It's not Brunell's fault!

[MTK]

We have no identity on offense right now, that's been our main problem all year. If we have any hope of salvaging the season, finding an identity is the key.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

We have no identity on offense right now, that's been our main problem all year. If we have any hope of salvaging the season, finding an identity is the key.

That's a very good point. However, I would contend that they do have an identity and it's that of an inconsistent football team. Be it running or throwing, they do niether consistently. It's getting a little late in the season to try to establish one or the other as the crux of the offense. Everyone knows they're an inside running team. Wear em down on the inside then try to break em on the edges. And throw deep or at least intermediate then. I think Saunders is trying to put his stamp on the team, but he needs to adjust to Portis.

[mike340]

One of the things Brunell brings to the table is that he knows how to change a play at the line of scrimmage (based on the defensive set.) I have read that Saunders' system practically eliminates this possibility. Peyton was changing plays all night. Unfortunately, when Brunell sees that the defensive set is going to scr*w the play, he can't do anything to fix it (except for calling a time-out.) I think this greatly hinders the Redskins offense.

Also, a couple of games ago he was furious because the plays weren't coming in fast enough. How much of the season has this been going on. And in spite of all the short dump-offs, at the end of the first half he had 10 hurries in 15 attempts (with 10 completions.) Many on this board feel that Saunders calls few long passes because Brunell has a "noodle" arm. I wonder if he is more reticent because he knows the line can't protect him that long without holding. (Remember the beginning of the season? Weren't we on pace to set a new record for number of penalties, with offensive holding leading the way?)

I have a lot of respect for Brunell after 2004. Not for how he passed. (That was as painful to watch as I can remember.) But because he was injured (which he shared with the coaching staff), but never gave it as excuse for his poor performance in public.

I have seen Brunell explode once: when (as I mentioned before) the plays were coming in late this year. I think Gibbs has him talk because he won't badmouth anybody else. (And don't tell me there is no-one else to badmouth.) In general, the reaction of the people who talk to the press from the Redskins organization reminds me of a cartoon I saw in the foreign service journal. There were seven people holding down a furious man in a room. The room's only door was open a crack, and the person just inside the door was informing the one on the outside that "The ambassador has no comment at this time."

I think the reason you don't see explosions out of the Redskins organization is because public "disturbances" usually end up a negative. (Remember the Giants before their game with us?)

Do I feel Brunell is a great QB? No. He is a good solid QB. He will not lose games for you. Gibbs got him since he felt the rest of the team would hold up its end. It doesn't seem to be working out that way. Scoring: 20 pts/game. Defense: 26 pts/game.
Two years ago, 21 pts/game would have given them a record of 13-2-1.
I think the problems hang more on the D.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by mike340

One of the things Brunell brings to the table is that he knows how to change a play at the line of scrimmage (based on the defensive set.) I have read that Saunders' system practically eliminates this possibility. Peyton was changing plays all night. Unfortunately, when Brunell sees that the defensive set is going to scr*w the play, he can't do anything to fix it (except for calling a time-out.) I think this greatly hinders the Redskins offense.

Also, a couple of games ago he was furious because the plays weren't coming in fast enough. How much of the season has this been going on. And in spite of all the short dump-offs, at the end of the first half he had 10 hurries in 15 attempts (with 10 completions.) Many on this board feel that Saunders calls few long passes because Brunell has a "noodle" arm. I wonder if he is more reticent because he knows the line can't protect him that long without holding. (Remember the beginning of the season? Weren't we on pace to set a new record for number of penalties, with offensive holding leading the way?)

I have a lot of respect for Brunell after 2004. Not for how he passed. (That was as painful to watch as I can remember.) But because he was injured (which he shared with the coaching staff), but never gave it as excuse for his poor performance in public.

I have seen Brunell explode once: when (as I mentioned before) the plays were coming in late this year. I think Gibbs has him talk because he won't badmouth anybody else. (And don't tell me there is no-one else to badmouth.) In general, the reaction of the people who talk to the press from the Redskins organization reminds me of a cartoon I saw in the foreign service journal. There were seven people holding down a furious man in a room. The room's only door was open a crack, and the person just inside the door was informing the one on the outside that "The ambassador has no comment at this time."

I think the reason you don't see explosions out of the Redskins organization is because public "disturbances" usually end up a negative. (Remember the Giants before their game with us?)

Do I feel Brunell is a great QB? No. He is a good solid QB. He will not lose games for you. Gibbs got him since he felt the rest of the team would hold up its end. It doesn't seem to be working out that way. Scoring: 20 pts/game. Defense: 26 pts/game.
Two years ago, 21 pts/game would have given them a record of 13-2-1.
I think the problems hang more on the D.

Well said. I believe one of the problems, that goes along with Matty's identity point, is that last year, Gibbs built his offense around Brunell's strength. You saw a lot more touch passes last year that took advantage of Brunell's unique strengths as a passer. This season, Brunell is being used in a more generic system. It's an OK fit, but not as good as last year. He's adapted about as well as one could have expected.

[skinsguy]

As much as people ripped our offense last year for being too simple, it sure seems like we had much more of an identity than what we have this year. We used our strengths! I am thinking if we had just added the two WRs and kept the same exact offense from a year ago...we would've been okay....offensively at least...

[SmootSmack]

Maybe it was mistake to promote Bill Lazor to QB coach. Make Todd Collins the QB coach!

[EternalEnigma21]

I haven't seen us run a true no-huddle, or even get in a hurry calling plays yet.

Wasn't that one of the things that was so touted about Saunders offenses was the pace of the game. Guys ran to the huddle if there was one and ran to the line and went in motion and ran their routes and ran and ran and ran...no audibles just effective options playing off of each other one after another confusing defenses???

(I can do it in madden, btw... its pretty cool, I can plan an entire series and call the plays in anticipation of my opponent and I'm pretty good at it... I got it from reading about Saunder's offense.)

The KC offense and the greatest show on turf was alot faster paced than what we're seeing. I wonder why that is...

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

I haven't seen us run a true no-huddle, or even get in a hurry calling plays yet.

Wasn't that one of the things that was so touted about Saunders offenses was the pace of the game. Guys ran to the huddle if there was one and ran to the line and went in motion and ran their routes and ran and ran and ran...no audibles just effective options playing off of each other one after another confusing defenses???

(I can do it in madden, btw... its pretty cool, I can plan an entire series and call the plays in anticipation of my opponent and I'm pretty good at it... I got it from reading about Saunder's offense.)

The KC offense and the greatest show on turf was alot faster paced than what we're seeing. I wonder why that is...

the quick huddle and shifting were ditching immediately after not working in week 1 or 2. not sure if gibbs pulled rank for that or not. not sure why we killed the shotgun either. not sure why there hasn't been a single addjustment to our offense or playcalling since jacksonville. someone's gotta step up and fix this thing though. on offense they're underperforming. on defense it's more injuries/depth related. neither is worth talking about right now .

[henry12portis26]

Bru-Tell

He is the reason why are offense blows goat.... he had 106 passer rating
Big fucking deal! He threw like 5 yd dump offs to betts all day. The guy threw high how many times i cant remember, he gave moss a suicide pass and he is now so fuckin' slow he throw the ball away everytime he has to move. He cant throw over 15 yds this team is going to shit! Gibbs is pulling another '05 where he kept that fuckin' hack in too long and Ramsey came in 5 games left and was 3-2....

WE WANT CAMPBELL!

[0421kidwell]

mark Brunell Sucks!!!!!

enough Said!!!!

[0421kidwell]

What Kind Of A Name Is brunell It Comes From The Word ............garbage!!!

[SmootSmack]

421 you're adding nothing to the site. Consider this your first official warning

[0421kidwell]

TO reply to GTRIPP I am biased:: the future is now!!! The cowboys will start romo it's time to start jason or todd

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 0421kidwell

TO reply to GTRIPP I am biased:: the future is now!!! The cowboys will start romo it's time to start jason or todd

Jason Campbell absolutely is the future. I think we should take advantage of Tony Romo starting in Dallas, start Brunell, give Romo a warm Redskins 'Welcome to the NFL', beat their ass, and try to get something rolling. Not a moment too soon.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Jason Campbell absolutely is the future. I think we should take advantage of Tony Romo starting in Dallas, start Brunell, give Romo a warm Redskins 'Welcome to the NFL', beat their ass, and try to get something rolling. Not a moment too soon.

Yeah, I don't really like the idea of Campbell starting his first game against the Dallas D.

Brunell is a much better choice and gives us a chance to win the game.

Besides, Brunell isn't really the problem. He's not calling the plays or playing defense.