How do you feel about tonights game?

[servumtuum]

I'm not feeling much of anything having pretty much no idea what to expect going into the game. Of course, the loss is disappointing but the actual pain of the loss is mitigated by how much more devastating the loss could have been-we showed flashes of surprising competence and skill counterbalanced by episodes of micro-amnesia in the area of "How to Play Winning Football." In several ways we were over-matched by a team with more talent than we have and held our own. The play-calling was at times not the most brilliant situational football but I refuse to overlook the first-year HC learning curve as a mitigating factor-it's gonna hurt but we simply have to give Gruden some time before we throw him to the wolves.

BTW #1, asking a single player to bring down Marshawn Lynch by himself is insanity.


BTW #2 Pete Carroll is one ugly motherf****r.

 

[riggins44]

Honestly the worse thing about last night is knowing will have to hear a bunch of BS from Cowboy fans. If they were having a bad year it would make life easier.

 

[McD5]

That was a tough one to wrap my head around, but I believe it comes down to talent and consistency. I find it difficult to blame any one single person or unit.

People say our O-line pass blocking is bad. Aside from one sack, Cousins had a ton of time to throw. So the pass blocking was good overall.

Maybe the run blocking was bad? I know Alfred Morris had a terrible game. But to be fair, he was playing a nasty defense against the run. However, I'm not sold that signing him to a big contract is a good idea. 13 rushes for 29 yards, bad pass-blocking, not a good receiver and always good for a fumble a game makes him one dimensional. Although I doubt we could get anything more than a late second or early third for him in trade.

Cousins had a slow start, and looked unconfident. But then he picked it up, and ended the night with much better passing stats than Wilson.

I think if I had to point fingers, it's still mainly the secondary. It might be Haz and Raheem too.

Concerned that Moses may be a bust as far as a starter goes, and that his ceiling might be a backup.

Concerned about all three of our first draft choices this offseason. But love what we did in FA. Jackson and Andre Roberts were great signings.

Not happy to see Garcon so quiet this season, and not just last night.

Not quite sure what it is, but something just isn't coming together. I believe the secondary is the biggest issue right now. Just trying to be patient.

 

[Chris]

Seattle is special at the most important position on the field. At key times, using his athletic ability, he made our defense look foolish.

I remember when we had a qb that could do that to opposing defenses. I hope he gets fully healthy and that his 'talents' can be used to our full advantage.

 

[McD5]

When Gibbs started with the Skins, he went 0-5. What I remember most was that he took the previous two seasons of dismal offensive performance and put up big numbers in those first five games. At the time, he expressed concern for his job (probably jokingly), but I remembered being optimistic because he had changed our offense so dramatically.

I'm not seeing any improvement in any parts of the team.

Last night, they kept calling running plays where Paul was a key guy for springing Alfred loose. Paul wasn't getting the job done, but they kept calling that play.

All the comments from Gruden so far are, 'yeah it's so-so...the guys are playing hard, etc.' I believe he's buying into the team's mindset that until we get better talent, we won't get better.

That's a convenient excuse.

Isn't that the whole problem though? Let's say we fired the entire coaching staff this second. What are we left with?

A QB who can't stay healthy, a TE made out of glass, D Hall out for the year, guys like Porter and Hankerson who never get healthy, slow older safeties.......etc.

It seems to be a combination of things, doesn't it? Players, coaches, training staff? It really is like a curse. Case in point, Nachos can't even make it through one game here.

 

[Gulf Coast Redskin]

Isn't that the whole problem though? Let's say we fired the entire coaching staff this second. What are we left with?

A QB who can't stay healthy, a TE made out of glass, D Hall out for the year, guys like Porter and Hankerson who never get healthy, slow older safeties.......etc.

It seems to be a combination of things, doesn't it? Players, coaches, training staff? It really is like a curse. Case in point, Nachos can't even make it through one game here.

Yes, but if you know where you are weak, you don't keep game planning for that weakness to be consistently exposed. If your TE can't block on the left side, then put someone there who can. Or move the play to the right side. Mix things up & keep the defense guessing. Run plays that forces that weakness into the shadows. You don't keep running a play that has shown repeated defeat & failure in the hopes that maybe this one time, it'll work.

 

[Boone]

The run blocking sucked last night. We can talk about Seattle's defense and that's fine, but we couldn't open holes for Morris. If you haven't been impressed with Morris in his time here, I don't even know how to respond to that. It's like saying Lesean McCoy isn't good because the Redskins shut him down... Alfred Morris is probably the most consistently excellent player (along with Kerrigan) on this team!

 

[Boone]

I believe Gruden has 2 short seasons to get this train moving in the right direction. He doesn't figure out that Haslett is holding this team back and replace him this offseason and he may well be a 2 year head coach.

 

[McD5]

Yes, but if you know where you are weak, you don't keep game planning for that weakness to be consistently exposed. If your TE can't block on the left side, then put someone there who can. Or move the play to the right side. Mix things up & keep the defense guessing. Run plays that forces that weakness into the shadows. You don't keep running a play that has shown repeated defeat & failure in the hopes that maybe this one time, it'll work.

That's tough, mainly because we don't know everything that was happening. With Polumbus having a hand issue, and backups in the game, can you even run to the right side? I know we tried it to the right a few times without success.

So if the answer is you can't run it to the right, then that leaves the middle, or behind your best O-lineman, Trent Williams. Sometimes these coaches are in a lose-lose situation with the fans.

Don't run Morris over and over behind your best lineman, and fans scream "RUN THE BALL JACKASS! FEED MORRIS!"

Run it and it doesn't work, and fans scream "HE'S COACHING TOO CONSERVATIVELY, OPEN IT UP!"

 

[McD5]

The run blocking sucked last night. We can talk about Seattle's defense and that's fine, but we couldn't open holes for Morris. If you haven't been impressed with Morris in his time here, I don't even know how to respond to that. It's like saying Lesean McCoy isn't good because the Redskins shut him down... Alfred Morris is probably the most consistently excellent player (along with Kerrigan) on this team!

I don't mean it so much as a knock on Morris, but more in the big picture. If he wants a reasonable contract, then of course we sign him.

However having a great RB doesn't equate to winning a SB, or even making the playoffs. KC and Minnesota are good examples of that. Ditto for the Raiders, Texans, Bills, etc......none of those teams have done anything with their great RBs.

 

[Elephant]

I don't mean it so much as a knock on Morris, but more in the big picture. If he wants a reasonable contract, then of course we sign him.

However having a great RB doesn't equate to winning a SB, or even making the playoffs. KC and Minnesota are good examples of that. Ditto for the Raiders, Texans, Bills, etc......none of those teams have done anything with their great RBs.

No...but Seattle did last year, the Ravens did the year before...

 

[Chris]

I know Alfred Morris had a terrible game. But to be fair, he was playing a nasty defense against the run. However, I'm not sold that signing him to a big contract is a good idea. 13 rushes for 29 yards, bad pass-blocking, not a good receiver and always good for a fumble a game makes him one dimensional.

I don't mean it so much as a knock on Morris, but more in the big picture. If he wants a reasonable contract, then of course we sign him.

How in the world is that first quote not a knock on Morris? lol

 

[McD5]

How in the world is that first quote not a knock on Morris? lol

Well we know he is consistent on several things:

1. He almost always runs well.

2. He isn't a receiving threat.

3. He fumbles often.

4. He's not a good pass-blocker

If you aren't a good receiver, don't thrive as a blocker, and only run well then you are one dimensional. That's what he is.

 

[McD5]

El, both Ray Rice and Marshawn Lynch were big for their teams, and definitely helped.

But did Baltimore win because of Ray Rice? Or because Flacco got hot, and because of a great defense?

And did Seattle win mainly because of Lynch? Or because of a stifling defense that absolutely crushed Manning in the Superbowl?

I'd suggest that the RB wasn't the biggest factor for either of those teams. No way Seattle wins without that D. And Ray Rice wasn't going to carry Balt all the way either.

 

[DieselPwr44]

After last night ,one thing is clear.

If you're not strong up front,you'll never be nothing more than a bobber: sometimes above water,sometimes below.

Cousin had time to throw but then we get rag dolled in the run game.

Until this club gets serious about trench building,we'll continue to flounder.

 

[McD5]

I think the two areas that are the most crucial are the QB and the D line. In whatever order.

Oline is very important, but we've seen teams with worse O-lines than ours go all the way (Seattle) and win divisions (Philly).

And we've also seen great O-lines (Denver) (New England against the Giants) get destroyed by great D-lines.

 

[Elephant]

El, both Ray Rice and Marshawn Lynch were big for their teams, and definitely helped.

But did Baltimore win because of Ray Rice? Or because Flacco got hot, and because of a great defense?

And did Seattle win mainly because of Lynch? Or because of a stifling defense that absolutely crushed Manning in the Superbowl?

I'd suggest that the RB wasn't the biggest factor for either of those teams. No way Seattle wins without that D. And Ray Rice wasn't going to carry Balt all the way either.

They were both dominant RB's and played enormous roles in their team's victories. Do you remember the Ray Rice 4th down play? Do you remember the spectacular play from Marshawn Lynch in the playoff run? You are being obtuse. I do not understand your arrogance at times. You are wrong! Great RB's do still play a huge part in a team's success, the last 2 Super Bowl winners had 2 of the best in the game at the time and San Fran can attribute much of their success to Frank Gore.

I agree, we do not pay Alfred a king's ransom, but your assertion about great RB's not being a necessity in today's NFL is stupid! The last 2 Super Bowl winners had them.

 

[Elephant]

I think the two areas that are the most crucial are the QB and the D line. In whatever order.

Oline is very important, but we've seen teams with worse O-lines than ours go all the way (Seattle) and win divisions (Philly).

And we've also seen great O-lines (Denver) (New England against the Giants) get destroyed by great D-lines.

Here we go again, the only person in the world who thinks the OL is not important to a winning franchise.

 

[McD5]

El, I don't believe anyone is putting Ray Rice in the same category as Adrian Peterson or Jammal Charles. So having an elite RB certainly isn't a necessity to go all the way.

Who were all of those elite RBs in New England again, as they have advanced the the AFC Championship game most years?

Oh, there weren't any?

QB is much more important. I believe D, and D-line are too.

 

[Gulf Coast Redskin]

That's tough, mainly because we don't know everything that was happening. With Polumbus having a hand issue, and backups in the game, can you even run to the right side? I know we tried it to the right a few times without success.

So if the answer is you can't run it to the right, then that leaves the middle, or behind your best O-lineman, Trent Williams. Sometimes these coaches are in a lose-lose situation with the fans.

Don't run Morris over and over behind your best lineman, and fans scream "RUN THE BALL JACKASS! FEED MORRIS!"

Run it and it doesn't work, and fans scream "HE'S COACHING TOO CONSERVATIVELY, OPEN IT UP!"

I understand, but I would think someone who is paid big bucks should be able to be a little more creative in finding ways to make things work. What I mean is, running the same play that isn't working over & over again isn't the answer. Find something else or some other way to change things up. If you still have to run that way because it's the strongest side, then pull the OL for stunts or straight on blocking that maybe they weren't doing before. Change the blocking scheme up to throw off the defense. ANYTHING!