Why Brunell is Struggling

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

When I think about it, Brunell has never run a timing offense like this one before. In Jacksonville and in his first two years here, he was able to survey the field for a while. Now Saunders is asking him to get the ball out quickly, it's got to be an adjustment.

But I mean jeez, he's had all offseason and now seven games, and it's still not there.

Maybe if you put a shocking dog collar on Brunell and gave the control to Al, he could get the ball out more quickly?

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by firstdown

So are you saying we have a team of quitters with no pride?

Who knows? But we'd definitely see the true colors of the team if they knew they had no chance of a playoff birth. We saw the Cowboys last year lose at HOME to the Rams after they knew they wouldn't make it. I hope that's not the case.

[MTK]

It this team quits down the stretch Gibbs has really lost his touch and only then would I envision him stepping down.

This team has some prideful vets and a staff that I don't think would allow them to quit.

This team was face down in the mud last year at 5-6 and could have easily given up. We'll see if they can respond in a similar way this year.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Which makes me think it wouldn't happen. I just hope we win enough games after this bye to at least make December interesting. Then we can get into the, "If the Redskins win this game and Team A loses this game, then if Team B beats Team C, we're in!"

[VTSkins897]

that's a good read. i guess we sort of just expected the offense to light it up without even considering that it does take time for the guys to get used to it.

i asked a few months ago when i thought of this about how saunders' offense did went he first came to KC. i believe KC was 6-10 but the offense was still rated high. so i guess that doesn't explain anything...

anyhow i'd still like to see campbell in there if we lose a few more games. yeah it sucks we won't be in the postseason but having regular season games to see what he can do vs. preseason junk would be invaluable.

then we could maybe decide if we do indeed have to go after someone else.

[theJBexperience]

I remember reading that Mark responded to Collins' comment that it would take a full year to learn Saunders' offense by saying something to the effect, "I'm 35 years old. I don't have a year to learn an offense." Well, it looks like he was right. I remember thinking then that his comment didn't really bolster any confidence in me as how he was going to approach or grasp the new offense.I doubt he really inspired any of his teammates either.

So, given this year learning curve. Why didn't we just trickle in the new 700 page playbook with Mark and keep what worked last year? While JC undertook the full Saunders beast. Also, why not JC in the first place? If it really takes a year, we need to get him in ASAP, so that year isn't another 2-14 year next year.

[freddyg12]

this was a good reprt from wp, they also should mention that mb has a long windup & his release is slower w/age. What I don't understand is the disparity between making a quick read & throwing deep. The latter requires more time. If he's holding the ball too long, in theory it would imply nothing is open deep, since he rarely throws deep. Is it just a matter of confidence? It seems as if he's not making any reads sometimes, just going to the rb almost immediately.

[railcon56]

Originally Posted by TheBloodSkin

This is my first post, but I have been viewing the site for a few years now. It's good to be able to rejoice together and spew together. With that said, everyone knows Brunell is on his way out as starter whether it be this season or (MY God) hopefully next. Spending time trying to get him to learn this season (2-5) will result in Campbell taking all of next season trying to get acclimated to the system. When does the madness stop????????? WE MUST SEE IF CAMPBELL IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB OR NOT!!!

And in the end Campbell will get fedup and leave.... like so many other Skins have..... And poeple on this board will be calling him a traitor....

[Stacks42]

This is complete BS, Kurt Warner came right out of the grocery store, to the NFL and was able to run this offense, effectively. I am so tired of people making excuses for MB, we are nearly 6 months into this offense, they practiced everyday in the summer and 2-3 times a week during the season, if MB doesnt have the timing down by now, then he never will, bench Grandpa. Also I never thought I would say this, but... I have lost all respect for Joe Gibbs, he continues to stead fastly support MB when everyone knows he blows, thereby costing the skins any chance of a winning season.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Something perhaps worth noting from today's WP:

Redskins Assess the Damage
October 26
Washington Post: "In Brunell's absence, another curious and possibly important event took place: For the first time in his young career, quarterback Jason Campbell took all the snaps with the first team on consecutive days. The move could be significant, a sign that the Redskins acknowledge that the disastrous events of the first seven games have accelerated their timetable for getting Campbell prepared to play"

Hopefully it means that at the very least he'll be elevated to #2

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Stacks42

This is complete BS, Kurt Warner came right out of the grocery store, to the NFL and was able to run this offense, effectively. I am so tired of people making excuses for MB, we are nearly 6 months into this offense, they practiced everyday in the summer and 2-3 times a week during the season, if MB doesnt have the timing down by now, then he never will, bench Grandpa. Also I never thought I would say this, but... I have lost all respect for Joe Gibbs, he continues to stead fastly support MB when everyone knows he blows, thereby costing the skins any chance of a winning season.

That was the Martz offense that Warner was running, not the Saunders offense. Martz was the offensive coordinator, Saunders was the receivers coach in 1999.

There are similarities to Martz and Saunders, but Saunders relies a great deal more on timing. Martz ran a lot of play-action involving 7-step drops. Subtle differences, but definitely different species of offense.

EDIT: I, in no way, mean to defend Brunell. I don't buy that it should take one year to fully learn this offense. After a complete offseason, preseason, and seven games, Brunell should have it down IMO.

[Stacks42]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

That was the Martz offense that Warner was running, not the Saunders offense. Martz was the offensive coordinator, Saunders was the receivers coach in 1999.

There are similarities to Martz and Saunders, but Saunders relies a great deal more on timing. Martz ran a lot of play-action involving 7-step drops. Subtle differences, but definitely different species of offense.

EDIT: I, in no way, mean to defend Brunell. I don't buy that it should take one year to fully learn this offense. After a complete offseason, preseason, and seven games, Brunell should have it down IMO.

In Trent Greens first season in this offense he had 51 plays over 20yds and 12 over 40yds, NFL.com doesnt show how many 3yd dump off passes to the rb he had but I am positive that it is nowhere near the amount that MB has. Im MBs favor (it pains me to say this) but TG numbers were not that great his first season in this system but continued to get better season after season.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Stacks42

In Trent Greens first season in this offense he had 51 plays over 20yds and 12 over 40yds, NFL.com doesnt show how many 3yd dump off passes to the rb he had but I am positive that it is nowhere near the amount that MB has. Im MBs favor (it pains me to say this) but TG numbers were not that great his first season in this system but continued to get better season after season.

Agreed, and as we all know Brunell doesn't have season after season to get better. Campbell does. The switch needs to be made this season or we're going to find ourselves with a QB who has learned the offense but is too old to execute it.

[That Guy]

there was talk of a slow start and adjustment period. i think more shotgun would help brunell get a faster read, since that seems to be were the money was last year... it'd also make the OL look better, since they'd have a bit more buffer room.

[illdefined]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I hate to keep going back to the same thing, but Todd Collins said it would take a full season for the QBs to get up to speed in this offense. When I first heard that I was like yeah right, but maybe now it seems he was indeed telling the truth.

Getting back to your point Schneed, I agree Brunell has never been the prototypical dropback, pocket QB. Right now he's struggling with adjusting to this new style of offense, and he doesn't seem to trust what he's seeing.

that's why the decision to try and teach Brunell this whole new offense this late in his career, has to be questioned. it just has to.

with the dire (and mostly unavoidable) state of our defense, you look to the QB to pick the team up and try and win games. 5 losses (especially the WAY we've lost them) has been too many to realize that Brunell wasn't about to "win now".

he's obviously struggled with it despite the ENORMOUS investment in him, while we now risk losing another season trying to teach this system to the next quarterback.