John Clayton on the Redskins' Playoff Chances

[roth74va]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

2. The addition of Hunter Smith. His value in the field position game will have a positive impact on the defense which should again, improve the offense by proxy. His biggest impact however may be in the holding position. While I am not a big Suisham fan, he was undone a little last year with Brooks and Plackemier, who were both largely clueless as holders. I've never liked a punter as a holder but at least he's done it and done it with some accomplished kickers (Vanderjagt, Vinatieri) so hopefully Suisham's percentage will improve.

Agreed, I think "Hunter the Punter" will greatly improve our field position, which should lead to more opportunites for points.

[RedskinRat]

Our cadre of WR's need to be able to play far beyond the level they played at last year. Everything else on offense will follow.

The D will be fine and a few defensive TD's would work wonders.

[skinsnut]

my concern in getting to 21 points isn't based on our annual average last year as much as it is the final 8 games when we went 2-6....what did we generate...like 12 pts a game? I think some here are forgetting the collapse of the team in the 2nd half of the season...talking about playoffs is crazy at this point..this team needs to win home games and games against lesser opponents under Zorn.

Zorn needs to learn how to coach by adjustment.
As you recall, we heard all about 2 TE sets all year, but it was rarely done because Zorn just stuck with the basics...it was all he could handle....and at the midpoint of the year, when defenses figured out how to play the skins, he could not adjust because he was a rookie overwhelmed with everything a HC has to do...he had zero hours to develop new plays/schemes...etc...so he focussed on execution alone...which certainly was not good enough.

I surely hope Zorn can develop a playbook double the size of last years.
I frankly dont know why he didn't run more shotgun, double te sets, 4 wr sets, sweeps, screens, trick plays late in the season....his playcalling was nowhere near where it needed to be to be successful.

I do agree that execution alone in yr 2 should improve 2 pts a game. But the reality is additional points per game is generated by scheming and playcalling against your opponents....if we score more points this year, it will be because Zorn has gotten more creative and aggressive in his playcalling based off of scouting weaknesses in our opponents defenses.

I hold out hope...we shall know in the first 4 games if Zorn can offensively adjust or if he will stick with the same formula no matter what like last year.

[RedskinMike]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

my concern in getting to 21 points isn't based on our annual average last year as much as it is the final 8 games when we went 2-6....what did we generate...like 12 pts a game? I think some here are forgetting the collapse of the team in the 2nd half of the season...talking about playoffs is crazy at this point..this team needs to win home games and games against lesser opponents under Zorn.

Zorn needs to learn how to coach by adjustment.
As you recall, we heard all about 2 TE sets all year, but it was rarely done because Zorn just stuck with the basics...it was all he could handle....and at the midpoint of the year, when defenses figured out how to play the skins, he could not adjust because he was a rookie overwhelmed with everything a HC has to do...he had zero hours to develop new plays/schemes...etc...so he focussed on execution alone...which certainly was not good enough.

I surely hope Zorn can develop a playbook double the size of last years.
I frankly dont know why he didn't run more shotgun, double te sets, 4 wr sets, sweeps, screens, trick plays late in the season....his playcalling was nowhere near where it needed to be to be successful.

I do agree that execution alone in yr 2 should improve 2 pts a game. But the reality is additional points per game is generated by scheming and playcalling against your opponents....if we score more points this year, it will be because Zorn has gotten more creative and aggressive in his playcalling based off of scouting weaknesses in our opponents defenses.

I hold out hope...we shall know in the first 4 games if Zorn can offensively adjust or if he will stick with the same formula no matter what like last year.

Four of the teams we played in the second half were top defenses. People don't seem to ever take that into account.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

my concern in getting to 21 points isn't based on our annual average last year as much as it is the final 8 games when we went 2-6....what did we generate...like 12 pts a game? I think some here are forgetting the collapse of the team in the 2nd half of the season...talking about playoffs is crazy at this point..this team needs to win home games and games against lesser opponents under Zorn.

Zorn needs to learn how to coach by adjustment.
As you recall, we heard all about 2 TE sets all year, but it was rarely done because Zorn just stuck with the basics...it was all he could handle....and at the midpoint of the year, when defenses figured out how to play the skins, he could not adjust because he was a rookie overwhelmed with everything a HC has to do...he had zero hours to develop new plays/schemes...etc...so he focussed on execution alone...which certainly was not good enough.

I surely hope Zorn can develop a playbook double the size of last years.
I frankly dont know why he didn't run more shotgun, double te sets, 4 wr sets, sweeps, screens, trick plays late in the season....his playcalling was nowhere near where it needed to be to be successful.

I do agree that execution alone in yr 2 should improve 2 pts a game. But the reality is additional points per game is generated by scheming and playcalling against your opponents....if we score more points this year, it will be because Zorn has gotten more creative and aggressive in his playcalling based off of scouting weaknesses in our opponents defenses.

I hold out hope...we shall know in the first 4 games if Zorn can offensively adjust or if he will stick with the same formula no matter what like last year.

A bigger playbook, probably not, scheming for that week's opponnent, more probable. Football is a game of exploiting your opponent's weakness; and playing to your own strengths. If you can pound it, keep pounding it. If you can air it out, keep airing it. If you win in the Offensive trenches, you will cause your opponent to give in.

To Mike, above, yes we remember the four teams.

[hugeskinsfan182]

i have to agree with most of you in that the defensive upgrades this offseason will lead to better pressure on the QB which weve needed since dexter manley and charles mann it seems... therefore leading to more picks and mistakes in our favor. All at the same time helping the offense...

i dont know how much control over this problem people like jim zorn has in playcalling... coordinators with schemes and all... or the players in terms of experience.. skill.. and trust in each other.. but we just play way to conservatively. there has to be a healthy balance.. and even in my own personal life i play it safe and im also by no means a fan of going "fun and gun" again... but it kinda relates to chicken monkey.. big plays.. we can do the normal chip away and sometimes brilliantly pull off the dink and dunk and make other teams look silly.. but we just cannot consistantly hit that 15+ yard connection. (when we need it) and it drives me nuts on sundays. so with devin thomas playing more (hopefully).. kelly back from injury and jason campbell having his first 2 year in a row program.... i hope our offense takes a step forward even though our o-line, and ports have all aged another year.

we have to take that downfield shot and test those corners. if it doesnt work at least you kept em honest and it might open the run game? sometimes we just gotta take a chance... other than when its the 4th quarter with under 2 mins to go.. its 4th and 16 and were down by 5.

(expletive)

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by hugeskinsfan182

i have to agree with most of you in that the defensive upgrades this offseason will lead to better pressure on the QB which weve needed since dexter manley and charles mann it seems... therefore leading to more picks and mistakes in our favor. All at the same time helping the offense...

i dont know how much control over this problem people like jim zorn has in playcalling... coordinators with schemes and all... or the players in terms of experience.. skill.. and trust in each other.. but we just play way to conservatively. there has to be a healthy balance.. and even in my own personal life i play it safe and im also by no means a fan of going "fun and gun" again... but it kinda relates to chicken monkey.. big plays.. we can do the normal chip away and sometimes brilliantly pull off the dink and dunk and make other teams look silly.. but we just cannot consistantly hit that 15+ yard connection. (when we need it) and it drives me nuts on sundays. so with devin thomas playing more (hopefully).. kelly back from injury and jason campbell having his first 2 year in a row program.... i hope our offense takes a step forward even though our o-line, and ports have all aged another year.

we have to take that downfield shot and test those corners. if it doesnt work at least you kept em honest and it might open the run game? sometimes we just gotta take a chance... other than when its the 4th quarter with under 2 mins to go.. its 4th and 16 and were down by 5.

(expletive)

I think we will this year. That drove me absolutely crazy last year but with the receivers running their routes better and JC hopefully having more time and knowing the receivers routes himself, I expect the passing game to be much improved.

[FRPLG]

It's hard for me to envision our offense not being pretty improved outside of debilitating health issues.

[hooskins]

I know it is easy to say that everyone shares blame, but I think they do. What is JC suppose to do if receivers can't catch and they run bad routes? How about CP struggling after the line got hurt. Also, Zorn blamed execution, but we all know he got kinda predictable towards the end of the season.

But I really think the important change comes with D. Hall, Big Al and Orakpo should add to turnovers. This directly leads to more possessions further down the field. Our D last year kept points low but our offense didn't get shorter fields and momentum changers. Not saying it is all on the D, but with a less than average offense more is.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I know it is easy to say that everyone shares blame, but I think they do. What is JC suppose to do if receivers can't catch and they run bad routes? How about CP struggling after the line got hurt. Also, Zorn blamed execution, but we all know he got kinda predictable towards the end of the season.

But I really think the important change comes with D. Hall, Big Al and Orakpo should add to turnovers. This directly leads to more possessions further down the field. Our D last year kept points low but our offense didn't get shorter fields and momentum changers. Not saying it is all on the D, but with a less than average offense more is.

I think that's a great point. It always seems like, no matter how good the Skins' D is, they're never that opportunistic kind of defense. They never seemed to get a ton of turnovers, more like a bend, but don't break team. There are defenses, like Baltimore and Pittsburgh's who will bend you to their will and make you make mistakes and occasionally, they'll put points on the board. The Skins have had that kind of a defense recently, I would to see that.

I, personally, believe it could happen with Hall. He may not be able to cover that well, but he can catch and turn it around for 6 because he does well with the ball in his hands. I think Landry could end up being very good at returning turnovers as well, but he plays so far up the field a pick-six would be tough for him.

[KI Skins Fan]

Basically, we need 5 more points per game from someone, anyone. Because we don't care where that touchdown comes from, we can't continue to overlook any area of the team that can be improved to help us get those points. We've done some positive things in that regard, but we need to do more.

1. ARE must be replaced on punt returns. With a good PR, we could pick up 1 or two TD's per season on PR's.

2. We still need another proven NFL WR. ARE is not effective as a wide out - he belongs in the slot as a #3 receiver and I don't think we can count on any of the young WR's to get the job done.

3. We need to upgrade our FG kicker. This should have already been done and if it's not done it will cost us a game or two.

4. Our new FG kicker needs a big leg on kickoffs, as well. We're surrendering field position on kickoffs.

5. It wouldn't hurt to have more speed in the game at RB on 3rd downs. Speed kills, you know. We need to get an occaisional "home run" from a RB via run or pass.

6. Jason Campbell must get a lot better in the Red Zone. He also needs to take more chances, particularly with the long ball. I think he will.

[REDSKIN1]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Basically, we need 5 more points per game from someone, anyone. Because we don't care where that touchdown comes from, we can't continue to overlook any area of the team that can be improved to help us get those points. We've done some positive things in that regard, but we need to do more.

1. ARE must be replaced on punt returns. With a good PR, we could pick up 1 or two TD's per season on PR's.

2. We still need another proven NFL WR. ARE is not effective as a wide out - he belongs in the slot as a #3 receiver and I don't think we can count on any of the young WR's to get the job done.

3. We need to upgrade our FG kicker. This should have already been done and if it's not done it will cost us a game or two.

4. Our new FG kicker needs a big leg on kickoffs, as well. We're surrendering field position on kickoffs.

5. It wouldn't hurt to have more speed in the game at RB on 3rd downs. Speed kills, you know. We need to get an occaisional "home run" from a RB via run or pass.

6. Jason Campbell must get a lot better in the Red Zone. He also needs to take more chances, particularly with the long ball. I think he will.

Man you read my mind on all of your points except on number 6. I think that if we get one of the sophmore wideouts to stepup into the number 2 spot, then that will give us more playcalling ability in the Red Zone. I think that Jason didn't have enough options. The only players he could count on consistently were Santana and Cooley. Most of the time they were double covered so he would end up taking a coverage sack. I especially agree with you on point number 5. We need a speedy third down back, I'm sorry but Betts is not getting the job done on third downs. I hope we can fit Marcus Mason in at this position. And for Gods sake please don't let ARE return punts anymore.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Basically, we need 5 more points per game from someone, anyone. Because we don't care where that touchdown comes from, we can't continue to overlook any area of the team that can be improved to help us get those points. We've done some positive things in that regard, but we need to do more.

1. ARE must be replaced on punt returns. With a good PR, we could pick up 1 or two TD's per season on PR's.

2. We still need another proven NFL WR. ARE is not effective as a wide out - he belongs in the slot as a #3 receiver and I don't think we can count on any of the young WR's to get the job done.

3. We need to upgrade our FG kicker. This should have already been done and if it's not done it will cost us a game or two.

4. Our new FG kicker needs a big leg on kickoffs, as well. We're surrendering field position on kickoffs.

5. It wouldn't hurt to have more speed in the game at RB on 3rd downs. Speed kills, you know. We need to get an occaisional "home run" from a RB via run or pass.

6. Jason Campbell must get a lot better in the Red Zone. He also needs to take more chances, particularly with the long ball. I think he will.

I agree pretty much. Field position is so crucial. Our defense has been poor at creating turnovers and sacks, and our punt return has been really weak. If Alridge or Dorsey can crack the roster and return punts, and our D steps up the sacks and turnovers (which I really think they will), it will create shorter fields for the offense.

Basically the offense needs to get better, but it will be a helluva lot easier for them to do so if they're handed a shorter field more often.

[freddyg12]

Again, don't count on Orakpo to improve the pass rush/turnovers. IF he does, he's exceeding expectations for a rookie.

I think most everyone here is assuming the D will return to form, but last year's D was not an imposing unit, they just played disciplined & hard under Blache. In the latter half of the year they looked worn down at times too, not just from being on the field too long either. LB is still an issue & we don't know how that will turn out. Can A. Carter get some sacks again?

[redskinjim]

we have had a problem scoring points in the past. long drives that keep the defence off the field are the key to winning the close games we have a lot of 3 and outs that wear down the defence