Should Joe Gibbs be let go or retire?

[RiggoDrill]

Joe Gibbs became the coach of the Redskins just at the time that I was "discovering" the awesomeness of the NFL. He made me a Redskin fan, and the 4 SB appearances and 3 trophies cemented my unyielding loyalty to the team, no matter what the record may be.
I felt like a little kid on Christmas day when it was announced that he was returning to the sideline, visions of past glory came rushing to the forefront of my mind. As he did the first time around, he inherited a underperforming, disappointing team. I had every reason to believe that he would turn things around and get the franchise back to it's former level of success. 2004 was disappointing, but who really cares about that, it was his first year back and I wasn't really expecting all that much from the Skins. 2005 was great, running off 5 straight wins to make the post season and winning a playoff game gave me every confidence that the Redskins were "back." The offseason following that year reinforced my optimism, adding key players in the right places. I remember the talking heads on ESPN, particularly Mike Golic, praising the team's free agent moves and ranking their offense and defense in the top 5 during preseason speculation.
2006 and 2007 have been very disappointing and eye opening. Mismanagement of timeouts, indecision at crucial moments in games, underperformance by supposed "star" players, injuries coupled with poor play from backups, all have me shaking my head in frustration and wondering if the return of Joe Gibbs is really the best thing for this franchise.
It is to be expected, that as head coach and team president, with a 5 year contract, that Joe would build a solid foundation, improve the on-field production, and leave the organization in better shape than he found it upon his return in '04. In my analysis, that is not the case. While I applaud the addition of players like Portis, Randle-El, Thomas, Rabach, Fletcher, and the drafting of Taylor, Cooley, Rodgers, Landry, and Campbell - they have not brought the level of success that I, and just about all of us, expected. Squandering draft picks to get folks like Lloyd and Duckett have hurt the long term development of the organization. While I do not entirely place the blame for these bad moves on Joe's shoulders, the moves were made with his approval, if not his outright desire for them.
Should Gibbs step down at the end of the season? Maybe. He has earned the right, in my book, to see it through to the end, but at the end of his contract the Redskins will be no better than when he returned, and that is HUGELY DISAPPOINTING. In that regard, his return has been a failure. Will he be fired? Never. The Danny does not have the stones to do that.
This organization, with brief interludes in '99 and '05 has been in disarray for 16 years, and it will take more than a head coach to fix it.

If you are still reading this, then I applaud your patience. Thanks for taking the time.

[Monkeydad]

Mentioned on last night's game:

"Gibbs has coached 16 of the last 27 seasons for the Redskins. In the years he was not the coach, the Redskins had ZERO playoff appearances."



Yes, he has taken us to the playoffs in his return and would have last year and still might this year despite devastating injuries to key players both years.

He still has it.

Do you realize that only Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick have better playoff winning percentages? If we can get there, he can take us the rest of the way.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Buster

Mentioned on last night's game:

"Gibbs has coached 16 of the last 27 seasons for the Redskins. In the years he was not the coach, the Redskins had ZERO playoff appearances."



Yes, he has taken us to the playoffs in his return and would have last year and still might this year despite devastating injuries to key players both years.

He still has it.

Do you realize that only Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick have better playoff winning percentages? If we can get there, he can take us the rest of the way.

Actually it's 1 playoff appearance.

1999.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Actually it's 1 playoff appearance.

1999.

Oh yeah, lost to the Bucs...

That's what I get for trusting that broadcast crew.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Buster

Oh yeah, lost to the Bucs...

That's what I get for trusting that broadcast crew.

I think they did say 1

[BrunellMVP?]

I want to give credit to the coaching staff for last nights game...I think they did a great job with the play calling (realized that running wasn't working and not crawling into a shell trying to keep the lead- having faith in collins) and time management (no issues). well done.

[SmootSmack]

Maybe the key to success is one day of practice each week.

[celts32]

neither!

[MTK]

Nevermind, I was making a very simple point, guess you missed it.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Nevermind, I was making a very simple point, guess you missed it.

I was asking a serious question, i wanted to hear your answer. seriously. what do you think Joe has done in 4 years that would be a considered a success.
I am not trying to be a smart ass, i truely do want to see your opinion.

[SmootSmack]

This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about when I say there are people that don't allow others to be fans. We'd lost four games in a row and suffered the death of one the best players the leagues has seen in a long long time. And then we finally win, and hold onto our glimmer of hope for a playoff or at the very least a strong finish to the year and a winning record.

Look big picture I know we have issues that need to be addressed. I also know that we have made significant strides in several areas both on and off the field (I'm done pointing them out). But what is so wrong with just enjoying the game and enjoying a win? Why does every game (win or lose) have to be followed by this same damn "conservative play-calling, 2005 was a fraud" discussion?

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about when I say there are people that don't allow others to be fans. We'd lost four games in a row and suffered the death of one the best players the leagues has seen in a long long time. And then we finally win, and hold onto our glimmer of hope for a playoff or at the very least a strong finish to the year and a winning record.

Look big picture I know we have issues that need to be addressed. I also know that we have made significant strides in several areas both on and off the field (I'm done pointing them out). But what is so wrong with just enjoying the game and enjoying a win? Why does every game (win or lose) have to be followed by this same damn "conservative play-calling, 2005 was a fraud" discussion?

the thread is called Should joe go, nothing about last nights game? This discussion started well before last nights game. This has absolutely nothing to do about last nights game. has nothing to do with anyone being a fan or letting people be fans. This was a question asked and we all simply responded. Turst me, I was at the bar until 1 celebrating the win. I can seperate the enjoyment of winning and addressing what I feel is a less than average coaching staff.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

the thread is called Should joe go, nothing about last nights game? This discussion started well before last nights game. This has absolutely nothing to do about last nights game. has nothing to do with anyone being a fan or letting people be fans. This was a question asked and we all simply responded. Turst me, I was at the bar until 1 celebrating the win. I can seperate the enjoyment of winning and addressing what I feel is a less than average coaching staff.

So after celebrating a win 3 days after a funeral and 4 days after their last game, in a game where Campbell, Portis, Smoot, Cooley, Thomas were all injured in...you come home and post that the coach should be fired.

I wish I had such a clear-thinking mind...what's your secret? The beer?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Buster

So after celebrating a win 3 days after a funeral and 4 days after their last game, in a game where Campbell, Portis, Smoot, Cooley, Thomas were all injured in...you come home and post that the coach should be fired.

I wish I had such a clear-thinking mind...what's your secret? The beer?

LOL gotta love it

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Buster

So after celebrating a win 3 days after a funeral and 4 days after their last game, in a game where Campbell, Portis, Smoot, Cooley, Thomas were all injured in...you come home and post that the coach should be fired.

I wish I had such a clear-thinking mind...what's your secret? The beer?

why is it people can't handle the truth. I just dont understand why I get blasted because I feel Joe hasn't done anything worth note since being here. I have asked people to give me an opinion on what they think Joe has done, and no one has offered what they think he has done that is a success. 1 playoff in 4 years isn't something to say we are in the elite teams of the NFL. I dont want to settle for 1 playoff every 5 years. I dont see where this team has progressed in 4 years. I am sorry I dont drink the cool-aid all the time, but dont rag on a guy who doesn't drink from the same fountain. I am stating what I see, what most people see. We are not very good. and I am tired hearing about injuries. That is crap. of the 7 games we lost, 6 we had half time leads, if not 4th quarter leads in the majority of those 6. If the injuries were that devistating we wouldn't have even been in most of those games.