Give Props to Brunell

[JWsleep]

My old soccer coach had a saying: "Lose, analyze; win, criticize." (CRT knowswhat I'm talking about!) Criticizing after a win is a way to get better, instead of just letting the fact that we won wash away a mulitude of sins. If Troy Vincent doesn't get the block, if Sean doesn't put on his supernman cape, if Nick doesn't wait for the perfect gust of wind, would that make MBs play aby better or worse? It wouldn't. We need to think about this rationally, as Matty said.

My feeling is that MB made some big throws on some key 3rd downs, and for that he deserves our praise. But he is still very late on his reads--that's why you get the "almost Ints." The plays come open, he sees them late, and he doesn't have the arm to force it in. Hence, the D can recover. It happened a bunch of times, and even on the good long throws, if he sees them quick, they are seriously wide open. Look at the tape. Also, he didn't rush for a first down on two occasions when it sure looked like he could have. He threw one on a thrid and 2-3, and he ran out of bounds on another. He is worried about being hit. (I would worry too, no doubt!!!), and it is affecting his play.

I am convinced, like John Madden, that MB is not the right QB for our system. He didn't lose us the game, and he did make some clutch plays. But he (and the offense) dissapeared for mcuh of the second half, as they have all year. Compare his play to Tony Romo (NOT Peyton. Come on!). Honestly, who was the better QB? Brunnell was part of the win, so he gets props (I suppose Arch does too, by that logic--he tackled Whitten before he got a TD, at least). But he was just average, IMHO, and ARE threw the biggest pass of the day for the skins. See what happens when you pressure a D deep? Good things.

MB won a repreieve for now (by "fighting his guts out," no doubt). But that's it. And he won the repreieve becuase Troy Vincent blocked his first kick, and the best TO returner in the league picked up the ball, not becuase of his great QB play.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

This kind of comment is thrown around far too much. How is not liking Brunell the same thing as wanting the Redskins to lose to the Cowboys? That's just ridiculous. I can promise you that no true Redskin fan was unhappy with the win yesterday.

True Redskins fan would be the operative phrase. To continually bash the coaching staff, players, ownership, front office..................Camera guy, key grip, best boy???????????? miss anybody???? Is this what you endorse?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

I'm actually quite happy with the chances Brunell took yesterday. My only beef with it is if he could do it yesterday, he could have down it all season, instead of waiting until the season is all but over to turn it on...

One thing we don't really know the answer to though is whose decision was that? Has it been Brunell? Did Gibbs and Saunders sit down during the bye week and say here's what we need to do? Did Moss' absence force a change in the game plan?

[The Zimmermans]

He played well enough this week. We didnt' give him a chance to make the big play on 3rd and two on the dallas 30, instead we handed off the ball which was fine. However, if we decided to throw or qb sneak on that big 3rd down, we would be able to analyze his performance in more detail. If he plays well next week, than he has proven his stay at QB, if not, then his inconsistancy has become a major issue. For now, start brunell, we are still alive.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

My old soccer coach had a saying: "Lose, analyze; win, criticize."

I like that but with some people it's win, lose, or tie... criticize.

[redsk1]

MB actually made some great throws down the middle of the field yesterday which was great. I think that is the first time i've seen it this year. So, for that i give him and the team credit.

What a great game and i loved it. A classic finish. I'm going to enjoy this one all week.

Brunell kept us in the game, made a couple plays, made a few mistakes (should've been int's). So he is what he is. Not going to lose the game for you, probably won't win it for you. I thought Romo looked really good and outplayed Brunell.

Just b/c i'm critical, doesn't mean i doesn't mean i'm not going to enjoy this W.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by mooby

Okay, for the record, I thought Brunell played a good game today from what I saw. I'll finalize my statement after watching the rerun that should definitely be on NFLN. But one thing i noticed, was even with Moss out, he still didn't look Randle El's or Lloyd's way a lot. Lloyd only caught two passes for 22 yards and Randle El didn't even have a catch.

I thought he threw to lloyd a good amount today. He would've caught a 40-50yarder but it was called back. I guess the pass interference was from ARE. When we throw it to Lloyd he catches it. He played a good game today.

[hail_2_da_skins]

I am definitely a Brunell basher. He did have a good game. He finally did some of the things I've bashed him about. He finally challenged the Cowboys deep. He completed one, which was called back because of a penalty and one other caused a pass interference call. Most importantly, by throwing deep a few times, it made the safeties respect the deep ball and opened up the middle where he had his most success. I've been crying all year that he can't keep throwing short passes and be successful. Brunell is still not completely out of my doghouse. His ability is limited and I will just have to live with the fact that he is just going to manage the game and hopefully that will be good enough to win. The Skins just can't get into a situation where they need him to win a game. I don't see that happening.

[The Zimmermans]

The pass protection was terrific, that was one of the major factors considering how easy it is to get to brunell and knock him down.

[firstdown]

He played good today. I'm not sure if the coaches told him to take a few more chances with the ball but he did make a few questionable throws.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The bashers are NOT going to take over this thread. We won, so please shut up for 1 week.

He played average. Yes he made some good passes over the middle. But he also should have two or three picked off. Minus the pass to Cooley at the end of the half he only threw for about 160 yards. That is still not enough and plus the 2ndary are not respecting his arm or the passing game and it's hurting Portis. Too many people lurking around the line of scrimmage. Bottom line they should have lost the game. Dallas handed it to them. Won't be the case next week in Philly.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by hail_2_da_skins

I am definitely a Brunell basher. He did have a good game. He finally did some of the things I've bashed him about. He finally challenged the Cowboys deep. He completed one, which was called back because of a penalty and one other caused a pass interference call. Most importantly, by throwing deep a few times, it made the safeties respect the deep ball and opened up the middle where he had his most success. I've been crying all year that he can't keep throwing short passes and be successful. Brunell is still not completely out of my doghouse. His ability is limited and I will just have to live with the fact that he is just going to manage the game and hopefully that will be good enough to win. The Skins just can't get into a situation where they need him to win a game. I don't see that happening.

Great point. There comes a time in every season where you need your QB to win a game or two for you. Defense is playing bad. The running game isn't working and your behind. Brunell simply can't do this. He can only manage the game. He can't take it over. Campbell at least has the skills to do this. Some QB's can do it from the pocket. Some can do it running and passing like McNabb.

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by firstdown

He played good today. I'm not sure if the coaches told him to take a few more chances with the ball but he did make a few questionable throws.

I would say that brunell looked good in the first half, distributing the ball well, stretching the field etc. But I would say his second half effectiveness was less impressive. Even on a GREAT DAY (I’m still smiling), his stats were only 14/23 for 192 yards and one score. I think we all can say, that brunell played ok/well (ie, giving him props) but honestly, those stats aren’t’ getting us to the playoffs or superbowl- sans a Raveneque D. Not to mention- in the 4th quarter he tossed 2 balls that should have been picked off. I don’t mean to be a downer, but lets be honest…while brunell was better- he’s not winning many games for you (for those of you who will say- he “won” this- that is true, but we are still 3-5).

Great to have springs back…rogers got burned again…gave up 1 td, should have been 2.

No matter, Vincent and Taylor followed by Novack pulled out the game from us….Loving it…

[gibbsisgod]

He made some questionable throws but he made plays when we needed them most. Big TEAM win yesterday. Everybody had a part in this one. Offense , defense and ST.

[RedskinRat]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I'll give you that, I haven't read the entire thread so I wasn't aware of meaningless bashing. It bothers me most when people come along and just write something like "Brunell sucked today."

If it doesn't have substance, then it's a meaningless post, and that's just dumb.

But might I say that RedskinRat was the first person to post negatively in this thread. He said he disagreed, and that Brunell threw too many passes that were close to being picked off. And then people jumped on him.

That to me isn't meaningless posting. It was a short post, but he's absolutely right, Brunell gave the game away on a couple of those throws, but the Cowboys just didn't catch the ball. I'm always harping on turnovers, and Brunell was dangerously close on a couple of throws.

Anyway, I'm on cloud nine that we won that game yesterday. Brunell made some bad plays, but he also made some good ones. We got the win, that's what matters. Hopefully Brunell will step it up against the Eagles next week, and we'll really get on a roll.

Hey, we were 0-5 under Marty once and came back to 5-5. It can be done!

Schneed, thanks. I'm heartened by the fact that some people have bothered to read and understand what I posted.

We beat Dallarse and that is always awesome.

I just can't have the kind of blind loyalty that by inference is required to post here.