Update: Saunders Signs Deal with Rams to be OC

[BDBohnzie]

I'm not arguing that it wasn't the right thing to do, but in the comments of Cerrato and Snyder being disappointed in the offense, it comes down to Saunders not opening up the playbook earlier to allow Campbell more exposure, especially after doing so with Collins.

It's a definite Catch-22 on his part, and ultimately cost him his job with the Redskins.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

I'm not arguing that it wasn't the right thing to do, but in the comments of Cerrato and Snyder being disappointed in the offense, it comes down to Saunders not opening up the playbook earlier to allow Campbell more exposure, especially after doing so with Collins.

It's a definite Catch-22 on his part, and ultimately cost him his job with the Redskins.

Seems you're assuming that not opening up the playbook cost him his job. There could've been any no. of reasons they wanted to replace him. JLC said that when asked in camp how the players were adjusting to the system, Al responded that the problem wasn't the players.

Who knows exactly why they wanted to replace AS, but I think we have to at least be fair to him & realize that this O wasn't entirely his, it was a hybrid Gibbs/Saunders O & him not opening up the playbook might've been on direct orders from his boss, who in his second stint here was very (too) cautious.

Add to that, Saunders was teaching a young qb & the right side of the line was 2nd/3rd string quality most of the year, which was evident vs. the hawks.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Seems you're assuming that not opening up the playbook cost him his job. There could've been any no. of reasons they wanted to replace him. JLC said that when asked in camp how the players were adjusting to the system, Al responded that the problem wasn't the players.

Who knows exactly why they wanted to replace AS, but I think we have to at least be fair to him & realize that this O wasn't entirely his, it was a hybrid Gibbs/Saunders O & him not opening up the playbook might've been on direct orders from his boss, who in his second stint here was very (too) cautious.

Add to that, Saunders was teaching a young qb & the right side of the line was 2nd/3rd string quality most of the year, which was evident vs. the hawks.

It could very well be that Saunders was hamstrung by Gibbs. If that's the case (hindsight is always 20/20), perhaps Saunders should have stuck up more for Campbell (who supposedly wasn't the problem) before opening the offense up when Collins took over.

Snyder and Cerrato obviously see something we all don't see...take that as you will...I would have liked to see Saunders stick around for the long haul and watch Campbell run his offense to perfection. However, we won't and I wish Saunders luck in landing the Rams job and trying to turn that carnival sideshow of an offense back around.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

It could very well be that Saunders was hamstrung by Gibbs. If that's the case (hindsight is always 20/20), perhaps Saunders should have stuck up more for Campbell (who supposedly wasn't the problem) before opening the offense up when Collins took over.

Snyder and Cerrato obviously see something we all don't see...take that as you will...I would have liked to see Saunders stick around for the long haul and watch Campbell run his offense to perfection. However, we won't and I wish Saunders luck in landing the Rams job and trying to turn that carnival sideshow of an offense back around.

One thing that has always baffled me about the Collins period, I think a lot of people are assuming that Saunders "opened up the playbook" for him. Any proof or evidence of this?

The reason I pose the question is that it actually seems that they took more steps to protect Collins than they did JC. JC got hit in preseason when Heyer was playing & throughout the regular season when Heyer was in there, they still ran plays where Heyer was 1 on 1 & there was an empty backfield. As soon as Collins comes in, they keep a rb (sometimes 2) in to help Heyer & they even ran what looked like max protect w/a TE in a lot.

I know Collins isn't mobile, but why would you leave your young qb so vulnerable? It almost seemed that the O was more cautious on pass downs w/Collins, which on the surface seems to contradict the whole "open up the playbook" theory. Just a thought.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

One thing that has always baffled me about the Collins period, I think a lot of people are assuming that Saunders "opened up the playbook" for him. Any proof or evidence of this?

The reason I pose the question is that it actually seems that they took more steps to protect Collins than they did JC. JC got hit in preseason when Heyer was playing & throughout the regular season when Heyer was in there, they still ran plays where Heyer was 1 on 1 & there was an empty backfield. As soon as Collins comes in, they keep a rb (sometimes 2) in to help Heyer & they even ran what looked like max protect w/a TE in a lot.

I know Collins isn't mobile, but why would you leave your young qb so vulnerable? It almost seemed that the O was more cautious on pass downs w/Collins, which on the surface seems to contradict the whole "open up the playbook" theory. Just a thought.

Could very well be, which is why I'm sitting here at my keyboard, instead of having my name on a door at Redskins Park

But it would be hard to believe that Saunders didn't use his comfort level with Collins to do something different than what he did with Campbell. Saunders brought Collins in to help the transition to his offense go a lot smoother. Why wouldn't he have let Collins loose, knowing that he knows the system better than any QB in the league today?

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

Could very well be, which is why I'm sitting here at my keyboard, instead of having my name on a door at Redskins Park

But it would be hard to believe that Saunders didn't use his comfort level with Collins to do something different than what he did with Campbell. Saunders brought Collins in to help the transition to his offense go a lot smoother. Why wouldn't he have let Collins loose, knowing that he knows the system better than any QB in the league today?

True, and JC getting hurt might've scared Joe to the point that he told Al to max protect or keep Sellers &/or Portis in to block more.

It just seemed to me that JC could've made the same plays if given the extra protection. Until we got to seattle, collins had all day to throw in most of those games.