Post-Game Skins Quotes 9/18/16: Jay Gruden

[Goaldeje]

We were loaded up to stop the run. The Cowboys had NO fear of the run. Makes a difference.

Cousins looked better against the Browns in his first rookie start than Dak did yesterday. Sometimes a kid doesn't know what he doesn't know.

So not only did we not stop the run (at all, ever), but we gave the 4th round rookie in his first start on the road, in a freaking rivavlry game, no reminder that he was in fact, a 4th round rookie on the road in a rivalry game?

Awesome coaching there.

I get that Scot needs more time to build the roster. I'm not sure Gruden and Barry need more time to show their incompetence.

At this point, it sure looks like they rode Cousins' hot hand into the playoffs last year.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Why is everyone obsessing over how little the Redskins ran the ball? This is a team with its strength clearly defined in the passing game. So in a league where you go for where your strengths in matchups are, this is a team that will look to pass more than run. It is how it's built both from a draft standpoint and from a coaching standpoint, so there should be nothing surprising. It's a continuation of what we saw last year as well. Just because many of us may not like that, we can't deny what our eyes are telling us.

That said... there were opportunities in the air that were flat out missed. Would we have won if they were hit? Invoke the butterfly effect, and we have to admit we just don't know. The inability to punch it in from the 4-yard line, ultimately leading to an INT and a drive the other way... well I don't think Jay has any regrets: Pressed by Sonny Jurgensen, Redskins' Jay Gruden doubles down on fade routes in end zone | CSN Mid-Atlantic

Keep in mind that the Cowboys were apparently daring us to pass. To me, there is a lack of creativity in the playcall, and a lack of good execution most likely (but probably more on the former). If the Cowboys were stacking the box... this is just not a team built to run in that situation. This is a pass-first team, a team that passes to set up the run. It's backwards to us old school fans of the Skins, but we have to adapt to that rather than spend a lot of time looking at this team through the wrong lens. Boy was it painful to see the Cowboys run it up the middle, and walk it into the endzone on their ensuing drive... with none other than Alf scoring.

 

[Ax]

Alf scoring was poetic justice. Suck as it may.

It's become clear that Loser Gruden and Stuff is lost if Plan A doesn't work. Whatever the reason. And Wrong Play McVay is struggling with the play calling.

Though blame for that goes back to Loser.

 

[JohnssBass]

Why is everyone obsessing over how little the Redskins ran the ball? This is a team with its strength clearly defined in the passing game. So in a league where you go for where your strengths in matchups are, this is a team that will look to pass more than run. It is how it's built both from a draft standpoint and from a coaching standpoint, so there should be nothing surprising. It's a continuation of what we saw last year as well. Just because many of us may not like that, we can't deny what our eyes are telling us.

That said... there were opportunities in the air that were flat out missed. Would we have won if they were hit? Invoke the butterfly effect, and we have to admit we just don't know. The inability to punch it in from the 4-yard line, ultimately leading to an INT and a drive the other way... well I don't think Jay has any regrets: Pressed by Sonny Jurgensen, Redskins' Jay Gruden doubles down on fade routes in end zone | CSN Mid-Atlantic

Keep in mind that the Cowboys were apparently daring us to pass. To me, there is a lack of creativity in the playcall, and a lack of good execution most likely (but probably more on the former). If the Cowboys were stacking the box... this is just not a team built to run in that situation. This is a pass-first team, a team that passes to set up the run. It's backwards to us old school fans of the Skins, but we have to adapt to that rather than spend a lot of time looking at this team through the wrong lens. Boy was it painful to see the Cowboys run it up the middle, and walk it into the endzone on their ensuing drive... with none other than Alf scoring.

Quite frankly this team needs to run the ball because they won't be a winning team with Cousins tossing up 40 passes a game. Even the Colts run more (with the same number of plays) than the Redskins and they have QB that you do let toss it up that much. And guess what - they're 0-2 also. Might be a 'passing league' these days but you have to run the ball or your not going to win consistently. If you don't show a willingness to run in the Red Zone the opponents D will just lay back in zone waiting for the Skins to throw the same fade route over and over because that's the only one they know.

 

[Henry]

Why is everyone obsessing over how little the Redskins ran the ball? This is a team with its strength clearly defined in the passing game. So in a league where you go for where your strengths in matchups are, this is a team that will look to pass more than run. It is how it's built both from a draft standpoint and from a coaching standpoint, so there should be nothing surprising. It's a continuation of what we saw last year as well. Just because many of us may not like that, we can't deny what our eyes are telling us.

For the second week, it's not just the run/pass differential, which alone is bad enough. It's the way we telegraph our intentions.

We run one running play out of the shotgun, the draw, and it's poorly designed and never works. I don't think we've gained more than a yard off that draw so far this season. The rest of the time we run a shotgun we go with an empty backfield. We are in the shotgun about 90% of the time, which means we are either not running the ball, or it's a running play that doesn't work. It's not that the defense doesn't worry about the run because we don't run it (which is true), but it's that the defense doesn't worry about the run because we won't even PRETEND like we're going to run it.

I'm fine with the team being pass-first. This isn't that. I remember saying a few weeks ago, when discussing our RBs, that we really should have SOME form running game, just in case Cousins goes through a stretch this season where doesn't play like an All-Pro. These first two games would be that stretch to which I was referring. Cousins may pull himself out of this funk, but until he does, we'll keep losing if we aren't willing to present a legitimate running game to opposing defenses.

It's a problem.

 

[Bulldog]

The Redskins don't do the basics well and still expect to create a winning formula.

We don't run the ball, we don't stop the run, we don't rush the passer all that well, and our quarterback goes in alternate spurts of being highly productive following by bouts of self-doubt and lack of confidence that results in turnovers and the feeling the offense is a rudderless ship.

Why did Joe Gibbs run the ball so much inside the 20?

Because he realized the windows to fit the ball in get smaller as you get closer to the end zone and being just a second late in delivering the ball allows 2-3 defenders to have a chance at picking a pass off.

Gibbs wasn't perfect, if he was we wouldn't have lost to the 49ers and Giants as often as we did.

But what he was, was a master tactician.

If there was a percentage on a given play or scheme being successful given down and distance, Gibbs KNEW IT and applied it to the gameplan.

The Redskins very rarely took unnecessary risks and that was part of the secret to their success.

That 1983 season allowed us to post a +43 turnover differential which has stood as an NFL record.

The Redskins offense simply didn't make a lot of mistakes. Meanwhile, our defense and special teams caused turnovers and took advantage of the mistakes of other teams.

What we are doing now is the opposite.

We are taking a LOT of chances when we don't necessarily have to, and then watching a Dallas team with a conservative game plan just sit there and take advantage of our mistakes to win the game.

Gruden and McVay are under the illusion that the Redskins have to re-invent the aerial circus of the 1978-82 Coryell Chargers.

The answer to everything is to throw more passes and take more chances.

That's not the path to success.

Look at who won in the NFL last year. The Denver Broncos.

A team with the best defense, the best defensive player in Von Miller, and an offense that didn't make many mistakes.

Peyton Manning was way beyond his prime and Brock Osweiler was unproven and a guy Kubiak handled with kid gloves.

They won the Super Bowl.

That's why I was in favor of using the 2016 draft and free agency to solidify our front seven and secondary.

In the draft we took no defensive linemen of note, no pass rushers at OLB, and our one secondary pick, Kendall Fuller, who supposedly was a first round talent is made inactive each week and has been beat out by DaShaun Philips, an undrafted free agent from 2015.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

We run one running play out of the shotgun, the draw, and it's poorly designed and never works. I don't think we've gained more than a yard off that draw so far this season. The rest of the time we run a shotgun we go with an empty backfield. We are in the shotgun about 90% of the time, which means we are either not running the ball, or it's a running play that doesn't work. It's not that the defense doesn't worry about the run because we don't run it (which is true), but it's that the defense doesn't worry about the run because we won't even PRETEND like we're going to run it.

Quite frankly this team needs to run the ball because they won't be a winning team with Cousins tossing up 40 passes a game. Even the Colts run more (with the same number of plays) than the Redskins and they have QB that you do let toss it up that much. And guess what - they're 0-2 also. Might be a 'passing league' these days but you have to run the ball or your not going to win consistently. If you don't show a willingness to run in the Red Zone the opponents D will just lay back in zone waiting for the Skins to throw the same fade route over and over because that's the only one they know.

Look at who won in the NFL last year. The Denver Broncos.

A team with the best defense, the best defensive player in Von Miller, and an offense that didn't make many mistakes.

Peyton Manning was way beyond his prime and Brock Osweiler was unproven and a guy Kubiak handled with kid gloves.

They won the Super Bowl.

That's why I was in favor of using the 2016 draft and free agency to solidify our front seven and secondary.

In the draft we took no defensive linemen of note, no pass rushers at OLB, and our one secondary pick, Kendall Fuller, who supposedly was a first round talent is made inactive each week and has been beat out by DaShaun Philips, an undrafted free agent from 2015.

Guys, to be clear, MY preference would have been to keep Alfred Morris (while I don't know the specific insider truth about what was discussed, I take him at his word that he would have taken a hometown discount, and I fully believe from treatment and quotes the Skins had NO interest in keeping him) and honestly focus on the defense. I was glad they did not negotiate with Kirk because I don't believe the sample size was right, but how they treated Alf was just stupid. As for the defense... that continues to be complete nonsense.

I have long been a subscriber to the belief that if you are a lemming, you are asking to be a loser. Follow the crowd, and join the masses of people constantly chasing the real winners. So here is the Redskins strategy over the last few years:

- the NFL has become a QB drive league???? UH-OH, better focus on passing/QB!
- the NFL is a pass happy league??? UH-OH, better focus on passing/QB/WR!
- NFL defenses are going to 3-4??? UH-OH, better switch to a 3-4!

That last one is the most painful, because there was ample evidence to suggest its fallacy... I think Dallas had just tried it and been pathetic, and there were numerous other things to look at that suggested it was stupid. How about looking at the winners and seeing how they mix run/pass, how they achieve success.... does it look like NE is dependent on Tom Brady to win? Here are some of Belichick's thoughts on 3-4, 4-3... Belichick talks 4-3, 3-4 defense - New England Patriots Blog- ESPN -- and the thing is, I do think it's a bit of a media fabrication, but I also think that mentality did drive some of our personnel decisions (poorly) over the last few years.

In today's NFL, there are kind of 4 tiers of teams in my opinion.

Tier-1, constant contenders, the CREAM. Probably NEP, SEA (although not looking like it right now, it's still early, and they are clearly in this category), DEN... every year, these teams are expected in the playoffs, and expected to contend for a super bowl.
Tier-2, 75% contenders, a cut below... GB, a couple of others in here. These are teams that are expected in the playoffs every year, but probably unsure about the SB because of tier-1 teams in their way.
Tier-3, 50/50s... teams that are constantly hovering around 8-8, and even when they are 10-6 or 6-10, they could easily be 8-8 because of 50-50 plays. These are teams that year in and year out you are putting their chances at playoffs at 50/50, and often 50/50 plays probably decide their fate one direction or another. WAS is in here along with most of the league. The whole NFCE is likely in here right now. The NYG used to be in 2, but probably have dropped out. DAL looked like it was going to 2, but after last year, it's a bit unclear.
Tier-4, CELLAR. Teams that are constantly in the cellar. These teams will NOT make the playoffs 90-95% of the time. CLE, TEN, 3 out of 4 teams in the AFCE are here (although I think NYJ is heading out thanks to Todd Bowles... maybe... we'll see - heading to T3).

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. The passing game (at times, even when successful!) is no friend to your defense, causing it to be out on the field longer, wearing them down, etc. If you have a dominant defense like the last decade's Ravens, the older Steelers D... then it's fine. Otherwise, you want your O to help your D out as much as possible.

So in many ways, the Skins are built almost the opposite of how I'd prefer. All that said, I was just saying: there's no use talking about our opinion on that matter other than mentioning it once. The "vision" the Skins have embraced is to have a pass-happy offense, and they believe their scheme will allow them to have success not just with Kirk, but other QBs as well (I've heard that on the radio, coming from insider sources apparently, and I believe it). They think Gruden's scheme can work with a variety of young QBs. Actually Gruden is well liked by many analysts... even Peter King seems to like him: Don?t Reach for the Panic Button in Washington | The MMQB with Peter King -- my thinking is that this team can start to sniff at Tier-2.. sort of looking like a Tier-2 but probably losing to real Tier-2 (GB), but will it be a real Tier-2 team the way it is today? Not with this defense... that's my take.