Random Commanders Thoughts

[Cycleans]

Moses looked pretty good on the right in the plays that Griffin was sacked. The left side was horrid. I just watched the highlights I haven't watched the game yet.

 

[Goaldeje]

Gruden should be fired at noon for sending his starting, injury-prone QB back into that shitstorm of incompetence. Griffin had ONE clean pass attempt out of 8. That's not embarrassing, that's humiliating. I agree in theory that Griff should not be looking to run on that last play, but Jesus, Mary and Joseph. After being knocked around like a rag doll, what in the ever loving hell was Gruden thinking even having him out on the field again? What possible positive could have come from that situation that was worth the risk?

Gruden is a moron. At some point, even the players who are responsible for the suckage have to look at the coach and wonder why he is allowing Griffin to get pummeled continually. There really isn't any sense is continuing with Griffin either. His flaws are too engrained and pronounced at this point, particularly under an idiot like Gruden. Goddammit it feels reactionary to write the season off halfway through the preseason (and I'll cool off after a day or two), but that was NOT encouraging last night. We all harp on Griffin's judgment (for good reason - he's good for a bonehead play every so often, he hasn't developed well, etc), but damn. If you're not calling Gruden's judgment into question at this point, I don't really know what to say.

One positive from last night: there should no longer be any question about Trent's contract demands. Danny should hand him a blank check and be done with it.

 

[ntotoro]

Even the local media, which loves to pound on RGIII, admit the only hit they can really blame him for is the one that did him in. The fact that he was out there and Gruden continued to call pass plays while the line was a sieve, running ball more when the other QB's were in... made no sense to me. It really did seem like Gruden was trying to get him injured.

Let's not mistake things... that last play of Robert's was a total turd in every way, shape and form. 3rd and 16... no chance of a 1st down... best you can hope is to find the checkdown, maybe hope one of them slips past a defender and if not, your Defense has a long field to defend. No excuse for the rest of the playcalling. I realize you want Robert to pass as much as possible, but that line last night was absolutely woeful in pass protection.

Nick

 

[MikeSr619]

Word is he already had the concussion then and was dizzy

 

[ntotoro]

Someone mentioned that on the radio this morning. Can't remember who it was... might have even been Cooley. There was nothing on that last play that looked concussion-worthy and that maybe it happened a play or two earlier. Still Robert's fault for staying in and putting himself at further risk, which came in the form of a shoulder stinger.

Nick

 

[Ax]

I agree with everything you stated, except the last line.

What I'd like to know is when can we expect to see ANY improvement in any phase of the game?

This is year two of the Gruden experiment and year three of Allen being 'in charge.'

Perhaps we've formed a dynamic group of incredible practice players? All the glowing reports so far look a bit off.

The Lion's were missing two starters on their D-Line.

To answer your question, rationally, I'd say we should expect hard evidence by the end of the regular season, concerning any overall improvement. That's just the way it is.

Robert needs a few regular season games to show whether or not he can be the guy. If he shows nothing encouraging after 4 games, and it's not due to being a piñata every other play, then it's next man up. Deal with it.

The Oline is gonna have good days, and bad days. It's up to the coaches to minimize the bad with good game planning, and good on the fly adjustments. This might not happen right away, but even if it doesn't, this coaching staff will be here for the entire season. Live with it.

We won't know about the defense until it counts. They too, will be a work in progress, because of a transition of style's between Barry and Has-nott. I believe they can be as good as top 10, or cellar dwellers. Know way to know. Accept it.

Of course, if it'll make you happy, I'll say...

We already know there will never be improvement.
The season is a bust.
So are all of our draft choices.
Snyder is the devil.
Allen is an alien demon from the planet Zilchmoore.
Mr McGloo is a drunkard has been.
Gruden is a failed lobotomy experiment.
And we should all sit around, do shots of Saki, piss, bitch, and moan, until we have enough sack to commit Harakiri. Cause it just isn't worth it.

Deep breath, member. Let life happen. It's unavoidable, anyway.

 

[MikeSr619]

Our offensive line was horrible last night...nobody can argue that. Robert was hit 6 of 8 dropbacks.

Where was the adjustments by the coaches? No roll outs, no screens, no play action. Just Robert made to stand tall in the pocket and try to deliver balls.

Yet when colt came in, the very first series he had a roll out AND option play. Why the 2 totally drastically different play callings?

Is gruden trying to get Robert hurt? Was he trying to prove a point here? Is the line over him and doesn't want to play for him?

Griffin is not blameless here...He's put himself in the place to get this criticism. But when you get hit HARD 75% of the times you drop back for a pass you gotta wonder why the coaches aren't calling ANYTHING to roll away from the pressure.

 

[McD5]

The dumbest hot take of the night came from columnists and Twitter goons faulting Gruden for leaving Griffin in the game. It was early in the second quarter of a preseason game and some of Griffin's biggest hits were his own fault. Griffin can only get better by playing with his fellow starters, and avoiding those hits as much as possible.

What we learned: RGIII hits setback; Taylor thrives - NFL.com

 

[Om]

What we may end up hearing is that the plays Robert stood in on were not his only options ... we learned last year Rob had issues with running plays as called. Not impossible he didn't pick up on certain looks at the LOS and failed to adjust accordingly.

No, I'm NOT saying that is what happened, or excusing the physical failures on the OL. But given where we've come from with Bob, at this point I'm not discounting anything. Particularly given the night and day difference in the offense the minute Rob goes out and the backup guys come in.

Someone mentioned this earlier, and I had the same thought watching the game. I wonder how Rob would have looked against the 2s and 3s as compared to Cousins and McCoy the last two weeks, and also how Cousins and McCoy would have looked against 1's?

 

[MikeSr619]

I just dont think that is what happened. 75% is a huge number of plays for him not to run properly and we have heard nothing of that happening so far in camp and preseason. coaches have been heaping praise on him and saying hes progressing in the right direction.

He definitely WAS left in the game too long. 2nd preseason game of the year and we are getting destroyed on the OL. There was nothing to gain by leaving him out there when they had put in their 2s as well.

 

[fansince62]

Need to learn versus need to protect the investment. Everyone has to make their own value judgment on that one.

 

[Ax]

Actually, this was a good bit of rebuttal on your part...well, until the end of course.

So, when do you think we'll end up with a winning record? This year, next year or beyond? Or, does it not matter to you?

Serious question.

I believe we will have a winning record, this year. I believe will contend for the division title. And I won't slit my wrist if I'm not right.

I always believe we can win. And I can always take it if we don't. I enjoy every second I can watching my team play. I absorb, and move on, regardless of the outcome. Life's too short to choose to be miserable. So, I don't.

Someone mentioned this earlier, and I had the same thought watching the game. I wonder how Rob would have looked against the 2s and 3s as compared to Cousins and McCoy the last two weeks, and also how Cousins and McCoy would have looked against 1's?

Not that I watch the coaches tape, or anything. But Colt, and Cousins, locked in on, and stared down, damn near every receiver they threw to. Easier to get away with against 2's, 3's, and future parking lot attendants.

 

[Om]

Disagree, Mike. If Bob dumps off that 3rd and 16 and jogs off the field, we're not looking for reasons to blame Gruden. We're talking about Sherff getting blown up on that one pass pro, Willie Smith's next occupation, and whether or not the Skins' starters simply showed up flat and not ready to play last night.

And I didn't suggest he ran the wrong plays, of failed to ID stuff at the line, on ALL the bad plays. Just allowing for the possibility that as in the past with Rob, he's at least partly responsible for the hits he takes with more frequency than any QB I've ever watched.

 

[Om]

Not that I watch the coaches tape, or anything. But Colt, and Cousins, locked in on, and stared down, every receiver they threw to. Easier to get away with against 2's, 3's, and future parking lot attendants.

Ax, I didn't see that. Just for one example, on the Colt McCoy TD pass the replay showed him look off the safety before coming back to the middle of the field ... Joe T even commented on it.

But that said, I agree with the general premise. It's why I'm curious how those two would have fared last night against the Lions' starters, as well as how Bob might have fared starting on the very next series after he went out.

 

[ntotoro]

Disagree, Mike. If Bob dumps off that 3rd and 16 and jogs off the field, we're not looking for reasons to blame Gruden. We're talking about Sherff getting blown up on that one pass pro, Willie Smith's next occupation, and whether or not the Skins' starters simply showed up flat and not ready to play last night.

Unless he was concussed on a previous play. They're we're talking about "Bob stubbornly leaves himself in the game again" once we hear he's going all tweet tweet and seeing birdies on the sidelines.

Nick

 

[MikeSr619]

Disagree, Mike. If Bob dumps off that 3rd and 16 and jogs off the field, we're not looking for reasons to blame Gruden. We're talking about Sherff getting blown up on that one pass pro, Willie Smith's next occupation, and whether or not the Skins' starters simply showed up flat and not ready to play last night.

And I didn't suggest he ran the wrong plays, of failed to ID stuff at the line, on ALL the bad plays. Just allowing for the possibility that as in the past with Rob, he's at least partly responsible for the hits he takes with more frequency than any QB I've ever watched.

I can see that point....but, on the flip side, if Gruden recognizes that his QB is getting slaughtered in a meaningless game and pulls him we aren't talking about concussions or anything else either. Nobody on offense looked even halfway decent. Morris had one good run and then that was about it.

I am not going to try to make Griffin some saint who is being martyred here. That would be silly of me. I know he is freezing up at times, I am sure he doesn't always make all the right calls at the line....but what I am not sure about is why our coach is making him stand tall in the pocket and letting McCoy scramble around or run designed roll out plays while Griffin is told to stand there. Even with the ankle and ACL Griffin would smoke McCoy in a foot race.

At this point I dont see why we dont just let Griff play like Griff. It isn't like he is not getting hurt and we are saving him for the future. He is getting beat up and wont last regardless of what we do; so why not just let the kid run when he can or at least design some plays like that? Why not incorporate some read option plays? Wilson still runs them, Kraperneck, too. Why is Griffin being held back with it?

 

[Ax]

Ax, I didn't see that. Just for one example, on the Colt McCoy TD pass the replay showed him look off the safety before coming back to the middle of the field ... Joe T even commented on it.

But that said, I agree with the general premise. It's why I'm curious how those two would have fared last night against the Lions' starters, as well as how Bob might have fared starting on the very next series after he went out.

Yeah, that's why I had edited my statement to "damn near" every receiver. I don't recall Cousins not staring down his receivers.

And, as for Joey-T, he said a few things last night that made me wonder what planet he was on. Not sure I trust his eyesight, or analysis.

 

[Om]

You failed to mention that he's been put into an offensive scheme that sets him up like a pinata.

You are correct. That's more your style.

 

[Om]

I'm curious about something that's been raised a couple of times ... does anyone really think the Skins are calling a different offense for Robert than they are for Cousins and McCoy?

And if they are ... why?

 

[MikeSr619]

I'm curious about something that's been raised a couple of times ... does anyone really think the Skins are calling a different offense for Robert than they are for Cousins and McCoy?

And if they are ... why?

I think it is obvious they are. You can see by the designed roll outs and option plays. Those haven't been called at all for Griffin.

My question is, why not? Why not let Griffin get out on the edge and then...heck, he might even break one off like he did against MN for the game winner.