.

Shake-Up at Wide Receiver
Santana Moss' biggest strength is the separation he can get with his speed. He's not getting that right now and he's playing really tentatively it seems. When your #1 WR is playing scared, it shakes the confidence of your young QB. Campbell needs someone he knows he can count on, and right now I don't think Moss is that guy. Keenan McCardell is. I had mixed feelings about bringing KM in, but it's clear from the games he has played that he still has it and knows what he needs to do. Maybe start El and McCardell, bring Moss off the bench. And the attack the intermediate middle with KM and Cooley, freeing up the outside for El and Moss (and even Lloyd). Give Moss his fair number of plays, but shake things up.

Football is Fun...damental
I'm hesitant to really "open up" the offense as long as we keep making fundamental mistakes. A lot of our mistakes can be attributed to lack of basics, namely wrapping up on tackles, blocking and holding onto the ball. If we're going to lose, and I don't doubt we will again at least once this year I don't want it to be because we beat ourselves

Leave It On the Field
I want to see some Jon Jansen playing with two broken thumbs-type attitude. Players are not as self-centered and money-focused as the general public likes to believe, but sometimes fans need a reminder. And it inspires teammates as well if say Fred Smoot, for example, is giving it his all instead of sitting on the sidelines in street clothes.

Improve the Punting Game
We're ranked near the bottom in the conference. As it is we're putting a lot on the defense to carry us. Let's not make it harder for them with poor field position. I want Frost's punting average to be at least 45 yards per punt, right now it's around 41. These are not net yards by the way.

Bonus: Let's also get a positive turnover ratio

Anyhow, as we move forward into the second half of the season these are the things I want to see us focus on. Nothing too elaborate, pretty basic stuff.

How about you? What are the five things you want to see?

[JGisLordOfTheRings]

Five Things I Wanna See:

1. Consistency

I would love to see any kind of consistency at all on the offensive side of the ball. We can take 8 drives and score 14 off of 2 of them. I would love to see of O move the ball more effectively. Our run game has been poo-ed this year which leads me too.....

2. Run Game

Our pithy 3 yards a carry this year is disgusting compared to last year. Even last year when Portis was hurt he still picked up a bunch of yards and 6 TD's He seems to have lost more than a step or two. He has lost the explosivness, speed and he tends to get hit a lot for losses or small gains, whereas before he would pick up more yards. I would LOVE to see a long TD run. Seriously! When's the last time we had one for more than 30-35 yards? 50? Its been a while and I would love to see us get back to running the ball like we KNOW we can.

3. Shining Hope

It sounds dumb but, I would love to see one of our depth players at CB can man up and become what we need him to be. Its just a hope, but I would still love to see it.

4. Coaching

I would love to see us FIX the little errors that keep us from being a great team. Bad clock management plagues us like hell. Playcalling is horrible somtimes and great others but a hit or miss offense isnt a champion offense. I would just like to see everything in general about this team tighten up a bit. It seems to me that its all a little sloppy and if we cleaned it up coaching wise, we could be GREAT. A steady, vertical attack, even with a lead, would be nice to see, especially if it works properly. I would just love to see the team as a whole tighten up.

AND FINALLY....


JASON CAMPBELL


I would love to see JC become the quarterback we all know he can be. I would love to see us down in the 4th quarter of a game and win it for us. I want to see him throw for 300 yds, 3 TD's and 90 rushing yds and a TD, but thats because I play too much Madden.

I would LOVE to see JC step up into the the leader role of this team. He is the face of the future and well, the future is now. He will do all of these things in time I guess, I would just love to see them sooner than later.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Shake-Up at Wide Receiver
Santana Moss' biggest strength is the separation he can get with his speed. He's not getting that right now and he's playing really tentatively it seems. When your #1 WR is playing scared, it shakes the confidence of your young QB. Campbell needs someone he knows he can count on, and right now I don't think Moss is that guy. Keenan McCardell is. I had mixed feelings about bringing KM in, but it's clear from the games he has played that he still has it and knows what he needs to do. Maybe start El and McCardell, bring Moss off the bench. And the attack the intermediate middle with KM and Cooley, freeing up the outside for El and Moss (and even Lloyd). Give Moss his fair number of plays, but shake things up.

Excellent point regarding Moss and his confidence. His lack of production and the mistakes he's making certainly goes a long way in destroying the chemistry between Campbell and Moss.

Maybe I'm seeing things, but I seem to recall earlier in the season that maybe once or twice a game Campbell would air one out to Moss if he was in single coverage. It seemed like Campbell trusted him, basically saying "Hey, if you're 30 yards downfield in single coverage, I'm throwing it your way because I believe you'll make a good play and we've got a good chance of making it."

I don't recall seeing that much in recent games. Campbell seems a lot more conservative, and honestly I think his deep ball is his real talent. He seems to get more accurate the farther he throws. His intermediate and stuff is the dangerous stuff and what's getting picked off.

I wonder how damaging the Green Bay game was where Moss dropped everything thrown his way. Seems like their chemistry hasn't been the same since.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

1. Execution

I want to see the players catch catchable balls, not fumble, and not whiff on blocks. Those simple things make all the difference.

2. Trust JC

I know JC is young, but I don't think our run-blocking is good enough just yet. I would prefer to put the ball in JC's hands, than to rely on the running game.

3. Give Betts the Ball

I haven't changed my position with regard to Portis one iota. I love the guy, but I have also been saying that Betts needs to get the ball more. I think we should let Betts stay in on an entire series, then go to Portis for two, then go to Betts, etc.

4. Use Cooley More As a Receiver

I understand that our O-line is banged up, but Cooley needs to be running routes. Cooley is far more valuable to this team as a receiving threat than a blocker. He can occupy one defender in a blocking role or take up one or two defenders in a receiving role. Let him chip guys and then go out on his routes. He's the best receiver we've got right now.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

1. Trust JC to run the offense

It seems that Al and Joe are extremely hesitant to loosen the reign of JC but if we dont do it now then he could end up the next Rex Grossman or Byron Leftwich. Let him take more shots early in the game. Bring back the Moss screen of 2005.

2. The 2 back system

We have 2 talented backs but it seems like neither one is going to have 20 carries this season the closest we got was in week one when they both had 17. Use them both in the backfield at the same time more that would really confuse the defense.

3. Consistency

Smootsmack pointed out about our punting average. I am saying the O-line needs some consistency with protection and not commiting stupid penalties that prohibit JC from having managable down and distance to move the sticks. Also dropped balls are killing us get Moss, El, Lloyd, and McCardell together with JC after practice and just throw the ball around.

4. Use Chris Cooley

The guy has had over 700 yards in each of the past 2 seasons and for some reason we have forgotten that he is on the team get him down the seams in the middle like we used to do and let him work his magic. Remember last year against the Panthers. Use him and keep using him.

[GTripp0012]

1) Stop it with the 3 WR/4 WR sets

We just don't have the personnel to run them. Sure we have had some success by splitting Cooley into the slot, and letting Campbell work from the gun on third down, but this is getting bad. Don't sacrifice good protection for one more scrub receiver in a route.

2) Use Todd Yoder in passing situations

So it turns out that Sellers can't really pass block because he lacks athleticism. So ya know what? Don't leave him in to pass protect. Let Yoder play and help Wade or Heyer on the right side. Then Cooley isn't forced to do this role...at least every pass. You still want to mix it up.

3) Replace Wade

Just do it already.

4) Let Ladell Betts get the start

He should see about 20 carries. Mix in Portis too, but use him more in passing routes to get him in space. We seem to prefer to keep Clinton in as a blocker, but he lunges too much. I love seeing him stick people, but he gives up way too many sacks.

5) Throw on first down, run on third

We've been very predictable in that if we need a first down, Saunders freaks and throws the football. But once he gets that first down, we like to come out and run it. The run/pass ratio has been good, but the timing has been backwards. You want to throw when you are farther from the line to gain, and run more when you are close to it.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

3) Replace Wade

Just do it already.

Can someone fill me in on why Wade is so bad? Maybe I haven't been paying attention or I'm not smart enough, but I'd like to be clued in on what he's screwing up on a regular basis.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Can someone fill me in on why Wade is so bad? Maybe I haven't been paying attention or I'm not smart enough, but I'd like to be clued in on what he's screwing up on a regular basis.

Wade has no awareness. He is slow to recognize blitzes. His footwork is lousy. He allows the outside rush go unabated. A serious liability for the passing game. He tends to run block well.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Can someone fill me in on why Wade is so bad? Maybe I haven't been paying attention or I'm not smart enough, but I'd like to be clued in on what he's screwing up on a regular basis.

In pass pro he's got bad footwork. So what happens is he never really gets his body on the speed rushers, and he's playing off balance so the stronger ends just drive him back into the quarterback.

We've tried to give him help, but then he just gets confused and blocks no one.

The backs sucked in blocking against the Pats, but that's because we don't effectively use our TEs to change the alignment of the defense on passing downs. We spread em out and then we don't block, a la Spurrier.

[GMScud]

My list is a lot like the others.

1) Fundamentals. The fumbles, missed blocking assignments, and overall lack of enthusiasm and exceution on offense is downright pathetic. For a Gibbs coached team to be making these kind of mistakes all the time is pretty awful. This must be first and foremost. We'd at least be 5-2 if not for miscues, maybe 6-1.

2) Get WRs involved. Between Lloyd, Moss, and Randle El, how much money do we have tied into our WRs? And they have ZERO tds? It's a joke. My two best friends are Giants/Eagles fans and they rub this in my face all the time. It's embarassing. I say give McCardell and Caldwell a chance. They have better size than our current unproductive midgets, and plenty of experience to boot.

3) Blitz a little. At least on 3rd down. I know with the exception of the NE debacle our D has been great. But this weekend against a bad Jets offense and a brand new QB, I think we could have have some success with a few good blitz packages.

4) Find ways to mix things up with Portis and Betts more. Ladell was great last season. We've got to find ways to get him involved (screen passes anyone? I haven't seen a good screen since the Philly game). I refuse to believe a guy who had 1000+ yards in 9 starts last year has suddenly turned into a dud.

5) Finish. Again, if we could close out games we'd be 6-1. This to me is a combination of coaching, fudamentals, and the 5 inches between our players' ears. I don't know exactly how to solve this one, but our $10M/yr coaching staff better figure it out.

I'm really pleased with the defense thus far, but frankly I've had it with the offense. Gibbs has clearly lost his touch. We're midway through season 4 and he can't get it together. Offense used to be his forte.

Sorry if this seems negative, but I've really had it with our continuous offensive struggles.

[12thMan]

hahaha...nice thread Smoot.

[BDBohnzie]

I'd like to see...

Moss or ARE run some plays from the slot, on the same side of the field as McCardell. Crossing patterns to open up the middle of the field...and get the ball to McCardell more. He's a great possession receiver, and the presence we need in the middle of the field.

Mike Sellers get the ball more on short yardage and some 3rd downs. If you are going to have someone throw a block before setting up a screen, might as well be a 280lb MFer.

the coaching staff put pressure on the fill-ins flanking the right side of the line. Rotate if need be, but between Wade, Puccillo, Heyer, Fabini, DeMulling, there is a combination that will work. If not, just put the fresh guys out there. I think defenses are stacking the left side of the line knowing the Skins wont do much running right

more 1st down play-action. Take a shot downfield, then run it down the throat. Should open up the intermediate pass as well.

the offense go back to the basics. There's a reason Gibbs 1.0 was successful...there was a certain attitude to go along with the schemes and game play. This team needs to find that attitude and flaunt it.

Bonus: I'd love to get my hands on one of Cartwright's t-shirts...

[SmootSmack]

Wade got no help from Sellers last week, that's for sure. Sellers got flat out abused by Vrabel and Harrison. Not like Sellers at all.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Wade got no help from Sellers last week, that's for sure. Sellers got flat out abused by Vrabel and Harrison. Not like Sellers at all.

I love Sellers as a receiver, running back, and run-blocker. But, defenders have blown past the guy in pass protection on more than one Sunday. I don't know what it is, maybe he's just not agile enough?

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Wade got no help from Sellers last week, that's for sure. Sellers got flat out abused by Vrabel and Harrison. Not like Sellers at all.

Oh man I saw that too, the Harrison spin move. I think Beli-cheat spiked the Redskin Kool-Aid with Doubt Juice, replaced Mike Sellers with his more docile twin brother and obviously had someone work on Santana's groin the night before the game...