• Welcome to BGO! We know you will have questions as you become familiar with the software. Please take a moment to read our New BGO User Guide which will give you a great start. If you have questions, post them in the Feedback and Tech Support Forum, or feel free to message any available Staff Member.

Random Commanders Thoughts

Piss poor offensive game plan from our disinterested HC.

Yawning?

In the middle of the ****ing game?

Yeah, Crook Cousins didn't play well. But his brain dead coach didn't give him much of a chance either.

Somebody get the dynamite ready.
 
Ladies and Gents.... your 2017 Washington Redskins Offensive Line...

OLine.jpg

It's shocking when you see it laid out like that in images. Yeah, it's no wonder we can't run or pass at the moment when you also factor in Kelley being banged up and our losing 2 Tight Ends too.

As I said in chat last night I honestly don't EVER remember an injury hit like this on one place. The team is more than just banged up, when we have to start listing Linebackers on our Depth Chart as back up RG's then we're in trouble.

I'm not entirely sure how we get around this without hiring Rick Grimes as a new O-Line consultant.
 
The real shame with the injuries is that 2017 is becoming a muligan of sorts for both Gruden and Cousins.

We are not really going to find out what we need to about either of them, ie can they compete for and win a division title/playoff games when in high-pressure situations.

Right now, it WOULD take a John Elway or Steve Young type runner/thrower athlete to keep this team competitive for 4 quarters.

Unfortunately, while we are not able to grade the HC and QB adequately, we ARE able to see some personnel shortcomings but also some silver linings for the future.

On the positive side, I was really enjoying watching Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis work together on the DL to develop chemistry and become and an effective tag team inside, creating pressure on passing downs and adding that element of youth and energy we have been missing for a number of years.

Neither of their injuries appear like they will limit their future contributions, so the thought they will be here as guys we can build around on the DL is a real positive.

We still need to draft a DE for the other side that is really stalwart and capable. Our free agents, McGhee and McClain, as I think we are seeing are unfortunately a couple of stiffs and we are going to have to swallow their contracts and find other guys to improve the defensive front.

The other clear positive to me is that with a number of significant investments in the defensive backfield, we have the makings of a top flight secondary. Nicholson, Moreau are guys that look like they have athletic upsides that are quite high and already seem to have a decent to good feel for the NFL game, but with great room for improvement.

McCloughan seems to have been right about Kendall Fuller. He has really developed since recovering from the knee injury he had as a senior and may be a replacement for Bashaud Breeland if he leaves in free agency.

Dunbar, like Nicholson, sort of came out of nowhere to take on a contributing role. I have no idea what his upside is, but I am shocked at how far he as come in 2 years from being a wide receiver to playing outside cover corner in the NFL.

Norman at 30 remains a top flight player and is likely to be so for the next couple of years to help anchor this unit.

OK, so THAT to me is the good news so far for 2017.

The bad news comes largely on the other side of the ball.

The Redskins wide receiver and running back groups are comparatively among the worst in the NFL.

Josh Docston caught a touchdown yesterday, but it was his ONLY catch in 60 minutes of game action. At this pace, he may be where Dez Bryant is in say 10 years.

This guy just doesn't seem to have the consistent hands or solid route running skills to be a top threat.

He reminds me of Alvin Harper, the big play guy who played opposite Michael Irvin, who simply went deep and hoped to out-jump defensive backs using his athletic ability.

But he was never a player the Cowboys could count on to 'carry the load' in terms of third down receptions, moving the chains, and being the 'guy' in crunch time.

When he left Dallas, the Cowboys found other #2's to go with Irvin and didn't miss much of a beat.

For the Redskins, that is hardly a positive thought given where Doctson was drafted.

Perhaps the crash/burn rate of WRs entering the NFL is a reason the Patriots, Steelers, Packers usually DON'T use their first round picks on receivers and either sign them as free agents (having proven themselves already) or draft them lower down starting in Rounds 2-3 where the investment is less.

Pryor is definitely going to be a one-and-done. I still don't understand why Gruden is not promoting Maurice Harris, who showed last year he could be a solid pass catcher in limited duty on the 45 man day game roster.

You could also make an argument that Brian Quick and even Robert Davis on the practice squad deserve a shot, especially if the season goes south now with the injuries and we are sitting there at 3-5 or 3-6 a few weeks from now.

In the backfield, we simply don't have an NFL caliber rusher. While no one is going to look good facing off in a game against what is now the top back in the league in Ezekiel Elliott, yesterday's game only showed that the Redskins don't have a rusher that is good enough to be Elliott's backup as Darren McFadden would likely be the starter here in Washington over anyone we have. And he was signed off the scrap heap by Dallas at a vet minimum price 2 years ago.

So, with the OL injuries and the unproductive receivers and rushing backs, a plausible argument can be made that you can't adequately evaluate Kirk Cousins in 2017.

What he failed to do in 2015 and 2016, namely win 'big' games against quality opponents in crunch time, likely won't come up again this season as the Redskins are now in danger of falling out of not only the division race but also the wild-card race as well.

That makes the decision this offseason more difficult.

Or does it? Perhaps the team has already decided to move on from Cousins or they have already decided to go ahead and pay him.

Given what I know about Bruce Allen and how frugal he is, my guess is the former.

But seeing a bit of DeShaun Watson yesterday afternoon, going after a first round quarterback in the teens of the 2018 draft may be the best thing for the Redskins in long-term.

This team still needs a LOT to be a true contender. Not as much as 2 years ago, but again we need 1-2 receivers, a prime back, a tight end that can both catch and block, linebackers that can cover, and more talent overall on the DL to go with Allen and Ioannidis.

As far as Gruden goes, I am still ambivalent about him.

At times he seems capable but at others his decisions seem to show a certain blind-spot in his thinking re players and gameplanning.

He doesn't want to over-commit to Chris Thompson in the run game but then doesn't tell the front office he needs a veteran running back he can count on to move the chains in 2017.

He wants to keep Mack Brown on the roster, taking up a spot that could have gone elsewhere, but then is cut and now on the street when injuries hit, having had no real chance to carry the ball in 2017 despite the injuries to Kelly and the ineffectiveness of Perine.

Our running game is lacking in part because we don't have receivers and tight ends that commit to that part of the game.

Knowing that Reed and to a lesser extent Davis are primarily pass catcher, perhaps it would have been a good idea to move on from Niles Paul, who himself has a long injury history and is still only 235-240, and go into free agency to sign a veteran blocking tight end.

We still could have drafted Sprinkle to develop him for the future at the position, but a 27-30 year old veteran could have bridged that gap and helped as a lead blocker in short yardage and goal line.

It's telling that Gruden consistently has the offense throwing the ball on 3rd and 1.

Yesterday, with the ball on the goal line, we threw the ball to Docston as opposed to running it in.

We have no confidence in that area of our game.

That veteran back and tight end (mid-tier players, not stars) would have TOGETHER cost less than what we paid Terrell McClain, who has contributed zippo so far to this team.

At least with McGhee you can say 'well he is 26 or 27 and has been moved around a lot without having the chance to nail down a spot'.

But McClain is going to be 30 this season and he has failed to establish himself at DE at several stops during his career.
 
Last edited:
More critical I think is going deeper at WR and seeing what we have in Quick, Harris and Davis.

That may be coming in the next several weeks if the team is at 3-6 and we are in 'development' mode.

But from what we have seen so far Terelle Pryor at 28 is still a project and despite his production last year in a 'go deep' role without much structure in Cleveland, he looks like a guy that may not be a good investment going forward given his age.

We already have a slow-developing player in Josh Doctson, but he is on his rookie contract and comes fairly cheap. He does make a key catch every couple of games that gives some hope.

But Pryor? To be honest, he looks a lot like Robert Griffin in 2014, a guy not likely to be in the league for very long after one productive season.
 
Lots of stuff I broadly agree with...

The only comments to this I'd make are:

Everything in Football starts in the trenches. The O Line and the D Line. It was something the Skins ignored for years and years, and it's unfortunate that the year they address it, we're beset with injuries. You can pretty much trace everything wrong with us at the moment to those two things.

Our impressive run of form early season was due to these two areas being so much improved. Our current slump can be traced to the injuries sustained there.

We were running pretty well in the Rams and Raiders games before our O-Line started to become tissue paper facsimiles of their former selves. There's no way that this O-line can open up holes in a MUST GET 3rd down scenario when we need it, especially without TE help. Gruden knew that there was no way on this planet we were converting a 3rd and short with a running play, to do that under these circumstances is to just give up on the drive. At least we had a shot passing. We're probably the weakest O-line in the league now, when for those first few games we were vying for the best.

This really is one of those cases where everything is domino effecting down the line.

If our O-line can't run block they rely on the TE's to help out. If the TE's are helping out their more prone to injury. If they get injured we can't run block at all and out short passing game is toast. If we get to 3rd down and can't run block or throw to TE's the Defense we oppose know it and key off on pass defense. (Add in here the ineffectiveness of Pryor and Doctson) A defense can key up on our short yardage specialists (i.e. Reed and Crowder) and then our odds of completion drop. If we can't complete passes to sustain drives consistently then we end up chasing the scoreboard and passing more... it's a vicious circle that starts at the O-Line and proliferates through the offence.
We can moan about Gruden all we like, but honestly what are the options?

I honestly don't think it would matter who we had at RB or QB at the moment. I'm actually amazed that with this lack of protection we haven't seen Cousins go the way of Rodgers yet. I sometimes feel that it's just a matter of time.

Our fortunes will turn the same time we get our O-Line starters back.

On the D, we were looking good till Allen went down. Then we were screwed. Essentially we were back to the position we were the last few years with NO line pressure to collapse the pocket and trying to get to the QB around the outside from the LB Corps. And now Ionidas is possibly out too.
With our pressure on the QB lessening we gave them more time and started putting more pressure on our Secondary. Then we lose Norman and Breeland and God knows who else... So now we can't stop the run or the pass, it was so noticable on Sunday as Elliott ran at will and while he softened our Defense and kept us honest Prescott picked his spots to take easy passing yards. Again all starts at the line.

Now being positive...

Norman was back this week, though obviously limited. Breeland will hopefully be back next week so we might be able to go Man to Man again. Our secondary is banged up but hopefully will get healthier.
While our Line is in trouble and we've lost some LB's lately, we're still pretty deep at that position and Kerrigan proved he can still get to the QB regardless.

Our Offense is not going to improve till we get our Oline back, and the next few games are humdingers. We're only 3-4 at the moment. I'd be sorely tempted to treat the next game as a loss anyway and rest our starters, give them another week to get healthy. Plus give some of the new players some valuable game experience. I'd let Niles Paul sit and play Sprinkle, I'd bench Pryor and bet Harris or Quick on the field (assuming they're still around) and give Perine an extended play time.

Then start looking to bring players back the week after if they look healthy enough. If we can get through these next three weeks and claim maybe one of them to end the stretch 4-6 and then make a run at the end of season.... Who knows. LOL 10-6 could get us a wildcard maybe.

And yes I know I'm being super super super optimistic. :D
 
The only TE we have that we know can block a little, is Paul.
We won't know about Sprinkle unless he gets some playing time.

Reed and Davis, double teaming, couldn't block a blind, one legged, anorexic,, card board cutout of Tweety Bird.
 
Again, though that's what I don't understand about Niles Paul's situation.

He is a converted wide receiver who can block better than the other TEs but not at an elite level.

So, when he comes on the field how come we should be telegraphing our plays and losing the competitive edge?

You mean a former wide receiver who is used to competing against cover corners and top flight free safeties can't run pass routes against slower linebackers and strong safeties and beat them enough for his presence on the field to be a question mark for the defense?

I just don't get it. Paul was a 4.5 guy when he came into the NFL, he still has to be quicker than most of the TEs around the NFL at age 27/28.

He should be able to get on the field, and be an option in the passing game if teams try and key off of him to blitz the run.
 
Reed has the big contract. When 100% healthy, with at least adequate WR's on the outside, he can be a handful.

So far this season, he's been a waste of space. If he needs a month to heal the hammy, we might get to see what we have in Sprinkle.

I'm hoping Paul will be available next week. And that Sprinkle will be active.
 
Bottom line, to have a realistic shot at a wildcard spot, we would really need to win 2 of the next 3, and 5 out of the final 6. I'm not sure we could even manage that first part against tough teams. I think we fail to have a winning record for the 2nd straight year. I'm not going to lay it on Gruden though. Sure - every NFL team has injuries - but what Gruden and company are contending with is not a normal situation.

Buck up Skins fans. It's probably going to be a tough rest of the season.
 
Let's just say my liver is prepared for abuse to numb the pain this season will bring. My goodness, soon enough we'll be holding public tryouts for players with our injury woes.
 
Bottom line, to have a realistic shot at a wildcard spot, we would really need to win 2 of the next 3, and 5 out of the final 6. I'm not sure we could even manage that first part against tough teams. I think we fail to have a winning record for the 2nd straight year. I'm not going to lay it on Gruden though. Sure - every NFL team has injuries - but what Gruden and company are contending with is not a normal situation.

Buck up Skins fans. It's probably going to be a tough rest of the season.

Yeah my severe optimism is based on us getting healthy as everyone else starts to suffer their injuries! LOL

You're right though, I think we need to get to 11-5, possibly could squeeze in with 10-6.

Currently the Eagles, Vikings, Saints and Seahawks look like division champs. The wildcards could be anyone, but the front runners are the Rams and the Falcons. If we can match records with the Rams we hold the tiebreak don't we? Does that come into play?
The Rams have a pretty brutal late stretch too. They got the Vikings, Saints, Texans, Seahawks and Eagles coming up.

Fingers crossed!
 
We were 8-7-1 last year :)

That said, I agree.

If Cousins is going to leave which I think is a 75% probability now if not higher AND we are not going to be in real contention for the division or a secure playoff spot, then I am not going to be too upset at seeing us finish with a record that will allow us to draft a top quarterback prospect for us going forward.

2018 is supposed to be the best draft for QB talent in the past 5-6 years, with solid prospects going into the second round.

If that's the case then perhaps the team is finally going to have some draft 'luck' with positioning at the qb spot.

It happened with Jonathan Allen in 2017.
 
Hey folks!

Lots of great game specific discussion going on here that I love reading. I'd just ask you to remember the Game Thread we have going now. It is there for those specific conversations about what you think is going to go on or your bitching about what actually went on in a specific game.

So...got a generic or random thought? Drop it here. Got a thought about the Cowboys game or the Seahawks game? Have a look at the Game Thread for that game and put it in there. With the addition of the new search engine here we are hoping to make finding what you are looking for easier and using the Game Threads is a big part of that effort.

Thanks!

The Management
 
WP reporting that Ioannidis is out for Seattle, Reed not expected to play either.
 
So we've lost prospects Sudfeld, Kalis, and Brown, in just a little over a month. And I might even be missing someone.

Is our PS like the farm team, for the rest of the league ?

I was sort of expecting the Eagles to cut Sudfeld after their 2nd game against us, but they held on to him.
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 2, Members: 0, Guests: 2)

Help Users
As we enjoy today's conversations, let's remember our dear friends 'Docsandy', Sandy Zier-Teitler, and 'Posse Lover', Michael Huffman, who would dearly love to be here with us today! We love and miss you guys ❤

You haven't joined any rooms.

    You haven't joined any rooms.
    Top