The Gruden Files - Year Two

[Ax]

The fact is, we don't know what Morris' numbers would be, if he was still the featured back.
His history suggests we'd be running the ball just as well without the new toy.

Who, along with his size and speed, has a terrible fumble ratio, so far.

Alfred has been demoted, for no good reason.

 

[Primus Porcus]

From what I've heard, Jones is much better in Pass Pro as well as receiving.

I do wish we could get Morris going, I was not trying to dispute you there, just looking at why Jones got the nod. Morris is a guy who needs carries to get rolling, and his best football comes in 2nd half. I hope we're not dooming him by using a 3 back scheme like this.

 

[Knightingale]

I think there were faults all around yesterday.

The Punt block really got my goat! The first time around before the penalty had them replay it, Jennings was REALLY close to blocking it the first time. I remember thinking.... Oooooo better be careful on the second chance....and we were worse. You'd think whoever it was that was supposed to pick up Jennings would have been forewarned by the near miss the first time. Hey ho.

Then there were still stupid penalties at stupid times. Ugh!

I had an issue with Gruden playing Jones so much. I know he was the star performer last week, but I'd have preferred to see MoJo rotating in and out regularly for an equal number of runs and just pound that defense. Keep the legs fresh and wear that Defense down. I thought we went to the pass early (kinda thought it was to surprise the Giants after they'd seen us run the past couple of weeks) but would have preferred to stick to the ground and just keep plugging away.

Errors killed us this game. The punt block safety gave away 2. BOTH interceptions results in TD drives. And then to fumble away 7 points at the end.
Those errors represented a HUGE swing in the score. I don't like the WHAT IF game cause it sucks but...
Take away the fumble and the stupid safety.

Take off the safety. 0-0
Then take away the interception but give them the benefit of the doubt that they drive and score 0-7
Punt from us, FG them, FG us. 3-10
Another FG us, end of half at 6-10
Second half....
FG them 6-13
Then lets take back that silly tipped interception on that long drive we were having and say we scored. 13-13
Then lets give them their next drive 13-20
Then lets pretend Jones doesn't fumble and score instead 20-20
We both trade touchdowns 27-27
Then Rashad Ross returns the kick off for TD Final score 34-27 Skins.

Those errors KILLED us.

I'm not sure whether it's coaching, players or just bad luck.

 

[Goaldeje]

From what I've heard, Jones is much better in Pass Pro as well as receiving.

I do wish we could get Morris going, I was not trying to dispute you there, just looking at why Jones got the nod. Morris is a guy who needs carries to get rolling, and his best football comes in 2nd half. I hope we're not dooming him by using a 3 back scheme like this.

You said it. Morris is a rhythm back. Gruden is already averse to calling running plays, and now that he has a shinny new toy, he's going away from Alfred. Instead of doing the sensible thing on 1000 different levels and playing Jones as a third down back. Ease Jones into things, make him prove it on the field. Hell, it's Alfred's contract year, so ride him into the ground if you want.

Why you would remove the one consistent positive performer from the equation for an unproven rookie who has now demonstrated he has a fumbling problem is beyond me.

 

[Boone]

We are seeing the downside of putting the running game in the hands of a rookie. No matter how talented, he has a ton to learn and I think it's a mistake to try and force him into a starting role so quickly.


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[Om]

A Tale of Two Jay's last night.

Our QB hits open people and we might be talking about a shootout win last night. Guys were open--for big plays and TD's. Kirk missed them, and threw the ball to the wrong team again. Some will put that on Jay somehow, but I don't. The offensive game plan wasn't the problem last night. It just needed the QB to make the plays that were there.

What was the problem with Jay last night--and I do this simply because it has to start with the HC--is the team did not look focused, fired up or ready to play. They looked tentative, tight and rudderless for long stretches, and more often than not undid any good work with mental errors and sloppiness. The body language difference between the Giants and Redskins was striking.

Three weeks into his second season, when his head coaching style and impact on the team should start to become evident, we have one middling performance, one gem, and one stinker. How his team responds against Philly in 10 days, and then over the next few weeks, will go a long way toward telling Scot M whether or not he's got a head coach he thinks he can win with over the long haul or he needs to go in another direction.

 

[Goaldeje]

The biggest test for Jay now is to resist the temptation to sit Cousins for McCoy. He committed to Cousins, and he needs to stick with him for a while. If Cousins can't pull out of the tailspin, then he should be replaced, but we aren't at that point yet. I'd say Cousins needs another 4-5 games at a minimum. Given Jay's proclivity last year for yanking QBs, I'm not sure he can help himself.

 

[Boone]

I don't think you can call a bad game a 'tailspin'. It's simple - Cousins needs to have a lot more games like the Rams performance and make the subpar efforts a lot rarer. If he can, he is a serviceable starter. If he can't he may not be on the roster much longer.


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[Ax]

I'd say 4-5, depending on how they go. If his next 2 are carbon copies of this one, and the first one, you only stick with him if somehow the team is winning.

If not...turn the page.

 

[Goaldeje]

I don't think you can call a bad game a 'tailspin'. It's simple - Cousins needs to have a lot more games like the Rams performance and make the subpar efforts a lot rarer. If he can, he is a serviceable starter. If he can't he may not be on the roster much longer.


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That's fair. Last year was a tailspin and he was unable to pull out of it. I'll concede one game doth not a tailspin make, but the first Q of the Eagles came will be very closely watched.

 

[Primus Porcus]

That's fair. Last year was a tailspin and he was unable to pull out of it. I'll concede one game doth not a tailspin make, but the first Q of the Eagles came will be very closely watched.

The 4th quarter itself could buck the tailspin angle of it... i'm not saying he's turned the corner yet, but if i can find something positive... it's that he held his composure and didnt force anything after that 2nd pick. It's a very small baby step, but it's a step.

 

[Goaldeje]

The 4th quarter itself could buck the tailspin angle of it... i'm not saying he's turned the corner yet, but if i can find something positive... it's that he held his composure and didnt force anything after that 2nd pick. It's a very small baby step, but it's a step.

Meh. I saw little to be encouraged about yesterday, and the QB's stats after the game ceased to be competitive certainly don't qualify. As I said before, if you can't get it done when it matters, YOU don't matter.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Meh. I saw little to be encouraged about yesterday, and the QB's stats after the game ceased to be competitive certainly don't qualify. As I said before, if you can't get it done when it matters, YOU don't matter.

No doubt... not looking at stats, they were all garbage time. I saw 3 good drives when we were down with better passing and guys making plays. Jones fumbled at the 1 after we had driven the length. Not saying things are peachy in any sense, but it's encouraging to see that after last years meltdown in seemingly the exact same situation. Problem is it was too late.

 

[Goaldeje]

Your point is well taken though, IF he can pull himself out of his stupor by remembering his good play in the 4th, that's a positive.

 

[Henry]

A Tale of Two Jay's last night.

Our QB hits open people and we might be talking about a shootout win last night. Guys were open--for big plays and TD's. Kirk missed them, and threw the ball to the wrong team again. Some will put that on Jay somehow, but I don't. The offensive game plan wasn't the problem last night. It just needed the QB to make the plays that were there.

What was the problem with Jay last night--and I do this simply because it has to start with the HC--is the team did not look focused, fired up or ready to play. They looked tentative, tight and rudderless for long stretches, and more often than not undid any good work with mental errors and sloppiness. The body language difference between the Giants and Redskins was striking.

Three weeks into his second season, when his head coaching style and impact on the team should start to become evident, we have one middling performance, one gem, and one stinker. How his team responds against Philly in 10 days, and then over the next few weeks, will go a long way toward telling Scot M whether or not he's got a head coach he thinks he can win with over the long haul or he needs to go in another direction.

I think what you are saying here is this team looks like it's coached by Norv Turner.

And 19 games in, I totally agree.

 

[Henry]

He's in his third year.

Fourth, but who's counting?

 

[Om]

I think what you are saying here is this team looks like it's coached by Norv Turner.

And 19 games in, I totally agree.

No sir. Get that name out my mouth.

Too early. We'll know by the end of the year.

 

[Goaldeje]

Do we really need to see anymore of Kirk?

Kirk Cousins continues to throw interceptions at an alarming rate | ProFootballTalk

Here's the problem. We KNOW MCCoy isn't a short-term, long-term or any other kind of "term" answer. Evaluating McCoy is a waste of time; he's a nice backup QB, and that's all he will ever be. Robert is the only other potentially viable starting QB on the roster. And unfortunately, Robert has shown himself to not be as strong mentally and emotionally as we would want. Given Gruden's handling of the benching Robert (after a preseason game during which Robert got protection roughly 1/5 as good as Kirk has had it the last three weeks), I don't think Robert is going to be up for that. Gruden has put Robert in a position to fail, which I feel he will do if handed the starter's reins right now. It's going to take a while to repair the damage done by Gruden for Robert to be able to step in, imo.

(which speaks horribly to Robert's mental and emotional capabilities, one of the things I found so discouraging about Kirk's performance last night)

Plus, then you have to decide whether playing him is in the interest of the team given his contract situation.

All this means we're stuck with Kirk for a while longer. If Gruden is smart, he will begin repairing his relationships behind the scenes with Robert in case Kirk can't pull out of it. And we could certainly give McCoy another shot, but I think we all know what we have there, and more importantly what we don't have.

 

[Henry]

I think Griffin, for whatever reason, is done here. I'd be shocked if he ever played another snap in Washington.

And if Griffin isn't the Franchise QB we'd hoped for, we don't have one on the roster.

Gruden has decided to go with Cousins this year. Switching QBs mid-season (barring injury of course) is pointless. Might as well stick with one guy and take the lumps.

 

[Chris]

Gruden's not gonna repair shit with Griffin. He's had no interest in him since day 1. I bet if you could get him alone in a private moment and he'd be honest he would say that getting him to the bench permanately is his greatest accomplishment here.