The Gruden Files - Year Two

[Elephant]

I think the D played alright this year, but Stevenaa is also correct. Barry sees the pressure working, then backs off for some unknown reason.

I am REALLY worried about Kerrigan. He was invisible yesterday, as he has been for long swaths of the season. Hoping he will bounce bag big time next year and combine with Smith to wreck backfields. But you're correct Ax, we need DLinemen.

He was double teamed much of the game...if not doubled, chipped at with a TE or RB. He is the type of player who needs a strong presence either on the other side, or up the middle so they can't tee off on him.

 

[Ax]

Well, early on, the pressure was coming from 4 guys. Once they ran out of steam, (1st quarter) it was over. The offense kept giving the ball back to an offense that found it's legs. So, to me, the offense was responsible for all of their own poor play, and half of the defense's.

Better DE's are what we need desperately.

 

[stevenaa]

I think that's largely correct Ax, but Barry never countered with any real blitzing. I agree the D outperformed what I expected this year. In that regard Barry has done well. I'm still concerned with some of his tendencies, but know it will need talent infusion to get a real judge. I think we should all still be encouraged on both sides overall. I'm still very tempered in expectations for next year. Again would like to see the same improved play against better teams, meaning we'd need to get some talent acquired, in the game and performing. I'll trust McL to get that done.

 

[Ax]

Sounds like we're on the same page Sir.

Except for the tempered expectations part

I expect to win at least one playoff game.

 

[Elephant]

I have to admit, I am less inclined to think Gruden has what it takes after yesterday's game than I was prior. The Packers were not a better team, if we played them 10 times I bet we could win 5 of them.

I simply think Gruden was out coached. He didn't look lost on the sideline, but we were not prepared for their offense nearly as well as they were for our offense. They adjusted during the game and we did not. We called the same plays that had been working against lesser teams, the Packers did their homework and knew what to look for, we did not get creative.

Goal thinks it was that offensive series of the Packers that changed the tide of the game, I believe it was our subsequent series when we were driving the ball inside their end of the field after they took the lead back from us. We had a good drive going and I thought to myself, this might become a shoot out.

We had 1st and 10 from their 37 yard line and the Packers called the perfect defense on us. Kirk made a 7 step drop trying to give Desean enough time to get open, the Packers stunted Clay Matthews around the left side, Trent could not disengage his intial block fast enough, Thomas was on the right side of the play and Matthews was left with a clear shot to Cousins sacking him 9 yards deep making it 2nd and 19 near mid-field. That play sealed our fate.

They had watched enough tape on us to know that was the spot we liked to send Desean deep and dialed up what turned out to be the game changing play...in my mind. All game long we never adjusted to their pressure, no roll outs...nothing creative at all.

As to the series Goal was discussing, I was furious when we had them at 3rd and 4 and Barry tried to substitute personnel into the game when Green Bay did not make a substitution. Do you not have enough tape on Aaron Rodgers to know he will exploit you, especially when you're trying to get a big DT off the field? 1st down for them on a penalty...they didn't even need to run a play.

 

[stevenaa]

Well, I fully disagree that we are the better team. They are far better and more talented on the lines than we are and won the game there. As far as coaching, Gruden's second year and first playoff game. I don't think the team was completely overwhelmed. They came out strong and if not for that boneheaded Desean screwing up again, it may have been a different game. Grudens grown a ton this year and I expect that to continue. He'll learn from the experience, Scott will get us the talent and we'll keep getting more competitive.

 

[Om]

Yeah, I didn't get the sense last night as a failing on Gruden or Barry's part as much as it was:

- a Skins roster still very much in rebuild mode
- a HOF QB on the other side of the LOS
- the crucible of the NFL playoffs exposing just how valuable experience is, both on the sidelines and on the field.

Nutshell? Nothing last night changed my opinion on Gruden or Barry. Both will be back next year, deservedly, with presumably better and talent in hand and more experience under their belts.

 

[stevenaa]

I'm still fully amped and excited about this season and the way things went. We showed some glimpses last night, if only for a short while. This feels the total opposite of years past where we couldn't really have good confidence leaving a season. With 2012, the injury loomed over us casing doubts. Now we have a QB, a talent evaluator and Coaches that did get more out of this team than we expected. Yes, aided by a poor division, but we did the things this year against some teams we'd have failed against in most years. It's really a monumental improvement across the board. Nothing that took place last night dampens my spirits in the least. We lost to a more talented team playing behind one of the all time greats. No shame there for an upstart team with probably two more years of rebuild ahead before being truly, consistently competitive with the best teams in the league. HTTR !!!!

 

[Ax]

Well, I fully disagree that we are the better team. They are far better and more talented on the lines than we are and won the game there. As far as coaching, Gruden's second year and first playoff game. I don't think the team was completely overwhelmed. They came out strong and if not for that boneheaded Desean screwing up again, it may have been a different game. Grudens grown a ton this year and I expect that to continue. He'll learn from the experience, Scott will get us the talent and we'll keep getting more competitive.

While it would have good for Jackson to score on that play, it was no less "boneheaded", difference in the game, or unacceptable, that the offense couldn't punch it in from a foot out.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I have to admit, I am less inclined to think Gruden has what it takes after yesterday's game than I was prior. The Packers were not a better team, if we played them 10 times I bet we could win 5 of them.

I simply think Gruden was out coached. He didn't look lost on the sideline, but we were not prepared for their offense nearly as well as they were for our offense. They adjusted during the game and we did not. We called the same plays that had been working against lesser teams, the Packers did their homework and knew what to look for, we did not get creative.

Goal thinks it was that offensive series of the Packers that changed the tide of the game, I believe it was our subsequent series when we were driving the ball inside their end of the field after they took the lead back from us. We had a good drive going and I thought to myself, this might become a shoot out.

We had 1st and 10 from their 37 yard line and the Packers called the perfect defense on us. Kirk made a 7 step drop trying to give Desean enough time to get open, the Packers stunted Clay Matthews around the left side, Trent could not disengage his intial block fast enough, Thomas was on the right side of the play and Matthews was left with a clear shot to Cousins sacking him 9 yards deep making it 2nd and 19 near mid-field. That play sealed our fate.

They had watched enough tape on us to know that was the spot we liked to send Desean deep and dialed up what turned out to be the game changing play...in my mind. All game long we never adjusted to their pressure, no roll outs...nothing creative at all.

As to the series Goal was discussing, I was furious when we had them at 3rd and 4 and Barry tried to substitute personnel into the game when Green Bay did not make a substitution. Do you not have enough tape on Aaron Rodgers to know he will exploit you, especially when you're trying to get a big DT off the field? 1st down for them on a penalty...they didn't even need to run a play.

I agree with you about the offensive series being the difference. The two I think of are the sack/fumble which gave the Packers the ball back as the Redskins were driving. Then the other is the 2nd series of the 2nd half. If you want to keep up with a team like Green Bay, then you have to keep putting together good drives. Great TD to start the 3rd, then the Packers respond. The Redskins response is a 3 and out. Those two possession were killer to me. Especially the 2nd half possession when Cousins had Reed open on first down and missed him. Then on 3rd down Grant had his man beat deep with the defender trailing on the inside, but Cousins throws the ball down the middle instead of leading him outside. It could have been the big play they needed, instead it's incomplete and a punt back to the red hot Packers offense.


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[stevenaa]

Oh I agree. We had what should have been an easy opportunity to punch it in. And Kirk has to be heads up on the clock. He's definitely got some take-aways and things to fix. I just think that for a less than perfect team, those little things have bigger consequences than they normally would. When you are already behind the eight ball talent wise, you can't fail to capitalize on any play that is makeable. A bit overcritical in the context of an entire game, but it's something I see that this team is still working to shake. They started overcoming some of these things, but against a better team with that other QB, the margin is just too slim.

 

[Goaldeje]

Meh, I am with El. Gruden didn't have it last night. However, one of the reasons I have warmed towards Gruden is his apparent ability to learn from his mistakes. If he learned not to trash his players in the media in year one, hopefully year two taught him the incredible importance of making adjustments in game.

If we're still having this exact conversation next year, ala the Bengals with Marvin Lewis, I'll be deeply concerned.

 

[MikeSr619]

this feels like a Bengals sort of deal with how people think its Lewis' fault because he didn't control his players. I think Gruden wasn't controlling his coaches and the schemes/plays they were calling. I don't want his head or have him marched out the door, but he has to learn from this and either take more control of it or get someone who can. That game plan was a terrible one called.

 

[micks113]

Yes we got out coached. McCarthy and Rodgers have way more post-season experience. Besides not matching up with their experience, we flat got out played on both sides of the ball. Coaching probably would not have made any difference when we get stood up by backups along the oline and can't block them when on offense.

No finger pointing, we got beat by the better team on this given day.

 

[Elephant]

Yeah, I didn't get the sense last night as a failing on Gruden or Barry's part as much as it was:

- a Skins roster still very much in rebuild mode
- a HOF QB on the other side of the LOS
- the crucible of the NFL playoffs exposing just how valuable experience is, both on the sidelines and on the field.

Nutshell? Nothing last night changed my opinion on Gruden or Barry. Both will be back next year, deservedly, with presumably better and talent in hand and more experience under their belts.

Not saying go out and fire them both, i feel they were absolutely out smarted last night. Barry was trying to substitute players on defense when Green Bay had not substituted anyone on offense. Has he watched Green Bay at all this season? Rodgers does that all the time and it killed us on a crucial 3rd and 4. The up tempo made players like Knighton obsolete.

On the offesnive side of the ball, they were in position to make plays that have been succeeding for us over the latter part of the season...we showed no creativity to change those plays up, ever so slightly. Dom Capers was bringing pressure at what seemed like the exact right times...when Cousins was taking deeper drops. How did Capers know to do this? It looked to me they were far more prepared than we were. I guess that comes with veteran leadership, but I expected just a little more.

Their DL is better than our's, yes. But Our OL is a better unit than their's and once Green Bay went up tempo, that eliminated any chance for our DL to rotate. That's just quality coaching, adjustments...and I saw little of it from our staff.

I am not saying fire anyone, it would be stupid at this point, but I fully expected more from the play calling on both sides of the ball. Just has me wondering about Gruden's ceiling.

 

[Boone]

It's Gruden's 2nd year as a head coach. Some of you guys better hope you never have a new boss as harsh as some of you are Keep that resume up to date....


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[fansince62]

It's Gruden's 2nd year as a head coach. Some of you guys better hope you never have a new boss as harsh as some of you are Keep that resume up to date....


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hmmm...if my boss is getting paid millions......and he's lost every major big event in his big leagues career whn it's do or die......hmmmmm

whatever...let's see what he does with what Scott finds the team this off-season....against a tougher schedule...and a cowturds team w/good talent drafting 4th overall. he's gonna have to up his game.

 

[Boone]

Whatever is right.


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[fansince62]

playoffs track record.....what is that referred to by others on this board: ....facts?

but...whatever. we have an offensive genius for HC who is almost certainly going to revolutionize the game.....fast mind....innovative....inspirational......burning competitive fire one can see on the sidelines when the going gets tough.....da man!

McL....save his bacon! keep the fires lit under every posterior and push this team to the next rung.

or did we simply hire a good playcaller?

 

[stevenaa]

Or we have a head coach in his second year in his first playoff game with a team that is talent poor, injured beyond reason and still a long way from being really competitive. A bit bipolar tonight I think. Is he talented handyman or a bumbling idiot.